‘Tiger King’ Dream Casting

By Rachel West. 30 Mar 2020 2:54 PM

Hey, all you cool cats and kittens, “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem And Madness” is the internet’s latest obsession. Back in November, Kate McKinnon set the project in motion and was tapped to exec-produce and star in a limited series that is currently in development. But now, after the Netflix docuseries dropped online, fans — and stars — can’t stop talking about who should be cast as the outrageous characters in the unbelievable, true story.

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Joe Exotic
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Dane Cook, Dax Shepard, Edward Norton, and Jared Leto may all be duking it out on Twitter for the lead of the eccentric cat man Joe Maldonado-Passage – better known as Joe Exotic -- but we have two words for you: Nicolas Cage. If anyone could pull off the role of the presidential wannabe gay polygamist big cat breeder with a dumb murder-for-hire idea, it’s Cage. Plus, he already has the outfits.
Carole Baskin
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Kate McKinnon has already been cast as Carole Baskin in a project based on the Joe Exotic podcast that was in the works before Netflix released “Tiger King”, and while that’s pretty spot-on casting, we’d love to throw Amanda Seyfried’s name into the ring, especially when it comes to flashbacks. The blonde “Mean Girls” star can pull off the sweet and innocent leopard-print-loving look and also make it seem like she may have fed her husband to a tiger. Someone else who would totally kill in this role? Oscar winner Laura Dern.
Bhagavan ’Doc’ Antle
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We can already picture “Billions” star Paul Giamatti as the creepy Myrtle Beach big-cat park owner who hires young women to work for him and be his wives.
Doc Antle’s 'Wives'
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Doc Antle’s wives are here to entertain big cats…and Doc. The women each have their own home on Doc’s compound as they spend their days working with the big cats. Though they don’t feature heavily in the story of Joe Exotic, it’s an opportunity to do some stunt casting with Gal Gadot as Rajnee, Jennifer Lawrence as China, and Margot Robbie as Moksha.
Travis Maldonado
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Diego Luna is one of the first people to come to mind to play one of Joe Exotic’s husbands, which is not too far off his role in 2008’s “Milk” as the erratic lover to Sean Penn’s Harvey Milk. He definitely has the facial hair for the part. But for a younger take on the character, pretty sure Timothee Chalamet could pull this one off.
John Finlay
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Tell us you didn’t look at John Finlay and see Tom Hardy in this role. Too old? Then Shia LaBeouf will do just fine.
Dillon Passage
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“Stranger Things” star Joe Keery has the hair to play one of Joe Exotic’s young husbands, Dillon Passage.
Howard Baskin
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Stephen Merchant would fit right in next to Carole at Big Cat Rescue as Howard, her husband who was still alive, last time we checked.
Don Lewis
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Did Carole feed her second husband Don to a tiger or bury him under the septic tank? Who knows. But we’re casting Bob Odenkirk as the missing-but-maybe-dead Don.
Rick Kirkham
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This must be Ed Harris for obvious reasons, plus he can supply his own hat. His agent should be working hard to nab the “Westworld” star this role as Rick Kirkham, former TV producer of “Joe Exotic TV” and anchor for "Inside Edition". Joe Exotic made sure Kirkham's cameras captured every wild moment at the park... most of which was lost in 2015 after a mysterious fire at Exotic's G.W. Zoo.
Kelci “Saff” Saffery
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Ruby Rose has proven to be a chameleon when it comes to casting. The Australian “Batwoman” star would definitely look cool and collected while recounting the time a tiger ripped her arm off like it's just another day at the office.
John Reinke
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Close your eyes and picture Matthew McConaughey with double prosthetic legs, lounging on a couch under a tiger skin wall hanging. It's clear as day to us.
Mario Tabraue
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Claiming to be the inspiration for “Scarface”, Tabraue served 12 years in prison for smuggling drugs by transporting exotic animals. Andy Garcia would have the presence to pull off the casual drug smuggler with a penchant for big cats.
Jeff Lowe
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The Oklahoma Zoo investor and former friend of Joe Exotic seems like a juicy role for Ben Mendelsohn, who definitely has the art of being shady down pat.
Lauren Lowe
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Jeff Lowe’s wife seems just as unpredictable as everyone else within Joe Exotic’s orbit and “Wedding Crashers” actress Isla Fisher will strike the perfect balance between crazy and oblivious.
Erik Cowie
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The long-haired Erik Cowie found an opening at Joe Exotic’s zoo on Craigslist and the rest is history. As the laidback head keeper, Cowie gives off a surfer bro vibe, which we totally think Zac Efron could pull off.
Barbara ‘Bala’ Fisher
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Were Lauren Lapkus and Barbara “Bala” Fisher separated at birth? The “Orange Is The New Black” actress is a dead ringer for Bala and could take on the role of one of the young women in Doc’s Antle’s harem. After he gifted her with breast implants and hours with big cats, Fisher bailed on his cult-like organization in 2007 and is here to share all the dirty details on the tiger keeper.
Joshua Dial
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Joshua Dial said his gig as Joe Exotic’s presidential campaign manager is the worst experience of his life. Sounds perfect for Jonah Hill, who can deliver a performance as one of the few people in Joe Exotic’s life who seem to understand the absurdity of it all.
James Garretson
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Paul Walter Hauser has proven he can play big and dumb in both “I, Tonya” and “Richard Jewell”. He can go for the trifecta on a jet ski with “Tiger King” as the former zoo-owner-turned-FBI-informant.
Allen Glover
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Allen Glover was paid $3,000 to kill Carole Baskin on behalf of Joe Exotic. We totally see Bruce Willis in the role of handyman Glover, who didn’t follow through on the murder and instead returned home to South Carolina.

‘Tiger King’ Dream Casting

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