The Haunting of Bly Manor is a chilling tale about life and death and overcoming demons. With entangled storylines and plot twists at every turn, it's hard not to binge this series all in one sitting. Mike Flanagan brings the world yet another piece of innovative storytelling with this literally and metaphorically haunting drama.
But what if this series had been made in the 90s? The story would remain intact but a new cast would be needed. The 90s were full of accomplished and promising actors, and a strong cast would definitely be needed to create the world in which Bly Manor exists. Which 90s performers would best bring this show to life?
Peter Gallagher as Henry Wingrave
Henry Wingrave is a tormented man. He is the one who hires Dani to be the au pair to his niece and nephew. Henry is one of the saddest characters, as he continuously punishes himself over the loss of his brother and his brother's wife who Henry was also in love with. Although Henry appears very weak and standoffish at first, he eventually comes into himself to raise the children.
Peter Gallagher's work on The O.C. as well as various other projects illustrates how versatile of an actor he is. He can bring depth and emotion to each new part. It would be particularly interesting to see him play Henry Wingrave, a man who has to work exceptionally hard to cope with his pain.
Haley Joel Osment as Miles Wingrave
Miles Wingrave is the nephew of Henry Wingrave. He got himself kicked out of school after his sister, Flora, sent him a note asking him to come home. He is very protective of Flora and sometimes takes this too far. Ultimately, he is a victim of the ghosts in the manor.
Haley Joel Osment made his breakthrough role in The Sixth Sense. His acting skills were extraordinary for a boy of his age and won him multiple award nominations. Miles is a very conflicted character, and Osment would definitely be able to bring this to life.
Mara Wilson as Flora Wingrave
Flora is the youngest Wingrave. She is a sweet child, but also clearly troubled. She creates dolls of all the ghosts in the house so that she can keep track of them. This frightens Dani, but she isn't quite sure what to do about it. Flora later proves herself to be both incredibly smart and terribly brave by attempting to sacrifice herself to save everyone else.
Mara Wilson was a very prolific child actor of the 90s. She mainly played light-hearted roles like those in Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire. However, there is no doubt that Wilson is talented enough to pull off Flora as well. It would be fascinating to see Wilson in a whole new kind of role.
Brad Pitt as Peter Quint
Peter Quint is one of the villains of Bly Manor. As a ghost, he tricked his lover (and the current au pair), Rebecca, into killing herself so that could be together forever. He then used Miles and Flora in a plan to give himself and Rebecca permanent bodies by possessing the children.
Brad Pitt is a perfect fit for this cunning villain. Pitt has been in many horror and thrillers such as Interview with the Vampire and Se7en. He also has the charm and cunning needed to play a convincing Peter Quint. This role would work perfectly within Pitt's film repertoire.
Theresa Randle as Rebecca Jessel
Rebecca was the Wingrave's au pair before Dani. As mentioned above she was murdered by Peter Quint's ghost, but the rest of the Bly Manor residents simply thought she had ended her life. Rebecca's ghost continues to talk to Flora every night before bed and protects her from Quint's evil plan.
Theresa Randle would bring heart to the role of Rebecca Jessel. Randle tends to portray small roles in film, but that doesn't make them any less important. She eventually went on to star in Beverly Hills Cop III and Bad Boys. Randle would bring elegance and depth to the part of Rebecca that is essential to understanding the character.
Nicole Kidman as Viola Willoughby-Lloyd
Also known as the Lady in the Lake, Viola was the owner of Bly Manor centuries before the current events. She emerges from the lake near Bly Manor every night, and then walks the same exact path through the manor and then back into the lake. Viola was an incredibly intelligent woman before and after death.
Nicole Kidman's recent work as the enigmatic Masha from Nine Perfect Strangers proves she is able to play a mysterious, otherworldly woman. She is able to create an air of grace around her, and it would be amazing to see this devolve as Viola becomes sicker throughout her life. All of this would transfer into a beautiful portrayal of the character.
Naveen Andrews as Owen Sharma
Owen is the cook at Bly Manor. He knows the children well and loves taking care of them with his food. Before the death of his mother, he spent a lot of time away from the manor caring for her. He experiences further heartbreak when he realizes his pining after Hannah was all for naught, as she has been a ghost for quite some time.
Naveen Andrews is known for his role as Sayid in Lost. His character is both strong and smart and also romantic. He falls deeply in love with another castaway and is heartbroken when she is killed. The energy Andrews brings to this role would fit perfectly into the part of Owen.
Whoopi Goldberg as Hannah Grose
Hannah is the housekeeper at Bly Manor. She appears to have feelings for the cook Owen, but unfortunately, nothing can ever come of it. It is revealed that Hannah was actually killed by Peter Quint (who was possessing Miles), and has been a ghost since Dani arrived at the property. She has a hard time coming to with this, which is why no one else knows.
Whoopi Goldberg has played a wide variety of roles from Celie in The Color Purple to Deloris in the Sister Act series. Goldberg's acting history is full of all sorts of different projects. She is a woman of many different talents. Her dedication and heart would make her a brilliant Hannah Grose.
Sandra Bullock as Jamie Taylor
Jamie is the groundskeeper of Bly Manor. She quickly falls in love with Dani and wants to help her get better when the manor begins taking its toll on her. Jamie stays by Dani's side even as the Lady of the Lake possesses her. It is revealed in the end that the original narrator of the show is an older Jamie.
Sandra Bullock has the down-to-earth energy needed to play Jamie. Bullock even got her start in thrillers like Speed meaning she knows how to handle this kind of story. Bullock would be especially adept at delivering the dry humor Jamie has. All of these culminate into a perfect 90s Jamie.
Winona Ryder as Dani Clayton
Dani is the protagonist of The Haunting of Bly Manor. She is haunted by the image of her late fiance, and so she moves to England and becomes an au pair to get away from her past. After a string of events, she allows the Lady of the Lake to possess her and then lives in relative peace for a few years with her girlfriend, Jamie. In the end, she drowns herself so that the Lady of the Lake can never hurt Jamie. Dani deserves so much more than the ending she was given.
Winona Ryder's background in Tim Burton films and other thrillers makes her the perfect candidate for this role. Her role as Jo March in Little Women showcases her comion and dramatic acting. This combined with her history in thrillers and fantasy makes her a good fit for Dani. Dani needs an actor who understands the nuances of horror and heartbreak, and Ryder can bring that.