Dresden Files Movie - Fantasy Cast
I stumbled across a page with this on it the other day, and it got me thinking - who would I cast in an ideal world?
I gotta admit, it's not easy. Here are my thoughts though.
HARRY DRESDEN:
I actually liked Paul Blackthorne quite a lot. I thought he fit the snarky, kinda battered, not quite leading man looks very well. My major problem with most hollywood adaptations is the way that everyone He looked really good as the character, but...I don't know, something wasn't quite right. My key to the decision, I think, is "could they pull off the duster?" And I'm not sure Blackthorne could. Would like to see the screen test though.
Another actor I like is Karl Urban. He did such an awesome job on Almost Human - the grumpy nature, the snark, the banter with his partner...he even sold me on the irritation with his disability - ever a huge part of his character unless he was messing with people or using it as a slight moment in the scene. very nicely done. I can really see him as Dresden - but from Harry's description, hes too handsome. Maybe we can chalk that up to Dresden being hard on himself? After all, Lara don'T seem to mind him too much.
Tentative pick - Urban. some minor flaws, but I reckon he could pull it off.
MURPHY:
Summer Glau - if she goes blonde. That kinda strong but flexible, dancer/gymnast look? DOWN. Ability to look cute but still tough? DOWN. Good actress? YUP. I really think Glau could pull it off - IF she goes blonde.
EDIT: screw that - can we just get Stana Katic? I mean, the Castle/Beckett relationship is very damn close to Dresden/Murphy, and I really really really really really like Stana Katic. Really. So...yeah. That's my pick. And I've seen the blonde look. It works. So really, can we go with her? Really?
BOB:
Paul Bettany. I envision a kind of Tony Stark/JARVIS relationship anyway, which makes Bettany perfect. For any doubters, imagine Paul Bettany reading the line "Rip her clothes off!" from a romance novel (trashy, no less) with Bob-esque enthusiasm. SOLD.
THOMAS:
Matt Bomer. I'm not actually a massive fan of his if I'm honest. I don't know what it is, but just....eh. On the other hand, he has that irritating pretty-boy look (being a caveman type, possibly why I don't like him) that would make him perfect for the role of irritating pretty vampire. Maybe Henry Cavill as well, though he's a bit bulkier than I see Thomas.
MORGAN:
Clive Owen. This was a tricky one, because I had to balance Morgan's obsessive, rulebound side with the sword-wielding, vampire-slaying awesomething. I like Owen though, and I can see him in the role fairly well the slightly haunted and gaunt look he exhibits in roles like Children of Men play nicely with how I envision Morgan looking, especially after his description in Turn Coat. Adam Baldwin also entered my mind - a mix between Casey in Chuck, Vance in Leverage and Hamilton in Angel - I can dig it. Maybe Liev Schreiber? I like Owen most though.
MICHAEL:
I like Gerard Butler. Obviously he can pull off the more physical aspects of the role, and I THINK he can do the caring father bit as well. He had some golden emotional moments in Law Abiding Citizen, and I thought he was incredible in Machine Gun Preacher. That's exactly the kind of crusader spirit I would like to shine through Michael.
KINCAID:
I like the thought of Adam Baldwin here as well. I like to see him and Morgan as similar, but different. One is motivated purely by money, one is motivated purely by duty. Kind of like Casey vs Jayne Cobb. I could see Butler there too, playing it a bit rougher...or maybe Sam Worthington. A tricky one, for sure. There'S a couple of guys who do really good assassin-type roles (Jeffrey Donovan, for instance) but I feel like Kincaid has to be a BIG guy. I don't know why - I just do. Hell, Karl Urban also comes to mind. The problem with Kincaid is I have lots of actors I like for him....but they all also fit other characters!
I think I'd pick Baldwin overall. Butler...just doesn't click for me, and I don't know enough about Worthington.
As for Urban....he'S a popular choice, but my thoughts (as accurately as I can write them) go something like this - If Karl Urban squared off to me in lets say a bar, would I be inclined to respond with "come on then..." as I usually would? Yes. I think I would. If Adam Baldwin stepped to, would I react like that? Probably, but only cause it's me - it'd definitely make me pause for a minute or two. Most pictures don'T do him justice - the dude is the same height as me, and built the same, like a tank. Even carrying a few extra pounds he doesn't look gentle - give him a month in the gym and you have yourself a very good Hellhound.
MARCONE
Ian McShane at his most clean-cut. Or Viggo Mortensen. Actually, no... I like Sasha Roiz. Renard in Grimm is a brilliant example of magnificent bastardry, and I think he'd be an excellent Marcone.
EBENEZER:
Sean. Goddamn. Connery. Your arguments will not work on me, Connery is the ULTIMATE In wise badass mentors and I will physically fight anyone who says he is not the perfect damned blackstaff. SEAN CONNERY IS EBENEZER BLACKSTAFF MCCOY. END OF STORY.
MOLLY:
...drawing a blank. Sorry. I really don'T know who would do the best job of encapsulating all the facets of our dear Grasshopper. Some of the Molly Quinn/Alexis Castle bits of dutiful student, but needs a bit of a wilder streak I don't know she could pull off. Maybe Ksenia Solo? That feels too far the other way.
SANYA:
Idris Elba, and that's that. I mean, DUH
Actors I want to be in there somewhere: Bruce Campbell, Anthony Head, Mark Sheppard
That'S all I got for now. Hope you approve.
Lone Boy, OUT