Death of a Salesman Casting

If Death of a Salesman was a movie I would cast Harrison Ford as Willy, Helen Mirren as Linda, Channing Tatum as Biff, and Justin Timberlake as Happy.

I see Willy as a the typical businessman striving for success but never figuring out why he just can not get to where he wants to be. He knows his career is not successful so he puts all the pressure on his sons to achieve where he has not. The reason I choose Harrison Ford as Willy, from what I have seen in his former roles, he does a very great job at portraying people with a lot of internal conflict. Willy seems to constantly be battling within himself because he feels like he has not had the success that he or his family deserves.

Linda is just your average women. She is motherly, loving, supportive, and sometimes over protective. She wants what is best for her husband and wants him to have success, while all at the same time keeping a logical check on things. I chose Helen Mirren as Linda because to me she just has that maternal look about her. She seems like the woman who could portray a supportive, yet concerned wife.

I see Biff as a the son who is caught up in his father's dream. He wants to do what he wants to do and has a hard time going against himself. His father wanted him to go farther than he has and saw the potential Biff possessed in football. The only way he felt like he could escape that expectation and figure out what he wants to do is to move out west were hard labor was more important than schooling. The reason I think Channing Tatum would be a good fit for this character is because he does well at portraying a mature person but still gives the sense of rebelliousness that Biff has.

Last but certainly not least is Happy. There is something about this character that intrigues me. Even though he has lived in his brother's shadow his whole life, he uses his brother's weakness and tries to make it his strength. He knows what he wants and has the drive to get it, but he is a playboy and is a little big for his britches. So needless to say, Justin Timberlake is just the perfect fit. He can play up both the womanizer and the overlooked younger brother role that Happy possesses.