Casting call. Trust me on this one.

It's a magnificent debate to find one's self in. Who should play who in the live action version of your most treasured cartoon, comic, or book? These choices essentially decide whether an adaptation works or doesn't. Would Iron Man have been the success it was without RDJ? No. Not even kind of. He didn't just embody the role, the he defined it. His charisma, presence, and total lack of predictability elevated the film to a different level than simply a fun superhero flick. It's a welcome and overdue practice- casting, not necessarily A-list talent, but real talent in films that would typically be considered superfluous. Hulk, while not anything near the movie Iron Man was, still rocked the casting, so at least all the moments between the characters were full, interesting, compelling. Same with Hell Boy, with the new Batman franchise- the casting is so beyond important, it's not to be believed. And here comes Captain America.



Now, anyone who's spoken to me about this knows that, as far as I'm concerned, there is only one man who was born to play this role, and his pal Sundance came in as a close second.

From All Things Fangirl

However, Paul Newman is, tragically, no longer with us, and so we must look elsewhere. And I’m lookin’ at Patrick Wilson.

You may recognize Pat from such rollicking good times as Little Children,Hard Candy, and the action-adventure rollercoaster The Phantom of the Opera, in which he had long Fabiotastic hair and jacked King Leonidas’s chick like it weren’t no thang. Oh, and he’s also playing a lead role in the film adaptation of Alan Moore and David Gibbons’ graphic novel Watchmen, playing Niteowl the second. So, why would he be a good Cap?

From All Things Fangirl

He has the look. American, could be an everyman, but stand-up and demonstrably built. Capable of being charming, dashing, hard- a real leading man. Not that he really plays leading men, he usually plays deviants or emotionally damaged failures, or… you know, failed superheroes who can’t get it up. But! But. He’s got the chops. His range and power as an actor are indisputable. He’s also masterful at changing on screen. Hard Candy is a wonderful example of this- the presence he exudes changes wholly from the beginning of the film to the end. I can’t wait to see the journey he takes in Watchmen. Patrick would tackle Steve Rogers with gravity and skill, and he’d look good doing it.

From All Things Fangirl

Another option is Cheyenne Jackson.

From All Things Fangirl

You’d have to blondify the hell out of him, but once done, he’d make an excellent, if rather young, Cap. He’s a stage actor, so he’d be great at physicality, but I’m not sure they’d want to take the chance on handing him a franchise like this when he hasn’t really done anything at this level before.

From All Things Fangirl

Then again, of all the issues Superman Returns may have had, Brandon Routh was not one of them. So there’s points in the unknown’s category. And that’s pretty much where I’m at with Captain America. No Eckhart, no Pitt, NO CRAIG. I worship at the altar of Daniel “Walking Personification of Sex” Craig more than most, but I don’t think he’s right for Cap. I think he’d rock the shit out of it, but I don’t think this is the role for him. Not now. Anyway, I want more Bond.

Moving right along, a casting call of infinite more import. So, not to hate on Keanu Reeves, but I’m sick to fucking shit of Keanu Reeves. And I like the guy, but I swear to God. This Cowboy Bebop buzz is killing my soul.

If you’re not a CBBP fan, you probably haven’t seen the show, because if you’ve seen the show, you essentially have no choice but to be a fan. Suffice it to say, I am one. Now, if you’re not a CBBP fan, it’s entirely possible you don’t know that its been optioned, and that the man who optioned it is Keanu Reeve’s manager, and producer of such films as Constantine. Based off a comic. Starring Keanu Reeves. Hollywood, we have a problem.

From All Things Fangirl

There is only one person alive in this industry capable of portraying Spike Spiegel, the tragic hero of CBBP, and that man, ladies and gentlemen, is- not Keanu Reeves, twelve years too old and several leagues short of major, in this instance- Lee Pace. Yes, the piemaker prince, the tall, gangly rascal with that marvelous smile. Aside from being as close to picture perfect as humanly possible, he’s a phenomenal actor. He has range, style, charisma, charm, and the perfect smile.

Sigh.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

From All Things Fangirl

From All Things Fangirl

IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE. Through his impressive myriad of roles, Pace has demonstrated an ability to go everyplace Spike does in the course of the series. The cockiness, the determination, the shiftless layabout and the significantly darker side of things, in The Fall and Infamous. And the whole time he exudes irascible charm, from every pore.

We'll see if God has an interest in film or not when the CBBP live action film gets a greenlight and the cast is announced.