Whoa, you must really like Rules of Attraction. You'd cast both Van Der Beek AND Kip Pardue. I'm suprised you didn't suggest Jessica Biel play Catwoman lol.
Well, yeah, lol. And Jessica Biel would definitely be nice to stare at as Catwoman, but I don't think she could pull something like that off. None of the actresses from 'Rules' could, really, even though all of them are good.
I understand why, after Jake miraculous found the perfect picture to use to suggest it, everyone is all of a sudden so high on Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a good replacement as the Joker. He looks ALOT like Heath Ledger, especially if he were in Joker make-up. But personally, not only do I not think that he has the name recognition to bring to the film (most people I know still go "Hey it's the kid from 3rd Rock), but I really don't see him bringing the right stuff to the role. Granted, I haven't seen a whole lot of his stuff (gimme a break, there's hardly an indie cinemaplex around here, and I stopped getting IFC over a year ago). Everything I've seen him in is as a good guy, or some sort of protagonist. Every role I've seen of his, I can't help but feel this charm emanating from him, this likability, that I don't think he would be able to shake off while playing the Joker. Please, if anyone can direct to a performance of his that proves otherwise, please do so.
Well, I've been a Joseph Gordon-Levitt fan for quite some time now. I never watched 3rd Rock from the Sun, but I saw both "Manic" and "Mysterious Skin" back in 2005, and both were fantastic. And then, "Brick" is one of the greatest high school movies ever made, in my opinion, and "The Lookout" was my personal Movie of the Year for 2007. So, you can see, that's he's done a lot of shit these past few years to make me a fan.
As far as his name value you goes... trust me, by the time the next Batman film is released, he'll be a draw by then. He's in the new GI Joe movie, which is of course going to be huge, has an assassination role in a Tarantino produced movie called "Killshot" (though, the release date keeps getting pushed back for some reason), he's going to be playing Leonardo DiCaprio's sidekick in a action movie called "Akria", and he has a couple of other leading roles in the future as well, both indie and mainstream.
And as far as him playing a villain, like I said, the "Killshot" film keeps getting pushed fucking back, but he's obviously a bad guy in that, trying to kill Diane Lane. But really the only film where he plays an asshole that has been released already is "Latter Days", though I wouldn't recommend it to you. Theres a lot, a lot, a lot of uncomfortable gay sex in the movie, and that would be okay if the film wasn't so bad, but it is. Levitt plays a Mormon who you know... doesn't like gay people, and he's really the only thing watchable in the entire movie. There's a scene in particular where his gay next door neighbor comes looking for one of Levitt's roommates (who is also mormon, but starts getting feelings for this guy) and Levitt is a complete dick to this dude and slams the door in his face. It was my favorite scene in the movie, and probably the best showing you'll get of him being a dipshit in a film thus far.
Really, for such a big film, it is essentially required by the studio, to hire "name" actors. I know that there has been leniency in what qualifies as a "name" actor knowadays, now that production budgets have ballooned to a point where it is simply not in the budget to hire Jack Nicholson in every big movie. But even still, the studio would easily reject Levitt anyway, so why bother putting him in the discussion. I prefer to look at things realistically, and realistically, with the direction the series is taking, the most possible canidate for the role, SHOULD they decide to bring Joker back, would be a "name actor", like Oscar Winner Benicio Del Toro. He'll probably be very exposed after Wolf Man comes out, which will put him in the public eye at right around they time WB's would most likely be casting. OR, if they want someone, closer to Heath's age, to keep the continuity of the film AND the character intact, then maybe someone who as AT LEAST appeared in high-profile films. The first name that pops to mind, in terms of age correlation, exposure and look, would be Nick Stahl. He is 28 now, same age Heath was when he passed, has had roles in both popular fare (Had a supporting role in Sin City, and the lead as John Connor in Terminator 3), critically acclaimed, Academy Award- Nominated films ( a minor role in The Thin Red Line and a lead role in In The Bedroom), starred on HBO's fantastically brilliant, tragically cancelled Carnivale, and has experience playing sadistic psychopaths (Sin City, and the criminally underrated and underseen Bully). And, personally, I think he's got a look that could pass for The Joker.
I'm not a big fan of Benicio Del Toro, but Nick Stahl on the other hand... that wouldn't be so bad thinking about it. I first saw him in "Disturbing Behavior" (which, besides his and Katie Holmes' performance, was a real piece of shit), but it was "Bully" where I became a big fan. He was unbelievable in that movie. He was also great as you mentioned in both In the Bedroom" and "A Thin Red Line". However, I havent seen much from him since then.
"Terminator 3" was okay, I couldn't fully sit through "Sin City" (I know that's an unpopular opinion, but I really couldn't get into that for some reason), and unfortunately, I've never watched "Carnivale" (I've never seen any of HBO or Showtime's shows to be honest, even though I'm sure most of them are quite good).
But yeah, Stahl is a very interesting choice I never thought about. He definitely could work as Joker.
The same applies wit Kip Pardue. Honestly, this is the first time I've ever seen or heard ANYONE name-drop Kip Pardue, for ANYTHING. Honestly, if Edward Norton either said no, or couldn't do it, then the ONLY other actor that I could see as Black Mask is Peter Sarsgaard. Just dye his hair black, and he's perfect. Then again, he's aged rather quickly the last few years, and may not be able to pull off early thirties anymore. He did Garden State, and looked 25. Now, he's 37 and looks... 37. So maybe, if want someone around Bale's age (34, although personally I don't think he looks any older than a very mature 30), I would cast... Zachary Quinto, who is hiding high as the best villain TV right now, and possibly of the past ten to twenty years, the serial killer Sylar on Heroes. He also will be getting further exposure in film, when he plays Spock in JJ Abrahms' Star Trek prequel.
The fact that Kip Pardue hasn't become one of Hollywood's biggest stars yet is a fucking travesty. First of all, Roger Avery's film adaptation of "Glamorama", which I DESERPATELY want to happen, and only want it to happen if Kip is Victor, won't get financed because studio execs don't think Kip as a lead role would draw. But also... the guy IS a great actor and it sucks he hasn't gotten any good roles since "The Rules of Attraction". Fuck, in "Remember the Titans" I thought he stole the show, and it was only his SECOND movie. The fact that Ryan Gosling, who is actually pretty awesome, don't get me wrong, went on to have this marvelous career and Kip gets stuck with bullshit role after bullshit role makes me sick.
Anyway, him as Black Mask... I just think it'll work. The dude has one very evil looking smile, is in great shape, and in my opinion is just an all around great actor who works his ass off and has a deep passion for every role he plays. I just know he could pull it off.
But Peter Sarsgaard is an interesting choice. He was great in both "Boys Don't Cry" and "Jarhead", but I haven't seen much from him outside of that. Good actor though, but I'd still prefer Kip over him.
And I don't know anything about Zachary Quinto, really. I'm terrible at following today's television shows, but speaking of Heroes, if they never bring Batgirl to the series (which I doubt happens, thank God), that Hayden Panettiere (sp?) chick would be real nice to star at in that outfit, lol.
Phillip Seymour Hoffma,, while a great actor, carries himself in a way that I don't think would be fitting for the Penguin. He's very dry, very white, and even though Penguin is ugly in some adaptations, he is someone who has refined taste and is gentlemanly, even if he is sleazy. I look at Hoffman and always jut see a slob. I stand by my choices of either Timothy Spall or Bob Hoskins as Penguin.
I think if I had to choose between Spall or Hoskins, I'd go with Timothy Spall. He was great in Sweeny Todd, and like Jake pointed out earlier, if the Penguin ends up being just some small character where he has no real significance, then I'd definitely cast Spall. But if he does somehow becomes important to the series (which I hope not), then I'd still have to go for Hoffman, just for presence.
I agree with Kate Beckinsale as Catwoman. She's a great actress, she's hot, she's the same age as Christian Bale, she's really hot, she's good at action, she's smoking hot, and she's got the geeky fanboy following from doing Underworld and Van Helsing. AND... she is SO FUCKING HOT!!
Yay! We agree on at least one casting.
I just don't like James Van Der Beek... in anything. I've given him a try, but I just can't stand him. His best role is, like you said, Rules of Attraction, but even then, his performance, which is supposed to be portrayed as depraved, indifferent, removed, is just... wooden.
Well, hey, that's understandable. I know a lot of people hate him because of all the Dawson stuff (which I was actually a big fan of), but I think he's a great actor. I had zero complaints with his portrayal as Sean Bateman, even though I originally thought he was a terrible choice for the role. I think he's really underrated.
Why not do a little bit a off beat casting, go maybe just a little humorous with the Riddler. Jim Carrey was a little over the top, but that was how Joel Schumacher wanted it (moron.) Jim Carrey would be capable of pulling off a much darker, sinister, yet still funny Riddler. However, I would give the ball to a new, up-and-coming star, who I think is good at both comedy and drama- Steve Carell. Sure, he's goofy, but he's capable of great performances. Little Miss Sunshine sold me on him as more than just a comedian. The way he can say a line without even speaking, he can just do it with his face (That's what she said!!). His face in the opening of the film, as he stares out the window, is simply heart-breaking. I think he could pull off a fantastically entertaining, possibly slightly macabre, Riddler. However, should the studio look for more conventional casting choices, someone with a high profile and known for strong perfromances, then I would go with Paul Giamatti. Just because they're "prequels", doesn't mean everyone has to be youthful and good-looking.
Steve Carell is not a bad choice. He was definitely fantastic in "Little Miss Sunshine", but I'm still not sure of him as Riddler.
As I sit here thinking about it, if I were casting this thing, I actually wouldn't give Ver Der Beek the role (I'd definitely consider him for Zsasz though, as I didn't like the James dude from "Batman Begins"), I'd go with Ben Foster. Another highly underrated actor. He's fucking gold in every single thing he does. "Alpha Dog" showed he can play a complete psycho perfectly while also being a little humorous, he was the only good thing about "30 Days of Night", was tremendous in "3:10 to Yuma", etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Plus, just look at the motherfucker. If this following picture doesn't scream "Riddler", then what does?
I wouldn't cast Bane as black neccessarily, although if Ving Rhames can pull off a South American accent, then he'd be perfect. I've always felt that, to do Bane correctly, they'd HAVE to get a big huge Hispanic man to play him, even if that means hiring an unknown actor. ACTOR, not just some big guy they find on the street who has to resort to grunting because his acting sucks so badly. Bane is extremely intelligent, NOT a mindless thug.
Well you see, Rhames is a good actor in my opinion. Really the only good one currently in Hollywood that has such a huge/intimidating appearance. Muscle heads with actual talent is hard to find these days. Just look at WWE, lol.
