Stephen King’s The Shining first came out in 1977 about a family who volunteers to stay at an empty hotel during a long winter storm. The longer the family stays at the hotel, the more things seem to be… strange. Odd happenstances occur and torment the family of three to insanity, leaving the father to a mad mindset. While all this unravels, the son, Danny, deals with a rather fantastic ability that no one knows about.
The book has seen great success. Now, The Shining is the best-selling book in King’s repertoire. The novel was snatched off shelves and checked out with such success that it was adapted into a film in 1980, just three years after the book’s release.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick with a script by Diane Johnson, and with an incredible cast of Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, the film was thought to be a set hit. However, upon its release, the film was not a box-office blockbuster. Yet, as the years passed, the film’s audience snowballed. What was once a moderately reviewed film soon garnered a cult audience.
In our current world of remakes and sequels, it’s not completely crazy to ponder a remake of the now-classic film. Given its fame and major audience appeal, it is high time that The Shining is considered for a remake of its own. But who should be cast? I have put together my own dream cast for a modern version of this horror cult classic. See who made the casting call!
Jack Torrance
The father of the story, Jack Torrance, is a huge casting for the project. The actor replacing Jack Nicholson needs to be imposing while still managing some paternal presence. He has to be dynamic in a way where he can switch from intimidating to charming to mad. Jesse Plemons has mastered these dualities and showcased them in his many prior roles. His ability to appear soft and kind and then switch on a dime to be downright evil is show-stopping, which makes him a perfect pick for the part of Jack Torrance.
Wendy Torrance
Wendy is the mother of the family that moves into the hotel. She is a sweet and caring mother and a nice wife. Her ability to manage hotel duties along with her familial position is the centerpiece of her character. The actress that fills this role would need to be a strong actress and a soft foil to Jack himself. Further, she’d have huge shoes to fill after Duvall. Kirsten Dunst is a powerful actress — able to move from dramatic harshness to easygoing niceties. Additionally, given that she’s married to Plemons in real life, that would add a level of familiarity in their characters’ dynamic, which would be perfect for a story about isolation and family.
Danny Torrance
As for the son of Wendy and Jack, Danny would have to be an eerie kid with great acting chops. Despite his young age, Danny has an incredibly powerful role in the story, facing great trauma. The actor to take on this role would need to be able to convey that turmoil as well as portray the confusion he faces with his developing abilities. That’s why I think Oscar Novak from The Batman would be perfect in this role!
Lloyd
The bartender, Lloyd, creates a breath of fresh air in the hotel environment and is a terrible friend to Jack. He takes on a dangerous role as he acts as a lonesome echo chamber for Jack’s maddening thoughts. The actor who plays him would need to be able to pull off oddly unsettling vibes as well as classic bartender charm. For this, Ralph Fiennes would make a great choice. After his role in The Menu, Fiennes truly showcased his ability to perform a nerve-wracking performance as well as slight charm.
Though The Shining is not currently in talks of a remake, it’s not too far out of reach for the horror cult classic. This dream cast would make for a great set of actors for a readaptation, but only time will tell if the Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall original will be redone.
Want to hear more about our ideas for recasts? Definitely read Bookstr’s Our Perfect Dream Recast of the Adored Hunger Games Series.
Shocked at what you learned about the creation of The Shining? Want to learn more? Why not read one of the books on our Bookshop shelf, Did You Know? Bookstr Trivia for Your Curious Bookish Mind.
