Perfect Casting, part 2

[Warden John Marcone]

Kewl, we're still all friends.

Michael Caine for Ronald Reul

[MoSeS]

Naturally, I wouldn't debate with people that weren't my friends, what would be the point if I don't like them or care what they think.

Did you see I cast Will Smith for Harry ^

[Warden John Marcone]

I did.  I like Will Smith.

[Murphy's Stunt Double]

ME, TOO!

[Linnemir]

Haven't trolled thru all 126 pages to check, but what part do people envision for our audio narrator, James Marsters?? He did an incredible job with Spike on Buffy, has a great deal of snark, is tall, and is certainly familiar with the character of Harry?

[Warden John Marcone]

He's the voice I hear when I think Harry these days.  I still like Alexis Denisof, but Marsters could do it.

And before anybody says anything about Weatherly, he COULD do it, but I can't picture him in a duster with a staff.  He belongs in a suit.  End of story.

[hatshep2]

Yeah because white people never get a break in holywood...

I want to make it clear that I don't want to offend anybody and that I am decidedly not racist. However, I think the above argument has no place in casting decisions. If JB says Harry is brown haired we're not gonna cast him as a blond...it just doesn't make sense since their are plenty of brown-haired actors who would do a terrific job. And in a Buffy movie remake would we cast Spike as a guy with black hair? Or a Hispanic or an African-American? Would we cast Susan as a blue-eyed blond?
You say "white people never get a break in Hollywood," but the fact is that actors of all ethnicities have plenty of work to find in Hollywood for all kinds of roles.

And I would be equally opposed to seeing say, Jensen Ackles, play Will Smith's role in a remake of MIB. Yes, I think Ackles has the acting skill and style that would fit quite well but the fact still remains that he doesn't have the right look for the part. To me, saying you shouldn't consider ethnicity for a role is like saying you should cast a woman of average appearance to play Aphrodite in some movie about Greek myth. She may have all the acting skill in the world but she just doesn't match.

And as for the racist or result of racism (i.e. blacks weren't allowed to act) practice of face painting, I don't think that applies to discussions of current movie casting practices. And Nick Fury was changed to a black actor in the movies...Will Smith isn't the only black actor getting cast in roles written for a white actor. Plus there's the new Karate Kid.

Anyway, I just had to get all that off my chest. I hope no one was offended by what I said and I assure you that no offence was intended.

[Chiana]

I completely think James Marsters for Harry.  It may be from my love of him on Buffy and Angel, or most likely from his reading of the audio books.  He (to me) is the perfect Harry.  Full of snark and wit and he is quite nice to look at!

[Murphy's Stunt Double]

If JB says Harry is brown haired we're not gonna cast him as a blond...it just doesn't make sense since their are plenty of brown-haired actors who would do a terrific job.

And this my dear is the crux of the argument against the actress who played murphy on TV and why faithful readers failed to connect with her even though she was a quite competent actress in the part.

Murphy is a blond, dammit. It makes a difference for her characters' struggles to be accepted in her workworld that she look completely "cute" and "not to be taken as a serious threat".

[Chiana]

Very true MSD.  I could never even begin to picture Murph without blond hair.

I've seen pictures of Marsters with his natural brown hair, looks good and very Harry-like.

[hatshep2]

I've seen pictures of Marsters with his natural brown hair, looks good and very Harry-like.

Forgot to mention that...totally agree. 

[Warden John Marcone]

Harry for James.

[۞†Grey Warden†۞]

Speaking of ruining the part look what they did with bond, a blond bond, completely turned me off to the series.

[tiny[but]fierce]

Holy crap, I'm away for two days and have to come back to five pages of catch-up. Yeesh.

As someone of Caucasian ethnicity and Middle Eastern background, I refrain from even commenting on any of the previous argument two pages ago. I have a big mouth, which comes complete with Foot-In-Mouth, and I'll get myself in trouble. I'd rather not.

(I like Will Smith, too, just so y'all know. His kids are freaking adorable, too.)

I would <3 James as Harry. One problem -- Harry has a height level of nearly 7 feet tall. James is anywhere from one to three inches shy of six feet. Without some very clever camera angles, and the use of lifts or something when James is on screen, they can't match the height.

As for his hair, he's got a great head of hair. Someone actually wrote a poem about it recently, and even got to read it for him. [[video]] // [[poem]]

BTW, he normally has an afro when he just doesn't care. He's been afflicted with adorable, tightly wound curls since he was a child. You should see the one picture of him from high school that circulates the 'net.

Now that I've said that, here's a picture of him with his hair straight. Looks a wee bit like Harry Connick, Jr., yeah?

[Chiana]

He is beautiful!  Perfect casting in my eyes!