1. John Turturro as Ivan the Terrible
Giacomo Battiato/11 Marzo Film, 2019; Tretyakov Gallery
Apart from the obvious facial likeness, John Turturro has masterfully performed an array of villain roles, which is very fitting for the popular image of the fearsome Russian tsar.
2. Nicholas Cage as Peter the Great
Stephen Campanelli/VMI Worldwide, 2019; Hamburger Kunsthalle
The king of unruly, witty and partly hysterical character parts, Nicholas Cage could perform well as Peter the Great, the reformer of Russian life, a wild drinker and womanizer and a man with a prominent mustache.
3. Meryl Streep as Catherine the Great
Legion Media; Kunsthistorisches Museum
However majestic Helen Mirren was as Catherine the Great in the eponymous 2019 series, we still think Meryl Streep’s truly royal attitude could have been great for this role.
4. Michael Shannon as Paul I
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images; Public domain
A distinct facial similarity is not the only thing that made us think about Michael Shannon as a fitting cast for Pavel I. Shannon is a seasoned actor that could play a troubled genius, prone to outbursts of rage, that emperor Pavel Petrovich was.
5. Jude Law as Nicholas I
Legion Media; Hermitage Museum
Jude Law’s screen persona is far removed from the image and character of Nicholas I. In real life, Nicholas was a harsh perfectionist and a ruthless commander. But, the similarity in their appearance is remarkable.
6. Colin Firth as Alexander II
Rupert Everett/BBC Films, 2018; Library and Archives Canada
In The Happy Prince (2018), Colin Firth resembles Alexander II so much it’s staggering.
7. David Beckham as Alexander III
Europa Press/Getty Images; Public domain
One of the wildest cast choices ever made.
8. Hugh Laurie as Nicholas II
Armando Iannucci/HBO, 2022; Public domain
One of the most caustic actors out there would surely do a great job of playing the last Russian emperor, who himself loved deadpan jokes.
BONUS:
Leonardo DiCaprio as Vladimir Lenin
Gareth Cattermole, Universal History Archive/Getty Images
We hope that someday, this moment will come. Someday.
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