After a break, I’ve decided to discontinue the Smallville reviews for the time being and focus on something a little more fun. Every day, it seems a new comic book property has been optioned for film, and with that comes speculation: who will play our favorite characters? Sometimes we’re happy with the decision (Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark), other times we’re not sure until we see it (the obviously brilliant Heath Ledger as The Joker), and then sometimes we’re left scratching our heads (so many names belong here, but I’ll pick on Eric Bana as Bruce Banner). Well, I’m going to take it on myself to do the producers jobs for them and get some great actors to play out favorite characters.
My first column focuses on one of my favorite series’ at the moment, Chew! These are just my opinions, so if you have a better idea, let me know in the comments or on the forums! Now without further ado, the casting couch beckons!
For the role of the titular Tony Chu, you need a few things. First off, you need someone Asian. Shocking, I know! But other than that, you need someone who can handle the comedic and horrific aspects of being a Cibopath. Well, if LOST is any indication, Ken Leung (Miles Straume) would be PERFECT for the role. We’ve already seen him play comedic, sparring with Hurley over the finer points of talking to the dead or time travel, he can bring laughs.
But most importantly, the intensity he shows when he’s channeling the dead on the show is perfect for Tony, who has a unique ability of his own. His talents would balance with the character perfectly, creating a new character for people to root for. Why not?
John Colby – Josh Holloway
Yes, you might have noticed that the two leads are both partners on LOST. But they both have a great chemistry on the show, and they can both play off each other really well. So why not? Plus, I hear the ladies think he’s pretty, so why not add some beefcake for them? Even if he’ll be a Cyborg in the sequel. Prettiest Cyborg ever?
Mason Savoy — John Goodman
You need a larger than life, boisterous man to play such a larger than life antagonist (spoilers?). Who better than one of the best larger actors in the game, John Goodman? Give him a beard and blammo! Instant Mason. As a fan of John Goodman, I can’t think of any better actor.
Amelia Mintz — Sarah Michelle Gellar
Amelia Mintz, the love interest in the book, is a strong, independent reporter who has a unique gift, probably more so than Tony and Mason, since she can cause reactions as opposed to experiencing the history of any given food. And there’s only one woman I think can handle the screen with such other heavyweights and not get lost in the shuffle. Personally, as someone who sucks on the teat of Joss Whedon and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I see SMG as having enough screen presence to compete with such luminaries, while also being able to elevate anyone else in the scene.
Chow Chu — Keone Young
As someone whose been a supporting character in the Chew world since it started (only 10 issues admittedly), you need someone who can play the role while not calling TOO much attention to himself. This is where longtime character actor Keone Young comes in. He’s been “that Asian Guy” in a lot of movies and TV shows for a long time. So much so I had to Google his role in the movie North before I even knew his name! He also seems to have the right look for the character, and has talent to boot. He might be a little old, but odder things have happened.
