Tuesday 11 March 2014

Casting Call for "Ceremony"

Some years ago (2008, in fact), I did a "casting call" for my self-published book The Tragical Tale of Aelianus of England. B.A. suggested Timothy Spall for Aelianus, which was rather naughty of him, but made me laugh, and the rest is history, i.e. the destruction of my career as a Professional Single.

Well, yesterday it occurred to me that it would be fun to ask all those who have read Ceremony of Innocence to cast the major characters, or your favourite characters. Personally I stumped for a German actor to play Dennis as cutie-patootie Daniel Bruehl is too old. I like the idea of Laura Linney as Cat, but she is also too old. Cat is about thirty-three, so we're looking at someone born around 1981--an actress (why do people hate that word?) past her Juliet days, but not really old enough for Lady Capulet. Keira Knightley was born in 1985, but...too gorgeous?

I have a theory that Cat is much better looking than she lets on, though. And Keira Knightley does moody very well. But is there a very young actor out there who is even more handsome than Keira K to play Dennis? The mind boggles.

16 comments:

Ally said...

Considering this is a fictitious call, I think casting people at a younger age than they are now is completely doable... (My dream casting of Harry Potter involves finding a TARDIS to go back and get 37 year old Alan Rickman to play Snape because he was perfect other than being way too old for the part)

Nzie said...

I think you could also go a bit older. What about Amy Adams? She's in her late 30s but I think she looks older. She plays characters with a lot of depth, and also has a bit of an interesting religious background herself (left Mormon church).

Also: Rachel McAdams, Karen Gillan (who is a bit young but actually Scottish).

Not super my type, but what about the younger Hemsworth brother? He's about the right age. Or Matthew Lewis- everyone was shocked at how handsome he'd grown up to be in the 8th Harry Potter movie.

Nzie said...

and by Amy Adams looks "older" I meant "younger." Oops.

Seraphic said...

Poor Alan Rickman. He looks really terrible with his hair dyed black. On the other hand, maybe that was the point.

Amy Adams isn't tragic enough. A young Amy Adams would make a good Suzy. I shall now google the Hemsworths and Matthew Lewis.

Seraphic said...

Neville, is that YOU!?

Nzie said...

I know, right? Although apparently they put him in a fat suit and some prosthesis for the beginning HP.

I think Amy Adams can do tragic. Google the trailer for Sunshine Cleaners. The actresses I'd like for Catriona are a bit too old technically, but since they all look younger than they are (or could be made to look so easily) maybe it'd work.

What about Emily Blunt? She's a good actress and the right age.

When she was younger, Carey Mulligan would have been a good choice for Suzy - she seemed very innocent in Bleak House. Maybe Georgie Henley (Lucy in the new Narnia movies)? She's blossomed into quite a lovely girl, still very fresh-faced. I'd almost suggest Emma Watson but she seems very smart, and while Suzy wasn't dumb, I'm not sure I'd buy someone like Emma Watson being so naive.

Jam said...

Ooh, Emily Blunt seems like a good choice for Cat. She's pretty but in a more "normal" way; I think with the right (wrong) hair and makeup she would be convincing as a beautiful woman who doesn't think she's beautiful and is accordingly schlubby. Plus, Blunt conveys "hard as nails" well.

Anonymous said...

Sam Claflin or Max Irons for Dennis.

Anamaria said...

Emily blunt as cat! If a young Daniel breuhl isn't allowed, both Sam claflin and Max irons look the part to me, but I've never seen them act. A young Carey mulligan seems perfect for suzy, but otherwise maybe Ginny Weasely? Pretty and innocent looking.

Julia said...

Nzie, I think Liam Hemsworth might be a bit too Aussie to play Dennis. Don't know how he'd go with a German accent (or speaking German!)

Having said that, I'm about to suggest three Australian actresses for the role of Cat: Claudia Karvan, Justine Clarke or Asher Keddie. They're all in their early forties though. And they are not known outside Australia and New Zealand.

Seraphic said...

Emily Blunt would be great! Max Irons isn't baby-faced enough although he is certainly handsome.

Well, since nobody has been demanding film rights yet---as far as I know!--we could settle for the fantasy of a young Daniel Bruehl. He is certainly a baby-faced cutie, a German of mixed ethnicity and a fine actor. Not as drop-dead gorgeous as our dear Dennis though.

Seraphic said...

Too many wrinkles on Sam Claflin. How can someone born in 1986 have lines like that?!

Who is the very latest actually-talented graduate of boy bands? We may have to start looking among the boys born in the 90s.

Seraphic said...

Georgie Henley would be perfect for Suzy!

Nzie said...

Okay, I'm feeling pretty good with 2/3 main characters. But I'd like a trifecta, so instead of a job application, I just spent 20 minutes looking for people.

I've come up with Jeremy Irvine for Dennis. He is quite good looking and 23.

Now I'm trying to think of who for Dennis' sister.

Seraphic said...

I shall have to look up Jeremy Irvine. I'm about 20 years behind on young male actors. I can list off all the guys who were in my friend Tina's Tiger Beat magazines in 1984: River Phoenix, Matt Dillon, John Stamos, Tommy Howell, Ralph Macchio (sp?)... Amazingly, I never did see "The Outsiders".

Seraphic said...

Oooh. That would be THIRTY years behind. Ooooo....