Alfred Hitchcock In The 21st Century: Who Would He Cast In His Movies Today?!

Imagine if Alfred Hitchcock had been born 50 years later than he was and the legendary “Master of Suspense” were still alive today making award-winning films with star-studded casts left and right. There is no denying that his profound body of work has stood the test of time and should never fall victim to any sort of adaptation from another director. Hitchcock’s work should truly be singular to Hitchcock’s vision.

For those of you who may need a refresher, Alfred Hitchcock was an English film director, producer, and screenwriter. Over the six decades of his extensive career, he directed 61 feature films, earned himself a whopping 46 Academy Award nominations, and garnered six wins. Hitchcock paved the way for the suspense and psychological thriller genres, pioneering the usage of a camera to mimic a person’s gaze, framing shots in ways that maximized anxiety for audience members, and developing twisting endings and thrilling plots absorbed in violence, murder, and crime.

However, it’s fun to imagine what his films would look like had they been made today and who would star in them. Here’s who we think should be cast if these three iconic films had they been directed by Alfred Hitchcock today!

1. Psycho (1960)

It’s difficult to imagine anyone other than Anthony Perkins playing the role of Norman Bates. When casting this film, Hitchcock made the deliberate decision to cast a young, good-looking, charming actor for the part in order to lull the audience into a sense of safety (a departure from the Norman Bates in the book Psycho, who was creepy right off the bat). So, if Hitchock were making this film today and chose his leading man based on the same criteria, who would he choose? There's no doubt that Hitch would probably turn to someone like Adam Driver -- he has the looks, the chops, and the ability to play both charismatic AND creepy. Plus he exhibits the same sort of awkward charm that Perkins had.

2. Vertigo (1958)

Okay this one is easy -- Jake Gyllenhaal and Rosamund Pike to fill the shoes of James Stewart and Kim Novak. Both have played their fair share of complex characters and definitely are no strangers to the thriller genre. Whether it be Gyllenhaal’s intense detective character in Prisoners (2013) or his uncomfortably eerie character in Nightcrawler (2014), he’s the perfect match for a modern take of detective Scottie. As far Rosamund Pike goes, nobody can deny her skills when it comes to portraying mysterious women. For anyone who’s seen Gone Girl (2014), my case has already been made. Not to mention the shocking similarity between Pike and Novak. They’re practically doppelgängers!

3. Notorious (1946)

Lastly, two actors we’d love to see tackle the roles that the iconic Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant did so well are Harry Styles and Vanessa Kirby. Just thinking about this combo gives me chills. The dark, slicked back hair with a classic side part and side sweep is a look we already know Harry has mastered (and leaves no crumbs). Although he doesn’t have the largest filmography attached to his name, the man is a natural performer and tackled his role of a terrified (and handsome) soldier well in Dunkirk (2017). Not to mention his upcoming thriller/drama film, Don’t Worry Darling, where he will be starring alongside Florence Pugh. Vanessa Kirby was exquisite in the first two seasons of “The Crown” playing the elegant but tragic character of Princess Margaret. Not only does she fit the appearance, she also fits the caliber of actor ready to tackle the role of a seductive and tactful Nazi spy.

What modern-day actors do you think Hitchcock would cast in his films?