The Sword and Laser discussion

Regarding some of the other threads about films from books, I was thinking about who could do justice to Glokta's darkness(only read book 1 so far so dont know how he develops but..). The first person to come to mind is Benecio Del Toro. He's got a great dead eye look, mixed with Fenster's craftiness and the whole world weary cop thing from Traffic, might work well. John Malkovich also came to mind, as he often does when thinking devious. If you have seen Pacino doing any Richard III stuff you can see how he would work well too, money concerns aside.

How bout Sean Bean for Logan?
and that monster albino from Spartacus for Fenris the Feared(think that was his name, has tatoos on half body, seems invulnerable, probably gonna fight Logan at some point)

Benecio Del Toro? Putting him in a movie automatically downgrades the movie to B status. I don't think he has the acting chops for the role.

Traffic, Snatch, Fear and Loathing, Usual Suspects, Way of the Gun, all transcend B status imho. Who would u prefer?

The modern definition of a B movie is one with a budget of about 50-75% of a normal blockbuster movie and stars up and coming actors. Got this from wikipedia. (I know wikis arent the absolute source of 100% verified info). All the films you list with the possible exception of Traffic fits this categorization. Ok, put my slur to the side for a moment and forget I said it.

I'm not a fan of Del Toro and that's just my humble opinion. Your question is a good one though. I have to put some thought into it which I will and get back.

I was thinking Gary Oldman but Malkovich seems spot on.

Tom wrote: "I was thinking Gary Oldman but Malkovich seems spot on." Yes the Oldman from Sixth Element, of course.

Michael Emerson (Lost) might be an excellent Glokta too. As far as Logan, that is a tough one and will have to think on it a bit. First that came to mind was Bruce Willis, need old and tough, but maybe Willis is a bit cheesy.

I think you need big and tough too. Not Just old. Big and beardy.

Emerson is a brilliant idea for Glotka.

Oh wow, Ben Linus Glokta,thats a great idea. Keeping with the Lost casting, Josh Holloway with hair dye would capture Logan's mix of violence and decency well. Terry O Quinn could pull off Bayaz too I'd bet

I think we are on to something here, with the Lost casting, but maybe not. As I was working away I thought Steve Buscemi would make a great Glokta. Kind of has the mouth for it.....

Still stuck on Logan.

How about Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach from Watchmen) as Glokta? Just a thought.

Viggo Mortensen for Logan?

David wrote: "Viggo Mortensen for Logan?" He would have to bulk up, but I think you are on to something.

Just flashed on Ron Perlman (Hellboy) as Logan...

NFL football commentator and Chevy pitchman Howie Long as Logan! Perfect blend of intellect and brawn. Steve Buschemi as Glokta. He could pull of whithered and weak and give the air of lost greatness and bitterness the character carries. Thoughts??

Brad Dourif or Jeffrey Combs as Glotka. Both have got the acting chops to pull it off I think and both tend to play weird (read: Awesome) parts. Not sure on Logan which is a hell of a shame because I can picture him so well.

I picture Logan as sort of a Vinnie Jones type (maybe 10 years ago Vinnie - Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels/Snatch era). Make up would have to help with the scars.

I agree Vinnie Jones woud be great.he played a big guy in
X Men 3

Christian Bale as Glotka, if he lost weight like in The Machinist, or in his new movie The fighter. For some reason i saw him as Glotka when i was reading the books. As for Logan, maybe Russell Crowe, or
Gerard Butler, or i may be totally off base...

It may seem a bit obvious, but for the role of Glokta I'm thinking Hugh Laurie. He's got the role of crippled misanthrope down to a science by now. He's also well used to acting with a cane.

As for Logan, that's obviously more difficult due to the physical aspects of the character. I can't think of an actor who represents the monster I see in my head. However, good makeup and a creative director/DP go a long way.

When I think of Glokta, I picture a shriveled up Sir Anthony Hopkins. As for Logan, I think Mickey Rourke would be a good fit.

I think everyone is missing the obvious choice for Glokta. Think about the character: moody, bipolar, and paronoid to a fault... this is a role that screams for Gary Busey :)

GUYS.

BAYAZ.

MidAgeGeek wrote: "I think everyone is missing the obvious choice for Glokta. Think about the character: moody, bipolar, and paronoid to a fault... this is a role that screams for Gary Busey :)"

Gary Buset is too pscho. Moody bipolar & paranoid. That's Mel Gibson.

I have to watch the trailer for conviction with Sam Rockwell 50-100 times a day and the more i see the later scenes where he looks beaten down and old past his age i think of Glokta.

Acting chops aside, Glokta in my eyes isnt very old, i think he is supposed to be 30ish, mid 30's max. He's a relatively young guy. Think of a good looking, arrogant/cocky blonde haired athlete, (maybe one you dont like ;) then smash his face in, blow out his kneecap, break his hip with a sledghammer and starve him for 6 months, then look for an actor that fits.

Smeej - good call, that would work i rkn.

Curt wrote: "Tom wrote: "I was thinking Gary Oldman but Malkovich seems spot on." Yes the Oldman from Sixth Element, of course.

Michael Emerson (Lost) might be an excellent Glokta too. As far as Logan, that i..."

I want to thank you for mentioning Emerson as Glotka! I tried to read The Blade Itself about a year ago and couldn't get into it, because of this character. When said Emerson, that made the character wickedly sympathetic enough that I could get into him.

Great book, now on the second one!

After finishing the series i can safely say this series will never be a movie. Not without some drastic changes to the characters and plot.

Any of the main characters could be the villains of another story. (child murder and such)

The dark skinned gurkish battling the light skinned union? haha the thought of normal people seeing that on screen is hilarious.

How about Dolph Lundgren for the Bloody Nine? He's older, kinda ugly, and though he may not act well, he can actually move pretty well. I like the idea of Mickey Rourke too, though.
How about Robert Downey Jr for Glokta? He's got the acting chops and I think he could get into the role of the crippled torturer and pull it off.
David Borneaz might make a good West, and maybe Jake Gyllenhall as Jezel.
Too bad we don't have a current day equivalent of Grace Jones for Pharoah(sp? I'm listening to the audiobook)

Listened to the podcast with Joe, and having just finished reading the trilogy for the second time(only other books I've ever done that with is Irvine Welsh and Douglas Adams), I have to admit to being absolutely baffled by your suggestions. I realize that most of you are americans and as such probably don't see the need for british accents in fantasy or historical films, series, whatever, but really, it adds to the overall realism and as such is indispensable. I am about to have a peak at GOT(Hbo), and if so much as one of the characters speak with an american accent it will probably ruin it for me. So, therefore, I cannot fathom how you can suggest a bunch of american actors for this(top of the ridiculous-list is Boreanas. Come on). I have been pondering this subject far and wide, and I've come up with a few choice casting suggestions. I am very pleased with myself, just in case it wasn't clear already(I'm Norwegian, we do that).

Bayaz: Brendan Gleeson. This one, I think, gives itself. Gleeson can be both smug and terrifying.

Glokta or Dogman, he is custom made for both: Michael Fassbender. But, I absolutely loved the idea of Paul Bettany for Glokta(see Gangster no. 1, nasty as you like), and Fassbender has the teeth and the scruffiness required for Dogman, so whoop, there it is.

Logen: This one is so very, very hard. I also loved the idea of Titus Pullo, but I think he is too handsome. So... How about his partner, Lucius Verinus! Kevin McKidd can play absolute psychopath and has a somewhat lumpy face. That, and he is brilliant. Beef him up, and he'll blow it away.

Someone mentioned Anthony Hopkins. Seriously, how can you not see that he is a perfect fit for Arch Lector Sult??

For Jezal, however, I am struggling a bit. Needs to be handsome, needs to be cocky, needs to be BRITISH(Midderland is quite clearly based on England).

For Cosca... I've pondered this one. He is fortyish. He is exceptionally ruthless and charmingly so, and he should have a characteristic accent considering he is Styrian. So I'm thinking, rather beautifully, Vincent Cassel. Oh yes. That would do very, very nicely. You can just see him grinning and joking whilst stabbing you neatly in the back.

Major West: This one also gave me a bit of trouble. Should not be too handsome neither, but must have an air of uncontrollable rage and authority.

Black Dow: This needs to be a seriously vicious looking sort of actor. Someone who really does look as if he might hack your hand of as likely as shake it. Had not Daniel Day Lewis been as old and supremely famous he would be perfect, but I think I'll land on someone a little less superstarish. A young Ian McShane(Swearengen)would clearly have been utterly perfect, but since he is too old he can be Bethod. After seeing Van Diemen's Land I've come up with one, however. His name is Arthur Angel, and he plays the main instigator of the cannibalism in that film. He looks right nasty and hard, and also acts very, very well.

I'm gonna have to think about Jezal and West for a bit longer though. Think I might post this on Joe's site as well though, would be really cool to get a response from him.

Oh, and with regards to Vincent Cassel, that opens up for Monica Belucci as Monza Murcatto. Have to love that, right?

I like the crosstalk and most of your suggestions, though there does seem to be a certain anglophilic tone to your post. British accents are not really the trademark of fantasy for me, in fact they often make me think, "ah a british person". Also most actors can fake many accents fairly well. Kevin Costner not so much. Many americans dont even know Hugh Laurie is british for example. Also, Brendan Gleeson, really? Maybe the Google machine let me down but im seeing pictures of a rather jolly looking, round, short, fuzzy actor. Did Bayaz really strike you as any of these things? Arent there any tall bald fierce intense British actors you can think of? W. Earl Brown gets my vote for Black Dow after watching Deadwood again recently, and also because no one named angel can be Black Dow. Which leads to Ian McShane, hell i would watch him read the phone book. I love Monica Belucci in anything or preferably very little but i think Monza is more supposed to be slim and fierce than voluptuous and since the actress apparently needs to be british how bout Kate Beckinsale. Also damn you now i think of Monica of Vincent Cassel's wife. Ignorance was bliss man :) Cassell would probably be able to do justice to Glokta.
Also "I am very pleased with myself, just in case it wasn't clear already(I'm Norwegian, we do that)." Perhaps we need to explore Trump's Norwegian streak...

Nice one, W. Earl Brown! Now there is a shamefully underused actor. Not sure he would fit the mold for Dow, he has that vulnerability and sensitivity that wouldn't fit. How about Tul Duru, that might be a better fit.

I agree that SOME actors can change accents quite easily. I do that myself, if I speak with brits I speak cockney and if I speak to americans I speak with an east coast-accent. Bruce Willis, David Boreanaz, Dolph Lundgren(ridiculous notion), Mickey Rourke and Josh Holloway absolutely do not. It would not work, I'm sorry to say. Also, Holloway is much to handsome to play Logen. Rourke might have the look, but sorry, I don't see him in something like this. Michael Emerson however is a good idea, he might actually work as Glokta, but might be even better for Goyle(even though it is a much smaller part). I'm sort of stuck on Bettany for Glokta though, he is actually quite perfect.

As for Brendan Gleeson, I don't think baldness is the most relevant characteristic. If it must be in place, well, it's not that hard. I've shaved bald before taking the sides myself, just for the incredibly awesome fun of it. I would have to recommend that you watch him in action, he really is astoundingly good and can play any role. The thing about Bayaz, in my mind, is that he looks like a kindly grandfather until you piss him off. Then he is frightening. Gleeson has that quality in abundance. And when he looks angry... Well. He is not small, btw.

You are right about Belluci. She would not work as Monza. But how about Carlot dan Eider? That might be a good fit. I am so caught up in Bettany as Glokta that I think I'll stick to Cassel as Cosca. Apropos ignorance being bliss regarding Cassel and Belluci, do not, under any circumstance, watch Irreversible. It is extremely painful.

Jezel and Major West... Still tricky shit. I had good ones in mind, but it seems to have slipped. I am kind of busy plotting out my own stuff, but if I can remember I'll get back to you.

I could see Zoe Saldana playing a mean Ferro Maljinn. I think her character in Avatar is pretty similar.

As far as Jezel goes, I think James McAvoy could pull it off.
Before I get to West, I have two choices for Glokta, the first was actually in my mind's eye while reading the book: David Tennant. He can go from humorous to humorless to downright dark and terrifying in moments. He is also handsome(as Glokta was once) and can be thin.
My second choice came to me after I nailed Major West's casting(wait for it).
My second choice: Benedict Cumberbatch-Sherlock Holmes from Sherlock. Again, can be logically cold and dark, darkly humorous and somewhat handsome.

As far as Major West, I had no idea til halfway through the book. It just came to me.

Major West: Martin Freeman, from the British The Office and Sherlock. To me, he looks like West and sounds like West.

I should have more casting ideas soon.
Toodles for now!

I've probably been watching too much Stargate recently, but these two kept appearing to me for Logan: Christopher Heyerdahl (Todd the wraith and Halling) and Jason Momoa (Ronon Dex).

I felt like Logan should be big but kind of awkward and lanky and often have a cross between a bewildered and put-upon vibe. As a result, I'm sort of siding towards Heyerdahl (no offense meant to the man!). Plus I bet that dude is terrifying if he acts berserk.

For Glokta I'm not really sure, but I'll side with those who pointed out that he was supposed to be the golden boy before his torture and, as such, should be fundamentally cover-model material to start with. Christian Bale might be a good fit as suggested above. Maybe Jude Law, though I feel like he's not big enough.

These are sometimes fun discussions, but they always seem to turn a little ugly. :(

Every time I read these books I see Stanley Tucci as Bayaz, so he would be my automatic choice. The only other thought I had was Alan Rickman as Glokta, just because he plays bitter sarcastic characters so well.

Lanfear wrote: "Every time I read these books I see Stanley Tucci as Bayaz, so he would be my automatic choice. The only other thought I had was Alan Rickman as Glokta, just because he plays bitter sarcastic chara..."

I like those. Your mention of Stanley Tucci also makes me think of Ian Holm circa the Fifth Element as a possible Bayaz, but I've not seen him play a particularly wrathful character before, so I'd like to see that screen test first. ;)

MidAgeGeek wrote: "I think everyone is missing the obvious choice for Glokta. Think about the character: moody, bipolar, and paronoid to a fault... this is a role that screams for Gary Busey :)"

Gary's horseteeth block him from the role

Sgtdetritus wrote: "How about Dolph Lundgren for the Bloody Nine? He's older, kinda ugly, and though he may not act well, he can actually move pretty well."

this was my thought as well, although Hollywood would push for Chris Heimdall (Thor)

Sir Ben Kingsley for Bayaz?