Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

When I’m reading a novel I often find myself wondering what actor would be good as the main character if the book became a movie, especially a character in a series, who you get to know pretty well as the books go along. I’ll bet I’m not alone in this.
To me, one of the most perfect casting decisions of all time is David Suchet as Hercule Poirot. He is Poirot. Another near perfect casting was Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind. Then again there was the casting of Lesley Howard as Ashley Wilkes, In my opinion not a choice to justify why Scarlett was obsessed with the guy for years.
I’m having trouble casting the role of Alex Delaware, the psychologist/detective in numerous Jonathan Kellerman novels. I’m not aware of any of his books being made into films. Another puzzle is who to play detective Lucas Davenport in the John Sandford “Prey” novels. I recently saw a TV movie of one of these with Mark Harmon in the role but although I like him, he just didn’t fit my idea of Lucas. Maybe that’s just because I’m so used to him as Gibbs in NCIS.
I’m interested to know other readers thoughts on this topic.

I like the series of books by Will Thomas and my dream cast for the two protagonists would have been Hugh Jackman and Daniel Radcliff. Sadly, it never happened.

Casting of Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher and Matthew McConaughey was incredibly stupid.

However, the casting of John Thaw as Inspector Morse was inspired.

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Casting of Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher and Matthew McConaughey was incredibly stupid.

However, the casting of John Thaw as Inspector Morse was inspired."
Yes John thaw was one of the others I thought of. I miss him.

Ginny,

If I remember correctly some years ago a TV Movie was made from on of Jonathan Kellerman's books and Ted Danson was cast as DR. ALEX DAVENPORT.

Mara wrote: "Ginny,

If I remember correctly some years ago a TV Movie was made from on of Jonathan Kellerman's books and Ted Danson was cast as DR. ALEX DAVENPORT."

Hmm, although I don't care for Ted Danson, he sort of has the look that seems right for the part (back in his younger days).

Just finished The Stranger. I have a feeling Harlan Coben is trying to rediscover the magic of his standalone thriller Tell No Way. Doesn't quite work for me because I find it difficult to believe in the motivation behind "The Stranger" himself. Well paced read, though, and plenty of suspense towards the end as the mystery unravels

Nick wrote: "Just finished The Stranger. I have a feeling Harlan Coben is trying to rediscover the magic of his standalone thriller Tell No Way. Doesn't quite work for me because I find it difficult to believe ..."

I wasn't too thrilled with "The Stranger" either.

Sorry don't know why my comments on The Stranger ended up in here. They were meant to go in the just finished reading thread.

Jason Statham would be a great cast for Jack Reacher. Tom Cruise was absolutely bad choice to play Reacher.

Not sure who would be the best.

Sheila wrote: "Jason Statham would be a great cast for Jack Reacher. Tom Cruise was absolutely bad choice to play Reacher."

Terrible, atrocious, disgusting choice for Reacher. Why Lee Child supported it I don't know.

Hollywood never casts the right actors. Tom Cruise only got it because he probably bought the rights to the book and because he's TOM CRUISE!

Mara wrote: "Hollywood never casts the right actors. Tom Cruise only got it because he probably bought the rights to the book and because he's TOM CRUISE!"

He did buy the rights.

So he bought himself a job.

The only thing that bothered me is that Lee Child supported him. Ack.

In regards to Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher, I simply refer to another of Cruise's movies - "Mission Impossible."

HAHAHA

I always imagined Jack Reacher as Ray Stevenson

Joche wrote: "I always imagined Jack Reacher as Ray Stevenson"
He would be perfect!

Now, you're talking!

I love the Al Rennie "Clearwater" series! I would love to see these as a miniseries or tv series with Nathan Fillion of Castle fame cast as Joe, and Beth Reisgraf from Leverage as Mia. That would be the best!

I really love the Michael Connelly books and thought Matthew McConaughey was just right as Mickey Haller. I've been hoping for another film.

Okay they didn't learn the first time? They're letting him do it again? Grrrrrrrr......

http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com...

Resilient Transitions is a fun fictional book set in the future. Action/adventure with humor. Find it on Amazon.com. Should be a movie.

If they eve made a movie of any of Sharon Bolton's Lacey Flint series, Tom Hardy as Mark Joesbury.

For years there has been talk about making a movie or TV series of the IN DEATH series. To date nothing has come of, and I hope nothing comes of it. Many of the actors who I would cast as the two main characters are a bit too old to be cast. I don't see any young actors that are coming of age now as being able to fit the bill of the two main characters.

The Lifetime Channel has made several of Nora Roberts standalone books into movies, and they were not of a quality that I would wish on the IN DEATH series. I think only one or two books that were transferred to film were alright.

I say leave the IN DEATH books alone, and let the readers, such as me to our own fantasies of what we think Roarke and Dallas should look like.

Tom Selleck would probably be good choice portraying Lucas Davenport in the Prey series - he did the Jesse Stone movies and he is excellent on the series "Blue Bloods".

Mara wrote: "For years there has been talk about making a movie or TV series of the IN DEATH series. To date nothing has come of, and I hope nothing comes of it. Many of the actors who I would cast as the two m..."

Much as I would like to see the In Death world visualized, (Especially some of the clothes people wear.) I agree with you.

So many people in the J.D. Robb group put forward their image of Roarke or Eve or Peabody and I'm always thinking "WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!"

I think that's a fantastic casting of Joesbury, Maureen. I'd have never of thought of him though. I pictured him much taller.

My personal feeling is that bestsellers should not be made into movies. Something is always lost in the translation.

PS I LOVE YOU by Cecelia Ahern is one of my favorite books. The movie STUNK. I read ME BEFORE YOU before i saw the movie.

Though the movie had many of the main scenes of the book, but movie wasn't the HEARTGRABBER the book was.

I didn't like that movie either, Mara! I thought I was the only woman on earth 8-/ (PS I Love You)

Amy,

No you're not. I read P.S. I LOVE YOU about 5 years before the movie came out. To this day that books is tattooed on my heart.

I don't know what happened or who made the decisions about transferring the book to film just didn't work for me. I don't think they read the book.

Maybe I'll read it then. It sounds beautiful to make a statement like that...thank you for the tip.

Resilient Transitions is a fictional action/adventure with memorable characters set in the future. Available on Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com.

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01LXGVRVV…
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/resil...…

Amy,

I loved P.S. I LOVE YOU!!!!! Having been a widow for sometime when I read it, I could understand how the main character felt.

Amy wrote: "I think that's a fantastic casting of Joesbury, Maureen. I'd have never of thought of him though. I pictured him much taller."

Yeah I struggled with that too, but I think of Joesbury as being more hulky than tall, which is kinda funny when I think how mousy Hardy seemed in the drop. But then I think of him in Batman and Mad Max.
Of course my first choice for any role would be Tom HIdddleston, but I thinks he's too good looking for Joesbury.