Close Encounters of the Third Kind poster
Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Recasting Couch

Close Encounters of the Third Kind The Rewatchables

The hosts keep the director but consider John Cazale, James Brolin, O.J. Simpson, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Nicolas Cage, Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Chadwick Boseman.

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:12Read transcript
  • The panel initially finds no director replacement and briefly proposes John Cazale, James Brolin, or O.J. Simpson for Larry Butler.
  • Tom Hanks is proposed as Roy in a 1987 version.
  • Will Smith is proposed for a 1997 version and questioned as too handsome or heroic.
  • Nicolas Cage is proposed as another 1997 Roy.
  • Richard Gere is considered and rejected as too attractive or too old for the 1997 role.
  • Bruce Willis is considered and rejected as too old for the 1997 role.
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman is proposed for a 2007 version.
  • Chadwick Boseman is proposed for a 2017 version.