Fantasy Book Club discussion

Who would you try to get to play the leading roles? I always find this extremely telling and interesting.

I actually thought a bit about this when I started the book because I like to have a visual of the main characters in a novel.

I have Ray Stevenson for Hadrian - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829032/. He played Dagonet in King Arthur and Titus Pullo in Rome. Since these are fantasy genre type characters, I think they helped put him in this role for me.

Royce is a bit harder because he's a blend in my mind. I see him as handsome, dark and sly. I imagine him like James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) if Marsters had dark eyes and hair like the younger Keanu Reaves.

They were both great, attractive characters so I wanted to pair them up with actors I liked the look of, so my subconscious picked two actors I think are attractive but I guess that's just part of Fanstasy literature ;-)

Ray Stevenson would work as Hadrian...he's big and menacing, but funny too...

Clive Owen might work for Royce, except that I picture him somewhat younger...

Yes, Ray Stevenson would make a perfect Hadrian. As for Royce, he's much harder. Perhaps a younger Ian McShane? Or better yet, the actor who played Sheriff Seth Bullock-- I can't think of his name-- since I seem to be on a 'Deadwood' theme here?

Michael, who do YOU see playing your two leads?

I won't say. I've been asked before, but I feel it might effect how some people see them. Sorry.

See, this is something that I know many people do, but I just don't. I don't really visualize characters that much. (My girlfriend finds it very strange.)

Tracy wrote: "See, this is something that I know many people do, but I just don't. I don't really visualize characters that much. (My girlfriend finds it very strange.)"

I'm one of those as well, Tracy. Unless an author spends an exhaustive amount of time describing the character during the introduction, I just have vague impressions of them in my mind's eye.

Henry, great choices!

If I were going for big name movie actors, I'd have to pick Johnny Depp for Royce (more Chocolat, less Pirates) and Christian Bale for Hadrian.

The nerd in me would love to see a younger Bruce Campbell as Esrahaddon...

No way for Clive Owen--I can't see him as blonde.

What about--oh, the new guy playing Bond--Daniel Craig! That's it! He is young-ish, good looking, likely good with a sword, and he could be either brusque or compassionate.

Royce is a hard one. I could see a Chocolat-type Depp in that role, but I see him as a bit more exotic than that. I know, it's harder to get more exotic than Depp. What about Jonathan Rhys Meyers (August Rush) OR Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line)?