I’ve been a Red Dead Redemption 2 fan since launch, and in 2026 the game still feels like the gold standard for open-world storytelling. So when I saw that Tobias Kleanthous, a former Rockstar lead AI/gameplay programmer who spent seven years at the studio and worked on Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online — may it rest in peace — used machine learning to build a fan-cast for a hypothetical RDR2 movie, I had to tip my hat. Apparently the idea had been nagging him since he and the team went to see The Revenant, presumably for frontier-game research, and now it’s been brought to life with AI-generated faces that look sort of like an in-engine cast.
Let’s be clear: this is not an official Rockstar movie. It’s a fan-cast, a fever dream, a what-if. But it’s a dang good one. The machine learning angle gives it a fun, almost eerie polish, like someone fed a GPU a stack of cowboy portraits and a dream. In 2026, AI tools are everywhere, but using them to cast a Red Dead movie? That’s the kind of cowboy science I can get behind.
The Fan-Cast, Face by Face
| Role | Fan-Cast | My Two Cents |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur Morgan | Leonardo DiCaprio | A-list star power, but Roger Clarke is still the true Arthur. |
| Dutch van der Linde | Daniel Day-Lewis | Obsession, charisma, ruin — chef’s kiss. |
| Micah Bell | Paul Dano | Perfect weasel energy. |
| Sadie Adler | Sigourney Weaver | Action-hero royalty for a fan-favorite gunslinger. |
| Hosea Matthews | Jim Carrey | A wise old role with a mischievous twinkle. |
| Micah Bell (alt) | Mickey Rourke | Gravel-voiced menace. |
First up: Leonardo DiCaprio as Arthur Morgan. On paper, Leo is a heck of a get. He’s got the jaw, the intensity, and the box-office pull to make a Red Dead movie a global event. But here’s the rub: Roger Clarke already gave Arthur his voice, his motion, and his soul. Recasting Arthur without Roger Clarke is like saddling a horse with no legs. It might look pretty, but it won’t run. If I’m being a purist — and I usually am — Clarke should be the one to bring Arthur to the silver screen. That said, a DiCaprio-led Red Dead movie would probably print money, so I get the fantasy.
Next: Daniel Day-Lewis as Dutch van der Linde. This is a perfect choice, and I don’t say that lightly. Day-Lewis has already shown how obsession can curdle into ruin, and Dutch is basically a Shakespearean tragedy wearing a tailored waistcoat. The man has a long history of disappearing into roles, and Dutch’s slow descent from charismatic leader to paranoid outlaw would be right in his wheelhouse. Even if he keeps teasing retirement, a role like this could lure him back. I can already hear him saying, “I have a plan,” and meaning it with terrifying conviction.
Then we have Paul Dano — the Riddler himself — as who we believe to be Micah. Some of the characters in the AI fan-cast are a little harder to guess than others, but Dano’s face fits the rat-bastard vibe like a glove. He’s played villainous roles before, from the abductor in Prisoners to the heel opposite Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood. If he’s Micah, he’d bring that squirmy, unsettling energy that makes you want to reach through the screen and shake him. That’s a compliment, by the way.
Sigourney Weaver as Sadie Adler is another stroke of genius. Weaver is a legendary action heroine — Alien, Aliens, Avatar, the list goes on — and Sadie is one of the best new additions to the Van der Linde Gang in Red Dead Redemption 2. She’s tough, grieving, and absolutely done taking nonsense from anyone. Weaver could play that blend of steel and sorrow in her sleep. If she’s Sadie, I’m buying a ticket yesterday.
Finally, we have Jim Carrey and possibly Mickey Rourke in undetermined roles. Carrey is maybe playing Hosea, a wise old role which would suit the actor. I can see him bringing warmth, humor, and just a hint of sadness to the gang’s elder statesman. Rourke, meanwhile, could also be playing Micah, and if so, he’d give the character a heavier, more brutal presence. Either way, these are wild cards, and wild cards are half the fun of fan-casting.
Why This Fan-Cast Hits Different in 2026
We live in an era where AI can generate whole performances, de-age actors, and remix our favorite characters. That makes a machine-learning fan-cast feel both playful and a little dangerous. It’s not replacing the original actors; it’s a love letter to them. Red Dead Redemption 2 already looks like a movie, and its cast — Roger Clarke, Rob Wiethoff, Alex McKenna, and the rest — did phenomenal work. A fan-cast like this just lets us dream about what a big-screen version might look like.
Would I actually want a Red Dead Redemption 2 movie? Only if it’s done right. The game is long, messy, and deeply human. Cramming it into two hours would be a tall order. But if Hollywood ever gets its act together, this fan-cast is a solid starting point. Just don’t touch Roger Clarke’s Arthur. Some things are sacred, partner.
Until then, I’ll be here, replaying the story, crying at that one scene, and waiting for the day Rockstar announces something. If they don’t, well, at least we’ve got the fan-cast. Yeehaw.