Escape Artists

PodCastle => Fantasy Discussion => Topic started by: Talia on March 24, 2009, 06:22:55 PM

Title: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Talia on March 24, 2009, 06:22:55 PM
Not that there's plans for any such thing, but its fun to speculate and debate.

I for one vote for Johnny Depp as Morpheus.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Heradel on March 24, 2009, 06:44:37 PM
I have this really weird image of Christopher Walken as The Corinthian.

I have a hard time picking someone for Death. That would almost be a harder character to pull off than morpheus.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Talia on March 24, 2009, 07:05:17 PM
This came up in conversation a while ago with my gaming group, and we were a bit stumped over Death as well. Some suggestions were Winona Ryder and Kate Beckinsale, but eh. I'm not sure either of them quite have the quality I have in mind.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Heradel on March 24, 2009, 07:21:30 PM
The hard bit is her aloofness. I mean, she cares, but I never really got the sense she was that personal about humans the way Morpheus is. It's such a non-human personality with some of the same affects as humans of the era.

Edit: That said, Penelope Cruz as Delirium.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Talia on March 24, 2009, 07:29:02 PM
Hmm, I can't see penelope cruz as delerium at ALL. Maybe you've seen her play crazy in something that I haven't..? She's not nearly childlike enough in appearance.. her fatures have a distinct hispanic cast to them which also doesn't match delerium.. I donno.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Heradel on March 24, 2009, 07:33:12 PM
Hmm, I can't see penelope cruz as delerium at ALL. Maybe you've seen her play crazy in something that I haven't..? She's not nearly childlike enough in appearance.. her fatures have a distinct hispanic cast to them which also doesn't match delerium.. I donno.

I'm guessing you haven't seen Vicky Christina Barcelona then?

I agree she doesn't have the childlike features, but she brings the crazy.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: stePH on March 24, 2009, 08:08:07 PM
This came up in conversation a while ago with my gaming group, and we were a bit stumped over Death as well. Some suggestions were Winona Ryder ...

Thank you, no.  I'd rather the role go to somebody who can act her way out of a paper bag, even a wet one.


Walken as The Corinthian sounds appealing.  I can see it.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Talia on March 24, 2009, 08:08:52 PM
She was good in Beetlejuice! :p

as an aside here's my current IGoogle theme, I like it a lot

(yes its relevant)

http://www.socuteurl.com/froggyhop
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: deflective on March 24, 2009, 10:42:01 PM
Dream: Johnny Depp has been doing these roles through his entire career. the only problem is that i may not see Morpheus on the screen so much as 'Johnny Depp playing Morpheus.'

(http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/Johnny%20Depp%20Sweeney%20Todd%20Tim%20Burton.jpg)


Death: a woman with chinese features would be great in the role. if makeup is used to make her skin unnaturally pale and line her eyes, the look will be remarkably close to one in the comic. the culture also has the aloof gentleness that was mentioned earlier.

(http://images2.ggl.com/articles/5522/death.jpg) (http://www.animenorth.com/an06/images/NekoiPsydoll06.jpg)


Delirium: there'd have to be a lot of cgi to do her properly. i imagine someone like a young Helena Bonham Carter would be a step in the right direction.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_de-44mnlBkg/STVsaMTKMWI/AAAAAAAAF_c/zIwcq03wrFU/s400/helena_bonham_carter_3.jpg)


Desire: Tilda Swinton did a fantastic job of ethereal androgyny in Constantine.

(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTIxMTYwMzAxMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNTE2NTE2._V1._SX262_SY400_.jpg)


Destiny: the role would be all about voice, a chin would help. Max Von Sydow would have been great but he's getting too old.

(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjA1MTQyODQ1MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwOTE0OTM2._V1._SX485_SY361_.jpg)


Despair: after watchmen it's possible that hollywood has the balls to do her properly but there's been no demand for actresses like her. someone unknown.


Destruction: an older, laid back Brian Blessed might be just right for the retired Destruction.

(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ0Njc1ODQ5MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODg5MjIzMQ@@._V1._SX450_SY299_.jpg)
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: stePH on March 24, 2009, 11:51:13 PM
Destruction: an older, laid back Brian Blessed might be just right for the retired Destruction.

Awesome.  ;D  I concur.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Talia on March 25, 2009, 03:12:23 AM
hmm yes, thirded on the Brian Blessed call.

I'm not sure I could go for an Asian Death, though. Maybe. I'd have to see it.

I've always kinda pictured her as caucasian.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: stePH on March 25, 2009, 03:39:40 PM
[Winona Ryder] was good in Beetlejuice! :p

And sucked in everything else.  Well, okay, she was barely passable in Heathers.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: DKT on March 25, 2009, 03:50:18 PM
[Winona Ryder] was good in Beetlejuice! :p

And sucked in everything else.  Well, okay, she was barely passable in Heathers.

Dude! Bram Stoker's Dracula! (It may have helped she was acting opposite Keannu Reeves.) I've had a semi-crush on Winona Ryder ever since.

I'm not sure about Brian Blessed as Destruction. I mean, I would've gone for him twenty years ago (maybe). But I always viewed Destruction as being middle-aged, almost as if he was going through a mid-life crisis. And he'd have to be drop-dead sexy.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Zathras on March 25, 2009, 04:34:41 PM
I'm not sure about Brian Blessed as Destruction. I mean, I would've gone for him twenty years ago (maybe). But I always viewed Destruction as being middle-aged, almost as if he was going through a mid-life crisis. And he'd have to be drop-dead sexy.

Then cast me!
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: stePH on March 25, 2009, 04:45:41 PM
[Winona Ryder] was good in Beetlejuice! :p

And sucked in everything else.  Well, okay, she was barely passable in Heathers.

Dude! Bram Stoker's Dracula! (It may have helped she was acting opposite Keannu Reeves.)
Dude!  That has to be her absolute worst performance ever!  Seriously!  Without Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins, that movie would be a total wash.  As it is, it's only worth watching the scenes that those guys are in.

Yes, I understand it's hard to take.  I was infatuated with her myself back in the day. But as an actor, she's terrible.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: DKT on March 25, 2009, 04:49:30 PM
[Winona Ryder] was good in Beetlejuice! :p

And sucked in everything else.  Well, okay, she was barely passable in Heathers.

Dude! Bram Stoker's Dracula! (It may have helped she was acting opposite Keannu Reeves.)
Dude!  That has to be her absolute worst performance ever!  Seriously!  Without Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins, that movie would be a total wash.  As it is, it's only worth watching the scenes that those guys are in.

Yes, I understand it's hard to take.  I was infatuated with her myself back in the day. But as an actor, she's terrible.

I dunno. Worse than Alien: Resurrection or Lost Souls? Sir, I question your critical subjectivity  ;)
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Alasdair5000 on March 25, 2009, 04:57:24 PM
Not that there's plans for any such thing, but its fun to speculate and debate.

Certainly is:)

Let's see:

Dream:  David Bowie or Paul Bettany
Death:  Annabel Scholey (Lauren from Being Human)
Destruction:  Brian Blessed (WESSEX!  FRESH HORSES!) or Gerard Butler

I second Walken as The Corinthian:)

I also kind of want to say Ben Affleck as the voice of Matt.  Whilst I'm aware Affleck is loathed by many he's a fantastic, articulate talker and that's what Matt needs.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Talia on March 25, 2009, 04:59:17 PM
[Winona Ryder] was good in Beetlejuice! :p

And sucked in everything else.  Well, okay, she was barely passable in Heathers.

Dude! Bram Stoker's Dracula! (It may have helped she was acting opposite Keannu Reeves.)
Dude!  That has to be her absolute worst performance ever!  Seriously!  Without Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins, that movie would be a total wash.  As it is, it's only worth watching the scenes that those guys are in.

Yes, I understand it's hard to take.  I was infatuated with her myself back in the day. But as an actor, she's terrible.

I rather liked her in 'Mermaids,' possibly only because I'm a girl. I seem to recall her being passable in 'Girl interrupted'..  and, heh. Apparently she's in the new 'Star Trek' ... o.O

Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Heradel on March 25, 2009, 05:12:45 PM
Not that there's plans for any such thing, but its fun to speculate and debate.

Certainly is:)

Let's see:

Dream:  David Bowie or Paul Bettany
Death:  Annabel Scholey (Lauren from Being Human)
[...]

I'd go with her for Death too, but I almost wonder if we shouldn't be thinking of casting multiple actors for the roles — the endless certainly change forms enough.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: DKT on March 25, 2009, 05:39:14 PM
Not that there's plans for any such thing, but its fun to speculate and debate.

Certainly is:)

Let's see:

Dream:  David Bowie or Paul Bettany
Death:  Annabel Scholey (Lauren from Being Human)
[...]

I'd go with her for Death too, but I almost wonder if we shouldn't be thinking of casting multiple actors for the roles — the endless certainly change forms enough.

Fix it in post!
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: MacArthurBug on March 27, 2009, 04:35:09 AM
Ooo I'm seconding Helena Bonham Carter as Delerium, she brings the crazy and she'd bring the right flavor of quirky cute as well. Plus, she's truly an awesome actor.

I like the idea of Depp as death but I have to agree that he'd probably overdo it, and thus ruin it. I also dig on Bowie doing it, though he's a bit long in the tooth.

Winowa Rider? MEh I, too harbored a bit of a crush on the girl, but she just dosn't have the "it" to do death.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Heradel on March 27, 2009, 03:50:56 PM
If Death and Me ever happens at least we'll find out who Gaiman wants as Death. He's twittered about working on a secret screenplay project right now (as opposed to the somewhat mysterious china/travelog project), so hopefully it's that.

I think the problem with casting death is that it calls for a detached impishness. Which honestly kind of reminds me of (to go out of film and into British TV teen drama, which I'll note I watch with my GF) Effe from Skins, but subtract the humanity and the need for/fear of human attachment.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: underwoodfive on March 27, 2009, 04:10:39 PM
Stop-action, like Coraline.  Although then you'd still have to cast voices.

I'd like Sandman to be more of an HBO/Showtime miniseries, though.  It's such a freaking long involved story that condensing it would be... tricky.  Very tricky.  I mean, which story would you tell?

And Alasdair, David Bowie is too busy being Lucifer to be Dream.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: stePH on March 27, 2009, 04:40:59 PM
I'd like Sandman to be more of an HBO/Showtime miniseries, though.  It's such a freaking long involved story that condensing it would be... tricky.  Very tricky.  I mean, which story would you tell?

The movie currently in Development Hell is supposed to cover the first two arcs/books: Preludes and Nocturnes and The Doll's House.

And I thought The High Cost of Living was the Death movie that's in the works.  Admittedly Gaiman mentioned this when he was touring American Gods, so it's old news, but still ...
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Talia on March 27, 2009, 04:59:29 PM
Stop-action, like Coraline.  Although then you'd still have to cast voices.

I'd like Sandman to be more of an HBO/Showtime miniseries, though.  It's such a freaking long involved story that condensing it would be... tricky.  Very tricky.  I mean, which story would you tell?

And Alasdair, David Bowie is too busy being Lucifer to be Dream.

nah, a stop action Sandman wouldn't do it for me. It wouldnt have the fluid gracefulness the characters seem to have, to me.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: DKT on March 27, 2009, 06:10:20 PM
I'd like Sandman to be more of an HBO/Showtime miniseries, though.  It's such a freaking long involved story that condensing it would be... tricky.  Very tricky.  I mean, which story would you tell?

The movie currently in Development Hell is supposed to cover the first two arcs/books: Preludes and Nocturnes and The Doll's House.

And I thought The High Cost of Living was the Death movie that's in the works.  Admittedly Gaiman mentioned this when he was touring American Gods, so it's old news, but still ...

It's the High Cost of Living Story, but it's titled Death and Me (http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2004/11/back-again-more-or-less.asp). Not 100% sure why...

ETA: Neil says "mostly because it's Sexton's film as much as it is Didi's, and I wanted a title that reflected that"

I hadn't heard that about the first two Sandman arcs...what I'd heard was more of a mess than that, with Sandman getting into a fistfight with someone. Although I suppose that someone could've been the Corinthian.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Talia on March 27, 2009, 06:13:37 PM
Fistfights? wtf.. hehe. That's hardly Morpheus' style.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Heradel on March 27, 2009, 06:31:17 PM
I think Sandman as a whole would probably work best as a series with occasional movies, kinda like BSG. You'd probably also need some directors with widely different shooting styles to mimic the different feels of the volumes.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: DKT on March 27, 2009, 08:05:59 PM
I completely agree. What you'd really need is a great team of writers and a showrunner who was unafraid.

Not sure it would ever happen, but it would be cool. Especially if it started out with an end-date.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Heradel on March 27, 2009, 08:33:01 PM
I completely agree. What you'd really need is a great team of writers and a showrunner who was unafraid.

Not sure it would ever happen, but it would be cool. Especially if it started out with an end-date.

Brian Fuller would be a good choice, but I'm hoping that he gets his ST series. It could be a chance for Minear or Espenson to graduate (again in the case of Minear). Or, in a dream state Gaiman himself, if he decided to spend the next few years doing it or had a good deputy to take care of the production aspect. If they handed it to an experienced showrunner, JMS or RTD. (Thinking about it, Gaiman couldn't do it, he doesn't use a middle name/initial.)
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: DKT on March 27, 2009, 09:12:55 PM
Clearly, we read some of the same websites :)

Fuller would be my pick out of the three but him doing a new ST would be coooooooooool.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: stePH on March 27, 2009, 10:16:26 PM
I hadn't heard that about the first two Sandman arcs...what I'd heard was more of a mess than that, with Sandman getting into a fistfight with someone. Although I suppose that someone could've been the Corinthian.

I think I heard the same.  Basically what Neil said back in 2001 was that the first script he saw was pretty awful, and that each successive rewrite only made things worse. 

At that rate, I'd rather the movie remain eternally in Development Hell.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: lowky on March 28, 2009, 04:07:25 PM
Fairuza Balk (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000103/) as Delirium.  She can play crazy

I like the idea of Helena Bonham Carter but I think she is getting a bit long in the tooth.

what about Laura Fraser aka (Door from Neverwhere) to play death?

Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: deflective on March 28, 2009, 07:26:46 PM
Annette Badland for Despair

(http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/2/26/Annettebadland.jpg)


i kinda want to change my Dream choice to David Bowie since that would give me six of seven from the uk. are you guys hiding any goth hmong actresses over there so i can complete my set?
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Poppydragon on July 03, 2009, 05:56:02 AM
Morpheus as muppet (from Neil Gaiman's Twitter) http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PM9SPI7FEq0/Skrv-FctGmI/AAAAAAAAANQ/4O4rOPaEON8/s1600-h/Sandman+Muppet.jpg
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: oddpod on July 03, 2009, 09:10:21 AM
ace :-)
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Listener on July 03, 2009, 01:32:20 PM
Zooey Deschanel as Death. Hands-down. She has the look and the ethereal quality.

Joanna Canton as Delirium (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134631/). Though these days I bet it would go to one of the Fannings.

Desire is really hard to cast, because you need someone androgynous ENOUGH. I might pick Jackson Rathbone (who was in Twilight, but I've also seen him do good work in other things so you can forgive him Twilight), or even Daniel Radcliffe, who has kind of a feminine face even though he's a dude.

Kathy Bates as Despair.

Liam Neeson as Destiny -- I think he has the gravitas to play that role. It would also be HILARIOUS to see Hugh Laurie do it -- because I love House -- but as a professional actor you KNOW he could pull off the gravitas as well. I just don't see him in the role.

None of the Endless are dark-skinned (ie: Black) in their "natural" forms, though I really think you need a big black guy to play Destruction -- someone like Michael Clarke Duncan. I can't really think of anyone else to play the role who isn't a professional wrestler, and really, I'm sure Hulk Hogan's a nice enough guy but I really don't want to see him in movies anymore.

For Dream, I would accept:

Guy Pearce -- suitably skinny, good actor
Billy Crudup -- he proved he can play that kind of role by doing it as Dr. Manhattan
James Marsters

I also think Dream could go to a relative unknown in the same way that Chris Pine made Captain Kirk his own, but I'd hate to risk it.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: Talia on July 03, 2009, 01:39:49 PM
Morpheus as muppet (from Neil Gaiman's Twitter) http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PM9SPI7FEq0/Skrv-FctGmI/AAAAAAAAANQ/4O4rOPaEON8/s1600-h/Sandman+Muppet.jpg

haha, nice!

Good call on Zooey Deschanel, she does seem a good fit.
Title: Re: How would YOU cast a Sandman movie?
Post by: DarkKnightJRK on July 19, 2009, 08:31:52 PM
Zooey Deschanel as Death. Hands-down. She has the look and the ethereal quality.

Joanna Canton as Delirium (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134631/). Though these days I bet it would go to one of the Fannings.

Desire is really hard to cast, because you need someone androgynous ENOUGH. I might pick Jackson Rathbone (who was in Twilight, but I've also seen him do good work in other things so you can forgive him Twilight), or even Daniel Radcliffe, who has kind of a feminine face even though he's a dude.

Kathy Bates as Despair.

Liam Neeson as Destiny -- I think he has the gravitas to play that role. It would also be HILARIOUS to see Hugh Laurie do it -- because I love House -- but as a professional actor you KNOW he could pull off the gravitas as well. I just don't see him in the role.

None of the Endless are dark-skinned (ie: Black) in their "natural" forms, though I really think you need a big black guy to play Destruction -- someone like Michael Clarke Duncan. I can't really think of anyone else to play the role who isn't a professional wrestler, and really, I'm sure Hulk Hogan's a nice enough guy but I really don't want to see him in movies anymore.

For Dream, I would accept:

Guy Pearce -- suitably skinny, good actor
Billy Crudup -- he proved he can play that kind of role by doing it as Dr. Manhattan
James Marsters

I also think Dream could go to a relative unknown in the same way that Chris Pine made Captain Kirk his own, but I'd hate to risk it.

I can dig that list. :)

As for Desire, how about Tilda Swinton? She pulled of the androgeny pretty well in Constantine, playing Gabriel.