Inception
In the summertime of 2010 , the runaway success of Christopher Nolan’sInceptiongave hope to legions of moviegoer who feared that franchises would consume multiplexes and that original report could no longer break through the cinematic landscape painting . Nolan rounded out his cast with such 21st - century icons as Leonardo DiCaprio , Elliot Page , and Tom Hardy in the lead role .
If he ’d made the movie way back in the 1980s — when sci - fi was all the rage , thanks toE.T. , and picture set in the dreamscape had become popular , thanks toA Nightmare on Elm Street — he might ’ve cast these contemporary stars rather .
Sigourney Weaver As Ariadne
After Sigourney Weaver broke novel ground for female action heroes in 1979’sAlien , she became a striking picture genius throughout the ‘ 80s with performance in such classics asGhostbusters , Working Girl , andJames Cameron ’s acclaimedAliensequel .
IfInceptionhad been made in the 1980s , casting a sci - fi ikon like Weaver in the fish - out - of - water hearing foster role of Ariadne — to begin with played by Elliot Page — would be an easy decision .
Tom Cruise As Arthur
Joseph Gordon - Levitt played Arthur as a more young , optimistic translation of his wise man Cobb . In the ‘ 80s , this bud prentice role could ’ve been filled by Tom Cruise , who antecedently play Paul Newman ’s apprentice inThe Color of Money .
Cruise was one of the human race ’s biggest emerging stars at the time . Movies likeRisky BusinessandTop Gunhad made him a bankable A - lister , whileRain ManandBorn on the Fourth of Julyproved he had real depth .
George Takei As Mr. Saito
ab initio portrayed by Ken Watanabe , Mr. Saito is the affluent man of affairs who bankroll Cobb and his team ’s extraction . He ’s crucial to the saturnine side ofInception ’s worldbuilding because he end up getting ensnare in Limbo .
George Takei , best recognise as Enterprise steersman Hikaru Sulu , enjoyed a renew popularity in the ‘ 80s following the run ofStar Trek IItoIV , which were all critically hail and embrace by hearing . IfInceptionwas made three decades to begin with , he could ’ve dally the purpose of Saito .
Rob Lowe As Robert Fischer
Robert Fischer is the concern magnate whose aspiration are pass through during the independent plot ofInception . Played by Cillian Murphy in the original movie , he ’s the only character who does n’t gain he ’s in a dream . Fischer is a immature hotshot who latterly inherited his forefather ’s company .
If the motion picture had been made in the 1980s , then Cobb and his squad could ’ve target teen beau ideal Rob Lowe instead . Beinga member of the Brat Packprovided Lowe with lucrative stardom , thanks to moving picture likeThe OutsidersandSt . Elmo ’s Fire .
Eddie Murphy As Yusuf
Along with Tom Hardy , Dileep Rao brought some laughable rest period toInceptionin the role of Yusuf , a chemist who ply Cobb and his team with powerful sedative drug that allow them to pass extended menses of time in the dreaming world .
The go - to actor for amusing stand-in in the eighties was Eddie Murphy , the breakout star ofSaturday Night Livewho became a man - renowned leading man on the big concealment with acclaimed comedies likeBeverly Hills CopandComing to America .
Michelle Pfeiffer As Mal Cobb
After inadvertently taking her own life while taste to prove she was in the pipe dream populace , Mal Cobb exists only as a projection in her widow hubby ’s dreams . Since Mal only ever appears as a projection in the dreamscape , Marion Cotillard was able-bodied to play up the “ femme fatale ” aspects of her characterization .
Michelle Pfeiffer rose to prominence in the eighties with role in such hits asScarface , Dangerous Liaisons , andMarried to the Mob . With her critically proclaim turn asCatwoman in Tim Burton’sBatman Returns , Pfeiffer more than prove her ability to play a entrance femme fatale . She would ’ve made a corking Mal in an ‘ 80s - eraInception .
Richard E. Grant As Eames
Eames is the squad ’s “ counterfeiter ” who ’s able to image any effigy he desire in rules of order to trouble a target . In the original movie , he was played by Tom Hardy as an pane - tongued charmer . A crossbreed between a Special Forces intelligence agent and a smooth - talking gentleman’s gentleman , the role of Eames ask an eccentric British character actor .
With his 1987 screen debut playing the title role inWithnail and I(Withnail , not “ I ” ) , Richard E. Grant became a wide placeable star . Grant ’s uniquely singular represent manner would ’ve geminate absolutely with the flamboyant personality of Eames .
Morgan Freeman As Peter Browning
Tom Berenger ’s Peter Browning is only a minor role inInception . He ’s Robert Fischer ’s godfather and one of the executives on the board at his caller . He ’s sort of a surrogate father to Robert and acts as more of a paternal figure than his actual biological father ever was .
This role needs a smart , warm , seasoned histrion , like Morgan Freeman . Freeman became a Brobdingnagian star in 1989 with the double whammy ofGloryandDriving Miss Daisy . The character of close confidant , Browning is a circumstances like the warhorse convict Freeman would after play opposite Tim Robbins inThe Shawshank Redemption .
Harrison Ford As Dom Cobb
Aside from Christopher Nolan ’s trippy premise , a huge part ofInception ’s blockbuster appeal was the comportment of Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role as pipe dream cartridge remover Dom Cobb . Back in the eighties , the roles of Han Solo and Indiana Jones made Harrison Ford a renowned motion-picture show genius and a highly search - after leading man on the same level as DiCaprio today .
Around the time he play hard - boiled futurist detective Rick Deckard in Ridley Scott’sBlade Runner , Ford could ’ve portray the key antihero in a different mind - bending sci - fi opus .
NEXT : Re - cast off The Main Characters Of Inception 10 Years Later