*It's several mornings after the long night of reading in the Lair. Bandita Nancy and Bandita Jeanne have convened in the Lair's cavernous, but immaculate kitchen, seeking coffee and a snack. As usual, the conversation starts with books.....*
Jeanne, contemplating Kathy Reichs' latest Temperance Brennan book: Why is it that it's so hard to cast people for books-to-movies or books-to-TV who actually resemble the characters? I mean, seriously. I look at who gets cast for stuff sometimes and just wince. Temperance Brennan on TV isn't at ALL like she's described in the book. And we won't even mention the comic-book heroes....
(Nancy rolls her eyes, having heard Jeanne's complaint that Karl Urban should have been chosen for Thor, rather than Chris Hemsworth.)
Nancy, stirring cream into her coffee and contemplating the tray of pastries Sven left out for the Banditas: Well, they got Iron Man right. Not too many people could play Iron Man any better than Robert Downey Jr. And Christopher Reeve was Superman to the life. Brandon Routh was fine but could've been better if he'd had a good script. And then there's Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.
Jeanne: *grudging concession* That's true. Bad choices aside, there are some books and comic books that are incredibly difficult to cast. Take the In Death series.
*Jeanne points to the copy in Nancy's "To Be Shelved - Keeper" cubby, over by the door.*
I noticed you caught up with all the J.D. Robb books, when you finished Fantasy in Death.
Nancy: Of all the Eve Dallas books, this is the one most perfect for me. It's got gaming, for cryin' out loud. And a convention. And Star Wars references. Right up my street, as Anna Sugden would say.
Jeanne: Now THERE's a series that would be fun to cast. I hear our own Romance Champion, Nora, thinks that would be one of the hardest casting jobs of all time. I think I'd agree with her on that. What do you think, Nancy?
(Long, thoughtful, coffee-drinking pause)
Nancy: Bet we could come up with something.
Jeanne: *Grins* Ah, the gauntlet is cast. Let's do it. Starting at the top....Who would play Eve?
Nancy: Ohhhh, no, let's start with the minor characters first. That's easier!
Jeanne: Good plan. Okay, Summerset, the butler, factotem, and what the historical authors might have called the Reeve, for the most gorgeous Irish-American hero ever (barring Aunty Cindy's boys), Roarke. Who gets to play Summerset and sneer at Eve?
Nancy: Ralph Richardson would be perfect for Summerset, but alas, he's dead.
Jeanne: Let's do cast LIVE people, yes. *Grins* What about Michael Caine for Summerset. No one can do disdainful like Michael Caine. He was fabulous at it in Miss Congeniality.
Nancy: Either Michael Caine or perhaps David McCallum (NCIS Coroner) would be good for that. But I think Caine has the edge. You know, I think Dennis Haysbert from The Unit would be perfect for Tibble. And possibly my pal Teal'C of Stargate (Christopher Judge) would be perfect for Mavis's beau, Leonardo.
Jeanne: Oh, he would!! What about Samuel L. Jackson for Whitney? He'd be great as Whitney. And perhaps Michael Clarke Duncan for Crack, from the Down and Dirty Club.
Nancy: Samuel L. Jackson is perfect as pretty much anything. I can see Michael Clarke Duncan for Crack.
Jeanne: What about Mavis?
Nancy: Katherine Heigel or Amy Adams might do for Mavis, or maybe Helena Bonham Carter, she's got that curly hair and sort of flighty sensibility that Mavis has.
Jeanne: Excellent. I think James Marsden (27 Dresses) would be great for Baxter, and maybe Eddie Cibrian from CSI Miami for Webster.
Nancy: You know James Marsden was fabulous as my favorite guy X-Man, Cyclops, just as an aside, and he can sing, too. I can see Cibrian as Webster. I think Ewan McGregor has to play McNabb. Or maybe Michael Cera from Juno.
Jeanne: Good ones!! I've got the perfect actor for Troy Trueheart. He's on Disney Channel's Aaron Stone, and his name is Kelly Blatz. He's just that "perfect" all-American boy-type. Or maybe Casper Van Dein, from Starship Troopers. He's got that "Lettered-in-every-sport" kind of Troy-Trueheart look too.
Nancy: Good choices there, either one. On the female side, I think Sasha Alexander (NCIS) or maybe Emily Proctor (CSI - Miami), who's a North Carolina native, just to confess my bias, for Assistant ADA Cher Rio. That would be good.
Jeanne: It would! And I'm partial to those NC actors too, as you know! Now for the harder ones...Delia Peabody. She's going to be a toughie.
Nancy: *hmmmm* Zoey Deschanel? Pauley Perrette (NCIS)?
Jeanne, munching a pastry to buy thinking time: Perrette's got the chuzpah for it. May be Leighton Meester from Gossip Girl. Body-type wise, she's more the Peabody type.
Nancy: Hmmm, yes, but it's all about the attitude. That's what makes it hard to consider casting Eve. She's not classically beautiful, she's interesting. She's tall. She's whipcord rather than brawn, and she's no lightweight in terms of her abilities. Not just any frou-frou actress can pull that off.
Jeanne: Okay brainstorming for Eve....Jessica Alba has the chops (too pretty?)
Nancy: Lena Headey from the Terminator TV series (too short?) Maybe Mary MacCormack from West Wing and In Plain Sight. She's got an interesting face and is a take-no-prisoners kind of actress no matter what she's wearing. Heeeeeey, Stana Katic from Castle would be excellent!
Jeanne: Ooh, good one. I'm considering Daniela Ruah, from NCIS - LA. She's got that same attitude as Mary, with a little more interest in the face. Grins.
Nancy: I haven't seen that show yet. I'm still not satisfied with the choices here, and we forgot one of the most important people! Charlotte Mira! Oh, and Head Lab Tech, Dickie "Dickhead" Berenski, and of all things, YOU forgot the lead Coroner, Morris! Maybe the Bandita Buddies who've read the series can help.
Jeanne: Capital idea! (Can't believe I forgot Mira AND Morris...gotta think on that!) I think we're going to need help for Roarke too. He's got so many well-described attributes that you have to be verrrrry picky. I thought about Dermot Mulrooney (The Wedding Date), or Eddie Cahill (CSI-NY) But neither have that certain Je nais ce quoi that Roarke needs.
Nancy: So true! I did the same thing. Roarke is an action hero, but he has lots and lots of layers, darkness and light. Doing him justice requires real acting chops. Eve, too, for that matter.
Returning to Roarke, though, Milo Ventimiglia's too short, but otherwise has the right looks. Brandon Routh doesn't have blue eyes. Clive Owen is too greyhound lean, and Hugh Grant's too associated with Romantic Comedy. Matt Bomer from the new series White Collar is good, looks-wise, but he's too short and too young.
Jeanne: Yep, gotta have some acting chops to do Roarke. Christian Bale? David Conrad from Ghost Whisperer? Pierce Brosnan from 25 years ago would be good, but we can't regress him in time. Too bad about that. Charles Durning's a bit too old now, but he would have made a great Feeney.
Nancy: You're digressing again! Focus! Neeson's also too old for Roarke, and Colin Farrell's too short and too...something. Karl Urban and Hugh Jackman could do it, but they're so famous. Deservedly because they're so good, but it's sometimes hard to overlook who they are when they're onscreen. Though I have to say Urban did a great job of disappearing into Dr. McCoy in Star Trek. And Jackman was great in a role very different for him in Australia. Did I tell you how many times I watched Australia on HBO?
Jeanne (snorking): Yes! Yes you did. *grins* (About as many times as I've watched Star Trek, I'll bet.) Getting back to the point, as much as I perv over Karl Urban, you're right there. One of my other favorites, Adrian Paul is too short, too old, and doesn't have blue eyes. He's got the smoldering, smirky capacity, but not the other stuff. I'm going to digress again and say that Jon Voight would make an absolutely perfect Senator DeBlass from the first book, with Kevin Bacon as his smarmy aide-de-camp.
Nancy: Darn it, we need to get the main characters, not go haring off into side trips. Remember, we still don't have Morris or Mira! On balance, among our current choices, I'd go with Jackman for Roarke and Katic for Eve. She's just a shade on the young side, but I think she'd be good.
Jeanne: Okay, okay! *Grins* Not that we're taking this seriously or anything. I guess I'd go Christian Bale for Roarke and Daniella Ruah for Eve.
Nancy: Way too early in the morning for serious. I can see Bale, though, and I'll take your word that Ruah'd be good. But I think it's time to get some help from people who watch either more TV and Movies that you and I do, or who watch different shows than you and I do. There's a lot of BOOM movies and Crime shows represented in our lists. Maybe something else?
Jeanne: You know Anna Campbell's going to suggest Richard Armitage, don't you?
Nancy: Yep. She's like you are with Karl Urban.
Jeanne: Heehee. Well, we all have our favorites....
So what about it, Banditas and Bandit Buddies? Who would you cast as Eve, Roarke, and Co. from J.D. Robb's famous In Death series?
Do you have a favorite series or book (not bandita books this time, please, 'cause we're doing those on June 19) for which you'd like to cast the characters?
Let's talk CASTING, People!!
Jeanne, contemplating Kathy Reichs' latest Temperance Brennan book: Why is it that it's so hard to cast people for books-to-movies or books-to-TV who actually resemble the characters? I mean, seriously. I look at who gets cast for stuff sometimes and just wince. Temperance Brennan on TV isn't at ALL like she's described in the book. And we won't even mention the comic-book heroes....
(Nancy rolls her eyes, having heard Jeanne's complaint that Karl Urban should have been chosen for Thor, rather than Chris Hemsworth.)
Nancy, stirring cream into her coffee and contemplating the tray of pastries Sven left out for the Banditas: Well, they got Iron Man right. Not too many people could play Iron Man any better than Robert Downey Jr. And Christopher Reeve was Superman to the life. Brandon Routh was fine but could've been better if he'd had a good script. And then there's Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.
Jeanne: *grudging concession* That's true. Bad choices aside, there are some books and comic books that are incredibly difficult to cast. Take the In Death series.
*Jeanne points to the copy in Nancy's "To Be Shelved - Keeper" cubby, over by the door.*I noticed you caught up with all the J.D. Robb books, when you finished Fantasy in Death.
Nancy: Of all the Eve Dallas books, this is the one most perfect for me. It's got gaming, for cryin' out loud. And a convention. And Star Wars references. Right up my street, as Anna Sugden would say.
Jeanne: Now THERE's a series that would be fun to cast. I hear our own Romance Champion, Nora, thinks that would be one of the hardest casting jobs of all time. I think I'd agree with her on that. What do you think, Nancy?
(Long, thoughtful, coffee-drinking pause)
Nancy: Bet we could come up with something.
Jeanne: *Grins* Ah, the gauntlet is cast. Let's do it. Starting at the top....Who would play Eve?
Nancy: Ohhhh, no, let's start with the minor characters first. That's easier!
Jeanne: Good plan. Okay, Summerset, the butler, factotem, and what the historical authors might have called the Reeve, for the most gorgeous Irish-American hero ever (barring Aunty Cindy's boys), Roarke. Who gets to play Summerset and sneer at Eve?
Nancy: Ralph Richardson would be perfect for Summerset, but alas, he's dead.
Jeanne: Let's do cast LIVE people, yes. *Grins* What about Michael Caine for Summerset. No one can do disdainful like Michael Caine. He was fabulous at it in Miss Congeniality.Nancy: Either Michael Caine or perhaps David McCallum (NCIS Coroner) would be good for that. But I think Caine has the edge. You know, I think Dennis Haysbert from The Unit would be perfect for Tibble. And possibly my pal Teal'C of Stargate (Christopher Judge) would be perfect for Mavis's beau, Leonardo.
Jeanne: Oh, he would!! What about Samuel L. Jackson for Whitney? He'd be great as Whitney. And perhaps Michael Clarke Duncan for Crack, from the Down and Dirty Club.Nancy: Samuel L. Jackson is perfect as pretty much anything. I can see Michael Clarke Duncan for Crack.
Jeanne: What about Mavis?
Nancy: Katherine Heigel or Amy Adams might do for Mavis, or maybe Helena Bonham Carter, she's got that curly hair and sort of flighty sensibility that Mavis has.
Jeanne: Excellent. I think James Marsden (27 Dresses) would be great for Baxter, and maybe Eddie Cibrian from CSI Miami for Webster.
Nancy: You know James Marsden was fabulous as my favorite guy X-Man, Cyclops, just as an aside, and he can sing, too. I can see Cibrian as Webster. I think Ewan McGregor has to play McNabb. Or maybe Michael Cera from Juno.
Jeanne: Good ones!! I've got the perfect actor for Troy Trueheart. He's on Disney Channel's Aaron Stone, and his name is Kelly Blatz. He's just that "perfect" all-American boy-type. Or maybe Casper Van Dein, from Starship Troopers. He's got that "Lettered-in-every-sport" kind of Troy-Trueheart look too.
Nancy: Good choices there, either one. On the female side, I think Sasha Alexander (NCIS) or maybe Emily Proctor (CSI - Miami), who's a North Carolina native, just to confess my bias, for Assistant ADA Cher Rio. That would be good.Jeanne: It would! And I'm partial to those NC actors too, as you know! Now for the harder ones...Delia Peabody. She's going to be a toughie.
Nancy: *hmmmm* Zoey Deschanel? Pauley Perrette (NCIS)?
Jeanne, munching a pastry to buy thinking time: Perrette's got the chuzpah for it. May be Leighton Meester from Gossip Girl. Body-type wise, she's more the Peabody type.
Nancy: Hmmm, yes, but it's all about the attitude. That's what makes it hard to consider casting Eve. She's not classically beautiful, she's interesting. She's tall. She's whipcord rather than brawn, and she's no lightweight in terms of her abilities. Not just any frou-frou actress can pull that off.
Jeanne: Okay brainstorming for Eve....Jessica Alba has the chops (too pretty?)
Nancy: Lena Headey from the Terminator TV series (too short?) Maybe Mary MacCormack from West Wing and In Plain Sight. She's got an interesting face and is a take-no-prisoners kind of actress no matter what she's wearing. Heeeeeey, Stana Katic from Castle would be excellent!
Jeanne: Ooh, good one. I'm considering Daniela Ruah, from NCIS - LA. She's got that same attitude as Mary, with a little more interest in the face. Grins.Nancy: I haven't seen that show yet. I'm still not satisfied with the choices here, and we forgot one of the most important people! Charlotte Mira! Oh, and Head Lab Tech, Dickie "Dickhead" Berenski, and of all things, YOU forgot the lead Coroner, Morris! Maybe the Bandita Buddies who've read the series can help.
Jeanne: Capital idea! (Can't believe I forgot Mira AND Morris...gotta think on that!) I think we're going to need help for Roarke too. He's got so many well-described attributes that you have to be verrrrry picky. I thought about Dermot Mulrooney (The Wedding Date), or Eddie Cahill (CSI-NY) But neither have that certain Je nais ce quoi that Roarke needs.
Nancy: So true! I did the same thing. Roarke is an action hero, but he has lots and lots of layers, darkness and light. Doing him justice requires real acting chops. Eve, too, for that matter.
Returning to Roarke, though, Milo Ventimiglia's too short, but otherwise has the right looks. Brandon Routh doesn't have blue eyes. Clive Owen is too greyhound lean, and Hugh Grant's too associated with Romantic Comedy. Matt Bomer from the new series White Collar is good, looks-wise, but he's too short and too young.Jeanne: Yep, gotta have some acting chops to do Roarke. Christian Bale? David Conrad from Ghost Whisperer? Pierce Brosnan from 25 years ago would be good, but we can't regress him in time. Too bad about that. Charles Durning's a bit too old now, but he would have made a great Feeney.
Nancy: You're digressing again! Focus! Neeson's also too old for Roarke, and Colin Farrell's too short and too...something. Karl Urban and Hugh Jackman could do it, but they're so famous. Deservedly because they're so good, but it's sometimes hard to overlook who they are when they're onscreen. Though I have to say Urban did a great job of disappearing into Dr. McCoy in Star Trek. And Jackman was great in a role very different for him in Australia. Did I tell you how many times I watched Australia on HBO?Jeanne (snorking): Yes! Yes you did. *grins* (About as many times as I've watched Star Trek, I'll bet.) Getting back to the point, as much as I perv over Karl Urban, you're right there. One of my other favorites, Adrian Paul is too short, too old, and doesn't have blue eyes. He's got the smoldering, smirky capacity, but not the other stuff. I'm going to digress again and say that Jon Voight would make an absolutely perfect Senator DeBlass from the first book, with Kevin Bacon as his smarmy aide-de-camp.
Nancy: Darn it, we need to get the main characters, not go haring off into side trips. Remember, we still don't have Morris or Mira! On balance, among our current choices, I'd go with Jackman for Roarke and Katic for Eve. She's just a shade on the young side, but I think she'd be good.
Jeanne: Okay, okay! *Grins* Not that we're taking this seriously or anything. I guess I'd go Christian Bale for Roarke and Daniella Ruah for Eve.Nancy: Way too early in the morning for serious. I can see Bale, though, and I'll take your word that Ruah'd be good. But I think it's time to get some help from people who watch either more TV and Movies that you and I do, or who watch different shows than you and I do. There's a lot of BOOM movies and Crime shows represented in our lists. Maybe something else?
Jeanne: You know Anna Campbell's going to suggest Richard Armitage, don't you?Nancy: Yep. She's like you are with Karl Urban.
Jeanne: Heehee. Well, we all have our favorites....
So what about it, Banditas and Bandit Buddies? Who would you cast as Eve, Roarke, and Co. from J.D. Robb's famous In Death series?
Do you have a favorite series or book (not bandita books this time, please, 'cause we're doing those on June 19) for which you'd like to cast the characters?
Let's talk CASTING, People!!
98 comments:
oooo Matthew Bomer and RA! Yes!
LOL!! OK, I'm going to sit and watch, because I am the worst at casting... Looking forward to seeing who gets the nod for what here in the Lair today!
Congrats on the GR, Lime!
Hey Lime! The chook comes to roost with his fav Lime!
Isn't Matthew Bomer delish? Obviously you're another RA fan too...
Hey Fedora! Should be a fun day, shouldn't it? I'm excited to see what everyone comes up with. :>
I'm headed for bed...dreaming of casting calls, I'll bet...but I'll see ya'll in the morning.
Can't WAIT to see who's playing whom.
Oh, heavens, this is going to be a pitched battle. I can tell already.
I have to admit, I hadn't considered Christian Bale for Roarke but...I can see it. Yeah, I can see it. I was thinking a little darker and sharper...but...yeah. It's working for me. Nice job, ladies.
As for Eve, well. That's a toughie. I know we can't time travel but if we could, I'd vote for a young Katherine Hepburn. She just had the most fascinating face, more arresting than actually beautiful. And she gives off the most wonderful don't-screw-with-me vibe.
Modern actresses, though? I'm at a loss. I'll sleep on it, & get back to you in the a.m.
Well done lime have fun with him
Jeanne and Nancy
This is really going to be lots of fun but I am with Fedora I am not any good at casting people a) I don't watch much TV or see many movies b) I haven't read the series LOL.
Although series I would love to see on TV or at the movies would be either Nalini Singh's Psy Changeling books or Stephanie Laurens Cynsters for historical but I have no idea who I would cast in the roles.
I can't wait to read everyons thoughts.
have Fun
Helen
Oooooo. In on the first ten comments cuz there's going to be a bunch for this. You just know it, don't you?
I'm just gonna sit back and watch the fun. I may even have to pop popcorn for this one.
Hi
Congratulations....Look after him Lime
I am not well up on movies but Hugh Jackman or Colin Firth would get my vote for the male ... I think I will have to leave this to the younger ones LOL
Barbara
Uhhh ok I'm out since I've never read a single JD Robb book :X Oops.
Also... casting isn't so great for me because attaching names to faces in some parts "ruins" it for me- in fact that's why sometimes I won't watch the movie/tv show if I've already read the book(s). LoTR was an exception.
And more importantly, if I think X hero is exactly like Y actor... and then Y actor drives drunk and kills someone, or cheats on his wife, and so on and so forth... it'll ruin th book for me if Y actor and X hero are pretty much one and the same/interchangeable.
Hiya Nancy and Jeanne! I'm afraid I'm not going to be too much help here as I've only read three or four of the series, but my thoughts immediately went to the chick from Castle for Eve (although she needs to be a bit tougher and edgier, I think) and for Roarke, we need a cross between Pierce Brosnan (younger, of course and with his proper Irish accent) and Ridge (younger, of course) from The Bold and the Beautiful. Am I way off base here?
And you know, I think Richard Armitage would be perrrrfect! I wonder if he can do an Irish accent? If not, he can take lessons from Russell Crowe, whose "Northern" Robin Hood sounded distinctly Irish to me!
Actually, speaking of badly cast series, a real disappointment for me has been Elizabeth George's Lynley mysteries, but Eve Dallas always reminds me of the actor who plays Havers. A really tough nut! But probably not attractive enough. I'll be interested to see what people come up with!
Congrats, Lime!
Hi Jeanne,
I think Carrie-Anne Moss from the Maxtrix movies can pull off Eve. She's quite tall and she knows how to kick ass. Put me down as another who would like to see Richard Armitage as Roarke, although Christian Bale would work, too.
Oh, my favorite series!!!! I agree on so many of you casting choices for the secondary characters. Stana Katic would make an excellent Eve, but alas, I can't think of anyone perfect enough to play my Roarke. Yes, he is mine. Bwahahaha! Hugh Jackman is tall and gorgeous (he's mine, too *g*), but you'd have to do the whole blue contacts, black hair deal. Hmmmm, could work....
I loves me some Roarke!!
Great post!!! I haven't read JD Robb (hanging head in shame), but I'm going to now thanks to your fantastic post.
I would love to cast THE GARGOYLE, a recent bestseller. If you haven't had a chance to read this book, give it a try...you won't be disappointed.
Hey Susan! You've actually hit on the problem....Roarke is drawn as such a complex character already, casting him is equally complex.
LOVE the idea about Kathrine Hepburn. She's one of my heroes. She was a fab mix of femininity and kick-ass, wasn't she?
Ooh, Helen, those sound like they would be terrifically fun, but equally difficult casting jobs on Nalini Singh's books and Stephanie Laurens's books.
I've not read either series...*ducks flying fruit* I know, I know. The TBR pile grows...
Cassondra, if you pop popcorn the smell will waft all over the Lair. We'll be popping popcorn all day.
Then again, there's really no problem with that, so...POP AWAY!
And hey, we ARE talking about the movies here.
Hey Barbara! Colin Firth is pretty yummy in all his roles. Do you think he's edgy enough for Roarke?
Limecello said:casting isn't so great for me because attaching names to faces in some parts "ruins" it for me- in fact that's why sometimes I won't watch the movie/tv show if I've already read the book(s). LoTR was an exception.
Ohhh, probably not a good thing for you, then. Sorry! :> LOTR was an exception to everything, wasn't it? Seriously, that series of movies just rocked.
Hey Christine! you said:... the chick from Castle for Eve (although she needs to be a bit tougher and edgier, I think) and for Roarke, we need a cross between Pierce Brosnan (younger, of course and with his proper Irish accent) and Ridge (younger, of course) from The Bold and the Beautiful. Am I way off base here?
You're not off-base at all. In fact, the chick from Castle is Nancy's pick for Eve. Great minds, eh? Now that I think on it Richard A might make a good Roarke...hmmmm
Christine, I've not seen the Lynly series, but I HAD heard someon say they didn't like the casting. It might have been you...or Anna C. Grins.
Hey Jane! I hadn't thought about Carrie-Anne Moss. I remember her from the Matrix series. Must go look her up on IMDB, refresh my memory and see if the face fits. Grins.
Hey Gannon! You said: alas, I can't think of anyone perfect enough to play my Roarke. Yes, he is mine. Bwahahaha!
Heehee. I think there are one heck of a lot of women who would wrestle Eve to the ground for a chance at Roarke, both IN the books and in the real world. Grins.
Hey KJ! How's travlin'? Grins. KJ and Aunty Cindy are the two travelin'-est Banditas ever. How totally fun they are. (This stay-at-home Bandita is frequently sighing over their destinations)
Kim you said:
I would love to cast THE GARGOYLE, a recent bestseller. If you haven't had a chance to read this book, give it a try...you won't be disappointed.
Ooh, who's the author? What do you like about the book? What's the storyline?
Jeanne, I am terrible at casting calls. I really never have associated an actor or actress with a character in a book and have a hard time coming up with a movie star's name to fill the bill. :> I like to have the pictures of a hero and heroine on the cover. Sounds like I have no imagination (I do), but just want a picture to flip back to throughout the book.
HOWEVER, I would suggest David James Elliot (from JAG) or a young Tom Selleck.
Oooh my favourite debate! I'm a big JD Robb fan ... huge. I can see I'm going to have to wrestle Gannon for Roarke!
In my mind, I kind of picture Eve as looking like Nora in her leather coat *g*. I can see Stana Katic as Eve too. Though she'd need to develop a kind of Angelina /Holly Hunter (as Saving Grace) edge to her *g*. I like Mary McCormick too.
I know she's too old, but I'd love to see Susan Sarandon as Eve too.
Pauley Perette would be awesome as Peabody.
Mavis would be someone bouncy like Marissa Tomei or Laura San Giacomo.
Mira - ooh tough one - perhaps Stockard Channing (West Wing) or someone like Juliette Binoche or Isabella Rosselini. The quiet elegance is the thing there.
Summerset - Ian McKellan or John Hurt. There's an actor over here called Phil Davis (North Square, Bleak House etc) who would be perfect.
McNabb - Kevin Bacon or James Marsden or David Tennant.
Whitney - James Earl Jones.
And ... Roarke ... happy sigh. Liam Neeson in his younger days.
There would have to be a role for Nicholas Cage in there too.
Limecello, congrats on the rooster. You know (ducking from Fo), I have yet to actually see Armitage in anything. I rented the BBC Robin Hood but didn't get it watched before it had to go back and have been too busy to try again.
I hear he's also in the current MI-5, which we get on public TV, though we're a few years behind. We're still with Rupert Penry-Jones as the male lead. I did get Season 1 recently, with Matthew McFadyen.
Fedora, I'm not that great at the casting thing either. Jeanne sucked me in late the other night. Feel free to jump in if you change your mind.
Hi Deb! Oooh, a young TOm Selleck. Yummmy. :> Did you see he was going to be back on TV in the fall?
David James Elliot is a looker, for sure. He'd make a good Baxter, wouldn't he? :>
I still have to figure out Morris and Mira.
Susan, I always liked Hepburn. I hadn't thought of Bale, either, until Jeanne mentioned him. I suspect he's a little short, and neither he nor Jackman has blue eyes. However, he does dark and dangerous really well, as he demonstrated most recently in the Dark Knight films.
When you think about it, Bruce Wayne and Roarke have a lot in common. Both fabulously wealthy, though they got there in different ways, both concerned with the world beyond their noses though they use their wealth differently. Both absolutely ready to do whatever they think needs to be done to defend what's theirs--Eve first, then Summerset and then his business for Roarke, Gotham City for Bruce.
Okay, the more I ponder on this, the more I like this choice, but I still stick with Jackman. Taller and, I suspect, a little more nuanced, though he's right at the upper edge of the age range that would work.
Hi, Helen--Casting isn't really my strong point, either. I don't cast my characters when I'm writing them, and I don't usually do it when I'm reading either. If you think of someone, feel free to jump in.
Another fan! Yeah, Anna! You said: Mavis would be someone bouncy like Marissa Tomei or Laura San Giacomo.
Exactly! :>
Ooh, and Julliette Binoche would be an excellent Mira. You're right in that she needs that quiet elegance. A certain internal serenity to balance Eve's edges.
Barb, Colin Firth is always good.
Your comment that you're leaving this to "the younger ones" is interesting. I had trouble thinking of actresses in their late 20s/early to mid 30s who would have the chops to pull off Eve. I had similar issues with Roarke. Actors in their 30s who have the physical presence and the craft skills to do Roarke don't seem to be that common either, and I was thinking that maybe people who are in that age range themselves would be more likely to come up with names.
Christine, the actress who plays Havers is Sharon Small. I've seen her a bit more gussied up in other roles, and she's very attractive. She's a bit petite for Eve, maybe, but she's a terrific actress.
I thought Nathaniel Parker did a great job as Lynley, but he looks so different from the very blond character that I had to get used to him, and I never did warm to either actress who played Helen (who's dead now, I understand, in the books).
Lynley seems to me physically similar to Melrose Plant in the Richard Jury books but more muscular. The same actor could probably play them both. Simon Baker?
Jane, I hadn't thought of Carrie-Anne Moss, but she does do a lot of physical stuff in those movies, and with the right hair color, her looks would be close. I've only seen the first film. She was really good in it, though.
Gannon, since you have gone with my own choices, I loudly salute your picks! *g*
Yeah, Jackman would need contacts. Really, a lot of blue-eyed actors would. Roarke's eyes aren't just blue. Pale blue wouldn't cut it, I think.
Congrat Lime on getting the rooster! Since I don't watch a lot of movies I would really be bad at casting, so I will just lay back and see what everyone else says.
KJ, read them in order. People like you and me who love series should, I think, take particular note of the character evolution in these books, and reading in order makes that easier to track.
You know, I'd never read these either until I asked about continuing-couples series last August and the Lair practically exploded with recommendations for these books. I read the first one, and Eve and Roarke and their world sucked me in like a black hole, something that doesn't often happen to me. By mid-October, I was totally caught up.
The Gargoyle? Sounds intriguing, and I'd bet it's a lot grittier than the cartoon series the boy used to watch.
We're going to miss you in Orlando and will cheer loudly on awards night for you. I can't wait to hear about your fabulous travels this summer.
Hi, Deb--I loved JAG, and David James Elliott has a lot of appeal. Come to think of it, Catherine Bell might be able to pull off Eve. And I always loved Tom Selleck!
Y'know, Carrie Anne Moss has a lot of presence. She could do well as Eve, but I think she's too short. :> She'd make a good Peabody as well. grins.
Anna, what a terrific list! I love Juliette Binoche for Mira. She was great in Chocolat. Ian McKellan would be a fabulous Summerset--don't know why I didn't think of him, big X-Man fan that I am, when he was so great as Magneto.
Oh, I like Catherine Bell! She was good in JAG. She'd make a good Mavis too.
Anna I went and looked up Phil Davis. He WOULD be good for Summerset. Or Ian McKellen. Sigh. I love Ian. :>
You know, Feeney's getting overlooked. If we're going with Michael Caine for Summerset, I'd nominate David McCallum as Feeney, though he doesn't have the hair.
Geoffrey Rush? Probably wouldn't accept a supporting role, but since this is our imaginary casting call, we can still pick him.
Limecello, I also don't generally associate actors with characters, even in my own mss. I was really nervous about LOTR because I love the books so much and was afraid the actors wouldn't fit. In the end, though, they meshed beautifully.
Sam is really the heart of LOTR, the most frequent POV character. We're seldom in deep POV with Frodo and almost never with Aragorn or Gandalf or even Merry and Pippin, not for long. It's mostly Sam who gives the story its punchy. The dh and I thought, ensemble cast or not, that Sean Astin deserved a Best Actor Oscar for his Sam.
Virginia, thanks for letting us know you're here. If someone occurs to you, feel free to jump in.
Nancy said: If we're going with Michael Caine for Summerset, I'd nominate David McCallum as Feeney, though he doesn't have the hair.
But Caine wouldn't be as good for Feeny, if we go with Ian McKellen for Summerset. Hmmm. What about James Caan for Feeny?
And James Cromwell would make a superb summerset. He's done a lot of work, very recognizable, but not so well known by name.
Nancy said: It's mostly Sam who gives the story its punchy. The dh and I thought, ensemble cast or not, that Sean Astin deserved a Best Actor Oscar for his Sam.
You are SO right about that! I thought he should be the leading role since, really, everything hinges on Sam's ability to stay steadfast. He shores up Frodo's flagging strength, rescues him from the Orcs, keeps him alive, basically. No Sam, no victory. :> And all acted with such humility by Sean Astin. Bravo, Sean!
Ok, that's Sean Astin gives the story its PUNCH, not PUNCHY. *sigh* Maybe I'm punchy, not catching these things.
No, Caine wouldn't be as good for Feeney, though I can see James Cromwell as Summerset. Caine was so good as the imperturbable Alfred Pennyworth and in a similar role in The Prestige (Jackman and Bale).
Geoffrey Rush is kind of tall and lanky for Feeney.
What about Saul Rubinek as Feeney? Not as well known, but he's versatile. He did comedy on Frasier as Daphne's fiance and drama on Stargate SG-1 and in Warehouse 13.
Dustin Hoffman as Feeney?
Tommy Lee Jones as Feeney?
Oh - forgot to say - another series I'd like to see cast is Suz Brockmann's Navy SEAL/ Troubleshooters.
Who would play Sam and Alicia, Decker and Tess, Sophia and Dave Tom, Max and the rest of the gang as well as my absolute fave, Jules.
Oh, and we'd have to cast Lisa Gardner's Pierce and Rainie, Kimberley and Mac, as well as Bobby Dodge and DeeDee Warren.
I see Tess Gerritsen's Isles and Rizzoli are already being cast - intersting choices.
Oooh, I think Saul Rubinek or Dustin would be good as Feeny! Really good choices.
(and Nancy says she's not good at this? Really?)
Now you all have shamed me into admitting that I haven't read this series. Maybe I'll pick the two up for the cruise.
Anna said: I see Tess Gerritsen's Isles and Rizzoli are already being cast - intersting choices.
I agree, Anna. Interesting choices! And not at all what I would have pictured.
Anna said: Who would play Sam and Alicia, Decker and Tess, Sophia and Dave Tom, Max and the rest of the gang as well as my absolute fave, Jules.
Oh, and we'd have to cast Lisa Gardner's Pierce and Rainie, Kimberley and Mac, as well as Bobby Dodge and DeeDee Warren.
OOoh, FUN! Who would be your picks, off the top of your head?
Christie said: Now you all have shamed me into admitting that I haven't read this series.
Hey, no shame in it at all. So many books, so little time. Grins. Some people don't even like this series because it's a bit sci-fi-y. It's set approx 50 years into the future, which is what puts people off a bit.
Those who love it, though, really love it. Kind of like Julia Quinn's Bridgertons...which is another one that would be fun to cast!
Anna, wow--SEALS. Serious action heroes. I'm ashamed to admit I'm not up to date on the series. I'm not up to date on many, to tell the truth. My summer goal is whittling the TBR pile.
Christie, what makes this series for me is the characters. If you decide to take two of these on your cruise, be sure to pick the first two, Naked in Death and Glory in Death. These characters and their relationships evolve, and I think that's easier to appreciate reading in order, though the stories stand alone perfectly.
Jeanne said: (and Nancy says she's not good at this? Really?)
I'm not. Don't do it enough. As I've said before, I don't do my own mss. The characters have their own faces in my head. I don't want to peg them to actors or other people, first because they then don't feel so "mine" sand second because, as Limecello says, malfeasance by that person then taints the character for me. I'm more comfortable splashing along with my imaginary friends.
But it's a fun game.
Nancy said: The characters have their own faces in my head. I don't want to peg them to actors or other people, first because they then don't feel so "mine" sand second because, as Limecello says, malfeasance by that person then taints the character for me.
The characters have their own faces for me too. And even if Ms. Nora did let this go to a movie and people were cast for it, I think I'd still have different pix in my head.
BTW, love the word malfeasance! Such a lusciously baaaaaad word. Grins.
It's funny. LOTR the movie was still great for me, despite the fact that I have different pix in my head for what the Hobbits look like and Stryder too. They came pretty close to my image of Bilbo, and the elves, and even Gimli. As much as I adore Viggo Mortensen, my mental image of Stryer is still different, as is my mental image of Gandalf.
I think I'd still be that way with Roarke, no matter who played him. He's just so yummy...
I really can't proofread today. "Sand" for "and." Geez. *sigh*
Jeanne, I also have a mental picture of Strider that Viggo Mortenson doesn't match. Same for some of the others. They were close enough, though, and the portrayals so on-target, that I could get past it.
The dh, who used to teach a course on Tolkien, and I had much more trouble, initially, with the choices of what to include/omit for the movie. The first time we saw Fellowship, we came out grousing even though we knew filming the entire massive tome was just not possible.
By the second time, when we took the boy, our brains had slotted into the changes, and we were fine. I think I saw Fellowship 8 or 9 times in theaters before it went away.
Glad you like "malfeasance." I so seldom have the chance to use it.
Nancy said: The first time we saw Fellowship, we came out grousing even though we knew filming the entire massive tome was just not possible.
I'm with you there. My DH and I had deliberately NOT reread anything for the two years or so prior to the movie's advent. We knew if we did we'd feel the lack of certain things even more.
He still sometimes laments the omission of Tom Bombadil. :>
Ooh, looking forward to the Bandita casting couch - I'm in charge of making the decisions after interviewing...uh, auditioning...oh, all right, doing the mambo with the candidates, aren't I? Snork!
Love the post, girls! What fun! Actually casting our books is something that never loses its fascination, does it? I look for types when I'm starting out. The characters always move beyond those original thoughts but it's fun to get the creative juices going! Hmm, do creative juices stain the Bandita casting couch?
Oh, and yeah, I think you should have Richard Armitage for Roarke. I think Richard Armitage should be king of the world, frankly! ;-)
Jeanne, Tom Bombadil seems to be hotly disputed, with some Tolkien fanatics doing cartwheels over the omission and others grousing about it to this day.
What I missed was the barrow wight, because it was the sword from the barrow, the "blade of Westernesse," that Merry used to kill the Nazgul king at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It was the ancient magic in the blade, not the wound itself, that slew the Nazgul.
Which is something, clearly, very few people who are not me care about!
I always saw Ginnifer Goodwin as Peabody. And Jerry O'Connell as Baxter. I used to have a whole list of who I thought should play whom, but I think all of them have aged. Thank God I haven't! lol
Nancy, I miss the barrow wights too - they were SOOOO creepy. Tom Bombadil I can live without - that was actually when I put the book down for two years when I read it. Yeah, I know, heresy!
Debra, how true about you not ageing a moment ;-)
I'm afraid I won't be much help as I haven't read any of the In Death books :-(
But I've really enjoyed reading everyone's suggestions! And now I'm anxious to read the series :-)
Lovely post, ladies, but alas I'm not equipped to discuss any casting of the In Death series as I've only read one years ago...HEY! No throwing things...
Anna S: Oh - forgot to say - another series I'd like to see cast is Suz Brockmann's Navy SEAL/ Troubleshooters.
Now there's a series I'd like to see cast.
And how about JD Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood?
Anna C said: Hmm, do creative juices stain the Bandita casting couch?
SNORK! Lord, I hope not, or Sven will have yet one more thing to frown at us for. Grins. Or he'll be runnin' to Donna waving the dry cleaning receipt.
And we don't want THAT, now do we? Hmmm? Grins.
RA as king of the world? I bet he'd be a benevolent dictator...
Nancy said: What I missed was the barrow wight, because it was the sword from the barrow, the "blade of Westernesse," that Merry used to kill the Nazgul king at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It was the ancient magic in the blade, not the wound itself, that slew the Nazgul.
I'm in your camp on that one. Doesn't make much sense otherwise, if you're a true afficianado. Grins. And oddly enough, I remember reading Tolkien the first time (age 9 or 10 or so) and having to go look up both barrow and wight.
Not common usage in NC among 9-10 year olds. Grins.
Hey Debra! Welcome to the Romance Bandits! I told you we wouldn't bite.
Heeeeey, I like Ginnifer Goodwin as a potential Peabody! She wouldn't be bad as Mavis either with those sultry eyes.
Jerry McConnell would make a great Baxter, you're right. He's aged more than Ginnifer has, but oh-so-gracefully. :> He'd still do pretty well as Baxter. Too old for Trueheart now, though.
Nancy, I just couldn't get past a non-blonde Lynley. Simon Baker--maybe, but he'd have to do a darn good impression of an English earl! I'd love an English actor to do it--Rupert Penry Jones from Spooks would have been a good choice.
And I *loathe* the actress who plays Helen. Helen is supposed to be attractive, thoroughly charming and even a little silly on occasion--deliberately so--to lighten Lynley's darkness. She was not a sour-faced cow!! It's terrible when the show gets in your head and ruins the books. I went off them for a little while after that.
Havers is not at all what she is in the book but she is good in a different way. The essence of the character is there, although I do love the way in the books Havers never stops smoking and eating junk. Such a contrast to Lynley.
Anna C said: Tom Bombadil I can live without - that was actually when I put the book down for two years when I read it. Yeah, I know, heresy!
Hahah! Well I did this with The Hobbit. Somehow I got an old edition that started with the explanation of Shire Reckoning.
OMGosh. Most boring stuff in the world to a kid, much less an adult. Hahaha. Couldn't understand why everyone LIKED this book so much...
Said that to my fav brother. He pointed me past the Shire-time-stamp and said, "Start HERE"
I didn't surface for about a week. Blew straight through all four books.
Suz said: Now there's a series I'd like to see cast.
And how about JD Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood?
Ooooh, that WOULD be fun!!!
And Suz, and Beth, I promise not to throw things. As I said earlier, no matter how popular the series, so many books, so little time! I've only read a bit of Black Dagger, knowing I would get hooked and again, not surface for a week or two as I read them all. Couldn't afford that with my writing schedule right now....Grins.
Christine said: I'd love an English actor to do it--Rupert Penry Jones from Spooks would have been a good choice.
Oooh, he's yummy looking, Christine. He was evidently in a movie called Charlotte Grey with Cate Blanchette. Never heard of it, but there were some stills on IMDB. Yuuuummmmm.
Debra, I hadn't thought of O'Connell, but I can see it. I'm not familiar with the actress you suggested.
And I'm not aging either. I decided.
Anna, you have lots of company in the "No Bombadil" department, believe me. Come to DragonCon sometime and toss out the name at a Tolkien track panel, then sit back and watch the affray commence.
Or so I've heard.
Beth and Suz, we can't all read everything, so it's no problem you haven't read these. Glad you stopped by anyway.
Beth, I finished Do You Take This Cop last night. I loved it--another great job!
Jeanne, since we don't have barrows or (one hopes) wights in NC, it's no wonder you didn't know the words. We do have Native American burial mounds, or so I've been told.
You were ahead of me. I was out of college before I read either Tolkien or Sherlock Holmes, both of whom came my way courtesy of a friend who loves both, was appalled to learn I didn't know their work, and thrust books upon me.
Christine, I can absolutely see Rupert Penry Jones as Lynley. He was excellent in MI-5, and the characters have some common features.
He was the captain the heroine sent away in her youth in either Emma or Persuasion. I think it was Persuasion. Whichever, I rented it but, again, did not get it watched.
I'm not renting much of anything else until I get my proposal out and this ms. done! Waste of money
Nancy said: You were ahead of me. I was out of college before I read either Tolkien or Sherlock Holmes
This would be both the joy and peril of elder siblings, Nancy. The one and only area I could "keep up" with them in was reading. I read stuff I probably shouldn't have, at that age, just to see what they were up to in their reading habits. Some I understood, some I didn't but I read 'em! Hahaha! Dictionaries are invaluable when trying to keep up with the sibs too...
Come to think of it, I believe I called my sister a barrow wight at some point (she hadn't read Tolkein) and my brothers laughed and laughed.
She made me pay dearly for that, as I recall. Snork. Must remind her and pinch her back, now that I'm bigger. Heeheee
Nancy said: Come to DragonCon sometime and toss out the name at a Tolkien track panel, then sit back and watch the affray commence.
Sounds like fun!
*Noting this for my DragonCon experience*
Jeanne said: Come to think of it, I believe I called my sister a barrow wight at some point (she hadn't read Tolkein) and my brothers laughed and laughed.
See, it's always good to know things people like siblings do not. :-)
Cassondra said: For Sugar Beth....gosh....Nicole Kidman is perfect if they died her hair, but she's probably getting too old. Dang. Gwenyth Paltrow or...Is Kate Blanchett too old for that now?
Gosh, this is hard. Interesting though
It is hard, but I think you've got a good feel for it. I think Gwenyth Paltrow could REALLY pull off a good Sugar Beth. :>
Wait. What happened? *raises eyebrow at blogger*
Hmmm...Let's try again.
Well, lessee...I can't cast teh In Death books cuz I haven't read them yet. Own them, but haven't read them.
So...maybe I could cast Ain't She Sweet since I go on about that book all the time.
I think Nicole Kidman could play Sugar Beth if they dyed her hair, but maybe she's too old by now. Dangit. Gwenyth Paltrow? Is Cate Blanchet?
And for Colin....I do think I'd have to pick Richard Armitage...or somebody like him--someone who can hold that stuffy air so convincingly.
Wow, tough job this casting. But interesting!
I think I need to watch more movies.
Jeanne said:
Cassondra said: For Sugar Beth....gosh....Nicole Kidman is perfect if they died her hair, but she's probably getting too old. Dang. Gwenyth Paltrow or...Is Kate Blanchett too old for that now?
Gosh, this is hard. Interesting though
It is hard, but I think you've got a good feel for it. I think Gwenyth Paltrow could REALLY pull off a good Sugar Beth. :>
Oh! You caught part of it before it disappeared! That was very strange.
Now, we're even, Cassondra, because I haven't read Ain't She Sweet and can't cast that one. But I like the actors you mentioned.
Why are you cleaning up the fruit, anyway? That's Sven's job.
Hey! It says I removed my own post! Did NOT! *raises eyebrow even higher*
Nancy said:
Why are you cleaning up the fruit, anyway? That's Sven's job.
Well, there was just such a godawful LOT Of it what with the turning down the page thing and all...
Weird. I saw your post, Cassondra. Read it, obviously.
It occurs to me that people who do not turn down pages or break spines also should not be hurling fruit.
Cassondra said: Well, there was just such a godawful LOT Of it what with the turning down the page thing and all...
Yeah, but Sven's slackin' if you're out there cleaning it up. Tsk, tsk to them. Hey, they get the big bucks for working with us nutso authors, they can clean up a little fruit. Besides, those stone floors can be hosed down. That's why we put in the central drains, just for things like THIS. Grins.
Cassondra said: You caught part of it before it disappeared! That was very strange.
That WAS very strange! One minute it was there, then PFfffft, it was gone!
I am absolutely not good at casting
books! I always want to list my
favorites (Boreanaz, Bomer, Damien
Lewis, etc.) in the various roles.
And it wouldn't be fair to give
them all the best characters to
play! When it comes down to it I'm
just not reliable at this task!
SORRY!!
Snort, Pat, that's OK!
i have my Roarke picked out.
Julian McMahon (aka Dr. Christian Troy from Nip/Tuck), he's sexy, smooth but still has a bad boy edge.
and another one from Nip/Tuck, Kelly Carlson would be my pick for Mavis. She's young, cut, and I can see her with yellow eyes and a green wig to match.
dallas is by far the hardest. i'm still thinking about that one, but, i'm leaning towards Uma Thurman.
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