Top 10 Actors We Wish Would Play Disney Sidekicks
Actors We Wish Would Play Disney Sidekicks
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Listen up Mickey, we’ve got a few ideas that we think you’re going to like. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Actors We Wish Would Play Disney Sidekicks. For this list, we’ll be looking at various actors who we think have the right stuff to play a sidekick in a Disney film - either to the hero or villain. These characters tend to be major sources of comic relief and have big personalities, and as such, we’re focusing on performers with similar qualities. And given that Disney is currently doing live action and/or CGI remakes of their many classic animated films, now’s the time for these actors to throw their hats in the ring!
#10: Patrick Stewart, Adam Sandler & Maggie Smith as the Gargoyles “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
This 1996 Disney film navigates a number of challenging themes. As such, it requires some especially well-executed comic relief. And while Clopin Trouillefou does his fair share in this regard, it’s the Gargoyle trio of Victor, Hugo, and Laverne who bring that quintessential Disney touch to this classic story. So when “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” gets its eventual update, we think that the actors chosen to play these characters will be absolutely crucial. For the eloquent, self-serious but also anxious Victor, who better than proven thespian Sir Patrick Stewart? And for the crass, crude, but ultimately likeable Hugo, it’s gotta be Adam Sandler. Last but not least, Dame Maggie Smith feels pitch-perfect for the wise but fiery Laverne.
#9: Simon Pegg as Archimedes “The Sword in the Stone”
Ah… has there ever been a finer onscreen owl than good old Archimedes? Actually, upon further review, it would appear that we ranked him second best behind Hedwig. Fair! But as far as Disney owls go, Archimedes is at the top of the pecking order. As the pet of the legendary wizard Merlin, Archimedes thinks rather highly of himself. Cynical, grumpy and sarcastic, Archimedes sounds like… a perfect fit for Simon Pegg! Best known for his roles in “Shaun of the Dead”, “Hot Fuzz” and the “Star Trek” films, Pegg’s past performances run the full spectrum of Archimedes’ personality - without ever failing to be funny. He’s done some work for Disney before, but we think it’s high time he gets a prominent role in a major remake.
#8: Andy Serkis as Gurgi “The Black Cauldron”
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We know what you’re thinking. “The Black Cauldron” seems like an unlikely candidate to ever get the Disney remake treatment given that it's widely regarded as one of the company’s most infamous flops. But given the popularity of medieval style fantasy in recent years, who knows! There may actually be an audience for it. And should it happen, we’re suggesting that Disney tap the Master of mo-cap himself, Andy Serkis, to play Gurgi. “The Black Cauldron” shares much in common with J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings, but in preparing for his performance as Gollum, Andy Serkis is said to have actually taken inspiration from the furry little animated creature. So why not bring the whole thing full circle?
#7: Jean Dujardin as Lumière “Beauty and the Beast”
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Don’t get us wrong, we love us some Ewan McGregor. “Moulin Rouge!”, “Trainspotting”, Star Wars”… the man’s filmography speaks for itself. But while 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” ranks among the film studio’s best live action remakes to date… his casting as Lumière was unfortunately one of the very few glaring missteps. He manages to pull off the personality, but not the accent. We’re not sure in what world we’ll actually get to see if this particular casting idea come true, but if we could turn back time, we’d want to see it go to Jean Dujardin. Best known to American audiences for his role in 2011’s “The Artist”, which earned him an Oscar, this celebrated French actor feels like Lumière in human form.
#6: Ali Wong as Tinker Bell “Peter Pan”
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A fan-favorite character for decades, Tinker Bell is synonymous with the magic of Disney. With a sassy personality many times larger than her diminutive size would suggest, Tink is a firecracker. And in a modern retelling of “Peter Pan,” we think that Disney could really push that further, while also allowing Tinker Bell to be even more overtly comedic than in past films. Who fits that description better than the brilliant and talented Ali Wong? Sure, she’d need to rein in her more crass inclinations, but as her multiple Netflix specials and her 2019 film prove, Wong is one of comedy’s brightest rising stars. With all that being said, we can also imagine Anna Kendrick doing a great job in the role.
#5: Jamie Foxx as Frozone “The Incredibles”
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In a dream world, we’d have Samuel L. Jackson make the jump from animation to live action to continue playing this role. His voice and Frozone’s will forever be one in the same in our minds. Unfortunately, we do feel that he’s aged out of the role (even with digital effects) and that Frozone requires an actor willing to get into superheroic physical shape. Enter… Jamie Foxx. This talented actor has a diverse filmography that would make any director drool, having proven multiple times over that he’s equally capable in a dramatic role or action film. As for Frozone’s charms, they don’t make stars much smoother than Foxx. While we’re casting our live action Incredibles remake, how about Tracee Ellis Ross for his wife, Honey Best?
#4: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin & Dolly Parton as the Good Fairies “Sleeping Beauty”
Reading that trio of names together hopefully brings to mind one of the most successful comedies ever: “9 to 5.” So it’s not hard to imagine this trio of talented women coming together again, and in our minds, they’d be the ones to deliver THE defining live-action version of Sleeping Beauty’s fairies. Like with the Hunchback’s gargoyles, bringing Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather to the big screen in an effective way is all about balance and we think that these three iconic stars would perfectly address that need. Jane Fonda’s assertive yet balanced nature makes her a natural leader as Flora, while Lily Tomlin’s more earthy qualities make her well-suited to play the more introspective Fauna. Dolly Parton is classy but has a big personality, and while she might be a departure for the character of Merryweather in terms of stature and physique, she feels like an ideal candidate to complete this magical trio.
#3: John Mulaney & Nick Kroll as Pain & Panic “Hercules”
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There are few recurring collaborators in the world of comedy with a more consistent track record than John Mulaney and Nick Kroll. Both successful comedians in their own right, they get especially funny whenever working together. To see them at peak absurdity, however, check out “Oh, Hello”. And as for voice work, what better endorsement could you ask for than the runaway success that is the critically acclaimed “Big Mouth”, in which they both voice lead characters? But what makes them especially well-suited for bringing “Hercules”’ Pain and Panic to life are their respective styles. John Mulaney is a master of self-deprecating, somewhat anxious comedy that makes him a great fit for Panic, while Kroll has a knack for playing the conniving characters - ie. Pain in a nutshell.
#2: Dwayne Johnson as Kronk “The Emperor’s New Groove”
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From one of the biggest wrestlers in WWE history to the highest paid actor in 2019, Dwayne Johnson has had quite the career. But everything up until now has just been a prologue to what we feel will be his career-defining performance: Kronk! Okay, we’re just kidding around, but seriously, can you imagine a more perfect actor to bring this lovable henchman to life? He’s got the physique, he’s got the comedic chops… heck, he’s even got the coyly cocked eyebrow! Johnson already played a prominent Disney sidekick, Maui, but given that 2016’s “Moana” was an animated film (and we imagine this as a live action adventure), we think there’s room for Johnson to double dip in Disney’s pool of iconic sidekicks. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Pete Davidson as Wilbur from “The Rescuers Down Under” He Can Strike that Balance of Likeable & Irritable That Defines the Albatross Dave Bautista as Little John from “Robin Hood” He’s Got the Build, Physicality &, as We’ve Seen from His MCU Work, the Comedic Chops! Danny Pudi & Donald Glover as Jaq & Gus from “Cinderella” A Long Overdue “Community” Reunion Between 2 Actors with Proven Chemistry
#1: Tituss Burgess as Sebastian “The Little Mermaid”
He’s a singer, he’s theatrical, and he can play a character as self-serious one moment and then a nervous wreck the next. His name is Tituss Burgess and he was born to play the role of Sebastian the Crab! When Tina Fey developed “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, it was a vessel for Ellie Kemper. But while Kemper does shine bright in the role, Burgess proved its breakout star. With his larger-than-life acting style and musical ability, this Georgia-born performer feels like a perfect fit for King Triton’s advisor, court composer and (much to the Crab’s dismay) babysitter to Princess Ariel. But best of all, Tituss actually played Sebastian on Broadway before becoming a tv star! And joining him as Scuttle in our dream “Little Mermaid” cast? Steve Martin.
