Dark Tower Movie: Who would you cast?

[Khayyinn]

I recently turned my new bride on to Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I read it to her every night and we are currently nearing the end of Drawing of the Three. Tonight we got into a discussion about if we were to cast the Dark Tower movie who would we cast?

Based only on the first two books (since that's all she's read) Here is our casting:

Roland: (This one had the most discussion as can be expected.)
Runners-up: Hugh Jackman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0413168/), Russell Crowe (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000128/), James Caviezel (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001029/)
Winner: Viggo Mortensen (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/)

Man in Black:
Runner-up: Richard Roxburgh (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0746896/)
Winner: Gary Oldman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000198/)

Eddie Dean:
Winner: Brad Pitt (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/)

Odetta/Detta: (This one was the hardest for us)
Winner: Khandi Alexander (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0018554/)

Jack Mort:
Winner: Johnny Depp (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000136/)



*RULES*

1. Must be a current actor at their current age. While I think a younger Clint Eastwood (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000142/) would be perfect for Roland, he's way too old now.
2. PLEASE don't turn this into a should they make the movie or not thread. Assume the movie will be absolutly perfect once you cast the roles.
3. You may continue to cast the later books as well. We only did the first two since that's as far as my bride has gotten.
4. Have Fun!

[Tengu]

You know, Roland was rather old. Clint Eastwood wouldn't be such a bad choice.

[....]

You know, Roland was rather old. Clint Eastwood wouldn't be such a bad choice.

I had this same idea. Include some of the tech they used to make Patrick Stewart look younger in X-Men and I think it could work nicely. Barring that, I think that Heath Ledge might actually make a pretty decent Roland.

I see could see Edward Norton playing Eddie. Give him the right hair and an accent and he'd be fine.

I don't know how old Haley Joel Osment is, but I think he'd be an alright Jake.

James Woods as the Man in Black.

Sam Elliot as Stephen Deschain, Roland's dad. Or, if not him, then Sam Elliot as Eldred Jonas.

[Swordguy]

Stephen King as gone on record saying that Roland is basically Clint Eastwood. Roland is "timeless", so I'm not sure how Clint's age would affect that. Viggo isn't a bad choice, but he doesn't scream "Roland!" to me. I'm not sure who would, though. Nobody I can think of has that much "weight" on thier shoulders, y'know? Maybe Sam Shepard. he's got the acting chops for it.

I agree completely with Gary Oldman for the MiB/Flagg/etc. Ditto for Khanti Alexander. Good call there.

Brad Pitt as Eddie Dean?! That feels like you're going for name recognition over acting. I almost want to see Jake Jake Gyllenhaal do it.

[Winterwind]

For Roland, I'd suggest the guy who played Commander Sinclair in the first season of Babylon 5, what's his name? Ah, right, Michael O'Hare.
Because he had a certain aura of spirituality, calmness, I am not sure how to describe it best... he literally seemed to radiate determination and confidence, precisely as I would expect Roland to.

[Telonius]

Initial cast...

Roland, for those of you who've read the whole series:

Stephen King

:smallamused:

Otherwise, Ewan McGregor. With the right makeup and costuming, he could work really well. Roland is an extremely subtle role, and he's got the range to do it.

The Man in Black: Alan Rickman (Runner up: Gary Oldman)
Jack Mort:... hard to say. Gotta be normal enough to be creepy, creepy enough to be normal. Depp's as good a pick as any. Matt Damon as a runner up, maybe?

[Khayyinn]

Brad Pitt as Eddie Dean?! That feels like you're going for name recognition over acting. I almost want to see Jake Jake Gyllenhaal do it.

First off I actually think Brad Pitt is a good actor. I thought of him as nothing more than a pretty boy when he first came on the scene, but roles like the ones he did in Se7en (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114369/), Twelve Monkeys (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114746/), Meet Joe Black (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119643/), and Snatch (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0208092/) (among many others) have made me change my initial impression of his ability.

My choice of Brad Pitt comes from watching The Mexican (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0236493/). That's almost exactly what my mind pictures Eddie to be like. (Your mental image may be different.)

Though Gyllenhaal might not be a bad choice, I've not seen him in much so I'm not too familiar with his acting ability.

[Winterwind]

During the second book, where Eddie is introduced as a junkie, I pictured him kinda like Edward Norton (based upon his performance in Fight Club). Might actually work for the rest of the series as well.

[Darken Rahl]

Khandi doesn't have NEAR the acting chops for Detta. She'd end up calling everyone sweety, sweetheart, and talking at a snail's pace like she does on CSI.

Blech.

Give me Gina Torres for 800, Alex.

[Khayyinn]

Khandi doesn't have NEAR the acting chops for Detta. She'd end up calling everyone sweety, sweetheart, and talking at a snail's pace like she does on CSI.

Blech.

Give me Gina Torres for 800, Alex.

I actually don't watch CSI so was basing my thoughts on Khandi off when she used to be on ER. Like I said this one waas a difficult choice for me since I couldn't think of any actresses that fit both the attitude and looks of how I picture Detta/Odetta/Susannah.

I can't believe I totally blanked on Gina Torres (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868659/) though, seeing as how Firefly is one of only two TV shows I ever thought was great enough to own. Good choice. I hereby change my vote.

[....]

What about Cuthbert and Alain?

I could almost see Owen Wilson as Bert, if he was just a better actor.

And how about the Crimson King? I suppose he'd be CG, but a voice actor for him would be cool (and hopefully a movie would change the final confrontation between the King and Roland to be something less...meh).

[Om]

During the second book, where Eddie is introduced as a junkie, I pictured him kinda like Edward Norton (based upon his performance in Fight Club). Might actually work for the rest of the series as well.I have the same junkie image of Eddie. Norton or McGregor would work well there.

[valadil]

This is probably just me, but I pictured Eddie a little more perky and fun than the rest of you did. Ed Norton is awesome, but he's just so down all the time. At least for me.

This isn't an actual suggestion, just a little bit of trivia. WWF's Undertaker character was inspired by Roland. Apparently when he was being recruited, Mark Callaway was reading the Gunslinger and really liked the image of relentless badass from the old west. Naturally this piece of trivia is something I drudged up on the 'net somewhere and can't remember where, so I won't even pretend to be able to validate it, but it makes me happy anyway.

[....]

This is probably just me, but I pictured Eddie a little more perky and fun than the rest of you did. Ed Norton is awesome, but he's just so down all the time. At least for me.

This isn't an actual suggestion, just a little bit of trivia. WWF's Undertaker character was inspired by Roland. Apparently when he was being recruited, Mark Callaway was reading the Gunslinger and really liked the image of relentless badass from the old west. Naturally this piece of trivia is something I drudged up on the 'net somewhere and can't remember where, so I won't even pretend to be able to validate it, but it makes me happy anyway.


Eddie is perky and fun, but not while he's dragging Roland's dying *** across a beach that gets covered in giant lobstroities everynight and is almost dying from heroin withdrawal.

Later on yes, he'd be more cheerful; but Norton can be cheerful and charming too. I pick him because he can do both roles well.

And Roland would kill the Undertaker before the bastard had a chance to blink.

[valadil]

And Roland would kill the Undertaker before the bastard had a chance to blink.

I should hope so. Pistols beat steel folding chairs every time :-P

[Telonius]

Father Callahan: Clint Eastwood.