Recasting the classics: Who would star in a remake of Stanley Kubrick’s ‘A Clockwork Orange’?
Whenever a movie studio utters that they’re even considering remaking a classic film from the vault of cinema history, within minutes, cinephiles across the world prepare their fingers and take to Twitter to revolt. In recent years, such movies as Scarface, The Crow and An American Werewolf in London have been announced to be getting a remake, with each announcement being met with digital pitchforks.
So, to avoid such drama, let’s talk theoretically and consider the idea of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic and provocative 1971 drama A Clockwork Orange being remade for modern audiences. Sadly, the idea of such an eventuality isn’t impossible, especially considering the sequel that was penned by the original author, Anthony Burgess, which presents itself as “part philosophical reflection and part autobiography”.
Very controversial at the time of its release, A Clockwork Orange is almost impossible to classify, being part sci-fi and part psychological drama, telling the story of a callous gang leader in futuristic London who has a passion for “ultra-violence” as well as the beautiful music of Ludwig van Beethoven. After being imprisoned for his crimes, the leader, named Alex, is forced to undergo brutal conduct-aversion therapy, with the experiment having adverse effects.
Nominated for four Academy Awards, including ‘Best Picture’, Kubrick’s film proved to be a little too divisive to take home the main award, losing out to William Friedkin’s The French Connection.
The original A Clockwork Orange cast
Famously played by Malcolm McDowell, Alex Delarge is the key figure of the tale, with the whole story delving into his psychology and free will despite the institutions trying to rip this away from him. The moral makeup of his character is as relevant today as it was when the movie was made in 1971, with Alex being a peculiar character of sympathy, as well as a deplorable criminal.
Although the rest of Alex’s gang of ‘Droogs’ don’t get much in terms of screen time and lines of dialogue, if there’s one who stands out from the crowd, it’s Dim, played by Warren Clarke. A big, burly man, Dim has few lines in the movie, but provides the muscle to Alex’s gang, often silently backing Alex up in fights, arguments and more. Yet, later in the film, when Dim becomes a police officer, he doesn’t think twice before beating Alex to a pulp.
One of the film’s most famous scenes comes when the Droogs invade the home of the wealthy Mr and Mrs Alexander and proceed to torment the pair and rape the woman. Enacting their crimes while chanting the words to ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ from the iconic musical of the same name, the couple become tragic victims, with Mr Alexander’s revenge later in the film being a small act of justice.
When Alex isn’t wreaking havoc on the timeless streets of London, he can be found undergoing conduct-aversion therapy in Kubrick’s classic movie. With the help of his seedy probation officer, Deltoid, played by Aubrey Morris, Alex finds himself strapped to a dentist’s chair with his eyes fixed open in place and forced to witness scenes of violence under the watchful eyes of Madge Ryan’s sadistic Dr. Branom.
Who would star as Alex Delarge in a Clockwork Orange remake?
As one of cinema’s most iconic characters, recasting Alex would be no easy task. If the angry online mob could get over recasting the British actor Malcolm McDowell, there’s a trio of American actors who should be in contention. Joaquin Phoenix certainly has the acting chops to deliver a convincing performance as the mentally fragile protagonist, having won an Oscar for playing Joker back in 2020.
Elsewhere, it would also be worth considering Paul Dano, one of Hollywood’s most underrated actors, who has proven time and time again that he is capable of playing morally dubious characters and antagonists. If the theoretical studio (presumably Warner Bros) wanted to go down a slightly younger route, Austin Butler would also be a good choice, with his character in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part 2 giving all the evidence anyone would need.
To avoid the mob getting too annoyed at an American being cast, Jack O’Connell could also be a good left-field choice to play Alex, with the versatile British actor having a track record of taking on challenging dramatic roles. Or, for a safer pair of hands, Christian Bale would be a good choice, having already played the sinister psychopath Patrick Bateman in 2000’s American Psycho.
Who would star in a Clockwork Orange remake?
With Alex, the lead man in Kubrick’s provocative drama, boxed off, casting the supporting characters shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. As Dim, Warren Clarke could be replaced by Nicholas Hoult. Sure, Hoult may not quite have the build, but he does have the glare of someone who has something sinister behind their eyes. He would also be able to pull off Burgess’ idiosyncratic dialogue with ease.
It’s worth mentioning that unknown actors would be great in these supporting roles, too, with the character of Mr Alexander having just enough screen time that it would allow a new face to flex their acting muscles. But, if Warner Bros decided they wanted someone famous to fill the slot, Tom Wilkinson would be an excellent choice, even looking a little like the original actor, Patrick Magee.
Deltoid would be the most interesting piece of casting outside of the lead role of Alex, with the character being a strange enigma, despising the protagonist while having a seedy sexual lust for him, too. Comical and unhinged, the character of Deltoid would be perfectly embodied by Richard E. Grant, an actor capable of great dramatic range.
Finally, Dr. Branom may only appear for a fairly short amount of time in Kubrick’s classic, but her cold approach to Alex’s torture makes for a truly memorable scene. With the majority of the original cast being British, it seems apt to finish the list off by casting Olivia Colman as Dr. Branom, yet another multi-talented British icon who can play everything from a mad queen to a malevolent villain.
