Cult filmmaking favorite Kevin Smith is still developing the sequel to his most controversial comedy of 1999, Dogma. Although a lot of time has passed, Smith will try his best to get some of the cast to return. However, in other cases, he will be forced to recast. Alan Rickman sadly left us too early in 2016, and he played a part in the original movie as the angel named Metatron. While teasing the long-awaited sequel, Smith has now revealed who he plans to summon in order to play Metatron in Rickman’s stead…and it’s an unexpected choice.
Smith discussed Dogma 2 on the SlashFilm podcast, and shared who he wants to cast as the wise angel. “I want to write it for Helen Mirren,” the director revealed, before clarifiying. “She is incredibly Alan-adjacent. She’s not playing Metatron, but she plays this movie’s version of Metatron.” Smith made the decision after realizing it wouldn’t just be a matter of physical resemblance. While Mirren has done her fair share of over-the-top movies, Dogma 2 sounds a bit of a stretch for the Oscar winner. Regardless, Smith decided to write the character for her because he holds her in high regard:
“For me, I met her years ago with Alan, at this Empire movie awards ceremony. When I was thinking, ‘Well, I don’t have Alan.’ At one point I was like, ‘Well, Adam Driver looks like a young Alan Rickman, just taller.’
“But then I was like, ‘No.’ Then I thought, ‘You know what? Helen Mirren, aside from being one of my favorite actors on the planet, I had that crossover moment with her and Alan at one point.’ As a writer and a romantic, you’ll make any connection or any justification you can. But it started me thinking, maybe it would be Helen Mirren. So I’m writing it for Helen Mirren.”
Kevin Smith Pushed the Boundaries With ‘Dogma’ (And Caused Outrage Along the Way)
When Smith released Dogma to the world in 1999, there were different reactions to the film starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Some celebrated the bold style of comedy that Smith was using to tell his own version of a religious epic, and others, well, didn’t like seeing God being played by a woman. In the film, God is played by singer Alanis Morissette, in a performance that was as unexpected as it was interesting. But what was expected was the outrage from religious organizations.
Smith pushed the envelope before, and he will surely do the same with Dogma 2. Gender-swapping Metatron sounds awesome, but then so does the director’s idea for the Devil. Smith admitted he’s been thinking of inviting a certain Academy Award nominee who appeared in his film Yoga Hosers to play God’s nemesis:
“I worked with a kid years and years ago, and he was so sweet — nice boy, very talented — and then he went and became super famous. Whenever I write the Devil, I think of Austin Butler.
“Especially after Dune, man. His Feyd was pretty badass. But our Devil is, he’s not like arched-eyebrow insidious. He’s sexier than that. He’s like a grunge rocker. And I think Austin could pull that off pretty well.”
- Release Date
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November 12, 1999
- Runtime
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130 minutes
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
