Bewitched, the Movie, Casting

I was called "Darrin" [Jen, Darrin Stephens was spelled with an "i" and not an "e"] by a pair of girls in high school because I resembled Dick York (the first Darrin). It was not, regretably, a endearing salutation in use. Now, however, I'm strangely fond of the name as well as the show.

Interestingly, both Darrins were played by "Dicks" -- Dick York and then Dick Sargeant. Sargeant was originally offered the role but was unable to take it because he was under contract.

Although I love Will Ferrell (and think he is one of the few SNL alums with a broad range of ability), it is tough seeing him as Darrin. Willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I think Chris Eigeman would be a perfect choice for Darrin. Eigeman is known from the Whit Stillman trilogy of movies --"Metropolitan" , "Barcelona", and "Last Days of Disco" -- as well as "Kicking and Screaming" and recently on "Gilmore Girls".

i really really hate jim carrey. not as a human being, as a brand. jim carrey: the mark of mediocrity.

I was thinking some combination of Jerry Stiller-Estelle Harris or Jerry Stiller-Anne Meara for the Kravitzes.

Or what about Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman.

I think Anthony Hopkins as Maurice, Samantha's father would be perfect.

I don't think Chris Eigeman would be best for the role. Although he does sort of look like Dick York, he also looks profoundly snotty and unlikable, instead of like a bumbling everyman, which the role needs.

the mom from that 70's show (debra jo rupp who plays kitty forman)should be mrs. kravitz, and i think endorra should be played by christine baranski (from cybill and the bird cage and that new show with the dude from night court)

How about Bernard Fox as Dr. Bombay? He is still one of the few kicking around. Kasey Rogers could either reprise Louise Tate or have a cameo. Dabney Coleman would be great as Larry Tate! Betty White as Aunt Clara. I agree with Shirley MacLaine as Endora. I thought about Bette Midler for Gladys Kravitz. Uncle Arthur would naturally be played by Jim J. Bullock.

Didn't like the thought of Will Ferrell at first, but stacked up against the tired old routine of Jim Carrey, I had to breathe a sigh of relief.

I am going to be first in line for this one!!

I would like to let the producers of th Bewitched movie that the perfect actor for Darren would be Jim Carrey. Carrey looks like Darren and would be better for thatt role than Will Ferrell.

I would like to let the producers of the Bewitched movie that the perfect actor for Darren would be Jim Carrey. Carrey looks like Darren and would be better for that role than Will Ferrell.

I can't believe so many feel as I do on this! I didn't realize casting had already been decided so my comment may be late. But if not: please hear comments, Producers: Will Ferrell is NOT Darren - he'd be a far better Larry Tate. I can't believe the obvious (Jim Carrey) wasn't given the role hands-down. I'm so glad to see everyone unanimously (almost) believes in Shirley MacLaine as Endora -- that has been my feelings for so many years. Please cast her in that spot! And Steve Martin would be a wonderful Uncle Arthur with Betty White as Aunt Clara! Perfection on its way - can't wait. I really believe in Jim Carrey as Darrin though - I will be greatly disappointed by Will Ferrell - I see him more of a Dick Sargent Darrin than a Dick York Darrin, and Dick York was the superior of the two.

jim carrey as darrin is perfection in casting. I am a total bewitched fan and dick york fan and jim could do it so well. The man is able to make all the facial expressions that made dick york so well loved as darrin.
Steve martin would be a good larry tate,shirley maclaine as endora....anthony hopkins as maurice,
jack nicholson as dr. bombay, get back 2 u on the rest.
I was so excited about this movie, if they have really cast will ferrel I will be so disappointed.
Like the guy, but he can't do darrin.
But NO ONe can replace dick york or liz montgomery.

I don't know if anyone shall ever read this or not but I shall type it anyways. I have for the last couple of days (in Dec 2003) been reading some 'Bewitched' web sites. They make very interesting reading. I live in The UK in a place called Sheffield (which for people who may like outside the UK is where the film 'The Full Monty' was filmed and where the film actor Shaun Bean is from. But I digress, why I really want to write this is because I am now 39 and in the seventies I used to go to a Sunday school. It was not a traditional Sunday school but one where people went on Sundays who spoke English as a second language and these tutorial were in a school and held on Sundays so it was a kinda Sunday school I suppose, with no religious teaching. Anyway, although I was born in the UK and English is my first language, my father was not born in the Uk and he used to go to improve his spelling and vocabulary and I used to accompany him and I also used to get grammer lessons so my grammer improved exceptionally in the years I went there. Anyway, why am I telling you all this? Well, there was one teacher who (to me at the time..and I may have been 8 or 9 years old) looked just like Elizabeth Montgomery and I knew she did instantly. The men who went there (and they were all men except for me and my sister as the other guys did not take their children) did not know abt Bewitched and I just LOVED to be taught by this lady and while I was reading some of these Bewitched web sites all these old feelings came back about this lady that taught me. Not only that, but seeing how beautiful Elizabeth Montgomery was in those series and with re-runs in the UK I must say that if or when they make a film of Bewitched I agree with Col.G and Chryl that Jim Carrey should be Darrin and Nicole Kidman should play Samantha. Anyway, I thought I would share that with all of you. If you do read this these are just the incoherent ramblings of a middle aged man harking back to a past life that has gone forever..but the thoughts are still there. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Glad to see someone else besides me thought of Edie McClurg to play Gladys Kravitz!! Okay, for those of you scratching your heads and wondering "who the hell is Edie McClurg"? She played the bubbly neighbor Mrs. Poole in the sitcom "The Hogan Family". Haven't seen her in ages, but she reminds me of the late Sandra Gould. I'm not a fan of Will Ferrell's, but will definately be in line to see this movie. Hope it won't be a disappointment for us die-hard Bewitched fans! Hey!!! Wouldn't it be hysterical if half way through the movie they replaced Will Ferrell with Jim Carrey and didn't acknowledge it in the storyline??????

Have you ever seen, or heard of the 9 year old actress, Dakota Fanning? Shes played in "Uptown Girls," "I am Sam." Well her 4 year old sister, Ellie, is so cute, she has played in "Daddy Daycare," and I think she'd be so perfect to play Tabitha!

What a great treat for a great show that boomers grew up with and so loved. Nicole Kidman as Samantha, Jim Carrey as Darrin, Patrick Stewart as Maurice, Richard Kind as Uncle Arthur, Shirley McLaine as Endora, Betty White as Aunt Clara, Dabney Coleman as Larry Tate, Randy Quaid as Mr. Kravitz, unknown for Gladys Kravitz, Robin Williams as Dr. Bombay, Uma Thurman as Esmerelda. Hollywood must be careful in the casting on this one to pull this off.

I'll put money on the fact that Carrey plays Darrin for the first half of the movie, and Farrell for the second half- just like in the series....

and this whole first jim, now not, now we're talking to will, is a farce to a) cover up what they're doing.. and B) make fun of what happened in the original series...

Anyone wanna bet?

K

Please do not cast Will Ferrell. I cannot stand looking at him. He definately doesn't even look like a Darrin. Either Jim Carey or find an unknown but please not him.

Personally I thought up the cast for this movie in 1995. Originally I thought Jenny Macarthy would make an excellant Samantha, and that Jim Carry would have to be Darrin. Shirley Maclain as Endora and Patrick Stewart as Maurice. Of course Elizabeth Taylor would cameo as an Aunt like Hekuba, etc. Jim J. Bullock would be Uncle Arthor. Dabney Coleman as Larry Tate, and Edie McClurg as Mrs. Kravitz.(duh)
It took some thought to wrap my brain around the concept of Nicole Kidman as Samantha, but now I love the idea, and Will Ferral would be brilliant.

I'd like to add one thing for my previous entry (I'm the same Matt from above). I think that Patrick Stewart would make a good Maurice. Either him or Anthony Hopkins.

hi, there just checking out this site on my birthday today 3/11/68 My mom told me that
I was named after the Darrin on bewitched.

I have so many strange things that have happened
to me over the years/looking back its allmost
scary.

for instance, i dont watch tv much at all, usually like at a hotel while traveling,
My wife first clued me into this,that
the same ( oh i better not say this)..
happen'd 2 me.

any ways i have ben luckey, very luckey and
today 311 march 11 i turn 36,I know someone
reading this will understand,but yet i dont
want to take energy away or curse my self lol.
plus there are no words to describe.
Just wanted to say: thanks for the Name Dad,Your son Darrin

I think the eyebrow expressions of Samantha, (Elizabeth Montgomery) were key to the character, and I do not believe that Nichole could pull this off.I agree Meg Ryan has that quality to a certain degree. No matter who you cast, and saying this I would see the movie, it would be a one week box-office splendor, like the Cat in The Hat thing. Quickly forgotten, with true fans returning to 1970 and the real show.

Since I saw Jim Carrey in "Once Bitten", I hoped they would do a movie on "Bewitched." He reminded me so much of Dick York with all his antics and facial expressions, and Dick York was awesome as Darrin. I didn't and still don't watch the shows without Dick York, so I guess I want be going to see this movie now that it won't have Jim as Darrin. Also, I had thought about Lisa Hartman or Heather Locklear as Samantha, but Nicole is a good choice, too.

Weren't there also two Mrs. Kravitzs'?

Larry Tate was the funniest character on the show.
I'm in advertising and I've worked for a lot of Larry Tates. I'd love it when he's say Darrin isn't going to be with us very long. And the client would say he loved the campaign and Larry would turn it around to he's going on a short vacation but he'll be right back to start work your campaign. It really is like that.

would the guy who commented on his b-day 3-11-68 e-mail me and let me know if you are adopted from iowa? thanks. tdhaga@wctatel.com

Dick York was a friend of mine. I interviewed him at his Rockford, Michigan home a few years before he died. He was agood guy. We stayed in touch. I have more than three hours of raw video tape, talking to Dick about his career. I kept asking what happened, why he left the show.
He didn't want to rally talk about it except to say,he hurt his back making a movie with Gary Cooper, and as a result got addicted to pain pills, wich eventually cost him his job. He said
the freezes, when he had to stand still, for the magic shots really took a toll on his back.

I hope you pull this off. I am a Bewitched fan.

Ok I've got the PERFECT Glady's Cravitz. Anyone remember the Hilarious, Comdey Central Show, STRANGERS WITH CANDY? How about Amy Sedaris? She would be AWSOME!!!

How about Nathan Lane as Uncle Arthur?

I totally agree that Jim Carrey IS Darrin.
Shirley McLaine as Endora. Genius.
Joan Plowright must be playing Aunt Clara?
You would remember her as Mrs Wilson in the Dennis The Menace movie.

There is no better actor to replace Paul Lynde than Nathan Lane.

Hi!,I think that the only person that could play
darren stevens is jim carrey.He has the look,comical genius to pull this thing off. I also think that Lauren Becaull could play Endora. And maybe Gene Hackman as Larry Tate.