Earlier this week, it was announced that Martin Scorsese would be directing a biopic about punk legends the Ramones, which is set for release in 2016. Here are some people who we think should play the movie's lead roles.

1. Bradford Cox as Joey Ramone

Joey Ramone's famously lanky physique was rumored to be due to Marfan's syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects connective tissue. It also happens to be the same disorder that Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox suffers from, so he already has the silhouette for the part. It also helps that Cox is a huge Ramones fan and even has acting experience, appearing in 2013's Dallas Buyers Club.

2. Jack White as Johnny Ramone

Jack White has some experience acting in movies, including Cold Mountain and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, but you could argue that his entire career and public image is basically a performance. He's obviously got the guitar chops down to play Johnny Ramone, and if he just combed his hair straight down and put on a leather jacket, he'd be able to nail this role.

3. John C. Reilly as Tommy Ramone

John C. Reilly may be 49 years old, but that's about how old all of the Ramones looked back in the '70s anyway. Reilly's got a similarly wide-nosed face as original drummer Tommy Ramone, and as anyone who's seen Step Brothers knows, he can also play drums, sort of. Whether he's good at drums or not isn't really relevant — this is the Ramones, after all.

4. Mac DeMarco as Dee Dee Ramone

We have no idea if Mac DeMarco can act or not, but the reigning jester of indie rock would probably have a great time portraying the Ramones' famously eccentric bassist Dee Dee. If anything, Scorsese could just slap a wig on him, give him a bass, and tell him to start ad-libbing in a Queens accent, and you'd probably get a great performance out of him.

5. Jon Wurster as Marky Ramone

Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster has never appeared in a feature-length film before, but his countless appearances on Tom Scharpling's The Best Show on WFMU should be enough evidence that he's a pretty genius character actor, so he'd be a great choice to play the Ramones' second drummer Marky.

6. Leonardo DiCaprio as Richie Ramone

Since this is a 21st century Martin Scorsese movie, there has to be a role for Leonard DiCaprio in there somewhere. Though Leo is too handsome to convincingly play any of the four original Ramones, he could get away with playing Richie Ramone, the band's not-hideous drummer during the mid-'80s.

7. Channing Tatum as CJ Ramone

Not that Channing Tatum's a bad actor or anything, but the only reason we suggest him for the role of the band's second bassist CJ Ramone is because he'll get people to actually see this movie. Unfortunately, simply putting the names "Ramones" and "Scorsese" onto a movie isn't going to cut it.

Who do you think should be cast in the Ramones biopic? Let us know in the comments section!

Join the Discussion