Who Would Disney Cast In A Live-Action 'Anastasia'?
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In the last few months, a fan-made, live-action teaser trailer of Anastasia (1997) has gone viral on social media. This brings up the subject of whether Disney would consider updating the popular film. The original is Disney in name only, as it was made by 20th Century Fox before Disney bought the company in 2019. A live-action version would make Anastasia a Disney Princess officially. It is also hard not to remember The Little Mermaid fan-made teaser that went viral only four months before the official announcement. This may be a coincidence, but it is also possible that someone in a back office is seeing if there is still an appetite for a Russian heroine despite all the bad news we have had from that part of the world recently.
But who do we think would end up in the main roles?
Tsar Nicholas – Leonardo DiCaprio
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There are not many actors of Russian descent in Hollywood, especially ones that would suit a Disney musical. However, Anastasia’s parents do not sing in the film. This makes casting someone of Eastern European easier. Believe it or not, DiCaprio’s maternal grandmother was Russian. He played the King of France in The Man in The Iron Mask, so we know he can bring the gravitas needed to play royalty.
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Anastasia Auditionee – Meg Ryan
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Meg Ryan voiced the original Disney heroine, so it is only fair she should have a part in any live-action film. When Demetri and Vladimir are holding auditions for a girl to take to Paris, we see a blonde woman dramatically proclaim her identity as the Grand Duchess. Meg Ryan does over the top exceedingly well, as we have all seen in When Harry Met Sally. She would make this cameo her own.
The Dowager Empress – Kate Mulgrew
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The original role was voiced by Angela Lansbury, and there are very few actresses who can follow in her footsteps. It is likely that Disney would look for someone who could put their own spin on the role rather than struggling to imitate a flawless performance. Kate Mulgrew knows how to play a Russian matriarch as she had done it for six years on Orange is the New Black. That’s not all. Mulgrew has authority on screen. She was the first female Star-Trek captain. But can she sing? She sounded pretty good in this old Dallas episode!
Vladimir – Jonathan Rhys-Davis
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Kelsey Grammar originated this character, but there may be a better choice for the live-action. Jonathan Rhys-Davis looks exactly like the animated Vladimir, and like all good Welshmen, he has a powerful set of pipes. Jonathan Rhys-Davis is very comfortable in historical and fantasy films, and he has been on Disney’s payroll before (Aladdin and the King of Thieves, The Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement). This would be a perfect casting.
Sophie – Rachel Bloom
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The gatekeeper cousin of the Dowager Empress. This is another part that requires comic timing as well as vocal ability. We’re blessed that there are a few names in Hollywood that can do this, like Rebel Wilson and Maya Rudolph, etc. However, Sophie is where Disney is most likely to make a historical correction. The character is based on the Dowager Empress’ lady-in-waiting Sophie von Buxhoeveden. The real-life Sophie wrote three books on the Romanovs and was also a brunette, like Bloom. Sophie had a difficult escape from Russia and tended to point out pretenders to the Russian throne, rather than taking them to meet the Dowager Empress. Rachel Bloom is great at adding depth as well as laughs to multi-layered roles, as seen in her series Crazy-Ex Girlfriend. She is a fantastic all-round performer and would be a stand-out in the musical numbers. If she’s not in this film somewhere, words need to be had with the casting director.
Rasputin – Sasha Baron Cohen
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A great comedic actor who is not afraid to go dark, as shown by his Who Is America? series, Cohen would make an excellent Disney villain. It is incredible that he has not been cast as one already. He has worked with Disney previously as Uncle Ugo in Luca, so he is on their radar. Sasha Baron Cohen also has a great voice and would be able to carry the role vocally as well. Let’s not forget his critically acclaimed performance as Thénardier in Les Miserables.
Dimitri – Jamie Bell/Nick Jonas
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If Disney decides to throw us a curveball, then Brit Jamie Bell might also be a good casting. He is used to playing the lead in musical movies like Billy Elliot when he was a child and, more recently, Rocketman. He is also rumored to be in pre-production in a Fred Astaire biopic as the man himself.
Nick Jonas has been stuck with Disney since he made it big with Camp Rock. He’s got the voice and the acting talent, and a hairpiece can take care of the rest. We know he would nail the lead male role.
Anastasia – Dianna Agron/Taylor Swift
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The Grand Duchess herself needs to be played by an actress that can do street urchin, as well as royalty. Even though her parts require a great singing voice, Anastasia is not a belter. We know that Dianna Agron from Glee is a triple threat. We have seen her on-screen in parts that match up with both sides of Anastasia, feisty and prim. A dye job and some contacts would be all she would need. It is about time she landed bigger roles.
Taylor Swift reportedly had been looking for a movie role, but she chose Cats! After getting burned so badly, it might be a while before she attempts it again. However, if you look at pictures of her with brown hair, she matches up with the animated version of Anastasia pretty well. She even has “Romanov” blue eyes. There is no doubt that Taylor can sing, and her fandom would guarantee the film would be a box-office hit. On the other hand, outside of SNL sketches and the very dodgy moggy movie, we’ve never seen her act, so it would be a massive risk.
Yes, we know we missed Barlok, but cartoon animal sidekicks tend to get cut from remakes, as seen in Aladdin. Disney’s live-action films have had various degrees of success. Some, like The Lion King, appear to be just upgraded computer animation. Anastasia is a film that is crying to be updated if only to bring it properly into the Disney stable. Anastasia deserves to be a Disney Princess after all these years!
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