“I never rode shotgun on a hearse before.”
– Steve McQueen / The Magnificent Seven

I could very easily understand it if Tom Cruise’s rumoured remake of The Magnificent Seven never hits the dusty trail. Though you can surely bet that they want to make this movie … and you can surely bet that Western Fans are very interested (there’s a ready-made market out here).

BUT …

The same problems that plague (and guns down) most remakes (of any genre) are in strong evidence:

Mainly, THEY DON’T HAVE THE PEOPLE. Oh yeah, they’ve got all the modern production values … the money … and special effects … etc. BUT … where (oh where) do you find a Director like John Sturges (Gunfight at the OK Corral. Last Train from Gun Hill; Hour of the Gun; Bad Day at Black Rock; Joe Kidd; The Law and Jake Wade, etc) ? or (an inspired script) writing like the previous movie … AND (most importantly) THE CAST to match the previously (great) movie – a Western Classic: Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach. Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Horst Buchholz …

The horrible reality  is … you can’t.

For starters, where do you find a Yul Brynner ????

There ain’t any. He was one of a kind. The Man.

Do you see anybody around who can fill those boots ??

I don’t. But I don’t know everything.

So … OK … let’s not give up so easily. Let’s suppose that these nagging points aren’t going to discourage Tom – and he is planning to go ahead – as I’m sure he will.

Let’s play movie maker then … Casting Director … and try to pull this off.

Here we go …

Number 1: Casting Chris 

This is going to be the hardest role to cast. It makes or breaks the movie even before it hits the screen … or the fan.
I’m supposing (if this really is Tom Cruise‘s project) that Tom is considering playing Yul Brynner‘s role as Chris.

Yeah.

Will that work? Can he pull it off? Mission impossible?

You know, I like Tom Cruise as an actor. Most of his stuff is pretty good – and entertaining.

BUT … really.

Hmmm. But maybe Tom will look things over
and decide to cast somebody else here.
???

or will he bravely shave his head and brazenly ride forward !?!
???

IF he does decide to cast someone else here …
then who ??

Is there a Star around with the charisma, power and presence of Yul Brynner ??

 What do you think ??

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Let’s see you part this sea Amigo!