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noWizardme
Gondolin
Jun 29 2013, 1:21pm
Post #1 of 63
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You are casting director for a movie of Beren & Lúthien. Who do you call?
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Please also say why you think a particular actor is right for the role - that will make the discussion much more interesting.
Btw the reading room is discussing Beren & Lúthien at present, (http://newboards.theonering.net/...i?post=618772#618772
but "who to cast" sounds like a more general interest
Disclaimers: The words of noWizardme may stand on their heads! I'm often wrong about things, and its fun to be taught more....
"nowimë I am in the West, Furincurunir to the Dwarves (or at least, to their best friend) and by other names in other lands. Mostly they just say 'Oh no it's him - look busy!' "
Or "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
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arithmancer
Hithlum
Jun 29 2013, 2:33pm
Post #2 of 63
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For Luthien, Jennifer Lawrence. This photo, for example, shows why I think she could pull off the look. http://images5.fanpop.com/...25022431-594-525.jpg Regarding her acting I have only seen her in "The Hunger Games" in which I found her excellent, but she has been nominated for, and won, Oscars for roles in very different films so I trust she's a talented actress.
For Beren, I like the look of Chris Pine (Star Trek's Kirk). See, for example, here: http://anchor10art.blogspot.com/2011/01/chris-pine.html (Scroll down for photo). He has a rugged look I feel would suit Beren. He also looks fine with darker hair than found here, I have seen him with dark brown in other images, and that is how I imagine Beren. I am less sure of his acting. While I loved him in both Star Treks , I am not sure if that is because he is generally a good actor, or if it is because he is an excellent Kirk.
(This post was edited by arithmancer on Jun 29 2013, 2:36pm)
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malickfan
Mithlond
Jun 29 2013, 2:51pm
Post #3 of 63
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Well...If It was me I would probably try my hardest to see the film shut down (I don't want to see it filmed)...
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...But I do Agree with Jennifer Lawrence as Luthien-fantastic actress, Emma Watson might do a ok job as well. As for Beren, it depends how young you are going with the cast-Chris Pine, Liam Hemsworth, Scoot Mcnairy and Casey Affleck could be good choices.
Michael Fassbender would make a great Turin while were here. But in all honesty I'd rather the book was left alone-we never even got Tolkien's final version of the story, I don't want hollywood to come in and do the finishing touches.
This is not a very interesting signature is it?
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noWizardme
Gondolin
Jun 29 2013, 3:08pm
Post #4 of 63
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Thanks for joining in, despite your misgivings if the whole concept!
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I mostly started this because I felt I didn't have much of a feeling if what the characters looked like (as usual Tolkien does not describe that much). "Casting" it is a way of discussing how others see them: we don't have to imagine an actual movie, if that causes shudders!
Disclaimers: The words of noWizardme may stand on their heads! I'm often wrong about things, and its fun to be taught more....
"nowimë I am in the West, Furincurunir to the Dwarves (or at least, to their best friend) and by other names in other lands. Mostly they just say 'Oh no it's him - look busy!' "
Or "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
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noWizardme
Gondolin
Jun 29 2013, 3:22pm
Post #5 of 63
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I'm terrible at this game, but was wondering about casting David Tennant as Thingol
http://m.imdb.com/name/nm0855039/
Best known for having played a Doctor Who, as a character also inclined to know best rather too much. It might be an interesting portrayal he's also a versatile actor- liked his Hamlet, for example.
Who to play Melian? Someone rather unworldly, I suppose. Probably a bit oddball, but how about Judi Dench http://m.imdb.com/name/nm0001132/ (long acting career, maybe most widely seen as M in recent Bond movies. I could imagine her being both regal and mysterious. And able to play the relationship with Thingol any way one wants (he keeps ignoring her advice- how does she feel about that?)
As well as casting an older actor here, I think it's open to do something outside the pretty young Caucasian casting call: an Asian or black actor perhaps.
We need to cast Sauron, & not as a firey eyeball.
And Finrod! There's a good part!
Disclaimers: The words of noWizardme may stand on their heads! I'm often wrong about things, and its fun to be taught more....
"nowimë I am in the West, Furincurunir to the Dwarves (or at least, to their best friend) and by other names in other lands. Mostly they just say 'Oh no it's him - look busy!' "
Or "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
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Brethil
Gondolin
Jun 29 2013, 3:33pm
Post #6 of 63
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Well for many, many years my Morgoth (in a human form) has been Rufus Sewell.
Beren I have pictured only recently as a scruffed Andrew Lincoln, only because he strikes me as having an amazing profile and eye resemblance to Viggo at times. A bit older maybe but I don't picture Beren as fresh faced or too youthful looking.
I can see Harriet Walker as Melian.
Rachel Weisz as Luthien?
Manwe, when asked a simple "Yes" or "No" question, contemplated, and responded "the middle one."
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IdrilofGondolin
Nargothrond
Jun 29 2013, 4:43pm
Post #7 of 63
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No actor under the age of 40 should be playing these roles. These are mature people in a mature relationship. Everyone mentioned so far is too young ( in every meaning of that word). Beren needs to project a strength not just of body but of mind. He must project ultimate manliness. Chris Pine and Liam Hemsworth are boys. (I have a bias here. I didn't think Pine was right for Kirk.) Gerard Butler comes to mind as a possible Beren. Luthien should be someone we haven't heard of yet. Her face cannot be too modern, which is where most actress today have a problem.
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malickfan
Mithlond
Jun 29 2013, 5:21pm
Post #8 of 63
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How about Jessica Chastain, Julia Robets or Amy Adams for Luthien or Melian?
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Yeah, I do have my misgivings, but I guess as we are just speculating I'll be OK 
I haven't read The Sil in ages (one of the reaons I have stayed away from the reading room lately) but I always pictured Luthien as a dark haired, blue eyed in her mid 30's (no Idea why).
noWizardme: I believe Tennant would be a good choice (I always invishioned Daniel Day Lewis) for Thingol (Ironically he was linked to Thranduil in the hobbit films at one point-Thrandy being Thingol in all but name) and I'm a big fan of his Doctor.
David Warner or John Hurt would make a great Cirdan The Shipwright.
This is not a very interesting signature is it?
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Maciliel
Doriath
Jun 29 2013, 5:56pm
Post #9 of 63
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i did a casting of all the sil
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my list will look different than anyone else's, of course.
i was casting for (in this order)
1. acting skill
2. physical representation of the character / how that actor would look / interact with related characters in the story
here's my list so far, in case anyone's interested. it's not complete.
cheers --
.
aka. fili orc-enshield
+++++++++++++++++++
the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."
this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo
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Maciliel
Doriath
Jun 29 2013, 5:57pm
Post #10 of 63
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i used "preview," and it looked like the doc was attached...
why isn't it appearing in my post?
cheers --
.
aka. fili orc-enshield
+++++++++++++++++++
the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."
this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo
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Otaku-sempai
Elvenhome
Jun 29 2013, 8:24pm
Post #11 of 63
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A 40 year-old as Luthien would seem strange...
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No actor under the age of 40 should be playing these roles. These are mature people in a mature relationship. Everyone mentioned so far is too young ( in every meaning of that word). Beren needs to project a strength not just of body but of mind. He must project ultimate manliness. Chris Pine and Liam Hemsworth are boys. (I have a bias here. I didn't think Pine was right for Kirk.) Gerard Butler comes to mind as a possible Beren. Luthien should be someone we haven't heard of yet. Her face cannot be too modern, which is where most actress today have a problem.
Luthien might be centuries (or even millenia) old, but she has to at least look young. And the film audience have to be able to believe that she is Thingol and Melian's daughter, not their contemporary.
Emma Watson has grown into a lovely young woman. She might indeed be a good choice.
'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring
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elaen32
Mithlond
Jun 29 2013, 8:45pm
Post #12 of 63
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I'm not v good at imagining casting lists, but here goes-
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We were talking in the RR about James McAvoy as a possible Beren and I could see him as Beren from the point of view of a world worn and yet slightly naive character. Another possibility could be Luke Evans, just from a physical type point of view (tho v different to JMcA), although I'll reserve judgement until I see him as Bard.
Somebody mentioned Clive Owen as Morgoth, but I see him more as somebody like Barahir
The non-humans are always more difficult- how to cast Luthien "the most beautiful of all the Children of Iluvatar"? I was thinking of Eddie Redmayne as Finrod or Orodreth, since he has a slightly otherwordly quality about him, but maybe he's a bit too young.
And, of course, Benedict Cumberbatch as Sauron!!
That's the best I can do I'm afraid
Edit: Ooops- my mistake- it was Rufus Sewell as a potential Morgoth, not Clive Owen. Not sure about that, since I don't see Morgoth as looking particularly human. I could imagine RS as Curufin or Celegorm though!
"Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold"
(This post was edited by elaen32 on Jun 29 2013, 8:49pm)
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Otaku-sempai
Elvenhome
Jun 29 2013, 9:33pm
Post #14 of 63
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There are some... who think 40 is young.
:-)
I'm over 50 myself, and I think that a 40 year-old would be fine for Melian ('though perhaps not too much older). But I think that Luthien has to embody at least the physical appearance of youth.
'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring
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FrogmortonJustice65
Menegroth
Jun 30 2013, 2:36am
Post #15 of 63
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Jennifer Lawrence has too much of a baby face IMO...she's a good actress, but IDK if she'd be up for playing Luthien.
And most of the male actors mentioned so far seem...too Hollywood.
These would be hard roles to cast for sure.
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boldog
Nargothrond
Jun 30 2013, 11:56am
Post #16 of 63
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Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey is a Spanish actor, who played the role of a mermaid in the latest pirates of the caribean film. She in my eyes is perfect for a luthien.
http://www.examiner.com/..._Berg_s_Frisbey_.jpg
As for Beren, that is a tough one, but I have one for Sauron....... Tom Hiddleston could be perfect. the way he portrayed Loki in the Avengers, to me was how I can imagine Sauron, in the first age.
"fingolfin looked up in grief to see what evil morgoth had done to maedhros"
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Ruxendil_Thoorg
Dor-Lomin
Jun 30 2013, 2:03pm
Post #18 of 63
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for Luthien, I am thinking of Kate Beckinsale. Maybe its a matter of taste, but I think of her looks as featuring classic Luthien-esque raven-haired, alabaster-skinned beauty. And I think she has just the right mix of Elven elegance and heroic toughness (see her action roles from the Underworld series) that she could pull it off. when she fired her handguns she never flinched, thus avoiding the need to make her wear shades during the shootout-scenes.
For Beren, I agree with someone's posted idea of Andrew Lincoln (he's the Sheriff from Walking Dead, right?). When I see him I picture him as a believable predecessor-analogue to Aragorn. He has the demonstrated ability be able to lead as an epic, romantic hero, while also mature-looking, someone who can portray suffering, not too pretty-boyish.
For Morgoth, what if he were portrayed by a woman, like Helen Mirren? Or a child, like Freddie Highmore? After seeing him in an episode of Bates Motel I'm convinced he has the dimension and versatility to play ultimate evil. But if we must cast him as a man, then perhaps Thomas Hardy. that guy is a true chameleon and capable of portraying menacing evil, as seen in Dark Knight Rises.
A bag is like a hole that you can carry with you.
http://newboards.theonering.net/...forum_view_expanded;
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CuriousG
Gondolin
Jun 30 2013, 2:11pm
Post #19 of 63
(7590 views)
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I agree with Idril that a typical young actor wouldn't fit very well in these roles, unless they had a lot of maturity for their age. You're right that they need the appearance of youth, but they also need a sense of depth and subtlety that you can feel in them.
It's in the eye of the beholder, of course. If I were a teenager (which I was when I read the book), I'd think most actresses in their 20s were mature enough to play Luthien. Being in my 40s, I see the character as demanding a lot of different traits that are hard to come by: young, pretty, heroic, innocent, deep (to name just a few).
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CuriousG
Gondolin
Jun 30 2013, 2:16pm
Post #20 of 63
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He has the demonstrated ability be able to lead as an epic, romantic hero, while also mature-looking, someone who can portray suffering, not too pretty-boyish. I agree with you. There are some popular actors that are handsome and rugged that I would dismiss because they seem too pretty also. Beren had a rough life and some dark passages that he never reveals, so an actor who was like a beach boy surfer-dude might have the rugged physique, but not the "suffering" sense.
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Maciliel
Doriath
Jun 30 2013, 2:18pm
Post #21 of 63
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so you're not one of the dunedain? funny, i thought you were more like 132, and the heir to a lost kingdom or something....
funny how impressions over the internet can be...
cheers --
.
aka. fili orc-enshield
+++++++++++++++++++
the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."
this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo
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CuriousG
Gondolin
Jun 30 2013, 2:24pm
Post #22 of 63
(7591 views)
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I haven't seen Rufus Sewell in anything for years, but he'd make a great Morgoth with those piercing eyes.
I think a 2001 Viggo could play Beren. I thought of him when I first saw him as Aragorn. Andrew Lincoln has similar qualities.
Ultimately, I could never cast Luthien. It's like Helen of Troy: who is the most perfectly beautiful woman ever? No mortal (even with the right makeup ) would qualify that everyone could agree on. But I'd go with Rachel Weisz any day. (in or outside of a movie!)
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CuriousG
Gondolin
Jun 30 2013, 2:25pm
Post #23 of 63
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Tennant would make a great Thingol. //
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CuriousG
Gondolin
Jun 30 2013, 2:28pm
Post #24 of 63
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I could see Tom Hiddleston as a great Sauron. His portrayal of Loki makes you think there's something quite sinister inside, even with the rather boyish features of his face.
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CuriousG
Gondolin
Jun 30 2013, 2:31pm
Post #25 of 63
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Gerard Butler would make a good Beren. I think a younger Russell Crowe could too.
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