Who wouldn’t love to see a movie or super high end TV series of Warren Ellis and John Cassaday’s Planetary? Anyone who has read the series before knows it would kill, especially in the latter medium (HBO – please develop a huge budget and get on this now). So this week on Multiversity Casting Couch, we got into casting the four Planetary members, their opposite numbers in The Four and, in a twist that will be happening every time going forward, we even targeted the director we would want to bring Ellis and Cassaday’s vision to life.
Check it out after the jump as myself, Matthew Meylikhov and guest writer Jessica Graham put together our dream cast, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The Director – Duncan Jones
Why him?: First off, before you start wondering whether or not you forgot a character in the series named “The Director” I will clear that up: no, there wasn’t one. In a series that featured a main character named “The Drummer” it seems almost like that would be possible, but in this case we mean the person who we would want to bring this story to life. In our minds, there was really only one answer: Duncan Jones.
Jones, in just two features (2009’s “Moon” and this year’s “Source Code”), has established himself as one of the preeminent science-fiction directors in the industry as well as one of the most imaginative minds in the world of film. If Jones couldn’t make this movie work, I’d be hard pressed to suggest anyone else who would be able to.
Elijah Snow – Michael Fassbender
Why him?: We went through a range of names here, but it was only at the last second that Fassbender came up. Sure, some might say he looks too young, but Snow is a Century Baby and with that comes the benefit of greatly slowed aging and limited change in look. Slap some gray hair coloring on Fassbender and you have a man who feels a lot like Snow already. Mysterious, polynational, fiercely intelligent, innately competent, and really, a guy who seems like he could be the world’s greatest archaeologist of the unknown. Out of everyone in the cast, this ended up being the casting we were perhaps most excited about.
Jakita Wagner – Moon Bloodgood
Why her?: On the opposite end, this might have been the one we were least convinced on. Jakita Wagner was an extremely tough role to cast, but ultimately we went with Moon Bloodgood for the spot. Bloodgood has proven that she convincingly plays tough, almost regal types well, and she has the beauty to make her stand out. While we weren’t 100% sold on this casting, we like her here plenty and think she could nail the role. Note: Catherine Zeta Jones circa Entrapment would have killed this role.
The Drummer – Charlie Hunnam
Why him?: As much as we hate going back to the well (we cast Hunnam as Skinner Sweet in last week’s American Vampire casting couch), out of all of the names considered for The Drummer, Hunnam was the best. He’s another guy who we could throw some hair dye on and come up with a convincing looking version of the character, and we have no doubt that Hunnam would be able to nail the immensely amusing and talented technological wunderkind.
Ambrose Chase – Idris Elba
Why him?: Sure, the role of Ambrose isn’t a huge one in terms of theoretical screen time, but come on, can’t you imagine Elba fully suited up in a dashing white number mowing down agents of The Four with his guns blazing and powers warping? So can we. And it would be pretty much amazing.
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Randall Dowling – Vincent Cassel
Why him?: It’s hard to find someone that looks exactly like Dowling, but in terms of capturing the spirit of the character that most vexes Elijah Snow and the rest of the Planetary organization, we love Cassel here. Cassel is someone who has made a career of creating cerebral, duplicitous characters (and the occasional breakdancing cat burglar), and we know he’d make Dowling a force to be reckoned with.
Kim Süskind – Diane Kruger
Why her?: When we were discussing the casting for this, Matt suggested Kruger and said that she might be “too on the nose.” Sure, she’s a little on the nose, but by god that doesn’t mean she isn’t right for the role. She’s got the look, she exudes intelligence, and she seems like the type of actress who could convincingly bring Dowling’s opposite (and in some ways more vicious) number to life. And by god, we’d love to see it happen.
William Leather – Chris Pine
Why him?: Sort of like Elba’s casting, this is a pretty big actor for a pretty small role. But we don’t care – Pine looks pretty similar to Leather and we would love to see the creepy as hell scene of him moving through walls and embodying energy as he shows down against Elijah Snow. It may be a smaller role, but we know Pine would kill it.
Jacob Greene – Stephen Graham
Why him?: Stephen Graham is, in my estimation, one of the most underrated actors out there anymore. You name the movie or TV Show (This is England, The Damned United, Boardwalk Empire, Band of Brothers, etc. etc.), and in every one of them Graham has been a scene stealer whenever he appears. The guy can add weight and humanity to the most reprehensible of characters, and with Greene and the monster he becomes, he’d need to bring his A game. We have no doubt he would.
