Watchmen casting- One dead right, one maybe and one dead wrong

[bredon7777]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32743

Right now, there are offers out to three people to join the cast. If the studio's gotten to the point where they're officially making an offer, you can expect that these people will most likely make it into the film.

So that means we'll see The Prom King, Patrick Wilson, suit up as Night Owl. I think he's a great choice for Dan, and all you need to do is look at the work he did in LITTLE CHILDREN as an example of the sort of quiet sadness he'll bring to the role.

Dr. Manhattan is a tricky part, and there's something alien and otherworldly about him. Keanu Reeves always seems to me to be on a different wavelength than anyone else on the planet, so when he steps into the part as the big blue superbeing, it might be a nice fit.

And in the biggest "duh" of the year, Jude Law has been offered the role of Adrien Veidt, aka Ozymandias. Perfect choice, and Law's been saying for years that he is a huge fan of the material. If anyone out there is more right for the role, I don't know who it is.

I've only seen Patrick Wilson in Phantom of the Opera So I've really no idea if he has the necessary chops for Nite Owl, but I'm not opposed to the idea.

I agree 100% that Jude Law is a PERFECT Ozymadnias.  Biggest "duh" ever.

However, Keanu as Dr. Manhattan? Not just no, HELL NO! :(

Your thoughts?

R

[The Hitman]

I can see it now:

Rorchach: "I'm gonna tell the world about Veidt's plan, unless you zap me here and now!"

Dr. Manhattan: "Something strange is afoot at the Circle K..."

R: "C'mon, DO IT!"

M: "I know Kung Fu..."

R: "FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, STOP HAVING FLASHBACKS AND STICK TO THE SCRIPT!!!!"

M: "Whoa, I was, like, in a surf movie with Kurt Russell. Dude..."

Jude Law and Patrick Wilson, on the other hand, great choice. I never read Ozymandias as British, but it fits. Good call on that one.

[GhostMachine]

Johnny Utah and Ted as Dr. Manhattan? He was miscast as John Constantine, but casting him as Dr. Manhattan would have to rank as the biggest miscasting of all time! If they do that, they might as well get William Shatner to play the Comedian!

[GrizzlyBearTalon]

Arguably one of the most pivotal characters to cast in the film... and they give it to Keanu Reeves? Or even offer it? What were they thinking?!

Keanu was indeed miscast as Constantine, he did okay (I still spent the whole movie thinking how awesome it would be if he was actually blonde & british, after all there are NO good british actors *rolls eyes*) but he is one of those actors where you really don't get a person portraying a character you simply get that actor really playing themselves. Actors who never really get themselves out of the way of their role in a film. Sometimes this works other times it however most certainly does not. Some examples that come to my mind are Jack Nicholson (works for him usually), George Clooney, and to an extent Denzel Washington (Yes he is awesome but still... it feels like he is the same guy in nearly EVERY movie, the exact same guy).

I like the casting of the other two though.

[Jakew]

I actually think Keanu Reeves would do a decent job ... his acting style (wooden, detached space cadet) is perfectly suited to Dr Manhattan.

Jude Law, bulked up, would be great as Veidt.

Never heard of the Nite Owl actor.

[lugaru]

For me the tough one is Rorshack... how many terribly menacing yet totally loser looking people are there out there?

[GrizzlyBearTalon]

For me the tough one is Rorshack... how many terribly menacing yet totally loser looking people are there out there?

Maybe Edward Norton? Fight Club is some very good credential for Rosarch, not sure his voice would do the trick though. I wonder if Rosarch with the mask spoke in the same tone as Rosarch w/o it?

[captainspud]

R-O-R-S-C-H-A-C-H

[Ajax]

Christain Bale. In the batman series he looks like a weakling when he plays Bruce Wayne but menacing as Batman. Actually Viggo Mortensen would be a great Rorschach.

[Uncle Yuan]

For me the tough one is Rorshack... how many terribly menacing yet totally loser looking people are there out there?

William H. Macey?

[Jakew]

Apparently this guy was tipped for the Rorschach role: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355097/

[Protomorph]

Apparently this guy was tipped for the Rorschach role: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355097/

I don't really know this actor, but he looks to me like Spider Jerusalem.

[El Condor]

I strongly agree that Rorschach needs to be played by a less-known actor, for one specific reason:

[spoiler]
During the climax, a major dramatic moment occurs when Rorschach rips off his mask, thus revealing his human face just before his demise.  I can't imagine the movie skipping this moment.  If the actor was too famous, the effect would be completely destroyed by the inevitable "Oh my God, Rorschach is Adam Sandler!!!" (or whoever it is) reaction by the audience.  The viewer must be struck by a face whose nooks and crannies he/she does not know if this moment is to succeed. [/spoiler]

As for Keanu Reeves playing Dr. Manhattan, I believe that would be a fatal error. He does "detached and wooden" just fine, but Dr. Manhattan's character is filled out by that touch of sensitive humanity that is always present just behind his eyes, sort of Mr. Spock or Data style.  Whenever Reeves is called on to bring that sort of sympathetic side in a believable way, he usually just comes off as ridiculous. Manhattan's role is so critical to the mood and tone of the ending, and I have no faith in Reeves being able to pull of the acting required here. 

However, Jude Law as Adrien?  That's a bull's-eye!  :thumbup:

EC

[GrizzlyBearTalon]

I strongly agree that Rorschach needs to be played by a less-known actor, for one specific reason:

[spoiler]
During the climax, a major dramatic moment occurs when Rorschach rips off his mask, thus revealing his human face just before his demise.  I can't imagine the movie skipping this moment.  If the actor was too famous, the effect would be completely destroyed by the inevitable "Oh my God, Rorschach is Adam Sandler!!!" (or whoever it is) reaction by the audience.  The viewer must be struck by a face whose nooks and crannies he/she does not know if this moment is to succeed. [/spoiler]

As for Keanu Reeves playing Dr. Manhattan, I believe that would be a fatal error. He does "detached and wooden" just fine, but Dr. Manhattan's character is filled out by that touch of sensitive humanity that is always present just behind his eyes, sort of Mr. Spock or Data style.  Whenever Reeves is called on to bring that sort of sympathetic side in a believable way, he usually just comes off as ridiculous. Manhattan's role is so critical to the mood and tone of the ending, and I have no faith in Reeves being able to pull of the acting required here. 

However, Jude Law as Adrien?  That's a bull's-eye!  :thumbup:

EC

In regaurds to your spoiler...

[spoiler]I totally agree. Especillay since we see Rorschach forced to reveal his face quite a bit earlier than that in the story as well in a moment just as pivotal (at least for character development). Whenever he gets captured by the police. Which happened about halfway through the series. It is important that his face be less-known during that part as well, after all the police are suprised that he is such a small runty looking man to be the "terror of the underworld." I wouldn't be surprised if while he is in Rorschach regalia that he is not made a bit more imposing physically. I imagine the movie will buff him up a bit more than just some lifts in his shoes, maybe some shoulder pads or something in his trenchcoat as well.[/spoiler]

So make that two specific reasons, heh.

[El Condor]

Whoops! Yeah, forgot about that "earlier" thing.  Shows how long it's been since I dusted off my old, well-worn copy.  :P

EC

[detourne_me]

For me the tough one is Rorshack... how many terribly menacing yet totally loser looking people are there out there?

William H. Macey?

i wholeheartedly agree

[BentonGrey]

'Nah, too old, plus I've never seen him threatening.  I think Norton would work much better.

[Jakew]

You also need a no-name as Rorschach just to make it a bit more of a suprises that


:spoiler: :spoiler: :spoiler:

the 'prophet of doom' and Roscharch are the same guy, and that a minor background character is in fact one of the major characters. I think if William H Macy was in the role, the audience would expect him to play some importance in the story.

[lugaru]

Im a HUGE William H Macy fan and I think he would be terrifying (he can really be stern and creepy in some roles) but age could hipothetically be a factor. The guy from Little Children has potential too, I enjoyed the movie (on a trashy novel level) and he turned in a great performance.

[Bujin]

Apparently this guy was tipped for the Rorschach role: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355097/

I don't really know this actor, but he looks to me like Spider Jerusalem.

He was a terrific teen actor in the original Bad News Bears and in Breaking Away.  He just got quite of bit of airtime for Little Children - I think that's great casting.

[BentonGrey]

I don't know, he doesn't really look right to me....but I'm open to his doing a good job.  It deffinetly helps that he's not well known.

[Ajax]

Only person who can play Spider Jerusalem is Patrick Stewart.

They need Viggo Mortensen to play one of the roles. He is by far one of the best actors working today and I think he can pull off any role.

[GrizzlyBearTalon]

Now that I think about it any actor that plays him might get some ugly work done to em from the makeup & special fx departments. None of these guys are really naturally ugly enough for Rorschach. So they may not be so easily recognizable to throw off the scenes and overshadow the character. Look at Marv in Sin City for example.

[psychopanda]

William H. Macey?

Great actor and the perfect looks. Whomever said he wasn't menacing, hasn't seen "Edmond".

Only one problem...I can't picture his distinctive voice as Rorschach. Whomever they cast in the role...99% of the character is going to be the voice.

As for Keanu as Dr Manhattan....don't get me started....

[Zippo]

According to IGN, Keanu has turned down the offer to play Dr. Manhattan. Joyous day!

[Panther_Gunn]

According to IGN, Keanu has turned down the offer to play Dr. Manhattan. Joyous day!

This was obviously made possible by the same god that made sure that the Nick Cage - Superman movie got shelved. 

[El Condor]

According to IGN, Keanu has turned down the offer to play Dr. Manhattan. Joyous day!

There is a God!  :lol:

EC

[bredon7777]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33045

Jason Patric as Dr. Manhattan is an improvment, albeit a marginal one. Its like going from someone who is 100% wrong for the part to someone who is 99.99% wrong for the part.

Jackie Earle Haley is a large mistake for Rorschach. I saw Little Children and while it gave me great confidence he could play creepy and pathetic, it gives me no confidence that he can play creepy and menacing, which is what Rorschach is.

The article seems to heavily impy that its Thomas Jane (or John Travolta) being considered for the role of the Comedian. Either choice works ok for me- or hell, both. I think Travolta would make a fine modern Comedian and Jane could play him in flashbacks.

[Ajax]

The article seems to heavily impy that its Thomas Jane (or John Travolta) being considered for the role of the Comedian. Either choice works ok for me- or hell, both. I think Travolta would make a fine modern Comedian and Jane could play him in flashbacks.

Thought they already cast Ron Pearlman as The Comedian?

[stumpy]

I thought the article might be implying that Dolph Lundgren might be The Comedian...

BTW, if the article is correct that "Keanu priced himself out of the film", then I am making a toast to greed. I will also suggest the Keanu double his asking price for any other films he is offered.  :P