Posted by Kirk in Discuss, Fantasy Cast | 169 comments
Fantasy Cast… Who should play Roland Deschain in a ‘The Dark Tower’ movie?
Oh, Stephen King, why are your novels so convoluted and bulky? Â I have this theory that years back King decided he was going to make his books so thick with plot that they would be virtually impossible to adapt to a feature film. Â This is particularly the case with “The Dark Tower”, the seven-book series that King began in 1970 and finished in 2004.
I love “The Dark Tower” series. Â I know many were turned off by the end, and, leading up to the end, the plot got a little too twisty for my taste. Â Nonetheless, I look back on these novels with a deep appreciation and a complete lack of faith that they will ever be turned into a feature film. Â For one thing, no one would finance it. Â Seven books equals seven movies, and these would be hard R-rated movies filled with sex and violence galore.
At the heart of “The Dark Tower” series is Roland Deschain of Gilead. Â He is the last of a long line of “gunslingers”, peacekeepers and diplomats of his world.
King based Roland’s appearance on Leone’s “The Man With No Name”, but Eastwood is clearly too old to play the part. Â In recent years, I thought Viggo Mortensen or Thomas Jane would make a good Roland.
What do you think? Â Let us know by shooting us some comments below as to who you think would make an ideal Roland if “The Dark Tower” ever got put to film.
Also, if you have any ideas for future Fantasy Casts, shoot us an email. Â Our addresses can be found right here!
Rufus Sewell.
Thomas Jane would be optimal as Roland because he plays dark, emotionally challenging characters quite well. That he has also been in two other adaptations of Mr. King’s stories should add to that.
Viggo Mortenson should be Roland
Hugh Jackman – is my choice. He would win women over easily; can play the "muscle" character as in his superhero performance and yet he can dance as Roland did to win the towns people trust over. I would have picked Clint Eastwood – but he's too old and besides I don't think he can dance.
20 years ago Clint would have been the man. I like hugh, and Thomas.
viggo mortenson (aragorn) should play roland
domic monaghan (charlie from lost) should play eddie
zoe sladana (uhura from star trek, 2009) should play susannah/odetta/detta
matthew fox (jack from lost) should play flagg/marten
jeremy irons should play father cllahan
kodi smit-mcphee (the boy from the road 2009) should play jake
i know you only asked for roland, but yeah, thats my ideal cast
Spot on with Viggo. but Dominic and Jeremy as characters? I'm sorry but Eddie HAS to be a New Yorker (or atleast New Jersey) and Father Callahan needs to be no so scary and British.
i agree with eddie but i think daniel day lewis wud b ideal for roland
Roland: Viggo Mortenson
Walter O’dim: Rufus Sewell
Eddie Dean: James McAvoy
Susannah Dean: Vivica A. Fox
I don’t know about everyone else, but I like these choices myself.
Having just seen Terminator Salvation, I'd have to say that Sam Worthington has the best shot at this character. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941777/
theres rumours going around his co-star christian bale is going to get rolands part
and i like the diea of james mcavoy as eddie (i know you didnt say this, but it saves me having to reply twice).
Viggo Mortensen would fit him perfectly in my opinion. When I first read the book, Roland reminded me so much of Aragorn – Dark, mysterious and one of the last of his kind. Viggo would be a great choice if the film was to be adaptated.
nah coz everyone will just think of aragorn. wudnt work.
is there even any news on this screen play?
I have been debating this ever since I heard.. I immediately thought clint eastwood, but alas, he is too old. As much as i love these acors in their other films, I do not want to see viggo or hugh jackman as roland I feel Joaquin Phoenix or as a long shot, john travolta is more appropriate for this part. I m looking at the brooding, steady contiplative mind of the gunslinger.
for susanah.. how abt halle berry? she is very versitle imagine detta voice from her beautiful face..eerie.
for eddie.. i could see the smart a** druggy from ny played by josh lucas
im sorry but travolta…maybe when he dances the commala lol
Hugh Larie… That's it. No other discussion,,, He's absolutely perfect. It HAS to be him
dude, hugh laurie, thats a really really good idea. i've never seen him in anything else besides house, but if he could pull back the sarcasm, and maybe get a deeper voice… thats the best choice i've seen from anyone.
Jason Isaacs would be perfect for the role of Roland!
Here are some suggestions for roles in the Dark Tower series. Tell me what you think.
Roland DeschainJosh Brolin, James Caviezel, or Thomas Kretschmann,
Eddie DeanBen Foster, Chris Hemsworth, or James Franco
Susannah DeanTaraji P. Henson, Thandie Newton, or Zoe Saldana
Jake ChambersDon’t know
Pere Donald CallahanPeter Weller, James Cromwell, or Gary Busey
Randall FlaggGabriel Byrne, William Hurt, or Javier Bardem
CortDonnie Wahlberg, Cliff Curtis or Mark Rolston
Tick Tock ManMickey Rourke
Eldred JonasSam Elliot
Javier Bardem as the Dark Man. Hell yeah, that would work. That would work really well. But not as good as Willem Dafoe.
Roland, Lords yes, M-O-O-N that spells James Caviezel, that would work well. I like that idea. But Viggo Mortinson is better.
I see Ed Harris as Roland. The blue eyes and weathered face seems perfect.
Roland = Hugh Jackman would make a great Roland.
Eddie = Matt Damon would be ideal for Eddie.
Susannah = Halle Berry would be perfect.
Jake = not sure about him. I would say the kid from Sixth Sense, but he's too old now.
Roland: Daniel Day Lewis
Eddie: Vincent Gallo
Susannah: Halle Berry
Jake: ?
Daniel Day Lewis fits the description of Roland perfectly. Tall, lean, and long. Not to mention the fact that he can portray anything. But that’s just me. I’m actually not a huge fan of Vincent Gallo but he fits the role of a New York junky just by getting out of bed in the morning. I feel like Susannah and Jake could probably be played well by a number of people. As for Hugh Laurie, he’s talented but no gunslinger. No offense.
Personally I think Hugh Jackman would maka a great Eddie (with his long hair style)
But for Roland I´d pick Jeremy Irons too
Halle Berry would do good as Sussanah, I think actually think Beyonce would do great too (Don't laugh for that XD)
Shia LaBeouf could have played Jake, if he was mutch younger.
For Roland I really like the idea of Ed Harris, he would be good. There's also another now famous Daniel "James Bond" Craig, who would be an excellent choice.
I think thats a toss up between ed harris, jeremy irons, or thomas jane. if it wasnt for his age, of coarse, clint eastwood would have been the absolute perfect choice. i think thandie newton is a good choice for susannah. the kid from two and a half men would have been good for jake but i think hes too old too. jake would be hard because of the timeline it would take to make all 7 movies. christian bale would be a good eddie. they should keep james cromwell as father callahan as he played that part well in the recent salems lot. walter/flagg should be played by ray liota
You can't have an actor that's too old to play Roland, the guy's been wandering for longer than he or anyone cares to remember. The folks in river crossing are the only ones that even remember gunslingers at all, and they're old. Besides there's that whole business with his arthritis.
With that in mind these are my picks
Roland Deschain: Clint Eastwood if he's still up to it, Harrison Ford if he's not
Walter O'Dim: Tom Waits, Jack Nicholson, or possibly Brad Pitt (Walter's vain and can change his appearance, why wouldn't he look like Brad Pitt?)
Eddie Dean: I'd go with someone young for eddie, since i'd love for the same guy to play both him and a 17ish cuthbert. Can't for the life of me come up with an actor tho
Jake Chambers: Noah Gray-Cabey (the kid who played Micah on heroes, he should be old enough to play Jake)
Susanah: No strong preference. This is probably b/c she's my least favorite character
Father Callahan: Again, no strong preference.
jake isnt black
Steve Burton no contest is meant to play Roland
I think Daniel Craig and Ed Harris are good choices
ROLAND: Viggo Mortinson definitely my first choice. 2nd choice James Caviezel. 3rd Choice Hugh Jackman.
Eddie: Christian Slater
Jake: Kerin Culkin
Susanah: I don't like her character so I don't care.
THE DARK MAN. Willem Dafoe. There is no one better than Willem Dafoe. In my opinion when J.J. Abrams finally gets around to making these, the success of the On Screen adaptation will hinge on Willem Dafoe. That smiling bastard is perfect.
Roland: Viggo Mortensen, hands down.
Eddie Dean: Ben Foster. (Why would someone suggest Christian Slater? Eddie's not a mid-40s balding guy.)
Susannah: Rutina Wesley (Tara on True Blood) or Zoe Saldana
Jake Chambers: Eli Snyder (young Leonidas in 300 and young Rorscach in Watchmen)
Ted Brautigan: Ed Harris
The Writer: Brad Dourif (Grima Wormtongue in Lord Of The Rings and Doc Cochran on Deadwood)!!! No one else will do, not even the real guy, because let's face it, he's no actor.
Viggo mortensen didn't even pop into my head when I was wracking my brain for someone to play Roland of Gilead, but now I can really see him. The character is not unlike Aragorn, a man born with a destiny to save the world
Roland- hugh jackman or viggo mortenson ( if only clint eastwood were younger)
eddie- james franco or sean william scott
susannah- halle berry or vivica a fox
jake- eli snyder
father callahan- james cromwell
flagg- javier bardem
cort- bruce willis
tick tock man- william dafoe
eldred jonas- sam elliot
susan delgado- anna popplewell
in no way known to the universe would john travolta or joaquin pheonix be able to pull off roland!
Vincent Cassel as Roland.
Eddie mabye lol
ok this is for JJ Abrams, realizing it's going to take a while to make this movie, even if he starts work on the scrip in 2010, the casting might be tricky, here is a list of up and coming actors who I BELIEVE can be these parts, now or in a couple years, the first name for each character is my first choice, the other names are extra thoughts :) most of these guys are picked for acting chops, not too many big names
Roland Deschain: Jon Hamm-i know i know, thats crazzzyyyy! and all that, but I see something in what he is, I think he can do it with distinction.
Stephen Deschain: CLINT
Randall Flagg: Christian Bale, because he can be downright EVIL
Martin: Mike Patton, seriously.
Susannah: Naomie Harris, then next pick, Sanaa Lathan, then kerry washington..close to the right age group, odetta had class, detta had kickass :)
Eddie: Joseph Gordon Levitt, yeah he's scrawny, but he's a smart ass who could do it, if he just COULD NOT do it, i guess i'd try cillian murphy?
Jake? depends on when the movie is being cast, can't say right now, dont know when it's going to happen, hope they get a kid who can act
Alain: lee pace, has the right spirit, or charlie hunam
Cuthbert: Ben Foster i guess, haven't been able to find the right one
Jamie:Emile Hirsch,,,,maybe?
Cort: Ray Winstone, the voice of beowulf c'mon :)
Vanney the Wise: Guy Pearce, total educational counterpart to Cort
Tick Tock: Alexander Skarsgaard
Jack Andolini: James Gandolfini, (and it rythmes)
Balthazar: Jon Stewart, I think of The Faculty Death scene :)
Jack Mort (the Pusher): maybe Tim Roth
Father Callahan: Owen Best
Sheemie: Adrien Brody
Dandelo: Javier Bardem or if it cant happen then Gerard Butler
The Crimson King: dang, this is almost as hard as choosing Roland, he's got to be completely off his rocker and imposing maybe Clancy Brown? off the top of my head, watch the Carnivale show he did for hbo :)
i think that would be a great choice for sheemie, but as pere callahan is older, james cromwell would be a better choice. he did plays father callahan in salem's lot '04. i also agree with your steven, flagg (martin and flagg are the same), susannah, eddie, alain, cuthbert, jamie, cort, tick tock, jack, balthezar, mort, and crimson king. clancy brown is a creepy looking guy. i don't recall who dandelo is right now, but im sure javier could pull it off.
How about Steven Moyer?
my roland is kiefer sutherland…
I never thought about viggo mortensen, but now I can see him and I like it too…
Kevin Smith would make for a good young Stephen King in the film adaptation
I think Hugh Jackman would be good. Same strong features
haley joel osment for jake, without a doubt. he has a boyish face so age isnt an issue.
Walter should be kept as the guy from The Stand. (it is the same on after all through out)
Callahan, again the same guy. easier to imagine (older and in char) than a rookie
Stephen Deschain.. maybe Hugh Laurie
as for the Roland ideas… non fit the bill imo. in all regards, if Clint was up for it id vote him purely for his past AND his age. the amount of CGI required to produce this would enable him to be who he is. after all. Roland is Ageless.
maybe Thomas Jane in "earlier clips"
Charlie Sheen as Eddie. tho mayhap he's to old now
Sussanah – Beyonce, she has the curves and face to fit the bill
i think hhaley joel osment is too old, too tall, and doesn't have the look that jake is described as having in the last of the books
What the hell… I am one of those people who was severely disillusioned by the end of the series, but I just can't resist a little fantasy casting…
Roland: Daniel Craig or Hugh Laurie would be interesting choices, but I still think Viggo Mortensen is a natural for this part. For a longshot, what about Johnny Depp? Seriously, think about it. He loves taking risks… So long as Roland doesn't end up with mascara.
Eddie: James Franco or Bradley Cooper
Susannah: Taraji P Henson
Jake: who cares? pick a kid who can act, and for the love of god, NOT Freddie Highmore.
Randall Flagg/Ageless Stranger: by far the best character King ever came up with, he really should be played by several actors for all of his different incarnations. For the Ageless Stranger, though, I like the idea of Willem Defoe, or, oddly enough, Brad Pitt. Again, a longshot, but he's shown amazing versatility…
Kiefer Sutherland for Roland Deschain. ANYONE who is a fan of 24 and the series will tell you there would be no one better suited.
I've thought a lot like all of you here. Hugh Jackman and Viggo Mortenson are probably tops. Has anyone considered Russell Crowe?
A actor called Robert John Burke really got the face and manners of roland
I made a picture of how I imagine this Ka-tet.
Hugh Laurie as Roland Deschain
Gabriel Union as Susannah Dean (Detta/Odetta)
Zach Braff as Eddie Dead
Jackson Butler as Jake Chambers
Nestor Carbonnel as Randall Flagg
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7293/epickatet.png
Bruce Campbell would be perfect… if he were at least 15 years younger, like this photo
http://www.ugo.com/movies/alternate-endings/image…
i think hes good at the age he is.. if anything a few years older would be better
Tom Jane, Daniel Craig, or Viggo Mortensen would be perfect as Roland, Zoe Saldana as Susannah, and I kind of like James Franco for Eddie. I never would have thought of it but someone else suggested it and it just fits! I have no idea for Jake . . . Oh, and to whomever suggested it – Mickey Rourke as The Tick Tock Man? Brilliant.
I really like Thom Jane for roland
but I also see Timothy Olyphant as well. He just needs contacts
and I also saw Zoe Saldana as suzanna
I love the Idea of James McAvoy as Eddie It's perfect…
stephen moyer
Its gotta be Jim Cavaziel for Roland
I'm thinking Ed Norton for Eddie
Halley Berry maybe for Susannah
how about the actor from american beauty (not kevin spacey), but the weird neighbor. Just saw him Dolan's Cadillac and he was amazing. Never would have though of him for Roland, but after seeing him in Dolan's Cadillac I have changed my mind.
People may not agree with this, but how about Timothy Olyphant! He was good in Deadwood and is doing well in Justified! He seems to have that roll down, he can play a gunslinger.
Roland- Gerard Butler? i don't know, he's too hard to cast. It may be a good idea to use an actor that is not well known so that way you can see them as Roland and not see Jason Bourne, Batman, or Aragorn playing Roland.
Eddie- Eddie Cahill
Susannah- Jada pinkett Smith
Jake- Troye Sivan (young wolverine from X-men Origins)
Walter- Willem Dafoe
Callahan- Jeremy Irons
Sorry to post to such an old topic, but I happened across this and had to share my opinions.
I am so glad to see I am not the only one to think Viggo Mortensen would be a perfect fit for Roland. While it is said that Roland is impossibly old, he'd never described as looking old, just weathered. With that in mind, and after seeing Hildalgo, Appaloosa, and especially Eastern Promises, I can't think of a better person for the role.
I think Jim Caviezel is the one for Roland. Eddie should be Jared Padalecki from supernatural. Suze is definately that kind of witch from Pirates of the Caribbean. Jake should be the kid someone said, the one that played young wolverine, the kid from Star Wars episode I would fit better but he might have grown too much.
roland – timothy olyphant ( i know i am right)
eddie – james franco easily
cort – k. lee ermey (lol)
susannah – zoe saldana (halle and vivica are too old)
martin – willem dafoe (hands down)
jonas – definently sam elliot
jake- kodi smit-mcphee
oh and anna sophia robb as susan