It is always a fun and contentious to pick the cast for your favourite books. In the end, hopefully it won't matter and the casting will pan out regardless. After all who would have picked Ian Mckellen for Gandalf? I think he stated he got the gig because he couldn't command as much as Sean Connery. He still did a great job...as great actors do... A good lead in for my thoughts on the matter.
I think people let the �look’ take over from the acting. Let’s face it, whoever gets the role of Elric is going to be spending hours in make up every day to get the look right. No one looks like Elric. That leaves great acting to pull off such a complex role, which leaves Johnny Depp. The guy is a brilliant actor and you’ll need a brilliant actor for the Elric Saga not to be unintentionally (god forbid intentionally!) viewed as half-comedy like the Kill Bill movies intended to be. He is also not heavy framed but definitely not a wimp.
From a wages point of view if you land a Jude Law or a Johnny Depp for the lead, the rest of the cast are going to be talented unknowns or second stringers waiting for their big break; ala LOTR.
Ignoring reality, my favoured line up for the main roles would be:
Elric: Johnny Depp
Yyrkoon: Alan Rickman
Arioch: Brad Pitt
Jagreen Lern: Russell Crowe
Dyvim Tvar: Viggo Mortensen
Sadric: Jack Nicholson
Racknir: Kevin Spacey or maybe Ben Stiller
Magum Colim: Jeremy Irons
Moonglum: Eric Bana (previously a professional comedian, timing for wry quips would be perfect)
Theleb K'aarna: Hugo Weaving
Peter Jackson director. He has proven big and unbelievable can be doable and credible. It is important to decide whether you want the film to be an X-men type amusement or something “grand�; I would love grand and not many can do it.
Just my humble opinion.
I think people let the �look’ take over from the acting. Let’s face it, whoever gets the role of Elric is going to be spending hours in make up every day to get the look right. No one looks like Elric. That leaves great acting to pull off such a complex role, which leaves Johnny Depp. The guy is a brilliant actor and you’ll need a brilliant actor for the Elric Saga not to be unintentionally (god forbid intentionally!) viewed as half-comedy like the Kill Bill movies intended to be. He is also not heavy framed but definitely not a wimp.
From a wages point of view if you land a Jude Law or a Johnny Depp for the lead, the rest of the cast are going to be talented unknowns or second stringers waiting for their big break; ala LOTR.
Ignoring reality, my favoured line up for the main roles would be:
Elric: Johnny Depp
Yyrkoon: Alan Rickman
Arioch: Brad Pitt
Jagreen Lern: Russell Crowe
Dyvim Tvar: Viggo Mortensen
Sadric: Jack Nicholson
Racknir: Kevin Spacey or maybe Ben Stiller
Magum Colim: Jeremy Irons
Moonglum: Eric Bana (previously a professional comedian, timing for wry quips would be perfect)
Theleb K'aarna: Hugo Weaving
Peter Jackson director. He has proven big and unbelievable can be doable and credible. It is important to decide whether you want the film to be an X-men type amusement or something “grand�; I would love grand and not many can do it.
Just my humble opinion.
and, erm, he isn't precisely that; but he definitely has something chaotic about him and he could maybe pull off a cameo appearance... 
Comment