Hollywood loves a comeback story. In 1995, John Travolta was the king of them. Fresh off the tectonic shift of Pulp Fiction, he stepped into the boots of Chili Palmer, a Miami loan shark with a cinephile’s heart. But the thing about the actors in Get Shorty is that they didn’t just play mobsters; they played people who were bored of being mobsters.
It's a weirdly specific vibe.
The movie, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, is legendary. However, most people forget there was a 2017 TV series that ran for three seasons on Epix. It didn't just copy the movie. It rebuilt the whole "thug-to-producer" pipeline from scratch with Chris O'Dowd and Ray Romano. If you're looking for the definitive breakdown of who made these stories work—and why Danny DeVito almost played the lead—you’re in the right place.
The 1995 Movie: When Travolta Met Hackman
Honestly, the chemistry in the original film is borderline miraculous. Travolta plays Chili with this unflappable, zen-like cool. He doesn't raise his voice. He doesn't have to.
John Travolta as Chili Palmer
Travolta actually won a Golden Globe for this. After years in the "straight-to-video" wilderness in the 80s, Get Shorty solidified that he wasn't just a Tarantino fluke. He understood the rhythm of Elmore Leonard’s dialogue. Legend has it that Travolta insisted on a scene where Chili goes to the movies (he watches Touch of Evil) because he wanted the character to be a genuine fan of the medium, not just a guy looking for a paycheck.
Gene Hackman as Harry Zimm
Hackman is a powerhouse, but here he plays a "schlock" producer. Harry Zimm makes terrible horror movies. He’s a bottom-feeder who is constantly terrified. Watching the guy who played Lex Luthor and Popeye Doyle act like a nervous wreck is a masterclass in range. Hackman’s Harry is pathetic, but you kinda root for him anyway.
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Danny DeVito as Martin Weir
Here’s the kicker: DeVito was originally supposed to be Chili Palmer.
The screenwriter, Scott Frank, wrote the part for him. But the movie stayed in "development hell" so long that DeVito had other commitments. Instead of walking away, he took the smaller, hilarious role of Martin Weir—an ego-driven, diminutive A-list actor who "researches" roles by following real mobsters around. It’s a meta-commentary on Hollywood that still feels biting today.
The Supporting Heavyweights
- Rene Russo: She plays Karen Flores, a "scream queen" actress who is way smarter than the scripts she’s given.
- James Gandolfini: Before The Sopranos, he was Bear, a bearded stuntman-turned-enforcer. You can see the seeds of Tony Soprano in his soulful, slightly menacing performance.
- Dennis Farina: As Ray "Bones" Barboni, he provides the perfect foil. Farina was a real Chicago cop before he became an actor, which makes his portrayal of a thuggish, petty mobster even funnier.
The TV Series: A Different Kind of Muscle
In 2017, Davey Holmes (who worked on Shameless) decided to reboot the concept. He didn't recast Chili Palmer. Instead, he created Miles Daly.
The actors in Get Shorty the series had a much harder job. They had to sustain that "Leonard-esque" tension for 27 episodes without it becoming a parody.
Chris O'Dowd as Miles Daly
Most of us knew O'Dowd from The IT Crowd or as the nice cop in Bridesmaids. Seeing him as a cold-blooded enforcer for a Nevada crime ring was... jarring. At first. But he plays Miles with a terrifying stillness. He’s a guy trying to go straight for his daughter, but his "special set of skills" keeps pulling him back. It’s much darker than Travolta’s version.
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Ray Romano as Rick Moreweather
Ray Romano’s transition from sitcom dad to prestige drama actor is one of the most underrated arcs in modern TV.
As Rick Moreweather, he’s a washed-up producer of "low-quality films" (sound familiar?). Romano based his look—specifically that chaotic, slightly-too-long hair—on real-life producer Brian Grazer. He plays Rick as a man who has lost his soul and is trying to find it in the worst possible places.
The Breakout Cast
- Sean Bridgers (Louis): Miles’ partner in crime. Their banter is the heartbeat of the show. Bridgers brings a weird, philosophical vibe to a guy who disposes of bodies for a living.
- Lidia Porto (Amara): She plays the cartel boss. She is terrifying. Porto manages to be maternal and murderous in the same breath, which is a tough tightrope to walk.
- Goya Robles (Yago): Amara’s hot-headed nephew. He’s the wildcard that keeps the plot spinning into chaos.
Why Both Versions Actually Work
Usually, when Hollywood remakes a classic, it’s a disaster. So why did Get Shorty succeed twice?
It’s the DNA.
Elmore Leonard’s writing is about the intersection of "The Business" and "The Life." Both groups—movie producers and mobsters—are essentially liars, gamblers, and egomaniacs. The actors in both versions understood that the comedy doesn't come from jokes. It comes from the absurdity of the situation.
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In the movie, the humor is slick. It’s 90s cool.
In the TV show, the humor is grimy. It’s 2020s desperate.
A Quick Comparison of Roles
| Movie Character | TV Series "Equivalent" | The Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Chili Palmer (Travolta) | Miles Daly (O'Dowd) | Loan shark vs. Cartel Muscle |
| Harry Zimm (Hackman) | Rick Moreweather (Romano) | Schlock King vs. Has-Been |
| Martin Weir (DeVito) | Tyler Mathis (Topher Grace) | Ego-driven A-Lister |
Topher Grace shows up in the series as a guest star, playing a high-maintenance actor named Tyler Mathis. It’s a great nod to the DeVito archetype but updated for the modern era of "prestige" TV actors.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’ve only seen the movie, you are missing out on one of the best crime dramas of the last decade. The TV series is currently streaming on MGM+ (formerly Epix).
What to do next:
- Watch the movie first. It sets the tone and helps you appreciate the Easter eggs in the show.
- Pay attention to the background. Both the film and the series are packed with real Hollywood locations (like The Ivy) and meta-jokes about how movies actually get funded.
- Compare the enforcers. Contrast James Gandolfini’s "Bear" with Sean Bridgers’ "Louis." It’s a fascinating look at how the "henchman" archetype has evolved in 20 years.
- Look for the cameos. The movie features Harvey Keitel, Penny Marshall, and Bette Midler playing themselves. The show uses guest spots from people like Felicity Huffman and Dean Norris to ground the world in reality.
The legacy of the actors in Get Shorty is one of surprising depth. Whether it's Travolta's cool or Romano's desperation, these performances prove that the line between a movie set and a crime scene is thinner than we think.
Next Step: You should start with the 1995 film to see the "Chili Palmer" blueprint, then move to Season 1, Episode 1 of the series to see how Chris O'Dowd subverts it.