Both the worlds of television and film are no strangers to remaking and rebooting preexisting classics, with Hollywood constantly revamping beloved shows and flicks. Curious minds can’t help but want to see if the new installment will do justice to the original material, and moviegoers often experience a mixed bag response to such reimaginings. When stars from the original project pop up in the remakes, movie magic is truly created for fans.
From wholesome Disney hits like Mulan and The Parent Trap to critically-acclaimed masterpieces such as Cape Fear and West Side Story, the cinema has been home to some seriously spectacular renditions of bona fide classics. Here are 10 movie remakes that brought back original cast members.
10 Cape Fear
Gregory Peck & Robert Mitchum
Hollywood heavy hitters Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum delivered exceptional performances when they portrayed men on opposite sides of the law in the 1962 noir psychological thriller Cape Fear.
The spine-tingling picture centers on Georgia attorney Sam Bowden (Peck) as he and his family are ruthlessly targeted by violent sex-offender and lethal criminal Max Cady (Mitchum) after the lawyer testified against him in court and helped lead to his conviction. The pair engage in a taut cat-and-mouse game that eventually hits a terrifying climax.
Hollywood Legends Reunite
Martin Scorsese enlisted his frequent collaborator Robert De Niro to portray Cady and headline the 1991 remake of Cape Fear, which also features the talents of Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis.
Both Peck and Mitchum joined the updated installment as new characters, with the former actor appearing as Cady’s lawyer Lee Heller and Mitchum starring as Lieutenant Elgart. Peck ended up retiring from acting the same year the thriller was released, while Mitchum’s final on-screen appearance was in 1997, the same year he passed away.
9 The Parent Trap
Joanna Barnes
Hayley Mills tricked moviegoers everywhere when she took on the dual role of teenage twin sisters Sharon McKendrick and Susan Evers in the 1961 romantic comedy The Parent Trap, which focuses on the scheming siblings as they set out to reunite their divorced parents after years of separation, deciding to switch places in their plot to bring their family back together.
Joanna Barnes was fantastically wicked when she starred as Vicky Robinson, the gold-digging, child-hating woman who wants to marry the twins’ father for money.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
In Nancy Meyers’ directorial debut and the 1998 remake of the movie, Linsday Lohan launched her Hollywood career when she starred as Hallie Parker and Annie James, starring opposite Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson in the feel-good flick.
Elaine Hendrix memorably took over duties as the diabolical Meredith Blake, with Barnes briefly appearing as Meredith’s mother Vicki Blake (a nod to her character in the original film); she is the only cast member who returned for the ’90s remake.
8 West Side Story
Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno made film history when she took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her spectacular work in the acclaimed ’60s musical West Side Story. Moreno starred alongside Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer in the spellbinding retelling of Shakespeare’sRomeo and Juliet, portraying the role of Anita and showcasing her impressive singing and dancing skills as the vivacious character. In Steven Spielberg’s 2021 adaptation of the musical, Moreno appeared as a new character named Valentina, a drug store owner’s widow.
Moreno’s Sensational Musical Return
Not only did Moreno deliver a knockout performance as Valentina but she also served as an executive producer for the stunning remake, and it went on to receive seven Oscar nominations (with Ariana Debose similarly winning Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anita). In a 2021 interview with NPR, Moreno expressed how she was eager to correct the racial stereotypes and mistakes included in the original musical, and how monumental the role was at the time of its release:
“What was important about Anita to me — and still is — is that Anita, believe it or not, was the only part I ever remember where I represented Hispanics in a dignified and positive way. It represented a lot of breakthroughs for young actors of Hispanic origin.”
7 21 Jump Street
Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise
Johnny Depp became a bona fide teen heartthrob when he took on the role of Officer Tom Hanson Jr. in the ’80s crime drama 21 Jump Street, which focuses on a group of young undercover police officers who tackle various assignments and issues plaguing high schools including drug abuse, hate crimes, and alcoholism.
Depp was just 23-years-old when the show debuted, with his popularity and status on the show effectively helping launch his sensational film career after four stellar seasons.
Two For One Cameo Special
Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill headlined the 2012 film adaptation, with 21 Jump Street being retooled to become a buddy cop action comedy instead of a drama. Both original stars Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise reprised their roles as Tom Hanson and Doug Penhall, making uncredited cameos and dazzling moviegoers with their nostalgia-fueled unexpected appearances.
The duo clearly enjoyed poking fun at their characters and had a blast on-screen, as did thrilled audiences. Depp only agreed to reprise the role if he could be reunited with his former TV partner-in-crime DeLuise, and he also wanted their characters to get a “definitive end”.
6 Hairspray
Jerry Stiller
The delightfully quirky John Waters wrote and directed the 1988 cult classic comedy Hairspray, which takes place in 1962 Baltimore and stars Ricki Lake as ambitious teenager Tracy Turnblad, who has huge dreams of becoming a dancing sensation and makes it her mission to land a coveted spot in a local teen dance program.
Comedy great Jerry Stiller appeared as Tracy’s supportive and loving father Wilbur Turnblad, who encourages his daughter to pursue her passion every step of the way.
A Phenomenal Remake of an ’80s Classic
Hairspray was adapted into a Broadway musical and in 2007, an adaptation of the stage musical was announced starring a stellar ensemble cast led by John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, and Nikki Blonksy as Tracy. In the bold reimagining, Stiller portrayed dress shop owner Mr. Pinky, who hires Tracy to serve as his spokesgirl for his upscale boutique.
The updated version of Hairspray has since been regarded as one of the finest musicals of the 21st century and earned over $203 million, becoming one of the most commercially and critically successful of all time and a celebrated hit.
5 Mogambo
Clark Gable
Fondly referred to as the “King of Hollywood” throughout his 37-year reign in Tinseltown, Clark Gable is one of the most prominent and memorable performers in all of cinema history.
In 1932, the actor starred alongside fellow silver screen legend Jean Harlow in the romantic drama Red Dust, which takes place at a rubber plantation in present-day Vietnam and chronicles the passionate love affair between foreman Dennis Carson and sultry prostitute Vantine Jefferson; their romance hits a snag when a sophisticated married woman falls for Dennis.
Gable’s Triumphant Return
Not only did Gable return for the remake 21-years-later in 1953, but he also essentially portrayed the same character, albeit with the protagonist being reworked in the updated storyline.
In Mogambo, Gable romanced both Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly in the captivating retelling, with the setting being changed to a remote African outpost and the actor instead portraying big-game hunter Victor Marswell. Mogambo was a smash hit with both critics and audiences and went on to receive two Oscar nominations and a BAFTA nod for Best Film.
4 Get Carter
Michael Caine
For over seven decades, decorated British film icon Michael Caine entertained audiences all across the world with his unforgettable characters and exceptional performances, and in 1971 his stardom was solidified when he starred as Jack Carter in the gangster drama Get Carter.
Adapted from the Ted Lewis novel, the picture centers on the notorious London gangster as he sets out on a bloody quest for revenge after discovering his brother may have been murdered, leaving bodies in his wake.
A Less-Than-Warm Reception
While the original film has gone on to become a cult classic and one of the greatest British movies of all time, the 2000 remake starring Sylvester Stallone did not fare as well with fans and critics. The action star took over the role of Jack Carter and Caine appeared as Cliff Brumby, a shady loan shark who goes toe-to-toe with the titular mobster in the taut thriller.
Caine was initially only going to make a cameo in the remake as a favor to his friend Stallone, but his role was ultimately expanded after a successful screen test between the two actors.
3 Star Trek
Leonard Nimoy
For nearly fifty years, the late and great Leonard Nimoy memorably portrayed the brilliant half-Vulcan/half-human Spock in the fan-favorite sci-fi universe Star Trek.
He first originated the unforgettable character in 1966 in the groundbreaking television series, and would go on to appear as Spock in countless TV shows and films while subsequently establishing himself as one of the most recognizable stars on the small screen. Nimoy joined Zachary Quinto and starred as the exceptional Vulcan in J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot Star Trek.
Nimoy’s Spectacular Return as Spock
Writer Robert Orci felt that getting Nimoy to join the flick was extremely important and he wanted to incorporate the veteran actor in a respectful and meaningful way, utilizing time travel and an alternate reality to do so.
Nimoy once again sported the Vulcan salute and starred as Spock Prime in the reimagining, agreeing to reprise the character after becoming emotionally moved by his meeting with producers. Nimoy would later reveal of the sit-down: “This is the first and only time I ever had a filmmaker say, ‘We cannot make this film without you and we won’t make it without you.'”
Nimoy appeared in Star Trek and briefly in its 2013 sequel Star Trek Into Darkness, retiring the transcending icon shortly thereafter due to both his age and desire to allow Quinto a chance to truly make the character his own. When asked what it was like working with the revered actor, Abrams called Nimoy “the greatest” and stated:
“He was amazing. It was the weirdest thing, I knew I was going to be working with Nimoy, but the first day…it was surreal to direct him as Spock, because what the hell am I doing there? This guy has been doing it for forty years. It’s like “I think Spock would…”
2 Mulan
Ming-Na Wen
Ming-Na Wen took home numerous accolades including an Annie Award when she voiced the titular legendary warrior in Disney’s Mulan, a gorgeous retelling of the spectacular life and legacy of the Chinese folk heroine who boldly disregarded tradition and the law when she went to war for her aging father and disguised herself as a man to serve her country.
Wen worked alongside fellow stars Eddie Murphy and B.D. Wong in the beloved animated masterpiece, with fellow Disney alum Lea Salonga providing the singing voice of the revered character.
From One Mulan to the Next
In 2020, a live-action adaptation of Mulan starring Yifei Liu as the eponymous warrior premiered, though the musical element was removed and it became more of a fantasy drama.
Though fans of the original animated film were less-than-thrilled with the liberties taken in the remake, they were excited when Wen popped up in a cameo as an esteemed guest who introduces Mulan to the Emperor. The actress was also touched that director Niki Caro and producer Jason Reed pushed for her brief-yet-meaningful appearance, telling Entertainment Weekly:
“It was incredibly surreal and so much fun to see this animation that I’ve been a part of for over two decades come to life. With the throne room and all the characters, it was really magical. For me, it was really just being present and representing where it all began with Disney.”
1 The Longest Yard
Burt Reynolds
Pop culture icon and acting great Burt Reynolds starred as a gifted former NFL quarterback who after being sent to prison for 18 months is forced to assemble a misfit football team of prisoners in the ’70s sport dramedy The Longest Yard.
Paul “Wrecking” Crewe and his fellow inmates go toe-to-toe with the prison’s guards, using the game as a way to get out their aggression and anger towards the authority figures. The engrossing film went on to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and is now a certified sports classic.
Reynolds Brings His Signature Swagger
In the 2005 remake of the ’70s hit, funny man Adam Sandler took on Reynolds’ role as Crewe and the veteran actor starred as his mentor Coach Nate Scarborough, who was previously played by Michael Conrad in the original flick. Though the remake grossed over $191 million and earned an A- CinemaScore from audiences, critics weren’t overly impressed with the interpretation, yet fans were nonetheless ecstatic that Reynolds had a prominent role in the rebooted installment.
