Pete Davidson Will Play George Bailey In A Charity Table Read Of “It’s A Wonderful Life”

November 24, 2020 / Posted by:

Today’s reason for pinching your own arm and thinking, “Hmmm, that’s weird…I must be able to feel pinch-based pain in this dream” is the news that SNL’s Pete Davidson has signed on for a charity table read of the holiday classic It’s A Wonderful Life. And they’re not working off a rare script that includes a character named Cousin Pete who repeatedly gets caught stealing codeine cough syrup by Mr. Gower at the drug store. That would make it a much more interesting movie, but they’re reading from the original script and he’ll play George Bailey.

In keeping with the grand COVID tradition of virtual script reading with a stunt casting twist, Deadline reports that Pete is confirmed to play Jimmy Stewart’s iconic role in a one-night-only table read of the 1946 film. The table read will happen virtually on December 13th, and it’s being put on by Ed Asner to benefit The Ed Asner Family Center, which serves to promote mental health programs for children with special needs and their families. Other actors involved in the event are Maude Apatow, Mia Farrow, Ellie Kemper, Carol Kane, BD Wong, Michael Shannon, Bill Pullman, Richard Kind, Ed Begley Jr., and Diedrich Bader. This is bound to be a must-see event for anyone who gets massively turned on by hot weirdo Michael Shannon, who I suspect might be reading the part of asshole Mr. Potter. Because we all know Michael Shannon can read asshole really well.

For It’s A Wonderful Life purists, this table read casting is likely going to be met with some hesitation. Because 27-year-old Pete is reading for a character that was played by a 38-year-old actor. But Pete has been very open about his mental health struggles, so it makes sense that he’d show up for a gig that advocates for mental health issues. Michael Asner (Ed’s son and CEO of the charity) released a statement to Deadline saying that they were “thrilled” to have Pete’s “talented wit and clever vocalizations” to read as George Bailey.

Deadline says the event is an annual one but describes this year’s as “reimagined.” I can imagine they mean it’s different because of COVID. But maybe they also mean they’re reimagining the story a little? What if they’re letting Pete use his talented wit and clever vocalizations to just riff on the script and improvise as his version of George Bailey. I can see it, although it will be a little weird to hear Pete as George thank Clarence for showing him that, “everything is so lit fam,” and that, “It’s a dope life” as his friends Venmo him all the money that was lost.

Pic: Wenn.com/FayesVision

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