THE GUNSLINGER WILL SOON BE NAMED

I hate to be that guy, but isn't Viggo a bit long in the tooth for the part? I didn't think Roland was 50ish. And this could easily be a 5-8 year commitment for the movies and series.

He has the presence and acting chops to do it - but I thought Roland was a bit younger than Viggo's real age.

Really? Roland always struck me as older. Surely past his thirties at least, an age Viggo can easily play. But I'm cool with either choice.

Roland is supposed to be in his 40s, and looks a lot older from what I remember. He's weathered and haggard.   Sad eyes.  He's no young puppy.

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Originally Posted by Elisabeth Rappe 

Roland is supposed to be in his 40s, and looks a lot older from what I remember. He's weathered and haggard.   Sad eyes.  He's no young puppy.

It's been a long time since I read The Gunslinger, so I'll bow to those who know the books and characters better. My impression was of someone in their late 20s or early 30s, but that's hazy memory speaking.

I've no doubt Viggo (or Bardem) could do it. Just wasn't sure about age.

Roland ages at least ten years at the end of The Gunslinger and even at the beginning of that book he was the product of a bygone era. The last couple of books point out his age even more because he's starting to suffer from pain in his hip.

I always imagined Lance Henriksen as a great Roland. He had that world weary yet never give up look that I mostly associate with Roland. I'm afraid he really is too old now though. Bardem en Mortensen are both great actors, but both of them strike me as bit too pretty for the role. I'd be more interested in seeing someone like Mads Mikkelsen tackle the role.

Besides, people age a hell of a lot better these days. Compare the average 40 or 50 something to how someone of similar age looked even 30 years ago and there's quite a difference. I'm sure Viggo would be fine.

Of course, I might just be saying that because oh my god I'm getting old where have all the years gone, admittedly.

Viggo would be a great call, but as mentioned before, it's a roll he could play in his sleep by now.   I wonder if this isn't "been there, done that".   The last thing Ron Howard wants on everybody's mind was how awesome Lord of the Rings was. 

Modest suggestion:  Ray Stevenson. 

Seems like both of them are too high profile for such a time commitment to something so weird and something not guaranteed to be a success.  Viggo would fit nicely.  Still can't wrap my head around Bardem in the role though.

And I still like Tom Jane for Roland.  

If i had it my may

Viggo for Roland

Javier for Flagg

Actually, if I had it my way, a time machine going back in time and bringing back a mid 30s Clint Eastwood for Roland. 

Well, a youthful Eastwood would be best. Hell, when Jake sees the poster for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly he notes the similarities between Clint and Roland, saying that the eyes aren't exactly right (if I recall). I was never in doubt that they'd get a haggard, soulful "man" for the role; Viggo can have the gruff voice when he needs and his eyes and physique match how I always pictured Roland. Roland was always the easiest in my opinion, what will make it work is how they cast Eddie, Susannah, Jake, Callahan and the rest.

Though Zoe Saldana I'm sure has been bandied about for Susannah a dozen times or so between Howard and Grazer.

Maybe Eastwood could play Callahan.

I'm actually a bit suprised that Josh Brolin's name hasn't been tossed around yet.  Thomas Jane wouldn't be bad either, and knowing his love for Stephen King material, I'd be suprised if his camp didn't atleast contract Howard and Co. 

Hear me now and believe me later: If they don't cast Sam Elliot as Eldred Jonas they are out of their damn fool minds.

I could definitely see Viggo as the Gunslinger. It actually seems like a pretty perfect part for him.

How exciting!  I like all the names being thrown around in this thread, but like Viggo best.

The last three books pretty much killed this series for me. If they want to get me excited about this adaptation, it needs to be Viggo.

It's almost too easy casting him, but he's a no-brainer for the part. (Sort of like Patrick Stewart for Charles Xavier.) Sometimes, the answer is obvious.

Viggo would be an excellent choice, although the Correct Answer is Scott Glenn ~20 years ago. In Perfect Land, that is. Although he'd give Sam Elliot a run for his money as Eldred, I figure. Though I thought I remembered Jonas as having a deceptively thin, reedy voice as well as looking older than his years, so I'd actually pictured (a living, ~30 years younger) Richard Farnsworth there. Damn my useless fantasy casting.

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Originally Posted by zak chase 

The last three books pretty much killed this series for me. If they want to get me excited about this adaptation

Im not even sure how the hell they will do the last 3 books. There are all of these references and characters to his earlier works. Not to mention references to other film works that they don't have the rights to. The one I remember off hand is the "sneeches".

Viggo only needs to be younger for The Gunslinger. His talk with the Man In Black ages him 20 years anyway. Good makeup can let him skate on the first bit.

And he'll do fine, but yeah, count me with the Thomas Jane crowd.

Eastwood, I'd cast as Eldred Jonas, frankly. Voice may not match, but the level of former badassery is dead on.

And even with all this, I sitll dont know how I feel about this becoming a TV show.

I'd cast Eastwood as Father Callahan personally, but he'd be an excellent Jonas for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teitr Styrr 

How exciting!  I like all the names being thrown around in this thread, but like Viggo best.

agreed... but I think if you show Roland with the horn right away, you could veer off the path and no one would complain.

Never read these books, but from my understanding despite the King Connection, the next HARRY POTTER this franchise is not. Too weird, dark and grim to attract main stream audiences IMHO

If we get only one movie out of the series though, I'd hope the role goes to Viggo.  The guy deserves it, hands down. He could make a compelling lead even if we never see the rest of the story. Between his Cronenberg Collaborations and THE ROAD, he's become one of my favorite human beings involved in the acting world

                           THE GUNSLINGER?

People, people, people, if they can get Eastwood for anything, they need to get him for Cort, the trainer of the gunslingers. Gruff, tough, and the man who gives Roland his first test to enter adulthood. It's a small part but crucial to the character of Roland, and since Roland is based on The Man With No Name, it'd be perfect. That, and Cort is actually in the flashbacks in The Gunslinger, Jonas doesn't show up until Wizard and Glass. Tommy Lee Jones would be a great Jonas, come to think of it. 

I'll take either Viggo or Javier for Roland. He's no pup, and when we meet him in The Gunslinger he's been chasing Walter across the desert for some time now.  But please oh please, can we ditch Ron Howard and Akiva Goldsman?

I can't believe we are only days away from the official announcement. I also can't believe it's down to two really accomplished, gifted guys. I thought this day would never come.

Viggo all the way.

Ray Stevenson? Too big, too obviously brutish. Roland's violence should lie a bit further from the surface. Last time the topic came up, I suggested his old pal Kevin McKidd, but that was mostly because I figured Viggo would be epic'd and period'd out. Like the man says, sometimes the obvious choice is the right one. As for age, whatever. As long as they don't just throw geriatric Clint up there, it'll work. The time lapse at the end of The Gunslinger is completely inessential story-wise, so they can massage it or ignore it as necessary to make the actor's look appropriate.

Why can't I quote people, btw?

I suspect Eliot, Brolin, and Tommy Lee Jones are all probably a little sick of westerns, as awesome as they are in them. For that matter, Eastwood too. Hasn't he sworn off A) westerns since Unforgiven and B) acting altogether?

Not to say I wouldn't love seeing all these guys in the movies/shows of course.

By the way, I'm a little more interested to see how they're going to handle Susannah. Or, to be more precise, Detta Walker. That's a classic example of King's rather hamfisted attempts to speak to edgy racial issues via horrible stereotyping. Which is not to say that, with a little tweaking, the character couldn't provide the writers with interesting things to say about the history of race relations.

Which is yet another reason I'm sad that Ron Howard is doing this.

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Originally Posted by The Prankster 

 

By the way, I'm a little more interested to see how they're going to handle Susannah. Or, to be more precise, Detta Walker. That's a classic example of King's rather hamfisted attempts to speak to edgy racial issues via horrible stereotyping. Which is not to say that, with a little tweaking, the character couldn't provide the writers with interesting things to say about the history of race relations.

 

Which is yet another reason I'm sad that Ron Howard is doing this.

Yeah, Detta is a fucking minefield of potential embarassment.  They would have to dial her waaayy back. 
 

Viggo's right up there with Henriksen as the obvious fancasting choice, but okay. I had the bad habit of mentally casting Sam Shepard up until the last book, when I cheapened things up a bit and unleashed Barry Pepper on some eyeball-eatin' spiders.

After True Grit I can see Pepper playing the Gunslinger for sure.

Whichever of the two they go with, they should have the other cameo as Roland's father during the flashbacks.

Oh gods, please do not let Javier Bardem be shackled forever to a Ron Howard production.

Viggo wears his thoughts on his face, in his eyes. His typical character has a heart, and is usually driven by it or wrestling with it. Bardem's characters can be harder to read: could be about to give you a flower and a nice card, or could be plotting to bring your parakeet to a bad end. When I read the books I always thought of Roland as basically unknowable. No body language. Driven by a code, sure, but even if he achieved his goal and lived the rest of his life peacefully, he'd never really win, because he had ceased to be a creature of passion. He'd become simply an objective clothed in flesh, and he'd never relent.

Viggo will most likely get it, and yes, it's fanboy casting, and yes, I'm cool with him in the role. Nothing wrong with getting a white-bearded fat man to play Santa Claus, after all, and Viggo's close to how I saw Roland physically. But I'd really like to see what Bardem could do with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teitr Styrr 

After True Grit I can see Pepper playing the Gunslinger for sure.

Not sure about that, but someone needs to give Pepper a proper vehicle one of these days. One of the most underrated character actors around.

Any fantasy casting for other roles? I could sort of see Paul Rudd making a good Eddie, but he might be getting too old for it now. As this is presumably going to take some years to finish, casting Jake could be difficult.

Yes, please. This is the kind of thing I love to fantasy-cast.

My picks:

Susannah: Gina Torres, Zoe Saldana

Eddie Dean:  Timothy Olyphant, Ben Foster, Joel McHale

Marten/Randall Flagg: John Hawkes

Stephen Deschain: Kurt Russell

Cort: Ray Stevenson, John Goodman

Calvin Tower: Paul Giamatti

Aaron Deepneau: Tom Hanks

Father Callahan: Ed Harris, Clint Eastwood

Eldred Jonas: Sam Elliot

Roy Depape: Bill Paxton

Clay Reynolds: Kevin Costner

Yours?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul C 

Any fantasy casting for other roles? I could sort of see Paul Rudd making a good Eddie, but he might be getting too old for it now. As this is presumably going to take some years to finish, casting Jake could be difficult.

Rudd could easily pull off Eddie's wise-guy shtick, but I don't think he'd be a convincing drug addict.  Or a convincing gunslinger.  I like Anton Yelchin for Eddie, especially if he can replicate that weird, spot-on Michael Biehn impersonation from Terminator Salvation.  And for whatever reason, after re-reading The Stand a few years back, I could only picture Kiefer Sutherland as Flagg.

Casting Jake is going to be a mess.  I'm really curious to see how they tackle that one.  

Honestly, I can Howard going for Shia for Eddie's character. Give him a little muscle and kick his ass a bit and he miiiiiight be able to pull it off. Not saying I'd like to see him in the role, persay, I'm sure he would do a good job as Eddie, just thinking Howard would want him for the obvious demographic he'd bring to the theater.

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Originally Posted by Doc Happenin 

Honestly, I can Howard going for Shia for Eddie's character.

No no no no no no no, all wrong. No!

Please keep Shia away from this. Faaaaar away.

Why not not not not not?

Shia for Patrick Danville!

Shia for Sheemie.

I always liked James Franco, circa Freaks and Geeks, for Eddie.

Shia for Oy.

Jesse, I don't see any of your choices for Eddie. It almost makes me wonder if we were reading two different series. Ben Foster? I can't tell you how many times I've seen him be suggested, and I can't understand why. He looks nothing like how I imagine Eddie looking or sounding. Joel McHale is also completely wrong for the role.

For Eddie, I tend to think of him looking vaguely Italian, or at least having darker eyes, and hair. This is a guy who works with/for the mob, so I think he should look like a wise guy. One of my suggestions is James Ransone from The Wire. Seeing play the strung out Ziggy made me think he could do Eddie justice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmUQj8kCZso.

Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) looks the most like how I imagine Eddie to look in my head:

Other character pics:

Susannah: I've read that Naomie Harris was being considered for the role, and I think she would be a great choice. She has range to play Susannah and Detta:

Flagg/Marten/Walter - Even though it's all the same entity, I usually imagine these alter egos of the man in black to look/sound different from one another. For Flagg I would pick Kurt Russell. He has that sort of ex hippy look to him, and he has a goofy quality that I think people tend to forget Flagg has. For Walter, I'd pick Michael Emerson, who I think would do a suitably creepy job. For Marten, however, I think we need to go with an actor who is creepy yet also sensual at the same time, although no actors come to mind.

Cort- Sadly my number one choice, Pete Postlewaite passed away just recently. My second choice would be Ray Winstone. For some reason, I imagine Cort being British, if only because Roland seems to be just as much a knight as he is a cowboy, and there is a certain sense of chivalry with Cort..

Eldred Jonas - Sam Elliot. Only choice.

Ted Brautigan - I've never seen Hearts in Atlantis, but because I know Anthony Hopkins played the role, I usually imagine him playing the character. If not him, then I'd pick Donald Sutherland.

Tic Toc - Rutger Hauer. Is he too old? He has an intensity which I think would be perfect for the character.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by t3cii 

For Eddie, I tend to think of him looking vaguely Italian, or at least having darker eyes, and hair. This is a guy who works with/for the mob, so I think he should look like a wise guy.

Yeah, but he's not a mobster.  He's some junkie that's in dutch with the Mob because of his idiot brother.  So, while I also imagined him as being more ethnic, it doesn't follow that he should be Italian.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattioli 

Quote:

Originally Posted by t3cii 

For Eddie, I tend to think of him looking vaguely Italian, or at least having darker eyes, and hair. This is a guy who works with/for the mob, so I think he should look like a wise guy.

Yeah, but he's not a mobster.  He's some junkie that's in dutch with the Mob because of his idiot brother.  So, while I also imagined him as being more ethnic, it doesn't follow that he should be Italian.
 

True enough, but this is just how I imagine Eddie looking.