This past week Television Business International ran an article indicating that the IFC network would be producing a 2 hour pilot of Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series with Lionsgate. An excerpt of the original post is shown below. LKH first announced a media deal had been made at Dragoncon at the end of the summer.So if the series actually comes to pass who would your fantasy cast be to play the key characters?
Here are my picks - for Anita (Scarlett Johannson with hair dyed of course), Jean Claude (Kyle Schmid because he worked so well as Henry Fitzroy in Blood Ties) and Richard (Josh Duhamel).
What are yours?
Leave a comment about any of the main or supporting characters from early or later Blake.
Ronnie Manny Edward Zerbrowski Dolph Bert Jason Asher Micah Nathaniel Damian
Lionsgate to produce Anita Blake for IFC
27/10/08
US cable network IFC has commissioned Lionsgate to make a two hour sci fi pilot based on vampire novel Anita Blake.
The series, which is based on a series of erotic fantasy books by Laurell K Hamilton, is set to be executive produced by X-Files and Final Destination producer Glen Morgan.
Craig Cegielski, EVP, programming and sales, Lionsgate International Television, told TBIvision that the Rainbow Media-owned broadcaster will air the two hour pilot next year, before deciding whether to order a full season. "It's a sexier Buffy The Vampire Slayer," he says.
I'd pick Cote de Pablo for Anita Blake. Here's the picture that first made me picture her in the role.
ReplyDeletehttp://relliott4.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/anita.jpg
I'd say Stuart Townsend for Jean Claude, but he's already been Lestat in queen of the damned, I could see Audrey Tautou as Anita
ReplyDeletehttp://files.blogter.hu/user_files/3295/celebz/audrey_tautou_009.jpg
Hey those are both excellent choices for Anita. How about Johnny Depp as Jean Claude?
ReplyDeletepurrr, I love Johnny Depp. What about Edward, I think tall, lean and a bit dangerous, but who to play him?
ReplyDeleteI can't really choose anyone in particular. I do think Jason Dohring would make a good Jason, Johnny Depp a good Jean Claude (but he probably wouldn't take the role), and maybe Max Martini as Edward. Now I can hardly wait! I really hope they do decide to make this because I also love Charlaine Harris and the True Blood series is pretty good right now.
ReplyDeleteBased on the success of True Blood I am willing to bet that we will at least get a pilot. With the popularity of that and Twilight people can't seem to get enough of vampires right now.
ReplyDeletehagelrat for Edward how about someone with the same name. I could see a blond Edward Norton playing him.
ReplyDeleteLet me just say, regardless of who they cast, I CAN'T WAIT!!!
ReplyDeleteSalma Hayak for Anita, and (even tho he's older, Hollywood can do wonders with makeup) Antonio Banderas as Jean Claude, with Orlando Bloom as Richard. Halgerat said Stuart Townsend for JC, but I think he would make a good Damian...
No one with a big name is going to do this series. No way. Remember, this is TV. And not even network TV. It is IFC, an indy cable channel that has gone majorly downhill the past year.
ReplyDeleteCan't picture Banderas Jean Claude although I would pay to see him do a French accent.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right Mondo so that's why we called it "fantasy casting" LOL.
Five total casts for Guilty Pleasures already, not much concensus on anyone except Nikolaus (Dakota Fanning). Link is here: http://storycasting.com/work.aspx?id=d60641b0-6d12-43e1-840d-a048e4cbb090
ReplyDeleteJC should be Gilles Marini. He was the naked guy in "Sex & the City" and now he's on DWTS. He's already french!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat about Rose McGowan as Anita Blake. I totally see her playing the roll just after her character in Planet Terror (Grindhouse). Paul Walker as Richard. Jason Lewis (smith Jarred from sex and the city) as Jason. Billy Zane as Jean Claude.
ReplyDeleteHeather I agree that Rose can defintitely do tough chick well enough to pull off Anita Blake. Can't really see Billy Zane as Jean Claude though.
ReplyDeletemegan fox for anita, jonny depp for JC
ReplyDeleteMy fantasy cast - http://storycasting.com/usercast.aspx?id=3e9faa39-7cba-4696-8b38-5b0b5c6a7f23
ReplyDeleteMissy interesting choices. I could live with all of those except your choice for Anita. Dushku just doesn't have the chops to pull that role off.
ReplyDeleteAnita: Kate Beckinsale, or Michelle Rodriguez even though she doesn't have all the physical character traits I think she could portray a good Anita. also Rhona Mitra could do a good job. Also I will say I have seen pictures where Monica Bellucci looks like she could play Anita
ReplyDeleteJean Claude:Jonathan Rhyes Meyers but I could see Kyle Schmid
Edward:Edward Norton
Richard: Jason Behr (specifically the way he looked in Skinwalker) OR
Marcus Schenkenberg
Micah:Chistian Bale (but he is not short enough) Maybe Oliver Martinez
Asher:Brad Pitt (picture him with long hair like in Interview w/ Vampire)or Sebastian Large
Nathaniel:Bartek Borowiec
Jason: Travis Fimmel
Nikolai: Dakota Fanning
Damien: Gaston Willig
Belle Morte: Angelina Jolie(runner up to Anita's character) or Cathrine Zeta-Jones
Raina: Famke Janssen
Reqiuem: Johny Depp
Meng Die: Lucy Lui
Wicked/ Truth: Gerlad Butler and Karl Urban
Larry: Seth Green
Ronnie: Jennifer Aniston
Claudia: Lucy Lawless (younger though)
Rafeal: Antonio Banderez
Zebrowski: Nicholas Brendon
...and there are so many other characters I could match up
i had always thought Cote de Pablo would be a perfect Anita. she just screams bad ass.
ReplyDeleteHey Katie
ReplyDeleteSome real interesting suggestions. Don't think they could get all that talent into one show though.
My picks or agreements with yours are bolded.
Anita: Kate Beckinsale, or Michelle Rodriguez even though she doesn't have all the physical character traits I think she could portray a good Anita. also Rhona Mitra could do a good job. Also I will say I have seen pictures where Monica Bellucci looks like she could play Anita
Jean Claude:Jonathan Rhyes Meyers but I could see Kyle Schmid
Edward:Edward Norton
Richard: Jason Behr (specifically the way he looked in Skinwalker) OR
Marcus Schenkenberg
Micah:Chistian Bale (but he is not short enough) Maybe Oliver Martinez
Asher:Brad Pitt (picture him with long hair like in Interview w/ Vampire)or Sebastian Large
Nathaniel:Bartek Borowiec
Jason: Travis Fimmel
Nikolai: Dakota Fanning
Damien: Gaston Willig
Belle Morte: Angelina Jolie(runner up to Anita's character) or Cathrine Zeta-Jones
Raina: Famke Janssen
Reqiuem: Johny Depp
Meng Die: Lucy Lui
Wicked/ Truth: Gerlad Butler and Karl Urban
Larry: Seth Green
Ronnie: Jennifer Aniston
Claudia: Lucy Lawless (younger though)
Rafeal: Antonio Banderez
Zebrowski: Nicholas Brendon
I would love to see Ryan Reynolds as Richard, Orlando Bloom or Johnny Depp for Jean - Claude and Penelope Cruz or Salma Hayek as Anita Blake!!!
ReplyDeleteI think that Gaspard Ulliel would be perfect for Jean Claude, not only is he french, but mysteriously sexy as well. Also, I think michelle rodriguez would be perfect for Anita.
ReplyDeleteCillian Murphy for Jean Claude. Surprised that no one's said that yet. Anita has to be pretty young but still tough, it might be a good role for Vanessa Hudgens or Selena Gomez to shed their Disney image.
ReplyDeleteI've just watched to first season of True Blood, and loved it. I read the southern vampire booked but like Anita as a heroine much better than Sookie.
I'm thinking it would be a better series than a movie...and my dream directors for this would be the Wachowski brothers (Matrix). The need a good project to redeem themselves and with all the violence this would be just the thing.
If you put Kyle Schmid in as Jean Claude I don't care who takes the other characters, lol.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous interesting choices - I like them all :)
ReplyDeleteericatav712 I dont know Gaspard Ulliel and will have to look him up. As for Michelle Rodriguez, she wouldn't be on my list. I think if she ever smiled her face would break,
Stephanie interesting actor choices. I don;t know the women and will have to look them up too. I love Sookie too but you are right that the archetypal Urban Fantasy heroine is and always will be Anita Blake. I think we would all prefer a series over a movie. Movies tend to dumb things down too much.
Mila Kunis would be an interesting choice for Anita, if she could pull off being a bad ass and could deepen her voice. Her fetures and height are pretty close to what I'd imagine her to be. Just darken the hair and add some Red lipstick and see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, it's just a thought.
Karigan Rider, you're brilliant. I've always thought Cote de Pablo would make a great Anita- but Mila Kunis looks less badass, which is actually a good thing. If you think about it, Anita says quite often how badass people think she isn't because she looks delicate. Doesn't match the packaging, as Burke says. Yes, Kunis would have to work on her voice, but the look is perfect and having seen her in Book of Eli, I think she's shown the beginnings of badassery. Put her in judo a few months and if she doesn't break, she's Anita.
ReplyDeleteFor jean claude I always picture one guy. Paul Telfer. I do have to say a mix between eliza dushku (although she's not a strong enough actor) and cote de pablo would be perfect for Anita. Marc Blucas for richard. And this may sound funny, but it's the bone structure and brooding look he gives; Devon Sawa as Edward.
ReplyDeletei would like Matt Czuchry to play Jason. yumm
ReplyDeleteEliza Dushku for Anita...
ReplyDeleteMonica Bellucci as Belle Morte. No one could do it better. She was made for the role.
ReplyDeletescarlett johansson? really? I'd go with Cote de Pablo, too..
ReplyDelete