Recasting Succession With Black Celebs

Updated 01/06/2024 at 12:15 p.m. ET: 

Succession left on top. Everything about it, from its excellent acting, the nasty backbiting and its theme music, is frankly badass. As we wait to see if the cast takes over Award season as expected, we thought we’d bring back your favorite slides show.

So sit back and relax with a glass of wine or coffee or whatever and click away.  The Root has done all the work for you, by recasting one of our favorite shows with some of our fave Black actors and actresses. Let us know what you think. How would you recast Succession?

Morgan Freeman (Logan Roy)

It’s quite clear everyone is …or was scared of Logan Roy, especially his children. Then again, everyone is afraid of God too, especially his kids. Wait, did we say God? We meant Morgan Freeman.

Danny Glover (Logan Roy)

Another good option to take over Logan’s role would have been Danny Glover. Like Freeman, Glover is a brilliant veteran, and can steal every scene he’s in with his ruthless personality. Remember him in Color Purple? Nasty.

Louis Gossett Jr. (Logan Roy)

Another actor who could have taken over as the head of the Roy family would be Academy Award-wining actor Louis Gossett Jr.

Sterling K. Brown (Kendall Roy)

I love Sterling K. Brown for the role of the second-oldest son. Not only is he well-spoken, but he could give a dynamic performance. Kendall is going through a lot in the show and at times can be an emotional rollercoaster. Jeremy Strong is a brilliant actor and so is Brown, who we already know can go through all kinds of stuff. We’ve seen it before.

Yvonne Orji (Shiv Roy)

Shiv Roy is a motivated and driven individual in the show. Reminds me of Yvonne Orji’s character in Insecure. Having her play another driven woman who cares greatly about her career would be perfect. And she’s cute, just like Shiv.

Tessa Thompson (Shiv Roy)

Tessa Thompson would also be a great option to take over as the youngest Roy sibling. In all of her roles, Thompon’s character never takes any sh*t, similar to Shiv in Succession.

LaKeith Stanfield (Roman Roy)

Roman is a goofball in the show and everyone treats him that way. LaKeith Stanfield does not come across as that kind of actor but we know he is quirky and we like it.

Chris Tucker (Connor Roy)

Everything Connor says is hilarious. Chris Tucker would just be a funnier version of an already funny character.

Thandie Newton (Marcia Roy)

As Logan’s third wife, Marcia is loyal to her husband and abrasive to everyone else. I think Thandie could pull that off.

Tyler James Williams (Greg)

Greg is a close relative of the Roy family who constantly fails his way up within Waystar Royco. Tyler James Williams’ awkward personality would fit perfectly with the Greg character. Look at both of them, behind their doe eyes is some ruthlessness.

Donald Glover (Tom Wambsgans)

Tom is also one of the funniest characters in the show. It’s sometimes hard to take him seriously, but we also know he is ambitious and not to be trusted or f*cked with. Hear that Shiv? Anyhoo, Donald Glover has an eye for comedy as well and some skeletons too.

Winston Duke (Tom Wambsgans)

One of the characteristics that stand out about Tom is that he’s immensely larger than almost everyone on the show. The same would be true for Winston Duke who could also pull off his dorky and nerdy persona, evidenced by his performance in You.

Phylicia Rashad (Carolina Collingwood)

Phylicia Rashad is always playing a mom, so …hmmm… she might be perfect as the mother of the Roy children and Logan’s ex-wife. The former Roy mom is cold and yet elegant. Rashad has the elegant down and has played a beloved mom and a psycho killer one too.

Alfre Woodard (Carolina Collingwood)

Similar to Rashad, Woodard can be elegant and cold at the same time. She’d be absolutely perfect for this role.

Garcelle Beauvais (Gerri Kellman)

Gerri is a kick ass attorney, who has caught the eye of Roman. Oh you bad boy. Garcelle is easy on the eye and smart as a whip too. Did we say whip, Roman?

Kerry Washington (Karolina)

Kerry Washington was always fixing rich people’s problems in her role as Olivia in Scandal. Karolina has a similar role as the head of PR at Waystar Royco, this would be a seamless transition if Washington took over this role.

Regé-Jean Page (Stewy Hosseini)

Kendall’s “third oldest friend” could easily be recast by Regé-Jean Page. Stewy is a slimy and rich character who’s always looking out for himself, (like most characters in the show). I think Page’s smooth persona could fit perfectly in the show as a character who’s always trying to negotiate the best deal for himself.

Idris Elba (Stewy Hosseini)

Idris Elba already played the role of a (drug) businessman on The Wire, he could do the same in Succession as a cooler version of Stewy.