If you haven’t checked out The League of Extraordinary Bloggers, it’s a great way to discover some great new sites. Their weekly topics are always entertaining and inventive. This week, the assignment is to reboot and recast one of your favorite movies.
Last December marked the 25th anniversary of the theatrical release of ¡Three Amigos! While I would likely cringe at the news of a pending reboot, it can be fun to speculate. A sequel with the original actors would be best, although it seems highly unlikely.
According to this article on moviehole.net:
Martin Short has stated that he would love to participate in a ¡Three Amigos! sequel. During the Comedy Central Roast of Chevy Chase, Steve Martin joked about being on a ¡Three Amigos! sequel set. Chase has commented on Amigos recently, saying it was his favorite movie to be a part of.
While all of this speculation has certainly peaked Amigos fans’ collective interest, the reality is that Hollywood has gone in a much different direction with treasured classics recently, the way of the reboot. If the Amigos franchise is dusted off for any reason in the near future, it would likely be remade, not given a sequel.
Some speculate that the 2008 film Tropic Thunder was a thinly veiled remake of ¡Three Amigos!, following many of the same plotlines and story points. However, for the purposes of this article, I’m talking about those darn Amigos, the unmistakable mariachi-clad trio of unwitting do-gooders themselves.
DISCLAIMER: I in NO WAY want this to happen, but let’s prepare for the worst and make the best of it..
If Amigos is greenlit for a reboot, who could occupy the lead roles? Here are some possibilities:
Lucky Day
Originally played by Steve Martin, he is the de-facto leader of the Amigos. His focus is singular: look out for himself, but make sure not to be obvious about it, and try to help others along the way if it’s convenient.
My choice:
Thomas Lennon
Reno 911!’s Lt. J. Dangle has experience being the leader of a group of ne’er do wells who are too dysfunctional and self-concerned to effectively protect and serve. He has a natural charm that is reminiscent of Martin, and is deserving of a title role to elevate his star status.
Dusty Bottoms
Chevy Chase’s character was along for the ride, typically one step behind his fellow Amigos but always quick with a one-liner. Height is a must, as the iconic image of the Amigos in a line performing their extended salute must maintain the tall-to-short asymmetry.
My choice:
Will Ferrell
I’m sure I am not alone in thinking this role has Will Ferrell written all over it. He might even be able to help the director choose some primo shooting locales fresh off of Casa de mi Padre. Picture his character from 2010’s The Other Guys in a mariachi suit. Done. Hmm, now that I think of it, Mark Wahlberg would be an interesting Lucky Day…
Ned Nederlander
Martin Short played Ned, the only Amigo to have a solo film career outside of the ¡Three Amigos! cinematic framework. Ned frequently referenced his roles in other Amigo movies, like “Little Neddy Knickers” and “Little Neddy Goes to War”. Ned was the most serious about getting the job done, which required the Amigos to step up as real-life heroes to save the town of Santa Poco.
My choice:
Paul Rudd
When your script calls for a physically undersized character to draw a line in the sand and take a heroic oversized stand, Rudd is your guy. As unassuming and charming an actor as Hollywood has today, Paul Rudd has also proven to be a valuable player on many comedic teams. An added bonus is his excellent acting rapport with our newly cast Lucky Day (Thomas Lennon) as Rudd guest starred on five episodes of Reno 911! and had a part in Reno 911!: Miami, and his proven buddy-team chemistry with Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
El Guapo
The villain who took the Amigos by surprise (by not being a paid actor) was expertly played by Alfonso Arau, director of 1995’s A Walk in the Clouds. El Guapo was the ring leader of a group of notorious and violent bandits, bent on raiding the innocent town of Santa Poco for their own benefit. Little did they know the people of Santa Poco could sew.
My choice:
Robert Downey Jr.
Amigos is a typical guy’s buddy movie, we have to do something to get the ladies involved. Downey has the chops to play the sarcastic and self-centered bad guy, and the sex appeal to attract female moviegoers. Never would the name “El Guapo” (“The Handsome” in Spanish) be more appropriate.
Who would you cast? Thoughts welcome in the comment section below (after Blue Shadows, of course):
Also, see below for links to other League members’ desired reboots!
Rediscover the 80s is still pushing for that M.A.S.K. reboot! Keep fightin’ the good fight, Jason!
ShezCrafti’s Weird, Campy, Self-Indulgent, In-Joke Masters of the Universe Reboot – “BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL, BRA!”
Green Plastic Squirt Gun remakes Taxi Driver, with Tim Burton at the helm.
Monster Cafe reboots The Earthling
The Dork Horde reboots The Beastmaster!
Shattered gets a reboot from Infinite Hollywood.
More Berenger! Brian from Cool & Collected is ready to reboot Shoot to Kill.
Goodwill Hunting 4 Geeks clearly defines the lines between Sci-Fi and Fantasy in his reboot of Krull.
The Man Who Stares at Toys thinks it’s been a while since we got a gritty Vietnam pic, and reboots Apocalypse Now.
That Figures goes small-to-big screen adaptation and reboots Doctor Who.
Geek Cultural is rebooting The Matrix!
Dex from AEIOU and Sometimes Y reboots Flash Gordon
Team Hellions knocks it out of the park with their reboot of Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
Paxton Holley reboots Clue, one of my favorite movies of all time (as discussed on EP 45 of our podcast)
I do like the idea sequel but it called revenge of invisible sordman son. Danny trejo as El Guapo bastard son and the fast shooting german pilot son played by Woody harrelson. Who will play the invisible sordman son John leguizamo. I like sequel not a remake just like Martin short.
oh man that would be awesome!! Revenge of the Invisible Swordsman’s Son. HAHA!! Great casting too. Thanks for commenting!!
I think I would cast Will Ferrell, Jackk Black and Owen Wilson as the three amigos, as for el guapo I would pull for trejo or Bill Murray
That’s a great cast. Love to see them work together, and great choices for El Guapo!
What a classic movie. It’s one of those ones that has so many quotable lines. But I think my favourite one still has to be the “I’ll fill you so full of lead…..” joke. Much like yourself I hope that nobody ever touches it again. But your casting is pretty good. In particular, if the worst did happen, I’d more than settle for Robert Downey Jr. as El Guapo.
Nice post.
Thanks for reading and commenting – looking forward to reading your reboot this week as well!
I remake Three amigos every time i have a bad reaction to mexican food.Then i flush!
Some interesting choices, Howie. I have to admit I’m unfamiliar with Lennon, so I don’t know whether he’d make a good Lucky Day or not. Ferrell and Rudd I can see as Dusty and Ned; I’m not a big Ferrell fan, but I think if he’s under the heels of a good director he could work. Downey as El Guapo is an inspired choice.
Of course, like you, I’d rather see a sequel than a remake.
Absolutely! I’m guessing Chase would be the big obstacle to a sequel ever happening. Like Murray with Ghostbusters. There’s always one!
fuckin hell your casting choices would be amazing
glad you dug them! I hope it never happens, but if it did I’d be OK with these guys
But what of the best role of all… the unnamed bandito in the bar?! If they put that scene in a reboot, it would be an awesome cameo for someone.
“‘Aye… where’d you get that pretty little gun?!” (to the German pilot)
I’ve never been able to find anything on that actor. But he’s a freakin genius.
“I’ll help ye. But you’re gonna help me first.” The level of thespians in that bar scene is and will always be unmatched
I think we have seen far too many remakes butchering masterpieces already. The Three Amigos has a cult following and that is what has made many low rated movies become great over time. They cannot possibly be remade. We have no interest in seeing any modern stinking actors pooping on the unforgettable flicks. We want the sequel with the REAL actors that made them great.
The problem with Hollywood today is that they think they can just replace a King with a Clown. FUCK HOLLYWOOD. I think Three Amigos 2 could be done using nothing but SLR cameras and a director who is more in tune with film directing.