The upcoming 2025 release of The Real-Life Simpsons may be the most absurdly ambitious gamble Hollywood has taken to date. This live-action version of the beloved animated sitcom won’t just try to match the cartoon’s surreal style; it will try to match a new order of surrealism that the cartoon itself has long since surpassed.
Judged by the first promotional images, The Real-Life Simpsons will at least take the concepts of weirdness and wacky affability to an unsettlingly human level. As for whether the whole thing will work, suffice to say that it won’t take much for negative verdicts to issue forth from media critics and social media alike.
Let’s dissect this crazy experiment and take a closer look at the casting decisions that have everyone buzzing.
Adam Sandler as Homer Simpson
Choosing Adam Sandler to play Homer Simpson is a no-brainer. Sandler is the ideal person to play the blundering, donut-loving, beer-drinking head of the Simpson family.
The image of Sandler lounging with a beer in one hand and a bag of pork rinds in the other just screams peak Homer energy.
Sandler’s talent for combining cluelessness with sincerity might make him the highlight of the movie. All he needs to do is get down Homer’s signature “D’oh!”
Kristen Wiig as Marge Simpson
Marge Simpson is one of the most polarizing. They nailed the blue hair and green dress. Who would have thought Marge could be captured so well in real life.
The promo shot captures her looking thoughtfully off into the middle distance, perhaps wondering how it is she ended up married to a man like Homer.
With all the humor and heart that Wiig seems to have, she could serve as the emotional anchor of this chaotic ensemble.
Jacob Tremblay as Bart Simpson
Almost too clever by half child star Jacob Tremblay plays Bart Simpson. Tremblay, known for such films as Room and Good Boys, is set up with perfectly spiky hair, a skateboarder’s stance, and a grin that could get him into trouble.
This trailer really doesn’t do a bad job bringing Bart’s infamous brand of rebellion to life. If anyone can make Bart Simpson as endearing as he is exasperating, it would be Tremblay.
You can surely imagine a hard-to-assign-MPAA rating moment involving either an explosive compound or a packet of firecrackers.
Gaten Matarazzo as Milhouse Van Houten
The star of Stranger Things, Gaten Matarazzo, plays Milhouse Van Houten, Springfield’s adorably awkward underdog.
Matarazzo adds Milhouse’s signature blue hair and oversized glasses with astonishing ease. It’s hard to believe he wasn’t always playing that role. The trailer scene of him with a nervous expression shows how he is the perfect role for this part.
McKenna Grace as Lisa Simpson
Lisa Simpson’s brilliance is matched only by the brilliance of McKenna Grace. She is a performer who somehow makes it seem like a path was always laid for an overachiever with more than just a little bit of World Changer in her DNA.
Grace’s fantastic promo image of helping hold a saxophone as it tops a red-dress look suggests just the slightest bit of December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)-ish energy. Yes, Lisa Simpson is headed to Hall H.
Steve Buscemi as Mr. Burns
Montgomery Burns is one of the boldest casting choices and is definitely one of the most spot-on. Buscemi brings the frail physicality and sinister smirk of the power-hungry billionaire to life.
The image of him rubbing his hands together embodies Mr. Burns and his iconic “excellent” pose perfectly. It could not have been played better by anyone else. Buscemi as Mr. Burns is the perfect casting decision, like he’s been auditioning for this part in every role he’s played.
Neil Patrick Harris as Waylon Smithers
Waylon Smithers was undoubtedly born to be a perfect match for Neil Patrick Harris. Smithers has always been a perfect foil for Mr. Burns. He is the kind of idiot savant that unfortunately needs a master.
Who needs a master when you can have a Mister? Harris’ natural charm takes Smithers’ sweetness to a level. And did we mention that he is now a funny little character?
Will Ferrell as Ned Flanders
Will Ferrell’s uncanny metamorphosis into Ned Flanders is borderline unsettling.
Ferrell captures the essence of Homer’s overly perfect neighbor, one can only assume he has been prepping for this role since Anchorman.
And yet, one must ask: will he deliver Flanders’ signature “diddly-dang” catchphrases. He’ll need to nail those unique inflections like “Oh wow, I can’t believe I’m hearing this, but good golly, it sounds awesome!”
Simon Pegg as Lenny Leonard
As Lenny Leonard, one of Homer’s closest drinking buddies, Simon Pegg has a subtle yet brilliant role. Lenny’s laid-back demeanor and dry wit make him a natural fit for the perpetually unlucky Lenny.
The promo shot, which features Pegg nursing a drink with an exasperated expression, suggests he’ll make a seamless transition from uncanny to uncanny valley and, in the process, nail the character’s blend of loyalty and low-key despair.
Jordan Peele as Carl Carlson
Another great casting choice for the movie is Jordan Peele as Carl Carlson. He is well known for his mix of humor and relatability. Plus, it seems to have effortlessly channeled Carl’s easygoing comical nature.
Yet, because casting decisions in animated films can often be somewhat arbitrary, Peele could really nail this role on a bunch of levels being a reliable source of funny.
Ben Stiller as Moe Szyslak
Ben Stiller has been chosen to step into the perpetually grouchy shoes of Moe Szyslak. The dour bartender could hardly have a more inspired actor filling in behind the bar.
Stiller captures Moe’s energy and gets close enough to the character to make you think he’s been serving drinks at Springfield’s grungiest watering hole for a long time, teasing that the filmmakers won’t shy away from Moe’s absurdities.
John C. Reilly as Barney Gumble
Barney Gumble, Moe’s most loyal (and most inebriated) customer, makes for a perfect animated role for John C. Reilly. Reilly mixes pathos and comedy so well, one can almost guarantee a depth of performance from the actor where such might be expected of a real Trinketldigtel.
It’s not Barney’s Love where Gumble shines in a way that might be expected from a drunk. The trailer of Reilly with Gumble’s star appearance glaring over a frothy mug of Duff’s finest.
Kumail Nanjiani as Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
A long-overdue refresh of the Quick-E-Mart proprietor, Kumail Nanjiani as Apu offers a promising break from dated stereotypes and an embrace of a more modern, yet very much still funny, Apu.
Dan Castellaneta’s Apu lacks the precision delivery of a true punchline and the inviting charm saying “Welcome to the Quick-E-Mart!” Instead, Castellaneta’s Apu extols the virtues of the prank call. It’s an odd stance for a character who still holds the audience’s pity at gunpoint when saying, “Please don’t shoot me!”
Zach Galifianakis as Chief Wiggum
Chief Clancy Wiggum, as portrayed by Zach Galifianakis, might just steal the show. With his unkempt beard, bulging belly, and easygoing expression, Wiggum might very well be Springfield’s least competent police officer.
But one gets the feeling that might be what Galifianakis is really going for. He has big shoes to fill with this doughnut-eating, ill-fitting-uniformed, law-enforcement parody. Let’s just hope the former “Between Two Ferns” host doesn’t make Wiggum too competent of a character.
Steve Carell as Principal Seymour Skinner
The role of Principal Seymour Skinner is an awkward one. It is not only the awkwardness of the character, it’s the awkwardness of Steve Carell in the role. Carell can charm, but he can also unnerve with his characters’ strained okayness.
Put Skinner on a path from loving son to principal forced to run a school filled with children who aren’t “obviously smart enough” to do what he says. He has all the authority of a man with no authority, and all the sympathy of a man whose mother clearly made him unbearably uptight.
Danny McBride as Otto Mann
Casting Danny McBride as Otto Mann seems so obvious. I’m actually surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. McBride is well-known for his wild energy in roles like Eastbound & Down. The persona he has developed for those parts is somehow the opposite of what Springfield’s school bus driver gives off.
McBride looks at ease in the promo image as he channels an uncaring, probably stoned Otto. It’s hard to picture McBride playing the bus driver and not having moments where he nearly slows the bus down enough for it to roll backward off a cliff.
Keegan-Michael Key as Dr. Julius Hibbert
Dr. Hibbert feels like a match made in comedic heaven. Keegan-Michael Key is known for his impeccable timing with even the simplest lines that are gut-busters. He appears to reflect the good doctor’s quirky professionalism.
He seems ready to embody Hibbert’s trademark chuckle and bedside manner as his golden role. If Key pulls off what I just described he’ll have captured what makes Hibbert’s humor so distinctive.
Bill Hader as Reverend Timothy Lovejoy
Last but not least, Reverend Lovejoy will get a jolt of new life from Bill Hader. Known for his half-dead and half-maniacal performances, he is a natural for the character who spends so much time being lifeless and mood.
Indeed, the promo image for Lovejoy largely resembles the promo image for Hader’s old Saturday Night Live character, which is to say it looks a little insane. Whether doing real or fake religion, Hader’s Lovejoy could easily be the most memorable character on the show when he’s not overshadowed by the caricature of Springfields cop.
The Movie’s Outlook
When it comes to choosing who will play whom, The Real-Life Simpsons is a full-blown love letter to the quirky, chaotic world of Springfield. And it’s been brought to life by some of the best talents in Hollywood. If the movie lives up to the promise of this trailer, fans might finally get the adaptation they didn’t know they wanted.
From McBride’s goofily genial Otto to Carell’s tense, perpetually on-edge Skinner. They all are casting choices that reflect a commitment to conserving the spirit of the original. And doing this all while adding a fresh shot of live-action energy to Springfield’s most beloved characters. As we all know, a cartoon turned live action runs the risk of not living up to the source material. And its a hard achievement to accomplish.
The Simpsons in Real Life is scheduled to be released in theaters in the summer of 2025. You can be a fan or a critic, it appears it will arrive as one of the decade’s most unique film adaptations.
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