Recasting Jennifer's Body If It Were Made Today | ScreenRant
Released in 2009, teen horror-comedy Jennifer's Body was originally met with many negative reviews by critics. Though regarded more as shallow rather than scary by some, Jennifer's Body is absolutely adored by fans who have deemed it an ever-enjoyable cult classic.
While it can't be debated that the 2009 film has an incredible cast full of memorable performances, one might wonder if the movie would have had more initial success if it were made today instead. Considering both appearances and past performances, which current actors would fit best as the iconic characters over 10 years later?
8 Needy - Yara Shahidi
Originally played by Amanda Seyfried, Needy is Jennifer's worrisome best friend, a stereotypical nerdy girl, and the story's narrator/protagonist. If Jennifer's Body were made today, Yara Shahidi would be an extraordinary Needy.
Shahidi is probably best known as the main character of Grown-ish, Zoey Johnson. Though Grown-ish takes place in college, her character's teenage years on Black-ish prove that she can excel in a role as a high school girl. Shahidi has the ideal look for Needy as well, a character who is a combination of cute and innocent, but with conniving intentions as well such as when she decides to kill Jennifer.
7 Jennifer - Hunter Schafer
As for the titular character, Jennifer was iconically played by Megan Fox originally. A major aspect of the film is the sex appeal of Jennifer, a high school hot girl who turns into a succubus after a failed virgin sacrifice. Today, one of the best actors for this role would be Hunter Schafer.
Much adored for her stunning looks, Schafer's break-out role as Jules, a fan-favorite Euphoria character, showcases their dynamic acting range that would be much needed for the demonic and desirable character of Jennifer. Plus, Schafer is set to star in an upcoming horror film titled Cuckoo, which proves that she would fit in a teenage horror like Jennifer's Body.
6 Chip - Fred Hechinger
Needy's loser boyfriend, Chip, is one of the most important characters in the story. He is often the middle ground between Needy and Jennifer, and Jennifer's advancements toward him lead the film to its bloody climax.
Star of Eighth Grade and Fear Street, Fred Hechinger would make a more than ideal modern-day Chip. Hechinger's Fear Street character Simon has some evident overlap with Chip, both being high school outsiders. What's more, he is probably the most similar-looking actor today to Chip's original actor, Johnny Simmons.
5 Low Shoulder - The Jonas Brothers
The infamous band of Jennifer's Body, Low Shoulder, are the ones who set the film's narrative into motion after their attempted virgin sacrifice on Jennifer in hopes it will bring them fame and fortune. If made today, it would be iconic if actual band The Jonas Brothers played these characters. All of them have previous acting experience with their Disney Channel show Jonas, but Nick especially has the most related experience thanks to his role in the horror-comedy TV show Scream Queens.
Although The Jonas Brothers were popular and active during the time in which Jennifer's Body was originally released, the band's main audience at the time was a bit too young for the film. However, both the band's following and songwriting have since matured, and now, fans would likely run to theaters to see the brothers reunite on the screen in the wild journey that is Jennifer's Body.
4 Jonas - Charles Melton
Jonas has a small but important role in Jennifer's Body as the school's signature star jock and Jennifer's first victim (that the audience sees, at least). Charles Melton, known for playing jock character Reggie on Riverdale, would do well in this role today.
The way Melton portrays Reggie through both his happy and sad moments on Riverdale proves that he would fit the role well. Although for Jonas, his storyline is much more unfortunate than anything else as he is seduced and murdered by Jennifer after the tragic death of his best friend. Regardless, it would be no surprise to see Melton succeed as this character.
3 Colin - Dylan Minnette
As the story's the emo kid who means well, Colin is yet another one of Jennifer's victims. Known for leading the cast of 13 Reasons Why amongst other projects, Dylan Minnette has done great in troubled high school-aged roles in the past, so he would be a tremendous fit as Colin today.
In real life, Minnette tends to have a more alternative look which gives him great potential to thrive dressed in Colin's signature attire. Plus, Minnette is no stranger to horrors and thrillers, given his role in Don't Breathe, for example.
2 Roman - Cameron Monaghan
Known best for his memorable Shameless character Ian Gallagher, Cameron Monaghan would be a good fit in the role of police cadet Roman, a minor character originally played by Chris Pratt.
Though the role is small, he is quite memorable with his corny and offensive dialogue that sets the tone towards the beginning of the film. On Shameless, Monaghan's character is part of a chronically offensive family, and Monaghan ultimately has an ideal look for the role of Roman.
1 Mr. Wroblewski - Matthew Lillard
J.K. Simmons has an interesting role in Jennifer's Body as Needy and Jennifer's oblivious teacher, Mr. Wroblewski. Today, one of the best actors for this character would be Matthew Lillard.
Mr. Wroblewski is similar to Lillard's recent role in He's All That since they are both high school employees, but the characterization of the role more closely mirrors Lillard's comedically innocent Shaggy in Scooby-Doo. Given the rest of Lillard's filmography, such as with Scream and Twin Peaks, he would definitely fit right into the cult horror hit.