Perfect Casting, part 2

[Tempus Corvus]

So, this weekend I was thinking about who could play Martin. It's actually a fairly tricky cast, because Martin can't just be bland, he has to be a skilled enough performer to assimilate into several different looks and attitudes. Those sorts of performers are rare, and it can be difficult to remember who they are because they become so absorbed into the characters they play. But I think I've settled on Sam Rockwell:

Seconded. Sam Rockwell is awesome, even though I only saw him in Iron Man 2. (Yeah, I know, I need to watch Moon.)

[NeuroHeart]

Isn't Tessa supposed to look like a pretty fifteen-year-old with silvery hair?

*edit* Yeah, I had forgotten the silver hair. Her chitin is also supposed to be red. Will update.
(Man, another chick with silver/white hair. I swear Jim has some kind of fetish.)
I thought Kiera Knightly would be good for it because she is so thin and she has an unlined face, so she can look quite young.


I do recommend Moon, Tempus. He's been in things you might not remember him from, though, such as GalaxyQuest. He's really different in every film he does. Heck, I didn't even remember he was in Iron Man 2 until you mentioned it.

[Tempus Corvus]

I do recommend Moon, Tempus. He's been in things you might not remember him from, though, such as GalaxyQuest. He's really different in every film he does. Heck, I didn't even remember he was in Iron Man 2 until you mentioned it.

Holy crap, I'd forgotten about Galaxy Quest.

[Dina]

*cough* Charlie's angels *cough"

[NeuroHeart]

And he was also the most recent Zaphod Beeblebrox.
See how good he is at assimilating? That's so Martin.


On a totally different character subject, Mark Sheppard should be Mortimer Lindquist.

[Dina]

I disagree in that. Morty should be somebody that looks unimpressive, but can command power if needed. What about Stanley Tucci?

[NeuroHeart]

...You think Mark Sheppard looks impressive? 
Or do you think he couldn't command power if needed? Because I have to say, I think you'd be incorrect on either count. Mark Sheppard is shorter than me, (I'm 5'6") but the man has presence to spare.

[Dina]

I think he is impressive. As you said, he has presence to spare.

[NeuroHeart]

Well yeah, of course he has presence, that's the reason I think he would be perfect for Mort; they're both a big presence in a little package. Put Mark Sheppard next to any guy tall enough to play Harry and he would look miniscule, but it would also be totally believable for him to stand up to someone who towered over him like that, and be believable that he has the power levels he has in terms of ectomancy. Sheppard also looks the part now that his hair is going, especially when he puts a little weight on. Obviously the actor playing Harry would need enough presence to compete, but that would be true next to almost any actor I would want to see cast in a Dresden series, because most of the characters have a lot of presence on the page. I mean, if I had my way James Marsters would be Thomas, and that man can overshadow plenty of actors in terms of presence.  So could some of my minor casting choices, like Patrick Stewart. So I guess my point is, so long as an actor has the stature and presence to play Harry, another actor having some presence would not be a problem.
And believe me, if you just saw Mark Sheppard walking down a street, he would not look 'impressive.' I ran into him at a convention, and it took me several seconds to even recognize him. He is a small and rather average-looking man, he's just a good actor.

[Dina]

My point is I don't think that Mort have this presence. Harry, for instance, really underestimates him and I don't think anyone could underestimate Mark Sheppard.

[NeuroHeart]

Well, I'm clearly not going to convince you, but I'll just throw out his scared face and see if that looks anything more like early Morty.


Sheppard is a good actor; I think he could be convincingly underestimated if that's what was needed. And Harry underestimating him didn't mean he had no presence. He did have presence, and any actor playing him would need to be capable of that.


edit: Oh, and here's a picture of him with a 5'3"-ish woman at the above-mentioned con, just as photographic proof that he really is kind of small and not always impressive at all.

He was very nice   

[Quantus]

in terms of acting I think he could do it, but isn't Mort supposed to be short, overweight, and bald?  I kinda picture him as a mid/late forties fat man. 

[Dina]

Well, I'm clearly not going to convince you, but I'll just throw out his scared face and see if that looks anything more like early Morty.

Sheppard is a good actor; I think he could be convincingly underestimated if that's what was needed. And Harry underestimating him didn't mean he had no presence. He did have presence, and any actor playing him would need to be capable of that.

We clearly have different definitions. I don't see a link between impressive and tall. And I definitely don't believe Morty has presence unless he is actively doing it.

[habu987]

in terms of acting I think he could do it, but isn't Mort supposed to be short, overweight, and bald?  I kinda picture him as a mid/late forties fat man.

Yeah.  Pulling out the picture I posted a while back, here's who I think would fit that bill pretty well:

David H. Lawrence III

[NeuroHeart]

in terms of acting I think he could do it, but isn't Mort supposed to be short, overweight, and bald?  I kinda picture him as a mid/late forties fat man.

I'm sorry, and this is in no way meant as an insult to him, but have you seen Mark Sheppard lately?

He's definitely put on some weight.