Remake of the Graduate?

It's widely acknowledged that "The Graduate" is one of those iconic movies, it's become a mainstay of top movie lists and although over 40 years old remains timeless with a storyline which is as apt now as it was back in the 60s when released. But with so many old movies getting the remake treatment what if someone did the unthinkable and decided to remake "The Graduate". It's a horrible thought I know but who would they cast in those iconic roles of Benjamin Braddock, Mrs. Robinson and her daughter Elaine Robinson.
You could look at the relatively recent stage version of "The Graduate" where Kathleen Turner took on the iconic role of the seductive Mrs. Robinson, followed by the likes of Anne Archer, Amanda Donohoe, Linda Gray and Jerry Hall. But to be honest it's been a few years since the stage play drew in crowds and as such I wouldn't really consider any of those actresses for a remake of "The Graduate".
So who would I chose in those iconic roles. Well let's start with the easiest that of Elaine Robinson a role which Katharine Ross played so wonderfully in the movie. It's not a complex character the innocent, attractive daughter whose life is messed up when she discovers her boyfriend has been having an affair with her mother and as such there are plenty of young actresses who could play the role effectively. One such actress for me would be Rachel Bilson, naturally beautiful and has the ability to play the nice innocent sort of characters. Well I did say it was the easiest one and although I would pick Rachel Bilson there are many young actresses who could more than adequately deliver both the beauty and innocence which the character requires.
Having dealt with the easiest character now to what could be the hardest that of Mrs. Robinson. It's a complex character an older woman, sexy, seductive, likes a drink, yet also manipulative and icy as well, all of which Anne Bancroft instilled in her original version. Now instantly when you think sexy, seductive and icy Sharon Stone springs to mind going on her performances in the "Basic Instinct" movies, but there's a problem as Sharon Stone is too linked to that sort of sexy character and bringing her into the witty and clever "The Graduate" would possibly change the way the movie comes across. It could end up turning a remake of "The Graduate" into a more steamy, sexual movie rather than the magnificent tale that it is.
There are others who could do it, Susan Sarandon definitely has that sexy older thing going on as does Hellen Mirren. But there is an actress who for me has all the characteristics that Anne Bancroft gave Mrs. Robisnon in the original and that is Diane Lane. She has proven in various movies that she can be manipulative, icy but also sexy and seductive, you just need to watch "Unfaithful" to see how sexy she can be. Plus being in her mid 40s is also the perfect age for playing the older woman, the mother of an early twenty something daughter who could be interested in having fun with a younger man.
Now to Benjamin Braddock a character which to be honest will always be associated with Dustin Hoffman who gave a sublime performance as the young man in one of his earliest movies. The character requires an ability to deliver drama, emotion as well as subtle comedy and with that last element makes it quite a difficult character to cast if they were to remake "The Graduate". The ideal actor would be someone in their early 20s, in fitting with the age of the character and who can balance drama with subtle comedy and there are not many I can think of. A few years ago I would have said Jason Biggs or Paul Rudd would have been good in the role but now they seem to old for the role.
But one young actor who could make a decent enough stab at it would be Nicholas Hoult (A Single Man & The Weather Man) who has demonstrated in his young but quite impressive career that he is capable of delivering drama but also moments of comedy. Plus being 21 he is the ideal age to play the young nervous graduate who ends up seduced by the older woman. But at the same time deliver the inner turmoil of the character, that of fearing the future and the confusing mess of his feelings to Mrs. Robinson and her daughter Elaine.
Thankfully this is of course just pure theoretical speculation as to my knowledge there are no current plans to do a remake of "The Graduate", although there were rumours of one a couple of years back which seem to have come to nothing, thankfully. Whilst I can come up with 3 candidates for those important roles I doubt that a remake would ever get close to recapturing the seductiveness, the humour and drama of the original.