Fantasy Casting: "Sid the Kid"
Everyday this week, we're fantasy casting one athlete’s (not-yet-in-production) movie. (Why? Because Kurt Warner is getting a movie, that's why!)
We've already cast The Legend of Tim Tebow,Gold-Medal Summer: The Michael Phelps Story, and Danica. Today we bring you Sid the Kid!
Sidney Crosby has been the face of hockey since he entered the league in 2005, and quickly established himself as one of the most popular NHL players in history. And one of the most divisive. Sid the Kid would be a coming-of-age movie that tracks Crosby’s entry into the league, the love he gets from his fans and the hate that gets thrown his way from those who call him “Cindy” Crosby. A beefed-up Andy Samberg would make a good Crosby – he already kind of looks the part. What’s a good coming-of-age movie without a best buddy? Enter Crosby’s teammate Evgeni Malkin. Malkin wouldn’t be a sidekick since he’s a fantastic player in his own right. But he would be Sid the Kid’s right-hand man in this movie. Who could fill those enormous skates? How about Shrek? The loveable ogre has some acting chops and could surely bring some power and attitude to the hockey rink if needed. These kinds of movies also need the older mentor character, and Crosby’s story has one in Penguins great (and owner) Mario Lemieux. In real life Crosby crashed at Le Magnifique’s house for his first few seasons in the NHL. Think of the hijinks that would ensue! But Sid would need to learn some tough lessons, too. Keanu Reeves is perfect for the role of Lemieux. Not only does he look the part, but he also plays hockey. Every movie needs a bad guy, and Crosby’s real-life rival Alexander Ovechkin would fit the bill nicely. They were back-to-back number-one picks in the NHL Draft and have battled for awards and recognition ever since. You’d need to find an actor with a serious mug to play Ovi, and Walter Brennan is one of the classic faces in the movies. Who cares that he died in 1974? Filmmakers can use computer-generated effects to bring him back to the big screen for the role of a lifetime! Who else would you cast in a Sidney Crosby movie? Let us know in the comments section! And check back tomorrow for the next superstar casting session!Photos: Crosby, Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Getty Images; Samberg, Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage; Malkin, Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images; Shrek, Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures; Lemieux, Justin K. Aller/Getty Images; Reeves, ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images; Ovechkin, Patrick McDermott/Getty Images; Brennan, Universal PicturesDante A. Ciampaglia contributed to this post
