Fan casting beloved actors in your favorite movies is fun, especially when the actor was just made for that role, and you can only picture that specific actor to be this character and no one else.
Since many of you liked my last article about what would happen if Chris Farley was alive today, and what movies would he be involved in for our entertainment.
“13 Movies Chris Farley May Have Starred In If He Was Still Alive”
For this article, I would like to delve into a what-if scenario with the late Robin Williams.
I’m going to go over some movies that were in development when he passed away, and also movies that he could have potentially been in if he was still alive today. Just as a fair warning, I’ll be solely focusing on well-known movies that have made or would have shaped Robin Williams into the comedic icon who we know and love today.
As you all know, or might know after reading this article; the last 2 movies Williams worked on were when he reprised his role as Theodore Roosevelt in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014) and voiced a talking dog in Absolutely Anything (2015). Prior to that, he was almost cast in a variety of movies that would’ve changed how we, as an audience, saw him and the movies he would’ve been in as a whole.
Movies Robin Williams Almost Played in
The Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011) as Hagrid. I love Harry Potter movies, but I honestly think I would’ve loved it more if Williams played Hagrid with a free range of comedically improved gold.
Someone should Deepfake his face from Jumanji and put it in all the Hagrid scenes!
Movie(s) Williams worked instead:
Too many to count and list.
Batman Movies(1989-2012) as The Joker, The Riddler, and Hugo Strange.
Could you imagine what it would be like to see these villains come to life? Granted Nicholson and Carrey did great jobs for their individual roles; it would be interesting to see Williams taking on those mantles. After watching his most serious roles on the big screen, I think it’s safe to say that Williams was made to play Hugo Strange.
Movie(s) Williams worked on instead:
Also too many to count and list.
The Shining(1980) as Jack Torrence. After starring in a variety of comedic sitcoms under his belt prior to this movie, it’s hard to tell if Williams would’ve been a good fit for a more serious role. It would be fun to watch. His roles in Insomnia(2002) and One Hour Photo(2002) would probably be something close to what’s expected in playing Jack Torrence.
Movie(s) Williams worked on instead:
Popeye.
Howard the Duck(1986) voicing Howard the Duck. By 1986 Williams had a few movies under his belt and an array of humorous TV series. The way he delivers his voice would determine if he was right for the role. I honestly think it would’ve helped start up the MCU a lot sooner if he was cast as this odd duck!
Movie(s) Williams worked on instead:
The Best of Times, Club Paradise, and Seize the Day.
Field of Dreams(1989) as Ray Kinsella, Kevin Costner’s character. This would’ve been interesting to see. Field of Dreams is a good father and son movie, heck it’s a great family movie. If he could channel his success from serious movies he’s done from the future, I think he could’ve pulled it off.
Movie(s) Williams worked on instead:
Dead Poet Society.
Big (1988) as Josh, Tom Hanks’ character. Now I find this interesting because in a way, he kinda already played this role years later. In the movie Jack(1996) Williams played a kid stuck in an aging body.
Movie(s) Williams worked on instead:
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, and Portrait of a White Wedding.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(2005) as Willy Wonka. Though this would be interesting, it would be a nightmare picturing Williams with the hairstyle that Depp had. I mean we kinda got a preview of it when Williams impersonates Barbara Streisand in Mrs. Doubtfire. I think in order for him to look the part, he’s gotta look more like his character Leslie Zevo in Toys(1992).
Movie(s) Williams worked on instead:
Robots, and The Big White.
Aladdin: The Return Of Jafar(1994) reprising his role as Genie. Dan Castellaneta aka Homer Simpson. I would have to side with Williams on why he didn’t want to be part of the sequel on this one. Not only was it a terrible movie, but the contract that he was under for utilizing his voice as Genie was ridiculous. I was glad that he came back in Aladdin and the King of Thieves(1996) though.
Movie(s) Williams worked on instead:
Being Human.
Three Amigos (1986) as Ned Nederlander. Martin Short played the part instead. I could picture him playing this role, but let’s face it, if Williams was Ned Nederlander, he would’ve stolen the whole show; and the movie felt like the main character was Steve Martin.
Movie(s) Williams worked on instead:
The Best of Times, Club Paradise, and Seize the Day.
Movie(s) Robin Williams Was Working On, Or Rumored To Be In Prior To His Death
Mrs. Doubtfire 2. They were thinking of doing this back in 2003, there were even plans for a third installment, but it was then canceled because Williams didn’t want to ruin a legacy that he already made with the said character.
To be fair, he made the right move. Logically, if Mrs. Doubtfire became a well-known TV show at the end of the movie, then it’s safe to say that the world would already know that Mrs. Doubtfire was played by a middle-aged man. It would be hard to fool people into thinking that Mrs. Doubtfire was a real person again. I honestly don’t know how they did it with the Big Mama’s House Franchise.
Movies We Would Love To See Robin Williams In If He Was Still Alive:
Christopher Nolan’s Batman Movies as Hugo Strange. This would’ve been a great movie to see with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Nightwing, and Robin Williams finally playing Hugo Strange.
The live-action Aladdin remake as Genie instead of Will Smith. I still don’t like live-action Disney remakes. But if Williams came back, I’d be down to see it!
A movie adaptation of the book Professor Wormbog in Search for the Zipperump-a-zoo as Professor Wormbog. I grew up with this book, and the more I look back at it, Williams would’ve been perfect for this role. I would picture him dawning the same attire as Theodore Roosevelt going on adventures in finding monsters from A to Z.
In the MCU he could have played Wolverine. He is short and hairy, and would be a perfect aged superhero, so why not!
What movies do you think Robin Williams would be perfect in?