dream cast: hypothetical ‘Buckaroo Banzai’ sequel

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time to remake an 80s classic TV show or movie with an all-new cast. This week we’re fantasizing about the once-promised, soon forgotten sequel to The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the Eighth Dimension -- Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League.

(If you have a suggestion for an 80s TV show or movie we should play with, feel free to email me.)

It’s one of my very favorite movies, and the missing sequel is one of the lost movie I most long for. And with the 25th anniversary of the original film’s release coming up this summer, it seems like the perfect time to think about another installment.

The original cast included (I’m listing only characters here who could appear in the sequel):

Buckaroo Banzai: Peter Weller
Penny Priddy: Ellen Barkin
Reno Nevada: Pepe Serna
Perfect Tommy: Lewis Smith
New Jersey/Dr. Sidney Zweibel: Jeff Goldblum
Pinky Carruthers: Billy Vera

My dream World Crime League cast:

Buckaroo Banzai: David Tennant
Penny Priddy: Amy Adams
Reno Nevada: Dwayne Johnson
Perfect Tommy: Josh Holloway
New Jersey/Dr. Sidney Zweibel: Vince Vaughn
Pinky Carruthers: John Simm
Hanoi Xan (leader of the League): Jet Li

The most awesome end credits ever (except for promising us a sequel that never came):

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pre-Disqus comments

posted by Hank Graham (Thu Apr 02 09, 8:48PM)

Dr. Lizardo: John Malkovich

posted by Hank Graham (Thu Apr 02 09, 8:49PM)

And, yes, I know you're only doing the sequal, but I just had a mental idea of how Malkovich would do Lizardo, and I just had to write and share that.

posted by angel (Fri Apr 03 09, 8:05AM)

There is no sci-fi (or any other kind of) film that cannot be improved with the addition of John Simm and /or David Tennant (not to mention Christopher Eccleston) so I totally agree with your choices. Plus Amy Adams would be amazing as Penny.

Oh, and John Barrowman as Perfect Tommy, Josh Halloway as Rawhide! (I guess this would have to be a remake.)

posted by PaulW (Fri Apr 03 09, 8:13AM)

Throw in John Parker as a recurring jam session member of the Cavaliers and you might have a flick.

Buckaroo Banzai: Cillian Murphy. It'd be nice to know more Japanese actors: Banzai's supposed to be Japanese-American.
Penny Priddy: Rachel McAdams
Hanoi Xan: Donnie Yen
Reno Nevada: Adam Baldwin
Perfect Tommy: Timothy Olyphant
New Jersey: Yeah, Vince Vaughn kinda fits
Pinky Carruthers: Justin Long
John Parker: Terrence Howard
Zero Cuts, Xan's flawless assassin: Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
The Dragon's Daughter, back-up singer and assassin with uncertain motives: Zhang Ziyi

Plot: the World Crime League wants the hidden microfilm. No, wait, they covered that in an episode of the Monkees...

posted by MaryAnn (Thu Apr 09 09, 10:21PM)

I had a better thought for Pinky: Dave Matthews.

posted by Jon (Tue May 26 09, 9:44AM)

This will get grief but Keanu as Buckaroo. He's got the look and quirkiness.

Quite frankly, I can't improve on any of the other suggestions. I'd be fine with a remake or the sequel. One of my favorites from the 80's.

posted by E (Tue May 26 09, 10:05AM)

Joseph Gordon Levitt as Buckaroo. He's 28 right now, would probably be 30 by the time shooting began. Weller was 37 when he did Buckaroo Banzai, so you can either go prequel, do a "son of Banzai" story, or ignore the age gap / age him through makeup and just do it.

Of course, if you're going to accept the less-than-stellar Marvel Comics "Banzai" series as canon, Dr. Banzai is currently wandering the cosmos after being banished from Earth in a crossover with Rom the Spaceknight.

posted by Redmond Hart (Mon Jul 13 09, 12:07PM)

I think the original actors should get reunited and play their original parts. Who cares how old they are now. A sequel should evolve from the original cast and avoid being a remake with new actors. "The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai" was a perfect movie and captured elements from every genre, and so should the next one. Waiting for more movie magic in Oklahoma...

posted by RENGACORP (Sun Aug 02 09, 3:57PM)

Here is the official SEQUEL CASTING CALL: http://www.funnyordie.com/ian_renga/events/443

posted by gab (Fri Aug 14 09, 11:11PM)

I just saw this movie for the first time tonight and think it was great! I also wish they had made a sequel with the original cast. If I am not mistaken, most of them went on to make other scifi movies.

I could see David Tenant as Bonzai if ever a followup is done.

posted by Eric Y (Sun Aug 23 09, 5:20AM)

That's not a legit casting call, that's BS. if that were a 'real' casting call, it'd be all over the net, which it's not. Shame on them. One of my all-time fave movies. If I win the lottery, I'd buy the rights to the sequel and cast it myself. I've already written the first scene. Hint: It involves Buckaroo 'borrowing' the space shuttle from NASA.

posted by RENGACORP (Sat Sep 12 09, 6:17AM)

WORLD CRIME LEAGUE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlXF-R-KGLI