Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball Recasting Couch Gene Hackman is proposed as the coach; Burt Reynolds and Warren Beatty are considered for Jonathan. In the discussion (4) Approx. transcript time · 01:13:01Read transcript Gene Hackman is proposed as a stronger choice for the Houston coach. — Bill Simmons Burt Reynolds is considered for Jonathan because of his athleticism and swagger, though Caan is preferred. — Bill Simmons Robert Redford is rejected as insufficiently credible for the violent athletic role. — Bill Simmons Warren Beatty is considered a plausible alternate lead because of his athletic credibility. — Bill Simmons
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball Half-Assed Internet Research The Munich shoot, the unrealized video game, stunt injuries, and Devo's response In the discussion (5) Approx. transcript time · 01:13:58Read transcript The production is recalled as having shot the arena material in Munich. — Bill Simmons The episode notes that the film uses several operatic pieces whose details can be researched separately. — Bill Simmons A planned 1998 Rollerball video game is reported to have been delayed before its publisher went bankrupt. — Bill Simmons The production is reported to have caused major stunt injuries but no deaths. — Bill Simmons Devo is reported to have responded to the film by writing a corporate anthem. — Bill Simmons
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball Apex Mountain Caan near his apex; invented fictional sports, burning pine trees, and making roller skating look cool: yes In the discussion (8) Approx. transcript time · 01:15:20Read transcript James Caan is placed near his career apex because of his recent run, star status, and the film's commercial performance. — Bill Simmons Rollerball wins the apex for invented fictional sports over Dodgeball. — Bill Simmons Dick Enberg's film apex is rejected in favor of Heaven Can Wait. — Bill Simmons Maud Adams is tentatively placed at her apex here because she was also a major model. — Bill Simmons Norman Jewison's apex is debated among In the Heat of the Night, Moonstruck, and his late-1960s run. — Bill Simmons Houston's sports-city apex is debated against the Hakeem Olajuwon Rockets and the Dan Pastorini-Earl Campbell era. — Bill Simmons John Beck's apex is assigned to his sixty episodes of Dallas, and John Houseman's to The Paper Chase. — Bill Simmons The film wins apexes for burning pine trees and for making roller skating look cool. — Bill Simmons
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball Cruise or Hanks? Tom Cruise as Jonathan In the discussion (2) Approx. transcript time · 01:17:29Read transcript Tom Cruise wins the lead role decisively. — Brian Koppelman Tom Hanks is instead proposed for Bartholomew or, as a younger actor, Moonpie. — Bill Simmons
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball Scorsese or Spielberg? Scorsese In the discussion (1) Approx. transcript time · 01:18:00Read transcript Martin Scorsese is selected over Steven Spielberg without an additional stated rationale. — Bill Simmons
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball What role would Philip Seymour Hoffman play? A younger Bartholomew, though no perfect fit In the discussion (2) Approx. transcript time · 01:18:00Read transcript A younger Bartholomew is the tentative Philip Seymour Hoffman role. — Brian Koppelman The panel also says the film lacks an obvious showy part for Hoffman. — Brian Koppelman
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball Picking Nits Unclear penalty rules and no gambling lines In the discussion (3) Approx. transcript time · 01:18:38Read transcript The panel questions which violent acts count as penalties before the rules are removed. — Brian Koppelman The film's failure to explain that violence is legal during play is criticized as requiring more commentary from the announcer. — Brian Koppelman The absence of gambling lines is criticized despite the sport existing in a period with established sports betting. — Bill Simmons
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake A prestige series In the discussion (2) Approx. transcript time · 01:21:10Read transcript A prestige television adaptation is endorsed because the political and corporate world could support a contemporary series. — Bill Simmons The failed remake is blamed for scaring people away from the property. — Bill Simmons
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball Is This Movie Better With…? Norm Macdonald and John Cazale In the discussion (3) Approx. transcript time · 01:21:41Read transcript Norm Macdonald is the favored addition as a game commentator. — Bill Simmons John Cazale is proposed as Jonathan's concerned ally after the confrontation with Bartholomew. — Bill Simmons Meryl Streep is proposed in place of Maud Adams, with the possibility of adding both Streep and Cazale. — Brian Koppelman
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball Just One Oscar Production design In the discussion (2) Approx. transcript time · 01:23:29Read transcript Production design wins the film's single Oscar for creating the future and arena. — Bill Simmons Stunt work is proposed as an alternative once the panel notes that the award now exists. — Bill Simmons
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball Probably Unanswerable Questions Jonathan's surname, advanced statistics, possible androids, and team ownership In the discussion (6) Approx. transcript time · 01:23:41Read transcript The panel asks whether Jonathan E.'s surname might be Evans based on a line heard at the party. — Bill Simmons The panel asks how advanced statistics would change strategy if Rollerball continued for another fifty years. — Bill Simmons Injuring opponents and finding better swoopers are proposed as possible analytical advantages. — Brian Koppelman Two lines prompt a theory that the players may be androids repeatedly rebuilt without knowing it. — Brian Koppelman Moonpie's coma is raised as a possible flaw in the android theory. — Brian Koppelman The panel asks whether the Dolan family owns New York's Rollerball team. — Bill Simmons
Rollerball · The Rewatchables ·August 12, 2025 Rollerball The Andy and Red – Zihuatanejo Award for What Happens the Next Day? Jonathan's survival may lead to a players union or collapse the society. In the discussion (2) Approx. transcript time · 01:27:09Read transcript Jonathan's survival is predicted to lead to a players union, benefits, and limits on changing rules before major games. — Bill Simmons The final may end Rollerball and bring down the corporate society entirely. — Bill Simmons
