Casting Aaron Sorkin’s ‘A Few Good Men’ Live Show on NBC

It was reported earlier this week (via Variety) that NBC will be adapting Aaron Sorkin’s play-turned-movie A Few Good Men (1992) into a live production, a la The Sound of Music and Peter Pan.   Now unlike the past musicals, I am really interested in this.  A Few Good Men is one of my favorite movies of all-time and it’s the film that launched Sorkin’s career in the film world.  So who should NBC cast for their version of the courtroom drama?  Here are my picks for the cast of NBC’s A Few Good Men.

 

Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise)

MY CHOICE – Joesph Gordon Levitt 

This is one of my favorite Tom Cruise performances because it shows his entire range.  He’s funny, cocky, charming, and turns on the serious acting chops when needed.  Joseph Gordon Levitt has proven he has this range.  He’s been cocky and funny in Don Jon (2013), he’s showed is dramatic side in Inception (2010) and 50/50 (2011) and he is charming in every movie he’s in.  I would love to see Levitt in this role, especially at the end, where Kaffee goes toe-to-toe with Colonel Jessup.

 

Colonel Nathan R. Jessup  (Jack Nicholson)

MY CHOICE – Bryan Cranston 

Casting this came down to a couple things.  First, the actor had to have some intimidating force to them.  Not a lot of people can be as intimidating as Nicholson, but you need someone who makes people straighten up when they walk in the room.  Next, and most importantly, they need to cast an actor who can deliver the iconic, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” line.  Cranston has all of this.  He was intense and intimidating in Breaking Bad and I would buy him as the Colonel.  And he would deliver the line with a ferocious anger.  This is arguably the most important role in the film.  Don’t screw this up NBC!

 

Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore)

MY CHOICE – Olivia Munn

Olivia Munn has proven to be a perfect fit for Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway.  Galloway is strong and smart, but also adds a needed vulnerability to the nearly all male film.  Having stolen the last two seasons of Newsroom from the entire cast, Munn showed she was strong, smart, funny, and could read Sorkin dialog as good as anyone, which is why she would be excellent for Galloway.

 

Capt. Jack Ross (Kevin Bacon)

MY CHOICE – Karl Urban 

To replace Kevin Bacon is nearly impossible, especially in this film, as it is one of his best performances.  I was contemplating recasting Bacon because he is so perfect and hasn’t really aged in 20 years.  But I landed on Karl Urban for Ross.  Ross is friends with Kaffee but realizes the case is of an extreme nature and is just doing his job to the best of his ability.  You love and hate Ross, which is what makes the performance so good.  He can be nice and then flip to harshness and drill you into the ground.  Urban would shine in this role, especially the scene when Ross examines the small-minded Pfc. Downey.

 

 

Lt. Jonathon Kendrick (Kiefer Sutherland)

MY CHOICE – Anthony Mackie

Lt. Jonathon Kendrick is the second-in-command to Colonel Jessup.  He’s his successor and learns everything from the man.  They need to cast someone who is just as volatile and bitter as the Colonel.  Sutherland was great and I think Mackie would do it just as good, if not better.  Mackie can be really charismatic, but watch him in The Hurt Locker (2009), arguably his best performance, as the straight-laced Sargent Sanborn and you will see his dramatic side.  If this casting came true, it would be my favorite casting of the show.

 

Lt. Sam Weinberg (Kevin Pollak)

MY CHOICE – Tina Fey 

Pollak has the lightest role of this group.  It isn’t a hilarious performance, but one that combines deadpan comedy and intellect.  Tina Fey is perfect for this.  Fey is one of the smartest and funniest people in Hollywood and would read Sorkin’s dialog like a pro.  Also, her performance this year in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot shows she can be a little more serious.  It’s a gender flip from the original, but it will pay off big in the end.

 

Judge Julius Alexander Randolph (J.A. Preston)

MY CHOICE – Laurence Fishburne 

Judge Randolph has to be a stern voice and keep order in a courtroom filled with high ranking officers while also keeping everyone calm.  Fishburne has a calming voice, but when he raises it, people will stop what they’re doing and listen.  Fishburne will eat this performance up and it is one he needs and deserves.

 

What do you think of these choices?  Who would you cast in the live version of A Few Good Men?  Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @kevflix or on Facebook at Kevflix.

 

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures and YouTube.com.

Images made at fotor.com.