'Serial' Finale Is Here, and We're Dream Casting If the Podcast Were a Movie!

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Now that the wildly popular podcast Serial has come to a close, we're ready to watch the murder mystery unfold on the big screen -- and we know just who would play Jay, Sarah Koenig, Adnan Syed, Hae Min Lee and of course, Mr. S.


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If you're unfamiliar with the true crime podcast that draws over 1 million listeners per week and is put on by the This American Life producers, Serial reexamines the 1999 murder of an 18-year-old Baltimore high school senior named Hae Min Lee.

Not long before Lee went missing, she had broken up with her boyfriend, then-17-year-old Adnan Syed, an honors student of the Muslim faith who was later tried and convicted for killing her. Adnan is now 33 and serving a life sentence for Hae's murder, but insists in a series of telephone interviews with producer Sarah Koenig that he's innocent.

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That being said, his friend Jay -- the so-called bad boy around town -- testified that he helped Adnan bury his ex's body after he killed her, and even led detectives to where Hae's car was parked.

Then there's Mr. S, a streaker who locates the girl's body in Baltimore's Leakin Park but has a strange, some might say humorous, alibi as to why he's not responsible for the death of Hae.

Here's a few stars we think would be perfect if Serial's story ever comes to Hollywood.


Adnan Syed


Dev Patel:
The British actor showcased his impressive acting chops in the 2008 Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire and has since gone on to star in the critically acclaimed HBO show The Newsroom. Given Dev's boyish looks, we think he'd be able to give a convincing performance as both a 17-year-old kid facing a life sentence and a 33-year-old man who's been imprisoned for decades.


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Suraj Sharma:
Getting his big break as Pi Patel in the 2012 Oscar-nominated film Life of Pi, the Indian actor seems to have similar dark features and physical traits as are described when Sarah talks about Adnan.

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Danny Pudi:
Best known for his role as Abed Nadir in the sitcom Community, we're not sure if his comedy background would help or hurt him when portraying such an evasive man like Adnan.

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Alfred Enoch:
Though we've only really seen his work in How to Get Away With Murder, Alfred Enoch seems to have the likability that is so desperately needed when portraying a man like Adnan.

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Jay


Michael B. Jordan:
This actor has some experience with playing a troubled teen. He took on the role of a recovering addict in Parenthood, a boy using football to turn his life around in Friday Night Lights and a college kid maneuvering his way through a breakup in That Awkward Moment. Michael B. Jordan also got some recognition for his portrayal of Oscar Grant III in the 2013 film Fruitvale Station.

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Anthony Mackie:
Though he's probably best known now as Sam Wilson/Falcon in The Avengers and Captain America films, we're thinking he'd be right for the role of Jay after seeing his acting abilities in the 2008 war film The Hurt Locker.

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Jesse Williams:
Call us crazy, but we can really see this Grey's Anatomy star looking quite good in the Dennis Rodman-style clothing that Jay's friends said he wore back in high school. Sadly, he might be too old for the role.


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Hae Min Lee


Janel Parrish:
This actress has all the experience she needs with high school murder and drama thanks to her long-running role on Pretty Little Liars.

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Brenda Song:
Aside from her small role in The Social Network, Brenda Song's biggest part still seems to be on Disney's kid show The Suite Life of Zack and Cody (not counting her brief stint on the now-canceled Fox sitcom Dads). However, the part of Hae could just be the big role she's been waiting for her whole career.

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Jamie Chung:
This Real World reality star-turned-actress might be a little too old to take on the role, but we're willing to see what she's got. Jamie Chung played Mulan in ABC's Once Upon a Time and has also had parts in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and Sucker Punch.

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Mr. S


Steve Buscemi:
The role of Mr. S would probably act as the comic relief of the movie and therefore the actor would need to have some comedic timing. Seeing as Steve Buscemi played a perfect Nucky Thompson in the HBO drama Boardwalk Empire, as well as a series of hilarious characters in Adam Sandler's films, we think he's pretty perfect for the part. 


Will Smith:
For the same reason we think Buscemi would be right for this role, we also nominate Will Smith. Can't you see the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air streaking in front of a cop?!


Will Ferrell:
He already ran naked down the street in Old School, so what's another movie where Will Ferrell is "going streaking!"


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Sarah Koenig

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Amy Adams:
The actress is slowly catching up to Meryl Streep when it comes to Golden Globe nominations. Put a wig and glasses on her, and we're convinced she could nail the role of the radio journalist/producer.


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Lauren Graham:
She was always asking questions and offering insight as her character Lorelei on Gilmore Girls, so why not have her play the inquisitive Koenig. Plus, we think she could pull off the producer's look pretty effortlessly.

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Gillian Anderson:
If Dana Scully from The X-Files can't solve this case, no one can.

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Who would you cast in the Serial movie? Play casting director in the comments and let us know what you thought of the final episode by tweeting #ETnow.