Fantasy Casting: the men

I usually use my imagination when I picture a book’s characters.

But sometimes, it’s fun to play the casting game. Here are a few whom I would happily see at a theater near me!

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Ciaran HindsCiarán Hinds as Will Lawrence from the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik

After seeing him in the BBC production of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, he is my idea of a Regency era naval captain.

He’d be great as Will, an honorable English gentleman who is thrust into the rough and tumble world of dragon riding aviators.

 

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Russell CroweRussell Crowe as Nate Hawkins from My Fair Captain by JL Langley                            

Russell Crowe commanding presence captures Nate Hawkins masculine physicality and take-no-prisoners attitude.      

 

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rupert-penry-jonesRupert Penry-Jones as Lord John Grey from the Lord John Grey Mysteries and the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

Lord John is one of my all-time favorite heroes.

He is not a large man, but he does have a commanding presence. He also has a quiet inner strength, and a striking beauty.

I’d love to see RP-J grow his hair out for Lord John’s long braid.

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Montgomery CliftMontgomery Clift as Adrien English from Adrien English Mysteries by Josh Lanyon

OK, this one was a gimme.

In the series, people often tell Adrien how much he looks like the actor, whom I think was one of the most beautiful of classic Hollywood’s actors.

Montgomery Clift was good at conveying restrained intensity that sometimes boiled over with catastrophic consequences. Hmm… Sound familiar?

 

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Daniel CraigDaniel Craig as Edward from the Anita Blake series by Laurell Hamilton                      

With his blond good-looks and cold blue eyes, Daniel Craig would be great as the hunter/assassin Edward.

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Cillian MurphyCillian Murphy: Cal Leandros from the Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman                     

He’s already demonstrated that he can play dark and edgy as the Scarecrow in the recent Batman movies.

Cal is definitely dark AND edgy, being half Auphe (an evil demon species.) Cal is also a bit of a smart-ass, usually giving his older brother attitude.

If you like the TV series Supernatural, this is definitely the UF series for you!

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Gabriel ByrneGabriel Byrne (from the 80’s): Cam Rohan from Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas                               

His looks just scream Roma to me, AND he’s Irish.

He’s also got that devil-may-care charm and intensity that I love about Cam.

The picture in my head of Cam has always been very like GB.

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Goran VisnjicGoran Visnjic: Vayl from the Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin                       

Vayl is one of my favorite vampires. He’s sophisticated, sexy and has some scorching UST (unresolved sexual tension) with Jaz. (I haven’t read One More Bite yet — I’ve got it on request from the library — but, I’m hoping the Unresolved part of the equation will be resolved in this latest book!)

GV really brings Vayl’s charm and sophistication.

 

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 Richard ArmitageRichard Armitage as Derek Craven in Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas            
Do I even need to explain this one?           

North and South showed RA being vulnerable under a tough no-nonsense exterior.

Very Derek Craven!

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Do you agree with my picks or disagree?             

Who would you cast as your favorite literary heroes?

Let me know in the comments, and share your opinion with the poll below:

20 Responses

  1. If I could have made two choices on the voting pole, I would have chosen Nalini Singh also!

    Of the books you’ve listed I’ve only read one, Dreaming of You. I think he’d be a good choice :) .

  2. Somebody is a busy blogging BEE! Russell as Nate is perfect! As is Mongoomery Clift for Adrien – great out of the box thinking there! I always saw Edward played by somebody with less boy in them. Specifically Rutger Hauer (ala Bladerunner).

    Would Brad Pitt not make a fine Hardy Cates? I’m thinking of him From Thelma and Louise.

  3. You know, it is REALLY hard for me to picture characters? The ONLY one that is easy is Sebastian St VIncent and he isplayed by Josh Holloway (Sawyer from Lost)

  4. OMG! You hit it on the head for me with Goran Visjic as Vayl…and One More Bite resolves LOADS with a great ending!! But still no rumpy-pumpy! (Boo..) but I can live with that!

    I agree with Gabrial Byrne as Cam Rohan as well. Spot on….and Daniel Craig as Edward. I would have never have thought of that.

    I never play the casting game as all my heroes have thier own slightly blurry faces in my mind.

  5. AmyC: Dreaming of You is my favorite Kleypas historical! I’d also love to see the Psy-Changelings (my second choice after Derek Craven.)

    Carolyn Jean: lol. This is actually a post I started a couple of months ago and got sidetracked. I do that a lot.
    In all honestly, RC doesn’t really “do it” for me in most movies, but when I though of him as Nate, well… ;-)
    OMG, Brad Pitt would be great as Hardy! My friend saw Benjamin Benjamin Button, and said he can still totally pass as early 20s

    Ana: Some characters lend themselves to it more than others, I think.
    JH surely has that bad-boy thing going on that’s needed for Sebastian.

  6. HA!

    You are a hoot girl and your blog rocks!!

    I’m totally not a fan of turning books into movies (LOTR is the one exception) but I’m probably the lone folk up there that picked “Other”. I like Lara Adrian’s “Midnight Breeds”, series so Lucan, Tegan, any of those guys. Well you could probably drag me out of my cave and into the theatre.

    As to the actor to play any of them? Hell if I know. lol

    Great post. :)

  7. Sayuri: Goran Visnjic even has the sexy accent! I can’t wait for One More Bite to come in!
    Man, I was so into Gabriel Byrne in the 80’s. lol That’s how I still picture him.
    For some reason, Daniel Craig also really seems like he’d make a great werewolf. I think it’s the eyes. 8-)

  8. Lea: Thanks! It’s a tricky thing, that translation, I think. Peter Jackson (LOTR) has actually optioned the Temeraire series, and will be developing it with the same writing team that did LOTR.

    Midnight Breeds is one of those series I have to get back to. I read the first 2, but haven’t read the rest. I keep hearing great things about the latest one!

  9. Yep:

    Veil of Midnight is awesome. :) (IMHO) I reviewed it last weekend on my blog as did Christine.

    Great read.

    L

  10. Did you ever see the chat Lisa Kleypas did for us considering Richard Armitage as Derek Craven? Perfect casting!! I think she has another actor in mind – or did at one time anyway before she watched North and South (speaking of which – did you want to become a Crusader? heh heh heh).
    I haven’t seen the Jaz Park series – but Goran Visnjic could be my hero in a lot of different roles *wink*

  11. KristieJ: Noooo! I haven’t seen the chat. Is it archived somewhere? Seeing RA in Robin Hood wouldn’t have sold me on it, but after seeing N & S –he’d totally be perfect.
    I’m up for crusading! What do I need to do? I actually borrowed N & S from library after seeing all the blogging about it, so obviously, the crusading converted me! lol
    Jaz Parks is lots of fun. CIA action/adventure with vamps. And GV, well, let’s just say I took a looong time trolling thru sites finding the “perfect” image for him. ;-)

  12. Arrgghhh!
    Haiku answer

    Was found
    Blog broke so went and fixed post
    Blog better
    Must change back
    But must go work – now
    Will send link once no longer bad!!

    Will return

  13. This was a great post!! I loved North and South and Derek Craven for that matter, lol. But I have to admit that I would want to see Ward’s brothers in a movie. *figers crossed*

  14. First off – that was very bad Haiku. Of course I really have no idea what it is – so it’s not a surprise it was bad.

    But after refixing things, here’s the link to the Lisa Kleypas/Richard Armitage interview
    http://kristiej.blogspot.com/2007/11/great-north-and-south-crusade_29.html

    And sssshhhhh – I’m at work so don’t tell anyone I’m doing it here. That’s why I can’t concentrate on doing the url link thingy – have to move fast – love Alt-Tab.

    And it’s so easy to become a Crusader – simply do a post on what you thought of North and South – why you liked it – if you want to jump John’s bones – that kind of thing.

    Kidding about the jumping bones – well mostly!

  15. KristieJ: LOL. We’ll just call it “free-form” poetry or something, and it’ll be all good!
    *whispers* Thanks for the link! Sounds like a good excuse to watch N & S again. I’ll let you know when I post! :-)

    Barbara: Thanks! BDB would be so much fun to see!

  16. ok, i have to say that I’m just now listening to a Lord John audiobook and I love your casting choice. Would not have thought of it myself, but it’s brilliant!
    oh and i have a crush on gabriel byrne.

  17. Have my baby? Cuz I heart you.

    RC IS NATE…mmmm….

  18. Sula: It’s funny cause I really wanted to find someone for Lord John since I love him so much, and RP-J had been in my little “stable” of possibilities, so it was a match made in heaven!

    Lisabea: LOL. Well, you know, if we lived in the Space Regency world…
    Ahem. OK.
    Isn’t he tho’?

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  20. I’d vote for two of your choices and add in a third. The Black Dagger Brotherhood (purr for Vishous) and the Otherworld (purr for Clayton, Rupert would fit as Clay, too minus is curls) but I’d have to add in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunters. And this was just random poking in from finding a good picture of Rupert that showed off his eyes to tell another Otherworld-loving friend on his looks of Clayton.

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