Recasting 2025 (supporting): "Weapons"

When I completed my original recasting project in 2021, and then the supporting series a year later, both of the final entries were roles that won the original actress an Oscar. Perhaps it's fitting that I conclude this updated series with Weapons. The great Amy Madigan of course secured the supporting win for her thrilling performance as Aunt Gladys.

With the exception of my recasting addendum to include The Silence of the Lambs, I don't think I've selected a horror film for this series. Or really anything that's sort of supernatural in theme. But I just couldn't pass up this role. The premise of the movie is that all but one kid from an entire class disappears at the same time in the middle of the night, running from their homes with their arms spread wide. It turns out that Aunt Gladys, who is a witch, had been invited to the home of Alex (the lone child who did not run away) by his parents, only to bewitch them and to force Alex to collect items from his classmates for Aunt Gladys to then bewitch the kids, effectively feeding off their energy. There are a handful of side stories that all play out from different characters' points of view (Julia Garner as the class's teacher, Josh Brolin as the determined father of one of the missing children), with the story culminating in Aunt Glady's ritual being used against her and the kids all ripping her to pieces. 

One of the creepiest things is when someone you know or suspect is sinister acts almost excessively nicely. It's a manipulative and disarming tactic that so often works because other people have such a hard time being anything close to unkind to them, even if they're suspicious of said person's intentions. Madigan showcases this brilliantly in her interaction with the principal (Benedict Wong). One thing I'll mention is that we know Meryl isn't historically thrilled with portraying witches. Although she played the Witch in Into the Woods, she has stated that since it's a Sondheim musical it's a "complicated" witch, and therefore okay to play, versus the "oh I'm over 40 now, women are old and ugly after that age so these are the parts I'm going to get offered" kind of witch. Aunt Gladys is a little bit of the latter, but I'd argue that her character, particularly in the context of this story, has more layers to her beyond simply wanting to hurt people. I'm reminded of a Vanity Fair interview from writer/director Zach Cregger, where he stated that he gave Madigan the option of choosing between two options for Gladys's origin: 

...one where she was a regular person using witchcraft to prevent her dying from an incurable condition, and one where she was instead an immortal creature performing an approximate simulacrum of a human being, but that he did not ask her which one she chose.

I think Meryl could empathize with the former example; a human being trying to extend her life by whatever means she knows, even if it happens to hurt others. That could be an interesting complication to try to work out in a character. I of course don't know which version Madigan chose (I don't know if she's ever commented on it), but if I were to guess, I imagine it was the human example. 

Weapons did extremely well with critics (93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic). The box office receipts were rather staggering as well, grossing $270 million worldwide against a $38 million budget. Horror sort of feels like it's having an auteur resurgence in recent years, which makes the prospect of the news from about a year ago at this time about director JT Mollner having penned a horror script for Meryl. Given the right character, I would be thrilled to see Meryl cast in a true, smart horror film. 

Below you can see the full updated lists of both lead and supporting recasting selections, including the number of roles originated by specific actresses. Hopefully I'll update again in another five years!

Lead:

1976: Hester Street (Gitl) 

1977: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Jillian Guiler) 

1978: Julia (Julia) 

1979: The Rose (Mary Rose Foster) 

1980: American Gigolo (Michelle Stratton) 

1981: Reds (Louise Bryant) 

1982: Frances (Frances Farmer) 

1983: Romancing the Stone (Joan Wilder) 

1984: A Passage to India (Adela Quested) 

1985: Agnes of God (Dr. Martha Livingston) 

1986: Crimes of the Heart (Rebecca Magrath/Babe Botrell) 

1987: Anna (Anna) 

1988: Gorillas in the Mist (Dian Fossey) 

1989: Dangerous Liaisons (Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil) 

1990: The Grifters (Lilly Dillon) 

1991: Fried Green Tomatoes (Evelyn Couch) 

1992: Blue Sky (Carly Marshall) 

1993. The Piano (Ada McGrath) 

1994: Dolores Claiborne (Dolores Claiborne) 

1995: Copycat (Helen Hudson) 

1996: Dead Man Walking (Sister Helen Prejean) 

1997: As Good as It Gets (Carol Connelly) 

1998: Primary Colors (Susan Stanton) 

1999: American Beauty (Carolyn Burnham) 

2000: Requiem for a Dream (Sara Goldfarb) 

2001: The Contender (Laine Billings Hanson) 

2002: In the Bedroom (Ruth Fowler) 

2003: Panic Room (Meg Altman) 

2004: Vera Drake (Vera Drake) 

2005: Elizabeth I (Queen Elizabeth I) 

2006: Notes on a Scandal (Barbara Covett) 

2007: Frozen River (Ray Eddy) 

2008: Grey Gardens (Edith Bouvier Beale) 

2009: The Last Station (Sophia Tolstaya) 

2010: The Kids Are All Right (Nicole Allgood) 

2011: The Debt (Rachel Singer) 

2012: Saving Mr. Banks (P.L. Travers) 

2013: The Hundred-Foot Journey (Madame Mallory) 

2014: Olive Kitteridge (Olive Kitteridge) 

2015: Hello, My Name is Doris (Doris Miller) 

2016: Julieta (Julieta) 

2017: Feud (Joan Crawford) 

2018: The Wife (Joan Castleman) 

2019: Catherine the Great (Catherine the Great) 

2020: Nomadland (Fern)

2021: Mass (Linda)

2022: Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (Ada Harris)

2023: Nyad (Diana Nyad)

2024: The Room Next Door (Martha)

2025: The Summer Book (Grandmother)

Roles by originating actress:

Helen Mirren (5)

Jessica Lange (4)

Kathy Bates (2)

Anette Bening (3)

Glenn Close (3)

Frances McDormand (2)

Sissy Spacek (2)

Emma Thompson (2)

Sigourney Weaver (2)

Joan Allen (1)

Ellen Burstyn (1)

Judy Davis (1)

Judi Dench (1)

Ann Dowd (1)

Melinda Dillon (1)

Sally Field (1)

Jane Fonda (1)

Jodie Foster (1)

Helen Hunt (1)

Holly Hunter (1)

Anjelica Huston (1)

Lauren Hutton (1)

Carole Kane (1)

Diane Keaton (1)

Sally Kirkland (1)

Melissa Leo (1)

Lesley Manville (1)

Bette Midler (1)

Vanessa Redgrave (1)

Susan Sarandon (1)

Imelda Staunton (1)

Emma Suárez (1)

Tilda Swinton (1)

Kathleen Turner (1)

Supporting:

1976: Marathon Man (Elsa Opel) 

1977: Jesus of Nazareth (Mary the mother of Jesus) 

1978: Coming Home (Vi Munson) 

1979: All that Jazz (Angelique, The Angel of Death) 

1980: Ragtime (Mother) 

1981: On Golden Pond (Chelsea Thayer Wayne) 

1982: Annie (Grace Farrell) 

1983: The Big Chill (Meg Jones) 

1984: Witness (Rachel Lapp)

1985: Clue (Miss Scarlet)

1986: The Clan of the Cave Bear (Iza) 

1987: Empire of the Sun (Mrs. Victor)

1988: Working Girl (Katharine Parker) 

1989: Parenthood (Helen Buckman)

1990: Goodfellas (Karen Hill) 

1991: The Prince of Tides (Lila Wingo Newbury) 

1992: Damage (Ingrid Thompson-Fleming)

1993: In the Name of the Father (Gareth Peirce)

1994: Bullets Over Broadway (Helen Sinclair) 

1995: Rob Roy (Mary MacGregor) 

1996: The Birdcage (Louise Keeley)

1997: The Ice Storm (Janey Carver)

1998: Pleasantville (Betty Parker) 

1999: Tea with Mussolini (Elsa Morganthal Strauss-Armistan)  

2000: Almost Famous (Elaine Miller) 

2001: The Royal Tenenbaums (Etheline Tenenbaum) 

2002: White Oleander (Ingrid Magnussen)

2003: The Station Agent (Olivia Harris)

2004: Sideways (Maya)

2005: Alexander (Queen Olympias)

2006: Children of Men (Miriam)

2007: Hairspray (Velma Von Tussle)

2008: Rachel Getting Married (Abby Buchman)

2009: Animal Kingdom (Janine "Smurf" Cody) 

2010: The Fighter (Alice Ecklund-Ward)

2011: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Harriet Vanger)

2012: Mildred Pierce (Lucy Gessler) 

2013: Top of the Lake (GJ)

2014: Snowpiercer (Minister Mason) 

2015: Trumbo (Hedda Hopper) 

2016: The Wizard of Lies (Ruth Madoff)

2017: I, Tonya (LaVona Golden) 

2018: Sharp Objects (Adora Crellin)

2019: The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Marilyn Miglin) 

2020: Succession (Nan Pierce)

2021: Mare of Eastown (Helen Fahey)

2022: Everything Everywhere All at Once (Deirdre Beaubeirdre)

2023: Women Talking (Agata Friesen)

2024: Queer (Dr. Cotter)

2025: Weapons (Aunt Gladys)

Roles by originating actress:

Michelle Pfeiffer (3) 

Dianne Wiest (3) 

Patricia Clarkson (2) 

Jessica Lange (2) 

Melissa Leo (2) 

Miranda Richardson (2) 

Sigourney Weaver (2) 

Joan Allen (1) 

Lorraine Bracco (1) 

Cher (1) 

Jamie Lee Curtis (1) 

Pam Ferris (1) 

Jane Fonda (1) 

Holly Hunter (1) 

Olivia Hussey (1) 

Anjelica Huston (1) 

Judith Ivey (1)

Allison Janney (1) 

Angelina Jolie (1) 

Cherry Jones (1) 

Marthe Keller (1) 

Judith Light (1) 

Amy Madigan (1)

Virginia Madsen (1) 

Lesley Manville (1)

Frances McDormand (1) 

Kelly McGillis (1) 

Penelope Milford (1) 

Helen Mirren (1) 

Mary Kay Place (1) 

Pamela Reed (1) 

Ann Reinking (1) 

Joely Richardson (1) 

Jean Smart (1) 

Mary Steenburgen (1) 

Tilda Swinton (1) 

Emma Thompson (1) 

Lesley Ann Warren (1) 

Debra Winger (1) 

Jackie Weaver (1)