I'm working on a screenplay for a remake of Castaway, but I'm considering not using a volleyball this time. Give me your best casting ideas for which inanimate object should play Wilson.
For the entire duration, he can't work out what it actually is because it's such a weird shape and so ridiculously huge that it being a dildo never even crosses his mind
A bowling ball. Can change some of the script so he catches it before it rolls off the raft but he falls in the water with it. He's too heavy and weak to make it back to the raft so he has to let go and watch it immediately sink or he's taken under too (also a good reference how it's hard to save someone from drowning when you're near drowning yourself). Definitely thought of a dildo first till I saw everyone else put it up though.
Coconut would be believably available on the island, and you could have a whole arc when he runs out of water and fights over killing his friend to drink the juice, like a schizophrenic episode
a super valuable in-the-original packaging giant boba fett action figure, he's tormented by keeping it mint in case he ever gets back, somehow the rocket launcher ends up saving his life.
Wouldn't the object need to be something of deep importance to the individual or be a poetic representation? I always assumed the volleyball was a symbol of everything he left behind. Things like recreation no longer mattered; only survival. :shrug: but I also thought the movie sounded incredibly boring. If you want a random item, go for qualities like "awkward to carry" or "gets hot when left in the sun". Give your characters personality or force them to choose that object at a moment it's inconvenient.
An oversized diamond/ faberge egg - it's valuable, heavy or fragile and inconvenient, in a critical moment your character may need to smash it against something risking damage
Teddy Roxbury/furby - favorite toy growing up? Creepy voice at stalking moments? Mid point twist when the batteries die?
Harmonica - potentially a little Disney princess forest friend vibes
Bowling ball - Wilson prolly plays a little different when it's not feasible to take him on a raft, prevents you from climbing trees and burns precious calories transporting. Mobility is now a plot point. Decent weapon tho
Toilet plunger/brush - everyday object that can be utilized differently, maybe adds that little bit extra reach to save the day?
That reminds me, tomorrow I will need everyone here to proofread the latest revision of my screenplay for the "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" horror movie.
Some piece of very modern technology that floats. I think Wilson in the movie represents Hank's character's last grasp at a shred of civilization, so he holds onto it as hard as he can. My first idea was an e-ink tablet with an author's face on it, but that's a little too on the nose. Maybe it should be something that reflects how much more reliant we are on our modern conveniences than we were during the original.
Edit: Raycon earbuds. He calls them Ray and if you're lucky that might also bring in some sponsorship money