Like most of America, you are probably counting the days until the 2016 Presidential Election is over and, frankly, we can’t blame you. When the cast ofVeepsays they are worried they can’t top this sort of bizarre, never-ending storyline you know it’s something out of the ordinary. That’s why – and we hate to break this to you – it’s gonna be quite awhile until the nation gets this out of its system. It’s also one reason you’re able to expect a filmed movie or mini-series to hit the big or small screen about this Shakespearean tale sooner rather than later.
Other editorial outlets have tackled the idea of an 2016 election movie and no disrespect to those imaginative casting directors but we’ve decided to tackle our suggestions a bit differently.
Most importantly, we’re giving you first, second and third choices for each role because you can probably count the number of studio movies that locked the initial picks for each role on two hands. There are also a number of tertiary players while fun to cast in aSaturday Night Liveskit aren’t necessarily needed beyond a scene or two for a larger film or miniseries. That’s one reason why you won’t see Jeb Bush, Eric Trump or Donald Trump, Jr. on this list. There are also people who became public figures with varying degrees of impact on the campaign such as Khizr and Ghazala Khan or Ken Bone that are likely better served in archival footage (the same can be said for a number of newscasters as well).
Keeping that in mind, here is our dream cast for the inevitable movie or mini-series about the 2016 Presidential Election. And no matter what your party affiliation there’s one thing we can all agree on: let’s hope someone other thanOliver Stonedirects this baby.
Donald Trump, Republican Candidate for President
First Choice:Alec Baldwin
Second Choice:James Spader
Third Choice:John Goodman
Why:Yes, Baldwin has been playing Trump for maximum comedic effect onSNLthese past few weeks, but we truly believe he would deliver a toned down, nuance performance outside of a skit setting. That being said, some studio or network execs may bristle that audiences may not accept Baldwin as Trump in a more dramatic endeavor. That’s why our second choice, James Spader, could be the best choice. The 56-year-old actor would need some aging makeup to pull off the look of a character 14 years older, but he has a quirky demeanor that might be perfect for the role. The safe pick, however, is Goodman who few in a casting meeting would argue against.
Hillary Clinton, Democratic Candidate for President
First Choice:Meryl Streep
Second Choice:Diane Keaton
Third Choice:Jodie Foster
Why:The first and only choice might be the three-time Oscar winner. Streep, who has campaigned for Clinton, and is Bill Clinton’s first choice for the role, has arguably been reading herself for this role for years. Her character in the 2004 remake ofThe Manchurian Candidatewas thought to be influenced by the public perception of the then New York Senator and she’s recently made women pioneers something of a calling card playing both Margaret Thatcher inThe Iron Ladyand Emmeline Pankhurst inSuffragette.If Streep declines either Keaton or Foster would be unexpected but intriguing choices.
Melania Trump, Wife of Donald Trump
First Choice:Angelina Jolie
Second Choice:Emily Blunt
Third Choice:Laura Benanti
Why:Both Blunt and Benanti have played Melania for comic effect, but are talented enough actresses to make her a three-dimensional character in a serious movie. The dream casting, however, would be Jolie. The Academy Award-winner could bring a nuanced sympathy to a woman clearly not comfortable with the public spectacle of her husband’s campaign. You’d need a top tier director to convince Jolie to even consider tackling it though.
Bill Clinton, Husband of Hillary Clinton
First Choice:John Travolta
Second Choice:Dennis Quaid
Third Choice:Billy Bob Thornton
Why:Travolta more than effectively played Clinton inMike Nichols’Primary Colorsand to this day its still one of his most underrated performances. There is something very intriguing about Travolta revisiting the character almost 20 years later with both the actor and former president are in such different points in their lives. If not Travolta than Quaid or Thornton could at least pull off the dramatic weight loss look Clinton’s vegetarian diet has given him over the past five years or so.
Robby Mook, Campaign Manager, Hillary Clinton Campaign
First Choice:Jake Gyllenhaal
Second Choice:Aaron Paul
Third Choice:Finn Wittrock
Why:Mook hasn’t been a television mouthpiece as much as Trump’s campaign managers so that means matching his mannerisms or style might not be as important as other historical figures. Gyllenhaal would likely only take the part of it had a significant arc, but would make studio or network heads breathe slightly easier regarding the box office or ratings. Paul or Wittrock are talented actors that resemble Mook a bit more than Gyllenhaal (especially Wittrock).
John Podesta, Chairman, Hillary Clinton Campaign
First Choice:Mark Rylance
Second Choice:David Strathairn
Third Choice:Campbell Scott
Why:Currently the object of ire for Clinton detractors upset about conversations revealed in E-mails acquired by Wikileaks, it would be hard to go wrong with either recent Academy Award-winner Rylance, Strahairn or, perhaps the most economical choice, Scott.
Tim Kaine, Vice Presidential Nominee
First Choice:Tom Hanks
Second Choice:Jack Black
Third Choice:John Carroll Lynch
Why:Hanks could duplicate Kaine’s folksy style and sort of (and that’s a big sort of) resembles him. The problem is it would likely be too smart a part for Hanks to consider taking unless he really loved the director. With the right hairpiece Black would really resemble Kaine and it would be the kind of dramatic role he rarely gets offered but could totally knock out of the park. Lynch would be the best backup as he looks very much like him and has a similar demeanor to boot.
Mike Pence, Vice Presidential Nominee
First Choice:John Slattery
Second Choice:Woody Harrelson
Third Choice:Viggo Mortensen
Why:Casting Trump’s VP pick was one of the hardest endeavors of this exercise. Sure, Slattery has the white hair down, but does he truly embody Pence’s quite cadence and almost bland, straightforward speaking style? In theory, Mortensen does that best, but he’s almost too chiseled for the part. We think Harrelson could be good, but would the white wig just look too fake? In all honesty, the best actor to portray Pence would probably be Clint Eastwood…when he was in his 50’s thirty years ago.
Kellyanne Conway, Campaign Manager, Donald Trump Campaign
First Choice:Sarah Paulson
Second Choice:Sandra Bullock
Third Choice:Julia Roberts
Why:One of our favorite characters to cast it seems inconceivable that you wouldn’t immediately offer this to Paulson. It just makes too much sense. If she was unavailable, however, Bullock or even Roberts have the right mix of dramatic and sly sarcastic wit to really bring her to life.
Paul Manafort, Former Campaign Manager, Donald Trump Campaign
First Choice:Michael McKean
Second Choice:Nathan Lane
Third Choice:Sam Neill
Why:McKean might seem like a stretch here, but there is something about his acting style we think would play with the one-time exasperated campaign manager who couldn’t get his client to stay on message. Lane might be too short, but he resembles him the most facially. Neill might also be a slight stretch, but he seems like he’d easily be able to recreate Manafort’s quiet conservatism.
