dream cast: not-so-hypothetical ‘Magnum, P.I.’ movie

Will Smith is definitely the new Cool... unless we cast Sam Jackson, instead...

Interesting that you'd choose another Chinese actor to play a Japanese character. It's a strange legacy, this idea that all the East Asian nationalities and ethnic groups are freely interchangeable for Hollywood's purposes.

This rather odd practice shows few signs of abating, considering that a Korean actor has been selected to play Sulu (probably for any number of additional Star Trek movies, if they continue to be as successful as the current one).

But I suppose it's an improvement over the old idea that movies could simply use Western actors with "Oriental" makeup, a practice that survived at least as late as the 1980s, with Joel Grey playing as a Korean in Remo Williams.

@Victor Plenty
To be fair, Hollywood has a long and glorious history of not giving a damn what anybody's actual nationality or racial background is. Sure, they are happy to use any 'asian' actor (or even the occasional white actor) for any 'asian' roll. They are also happy to use any 'white' actor for any roll that it is even remotely similar to. Actual accents, appearance or background be damned.

Go watch 'The Hunt for Red October' then tell me that Hollywood is more picky about who they cast in 'white' parts than they are about who they cast in 'asian' parts.

Ryan H, with all due respect to your obvious good intentions, your observation strikes me as heavily oversimplified.

Hollywood's "long and glorious history" is much more complex than what you describe. A harshly defended hierarchy between broad racial groups has dominated much of that history.

Within that system, as you point out, "white" actors enjoyed the most freedom to cross boundaries. A leading star could freely play roles from all European backgrounds, as well as nearly any non-European role with the aid of makeup. Many people today know of "blackface" makeup, but fewer know that "yellowface" makeup was also a term of art in the industry, or how much it limited the chances for actual Asian actors to get good roles.

By contrast, in the same system that gave "white" actors such a broad menu of roles to play, heavily restricted opportunity has been the rule for "non-white" actors until very recently. Even today, there are still limited roles available for minority actors, below the top tier of A-level stars.

The point I'm making here is not about whether Hollywood has ever been "picky" to get an exact match between every actor's and every character's national origins. It's about recognizing some lasting influences on our whole culture from the era of open racial discrimination.

Among other things, the phrase "you people all look the same to me" has very rarely had any power as an insult against people of European backgrounds, but still has a deeply painful resonance for many Asians.

This is particularly important to remember in the context of a show like Magnum, P.I., which is set in the Hawaiian Islands, where a comparatively high percentage of the population has Asian ancestry.

The thing is, I never perceived Magnum as "cool"... in some cases he was slightly klutzy, never really two or three steps ahead of anybody when it came to solving mysteries and stuff, so a Will Smith wouldn't really work for me.

Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV: Nathan Fillion (Yeah he's cool but he can play clueless at times)
Theodore "T.C." Calvin: Terrance Howard
Orville Wilbur Richard “Rick” Wright: Luke Wilson
Jonathan Quayle Higgins III: Colin Firth (Ewan??? He's too... well I hate to say young, but he's retained a kind of youthful charm that doesn't seem right for this role)
Lt. Yoshi Tanaka: Cary Tagawa, yeah I know I cast him in everything...
Ashlyn Nightingale Higgins, niece visiting from the British homestead: Rosanna Lavelle
The Viper, movie arch-nemesis looking to steal Higgins' prized Chatty Cathy doll from that Brady Bunch sequel: Tom Hanks

Although often lacking the skills to play the game, I wouldn't want to see Dream Cast go away forever, so it's time I tried to make a relevant contribution.

PaulW, your choice of Nathan Fillion for the lead role here is inspired, and I'd love to see what he'd do with the character. Your choice also inspires me to dare the following:

Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV: David Boreanaz

Theodore "T.C." Calvin: Mekhi Phifer

Orville Wilbur Richard “Rick” Wright: Alan Tudyk

Jonathan Quayle Higgins III: James Callis (clearly capable of genuine gravitas alternating with ego desperately in need of deflation)

Lt. Yoshi Tanaka: Masi Oka (even Heroes can't last forever)

My post got relegated to moderation... or moderated to relegation, I don't know. Strange, because it had no links in it and I've been online-acquainted with MaryAnn since the early days of the Cinemarati Roundtable. Let's see if this one goes through.

Magnum: Dominic West
T.C.: Terrence Howard (ack, PaulW stole my thunder)
Rickie: Anna Faris
Higgins: Tom Wilkinson

I like the idea of gender-switching Rick. Makes it less of a sausage-fest. Allows for a bit of flirty cross-gender teasing friendship vibe. There's plenty of male-bonding brothers-in-arms stuff in the Magnum & T.C. relationship, Anyway.

Will Smith as Magnum? Not the most original idea since he was cast as James West in Wild Wild West. I don't think that worked too well. One of the worst movies I ever saw and that casting mistake was one of the reasons. I don't think you can cast against the iconic image of the original lead without alienating the audience. I am a Will Smith fan, so if you want to do a detective movie with him, I would watch, but to see him play Magnum would be kind of like what is the point?

I think the actor that could pull off the aura of Selleck's Magnum would be George Clooney. Unfortunately, the dude from Dodge Ball has control of this project, so I think he is going to ruin it.

The original cast need to be the cast for the new movie. I say keep the characters the same and just have them 20 years down the line, Magnums still a PI, Higgins inherited the Estate, TC owns a little airline, and Rick became a mafia boss with morals.. I could dig that more than all the updated remakes that have come out of hollywood. Look at the Miami Vice remake. It just didn't have that same feel..

Here's my dream cast:

Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV: Tom Selleck
Rick: Larry Manetti
TC: Roger Mosely
Higgins: Jonathan Hillerman

The original cast made this show a classic and it's the original cast that we want to see in the movie. Anyone else and the movie is a non-starter.

OK, since we are not going with the originals, I guess I will reluctantly give a list of more “bankable” stars.

Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV: Vince Vaughne
Theodore "T.C." Calvin: The Ro.....er I mean Dwayne Johnson
Orville Wilbur Richard “Rick” Wright: Steve Buscemi
Jonathan Quayle Higgins III: Michael Caine
Lt. Yoshi Tanaka: Ken Watanabe
Oh, and don’t forget Ice Pick: Christopher Walken

PaulW was bang on when he said Magnum was not cool, and Nathan Fillion is a great choice, I just don’t think he is tall enough. T.C. was big, muscular, good with kids, and a former football star. Johnson is just too obvious. Rick, a bit older, connected to but not in the mob, not as good looking as the others. That, plus I want Steve Buscemi in every movie. Michael Caine as Higgy Babby...who else? Ken Watanabe is a really cool actor, he looks the part, and he is actually the right ethnicity. Finally, like Steve Buscemi, I want to see Christopher Walken in everything. One last thing, maybe Tom Selleck could be the voice of Robin Masters, or would that be insulting?

Well I think they can redo Magnum now that it's 25 years later like they did with daniel craig and james bond. Picture the similarities between now and when Magnum first came on the air in 1981.
1) In 1981 Magnum left the Navy a few years after the Vietnam War to become a private investigator. You can do this again in 2010 simply by having the "new" magnum leave the Navy after serving in the Presian Gulf Wars or even Afganistan...remember...Magnum was in the special forces so he could of done some military work in Afganistan even though he is in the NAVY.
2) Does Hawaii still fit the bill. I know in the original Hawaii is the backdrop but that is also because of the post Vietnam war history Magnum has. Would it be in the best interest to relocate Magnum to say Miami or L.A. (I hate the L.A. thought) I think it would tie better into today's Magnum versus the 80's magnum
3) his enimies would be middle eastern or in other words..terriorist....replacing the Vietnameese
4) Love interest would be middle east as well...some of my thoughts for the "new" Michelle would be Catherine Bell, or that hot girl Zeva on NCIS

5) Magnums nupporting cast...this is a hard one but hear it goes..
T.C. would be Terry Crews. I think Terry is extremely funny and of course is in a great athletic shape for a drama/action movie.

Rick - My first pick wold be Steve Zahn. Look at some of his supporting roles...Did you see him in Comanche Moon as a young "Gus McCrae" Robeert Duvall would of been proud of him. Also with Matthew McConaughey in Sahara

Higgans - This one has been tough for me. I have bee trying to think of a British actor but haven't thought of a lot...right now I'm trying to picture Bernard Hill from Titanic and Lord of the Rings movies but I'm also thinking of Paul Giamatti. If he can pull of a really good british accent then I think he could do it justice

Magnum- another tought one. No I don't like Clooney and McConuaghey for the roles and I don't think Vaughn is good either although I think he is a good dramatic actor. The new Magnum has to be young and athletic to draw the girls in and fit into the present day Navy role in Irag or Afganistan. This may sound crazy but Timothy Olyphant comes to my mind...again I'm still working on Magnum and Higgans

I hope they make the movie and keep with the honor and Magnum and his duty to his country, loyalty to fis friends and family and especially that little voice inside that made him a great p.i.

I get back to you on other cast match ups