Alternative Casting Challenge

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The Challenge is to identify an actor that perfectly fits the Character, while not actually looking like the physical descriptions in the novels.

My go-to example for such things is the casting of Lestat for Interview with a Vampire vs Queen of the Damned; I thought Townsend did a far better job with the tone and personality of Lestat than Tom Cruise did, but Cruise was the proper Blued-eyed Blond (if about a foot too short). 

Another example, Jim said once that he thought Will Smith would make a great Harry Dresden. 
So, Ill start:

Father Forthill:
Jemaine Clement



Mac:
Bruce Willis



Molly Carpenter:
Alisha Wainwright



Michael:
Idris Elba

[Griffyn612]

Michael - Christopher Judge

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Hmmm, I love the guy, but at least onscreen Ive never seen him loosen up to be able to picture him as Michael (no to say he cant, but Id want him to audition a scene or two).  Not that Michael is particularly "loose" persay, but he's a lot softer around his kids than the ever-present formality I associate with Teal'c



I could see Nathan Fillion doing it, based purely on the episode of Castle where his daughter gets kidnapped.  Mama Bears got nothin' on him. 


Any Ideas for a Mortimer?  Im struggling to find the right mix of Cowardice and indignation. 

[Griffyn612]

Hmmm, I love the guy, but at least onscreen Ive never seen him loosen up to be able to picture him as Michael (no to say he cant, but Id want him to audition a scene or two).  Not that Michael is particularly "loose" persay, but he's a lot softer around his kids than the ever-present formality I associate with Teal'c



I could see Nathan Fillion doing it, based purely on the episode of Castle where his daughter gets kidnapped.  Mama Bears got nothin' on him. 


Any Ideas for a Mortimer?  Im struggling to find the right mix of Cowardice and indignation.

https://youtu.be/NJGX7xevomI
Here's Judge being casual in a Mamoa interview.  He can be normal, too, but does a great job of carrying himself in a un-intimidating manner.  That's the key for Michael to me.  Being a big guy that doesn't try to look big.

As for Mortimer, if I were casting 15 years ago, I'd of said Steve Paymer, no doubt about it.  He doesn't match the description of Mort's weight, but he could easily do the smarmy burnt out Mort and the respectable and stubbornly anti-Harry Mort.

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https://youtu.be/NJGX7xevomI
Here's Judge being casual in a Mamoa interview.  He can be normal, too, but does a great job of carrying himself in a un-intimidating manner.  That's the key for Michael to me.  Being a big guy that doesn't try to look big.

He's a casual guy in interviews, Ive just never seen him Act a character on that side of things.  What I need is a stargate episode featuring body swapping; did he ever have to play Jack stuck in Teal'c's Body?

As for Mortimer, if I were casting 15 years ago, I'd of said Steve Paymer, no doubt about it.  He doesn't match the description of Mort's weight, but he could easily do the smarmy burnt out Mort and the respectable and stubbornly anti-Harry Mort.

Oh, Perfect!! The poor soul he played in Oceans 13 is what Ive seen him in most recently, and it had just about the same tone

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Michael - Christopher Judge

I'd like to have seen him as Sonya.

[Griffyn612]

I'd like to have seen him as Sonya.

Meh for me.  I typically picture Sanya as being his size, but younger.  A bulked up Anthony Mackie would be perfect, but as he is, he's not quite big enough.  I could see him delivering the lines, though.

[Mr. Death]

Hmmm, I love the guy, but at least onscreen Ive never seen him loosen up to be able to picture him as Michael (no to say he cant, but Id want him to audition a scene or two).  Not that Michael is particularly "loose" persay, but he's a lot softer around his kids than the ever-present formality I associate with Teal'c

There's one episode of SG-1 where Teal'c and O'Neill get mind-swapped, and he nails all of Richard Dean Anderson's mannerisms and personality as O'Neill.

He can do it.

[Griffyn612]

Reginald VelJohnson as Stallings, with Darius McCrary as Rawlins.  VJ doesn't match Stallings exactly, and McCrary might be smaller than Rawlins is supposed to be.  But it's pretty much mandatory that VJ play a cop.


Also, for the record, William Hootkins (RIP) as Eckardt from Batman is the definitive Carmichael.


Since he's no longer available, I'd settle for Jason Alexander doing an impression.


On a random tangent, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Vadderung.  He's younger than most candidates, but I feel like a little gray hair and makeup will allow him to fit it nicely.  He's got a wolfish look, and his cocksure grin is very Odin-like. 

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On a random tangent, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Vadderung.  He's younger than most candidates, but I feel like a little gray hair and makeup will allow him to fit it nicely.  He's got a wolfish look, and his cocksure grin is very Odin-like. 

Way too close to the actual descriptions methinks (though maybe the Norse god should get a pass?), for a Vadderung Im thinking more along the lines of:

Peter Mensah


Lance Reddick


Admittedly, it's basically my same list for Alternative Marcone's as well, though you can imagine why there's a lot of cross-over there.  There are also a ton of aging Kung fu stars that could work great but Im drawing a blank on any specifics.

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An alternative for Vadderung ...

(click to show/hide)

I know, I know ... but you have to admit, it could be made to work.

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An alternative for Vadderung ...

(click to show/hide)

I know, I know ... but you have to admit, it could be made to work.

Im willing to allow she can be made to work in just about /any/ role.  But she'd be wasted as Vadderung, she's too high on too many other casting lists.  Id use her as Mavra or almost any denarian or Sidhe first; Id go for uriel but she basically did that in Constantine.  Hell, she'd be an awesome Gard.

[Griffyn612]

An alternative for Vadderung ...

(click to show/hide)

I know, I know ... but you have to admit, it could be made to work.

The link is broken for me.  Might be because I'm at work.

Way too close to the actual descriptions methinks (though maybe the Norse god should get a pass?), for a Vadderung Im thinking more along the lines of:

Peter Mensah
http://i39.tinypic.com/aoxgli.jpg

Lance Reddick
http://p.fod4.com/p/channels/legacy/profile/1243870/1e113e244f5fe7018cddc2911e1673e0.jpg

Admittedly, it's basically my same list for Alternative Marcone's as well, though you can imagine why there's a lot of cross-over there.  There are also a ton of aging Kung fu stars that could work great but Im drawing a blank on any specifics.

He's mostly different because of age.  I'll check your first alternative once I'm beyond the great fire wall.  Your second alternative would be better suited for Langtry, where his scowl could be put to good use.

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The link is broken for me.  Might be because I'm at work.
He's mostly different because of age.  I'll check your first alternative once I'm beyond the great fire wall.  Your second alternative would be better suited for Langtry, where his scowl could be put to good use.

That's where I always get hung up on Casting: It wildly depends on which timeframe you are casting.  Marcone was already in his 40's in SF (salt&pepper beard), and that was close to 15 years ago.  Vadderung has a sense of vitality, but no real physical indications of age, persay.  So where do those two cross?

Hell, this all started from JB saying Will Smith would make a good Harry, but he's a couple decades past being able to play the 25yo Harry Dresden that started the series back in SF

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And I present Mr. Arthur Langtry ...