Recasting Rosemary’s Baby If It Was Made Today

Back in 1968, Rosemary’s Baby arrived as a cinematic landmark. A horror movie had never captivated audiences on that level before. Adapted from Ira Levin’s novel of the same name, Rosemary’s Baby withholds anything overtly supernatural until its haunting final scene, one of the greatest payoffs in the history of the genre.

One of the most heavily praised aspects of the movie was the acting. Mia Farrow’s performance as the title character ranks among the most iconic in film history, while her co-star Ruth Gordon won Best Supporting Actress at the 41st Academy Awards. If Levin’s novel wasn’t adapted for the screen until today, it might’ve starred contemporary actors like Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Lakeith Stanfield.

8 Jennifer Lawrence As Rosemary Woodhouse

As a thought-provoking horror movie that sparked discussions among even the snobbiest of film critics, Rosemary’s Baby was an example of “elevated horror” long before that term was coined. Mia Farrow doesn’t phone in a horror movie performance as Rosemary Woodhouse; she gives the performance of a lifetime, tapping into universal emotions like paranoia and helplessness.

If the movie was made today, it would need a similarly gifted actor to bring real nuance to Rosemary’s journey. The part could be played by Jennifer Lawrence, who played a similar character in mother! and would likely approach Rosemary as an arthouse role, not a horror role.

7 Bradley Cooper As Guy Woodhouse

The trick to playing Rosemary’s husband Guy is lulling the audience into a sense of trust and security, then slowly peeling back the layers and hinting at a hidden dark side. John Cassavetes did this masterfully in the original movie.

Today, the part could be played by Bradley Cooper, who has proven chemistry with Lawrence from Silver Linings Playbook (and, to a lesser extent, Serena). Cooper obviously has leading-man charisma in spades, but he also brought a morally dubious edge to his roles in War Dogs and The Place Beyond the Pines.

6 Lakeith Stanfield As Hutch

Originally played by Maurice Evans, Hutch is a close friend who tries to warn Rosemary and Guy about their new apartment building’s dark supernatural past. He kindly gives Rosemary a book about the macabre that Guy throws away.

Hutch needs a warm, likable actor to contrast the fact that he’s looking out for Rosemary’s best interests against Guy looking out for himself at Rosemary’s expense. Today, the role could be filled by Lakeith Stanfield, who has quickly won over audiences with powerful turns in Short Term 12, Get Out, and Sorry to Bother You.

5 Michael Shannon As Dr. Abraham Sapirstein

Although Rosemary trusts her own physician, Dr. Hill, her neighbors the Castevets insist that she go to see their friend Dr. Abraham Sapirstein. Sapirstein, of course, turns out to be an unscrupulous doctor who gives Rosemary nasty, mysterious concoctions to drink as part of the cult’s Satanic rituals.

This role needs to be played by an actor with enough edge that the audience doesn’t quite trust them. Michael Shannon’s brooding screen persona was used to a similar effect as a red herring in Rian Johnson’s whodunit gem Knives Out.

4 Zendaya As Terry Gionoffrio

Originally played by Angela Dorian, Terry Gionoffrio is a young recovering addict who moves in with the Castevets, ostensibly so they can help her to stay clean and figure things out. However, shortly thereafter, she seemingly takes her own life. While it’s not explicitly stated on-screen, the character is implied to be Rosemary’s predecessor who was killed for refusing the impregnation ritual.

Zendaya has been playing an addict beautifully in HBO’s Euphoria, so she could do wonders with this small but unforgettable role. Casting a major star as Terry would make her early demise even more shocking.

3 John Cho As Dr. Hill

The role of Dr. Hill, Rosemary’s personal physician who she’s advised against seeing, marked the film debut of the late, great Charles Grodin. When she fears the cult is coming to get her, Rosemary hurries to Dr. Hill’s office for help, but he assumes she’s delusional and calls Dr. Sapirstein, who leads Guy right to her.

Dr. Hill is friendly and well-meaning, but unwittingly leads Rosemary right into the clutches of the demonic cult. John Cho played the likable center of a dark story in the screen-based thriller Searching.

2 Meryl Streep As Minnie Castevet

Minnie Castevet is one of the neighbors that lead Rosemary down the scary path she finds herself on. If the movie was made today, one actor would be guaranteed to follow in Ruth Gordon’s footsteps with an Oscar win for this role: Meryl Streep.

Streep would lean into the character’s affable neighbor facade beautifully, and she wouldn’t play her true Devil-worshipping nature as cartoonish or one-note; Streep’s chants of “Hail Satan!” would be hauntingly convincing.

1 Anthony Hopkins As Roman Castevet

Originally played by Sidney Blackmer, Roman Castevet is Minnie’s husband, the other neighbor that draws Rosemary and her baby into the cult. It goes without saying that this role needs an actor with genuine menace.

Anthony Hopkins was authentically creepy in his Oscar-winning performance as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. If he can play a cannibalistic serial killer, he can play a Satan worshipper.

About The Author

Ben Sherlock
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Ben Sherlock is a writer, comedian, independent filmmaker, and Burt Reynolds enthusiast. He writes lists for Screen Rant and features and reviews for Game Rant. He’s currently in pre-production on his first feature (and has been for a while, because filmmaking is expensive). You can catch him performing standup at odd pubs around the UK that will give him stage time. Previously, he wrote for Taste of Cinema, Comic Book Resources, and BabbleTop.

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