On this week’s edition of Multiversity Casting Couch, we’ll be taking a look at Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque’s Vertigo Comics series American Vampire. This series has been one of our favorites since day one, and it has continued to get better and better with each passing month.
However, our casting couch will be looking at the first arc of this book, in particular the “Big Break” portion that was written by Scott Snyder (the first arc also had a Stephen King penned section called “Bad Blood”). Click through the jump to find who myself, Matthew Meylikhov, Josh Mocle and guest writer Jessica Graham would cast in the main roles assuming we had unlimited budget and pull in Hollywood. Because let’s face it – we do.
Pearl Jones – Carey Mulligan
Why her?: Pearl is the center of the story, with her being the sun of the galaxy of “Big Break.” She’s a young, wannabe actress who is trying to make her way in Hollywood through a mix of charm, sass and talent, as well as a good heart to her character. While we discussed a few other names, we felt that Mulligan (Drive, An Education) was the perfect actress to carry this story with her blend of personal resolve and innocence – plus, we’d watch anything with her as the lead.
Skinner Sweet – Charlie Hunnam
Why him?: This was the most hotly contested role of the lot (names like Josh Holloway and Jeremy Renner were heavily in the mix the whole time), but when we get down to it we felt that Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy, Green Street Hooligans) could handle the titular American Vampire the best. The role is all savvy scoundrel on the surface blended with a creature of pure id just underneath. He’s a monster, but such a lovable one, which is a character description Hunnam has long proven himself at being adept at. Note: in our film version, Skinner’s role would be bulked up a bit.
Henry Preston – Charlie Cox
Why him?: I’m not going to lie, when we were discussing this role someone suggested Charlie Cox and I was immediately sold. Why? I’m a huge fan of Stardust, and really any time Cox shows up in any film or TV show. With Henry Preston being Pearl’s rock, the only person she knows she can trust due to his infallible goodness (he’s also a good musician!), you need someone who just exudes goodness. Cox is that person, even if he is busy being a person who solves problems on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.
Hattie Hargrove – Gemma Arterton
Why her?: Hattie was one of the tougher roles to cast simply because there was no easy answer, but Tamera Drewe’s Gemma Arterton came out on top because she seems like she’d be able to handle the “best friend ’til she’s your worst enemy” role as well as anyone. Watching her and Carey Mulligan as best friends would be as believable as it would be to see them at each other’s throats, and it’s something we’re dying to see.
B.D. Bloch – Daniel Day Lewis
Why him?: The first arc is somewhat lacking in a true major villain. It’s as much about Pearl becoming what she is meant to be as it is about her struggling about anyone, but if anyone is the lead villain it is movie producer/vampire/bad dude B.D. Bloch. While the role would need to be beefed up because we need more villainy all up in this movie, we knew from the get go that Daniel Day Lewis – one of the greatest actors of any generation – would eat this role alive. We know he can play a great, hugely successful sociopath (see: Gangs of New York, There Will Be Blood), and this role could be the cherry on his psycho sundae.
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Chase Hamilton – Jon Hamm
Why him?: Sure, the movie doesn’t really need a big actor to play the rather generic (and stupid) leading man from the film Pearl is working on. But come on, how fun would it be to see a mustachioed Jon Hamm getting himself in way too deep with an evil sect of vampires/producers and having to use his seduction techniques (which are mostly based around the promise of film roles to starlets plus smiling) to get them a meal? You know he’d kill it, especially because Hamm has such a spot on movie star look and because he’s excellent at extracting every ounce out of every moment. It’d be a scene stealer for sure.
Plus, he stands to be the only American in our cast of “American Vampire.”
