The Chronicles FILMED!

Post by **Zahir** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 7:17 am

What a cool thread! And Gareth--I look forward to your site!

Here're my suggestions, for what they're worth.

Thomas Covenant- Okay, you need a gaunt, haunted man who looks in his thirties or so. American, or at least can pass as one. My choice might seem a bit "pretty" but I'd like to see Ben Browder (of Farscape) in the role. He's a marvelous actor who can portray an extremely wide range, yet remains both interesting yet oddly likeable even when most dangerous and/or insane.

Mhoram- For years I've seen Alan Rickman in this role (he's Snape in Harry Potter). Had the great good fortune to see him on Broadway, and also in roles where he wasn't being a villain. In fact, he can come across as remarkably gentle and kind.

Elena- I've always seen her as looking much, much younger than she is, which is tricky because actually conveying majesty can be so difficult. Thora Birch, a very talented lady in every way, looked awkward in Dungeons & Dragons for instance. So my choice is Alicia Witt (who was in Four Rooms and Urban Legend among other films).

For the record, I really like the idea of Patrick Stewart as Dead Kevin, but he'd be so much better as Kesryn [sp?] of the Gyre--as anyone who saw him as Sejanus in I, Claudius can attest. And I think Mathew McConnahay [sp?] would make a marvelous Hile Troy. Personally, I can't top Ron Perlman as Saltheart Foamfollower.

I'd like to suggest Gary Olman as Findail, with maybe Tony Todd as Vain. Amber Benson would, imo, be a very fine choice as Linden Avery. Further I'd like to see Peta Wilson as the First of the Search, with Geoffrey Rush as Pitchwife, and the guy (his name escapes me) who plays Aragorn in LOTR as Cable Seadreamer.

Post by **Landwaster** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 9:20 am

Matthew McConnaghay (nope, no idea how to spell it either) would be a decent Hile Troy!

Hey, isn't Tony Todd the bloke from the original 'Night Of The Living Dead'???

Post by **Michael Giantfriend** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 1:59 pm

Some nice choices. Congrats!

Zahir wrote: TC- My choice might seem a bit "pretty" but I'd like to see Ben Browder (of Farscape) in the role.

Hmm, not a bad choice. I can see it now ... "Oh, Lena! Atiaran! Winona!!! They're all crackers!"

Mhoram- For years I've seen Alan Rickman in this role

Hmm, again not bad. He's usually feted as the villain of the piece in most Hollywood movies, but he did a brilliant turn as a romantic lead in "Truly, Madly Deeply" (a BBC feature-length TV play from about 5 or 6 years ago), and he probably could pull off the Mhoram bit

Elena- I've always seen her as looking much, much younger than she is, which is tricky because actually conveying majesty can be so difficult. Thora Birch, a very talented lady in every way, looked awkward in Dungeons & Dragons for instance. So my choice is Alicia Witt (who was in Four Rooms and Urban Legend among other films).

And "Dune"! I dunno, Alicia is a babe, and she's a good actress, but Elena? Elena's meant to be about 40, and Alicia's what? 23? A bit too young. Okay, Earthpower would keep Elena looking younger, granted, but I still think an actress with that little bit more maturity would be better. Someone between 27-35 would do.
And I agree about the difficulty in conveying majesty. Cait Blanchett did a good turn in "Elizabeth", but her portrayal of Galadriel in "Fellowship of the Ring" left a bit to be desired (Slow does not = majestic)

For the record, I really like the idea of Patrick Stewart as Dead Kevin, but he'd be so much better as Kesryn [sp?] of the Gyre--as anyone who saw him as Sejanus in I, Claudius can attest. And I think Mathew McConnahay [sp?] would make a marvelous Hile Troy. Personally, I can't top Ron Perlman as Saltheart Foamfollower.

No. Patrick Stewart for Kevin Landwaster. Ian McKellern would do a better Kasreyn, IMHO.
I don't know about Matthew McConnaughey, either. Somehow, in my immense naivety, I'd always envisioned Hile Troy as being black. Denzel would be excellent, I think.
Ron Perlman? Vincent? Excellent!

I'd like to suggest Gary Olman as Findail, with maybe Tony Todd as Vain. Amber Benson would, imo, be a very fine choice as Linden Avery. Further I'd like to see Peta Wilson as the First of the Search, with Geoffrey Rush as Pitchwife, and the guy (his name escapes me) who plays Aragorn in LOTR as Cable Seadreamer.

That would be Viggo Mortensen. I think he'd make a better Honninscrave than Seadreamer, myself. Amber Benson looked a bit too "girly" as Tara (or maybe that's just very good characterisation on her part). I've always thought Linden should look tough-but-vulnerable - To go back to the Farscape theme, Claudia Black would do the job quite nicely (as long as she could hack the accent).
Peta Wilson? A good actress, very good looking (the First is meant to be very attractive after all), and used to action roles (La Femme Nikita, anyone?). Nice choice.
Gary Oldman as Findail, Tony Todd as Vain and Geoffrey Rushe as Pitchwife? OMG, Perfect!

I can see them in character right now! Fantastic!

What about: Prothall - Edward Woodward; Amok - Ewan McGregor; Bannor- Temeura Morrison; Rant Absolain - John Rhys Davies

Post by **Zahir** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 5:41 pm

Tony Todd was in the remake of Night of the Living Dead as well as all three Candyman films.

Given my taste for sometimes casting against type, I'd like to see Christopher Lee as Prothall. I can't quite make up my mind about Bannor--although I've always kinda imagined the Haruchai looking rather Amerind.

Dame Judy Dench would make a good Osondrea, don't you think?

(This is fun, btw)

Post by **Reisheiruhime** » Fri Jan 10, 2003 11:52 pm

Wesley Snipes(from Blade and Blade2) as Vain.
Halle Berry as Elena.
And, last but not least, the cast of the Muppet Movie as the jheherrin

(Don't You Dare Laugh

)

Whyered 1 · Post by **Whyered 1** » Tue Jan 21, 2003 5:20 am

Need update! Any news on TCTC being made into film?

Post by **[Syl]** » Tue Jan 21, 2003 6:15 am

Claudia would be perfect as Linden, as would Anthony Simcoe as Foamfollower.

For some reason I see Christopher Walken as Kasreyn. He just has that vibe. Val Kilmer as Hile Troy. Gary Oldman as Foul. Chow Yun Fat as Bannor.

Post by **danlo** » Tue Jan 21, 2003 7:17 am

I agree M G-friend I have always envisioned HT as black, now Laurence Fishburne would b awesome! I saw a very cool movie the other day with Stallone, Kristoffeson, Berenger and Robert Patrick called Eye See You--and it totally re-convinced me that Robert Patrick IS Bannor! (The 'Liquid Cop' in Terminator 2, and X-Files)

Post by **birdandbear** » Tue Jan 21, 2003 8:30 am

Zahir posted a fabulous rendering of Jennifer Connelly as High Lord Elena in the member galleries. It's perfect!
She has a wonderful, direct stare that's just a little disfocused...

But I'm stumped on everybody else.

Post by **mg420** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 1:34 am

personally, i would hate to see them try to make the TC books into a movie. i can't see how they would convey the emotion and depth of the books in a movie of any length let alone one limited to 3 hours. just look what they did to LOTR. they are fine films but lack even the limited depth and history of the books.

Post by **Zahir** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 6:41 pm

While I think its a little premature to claim TCTC cannot turned into a film (those amazing FX are getting cheaper every day) it seems to me the sheer intensity and scope of the books lend themselves far more to live theatre.

I've said this before, of course. I can easily see the first chronicles as three long plays designed to be done in rotating repertory. Peter Brooks did something similar with the Hindu epic Mahabarata as did the RSC with Nicholas Nickleby. Theatre is magnificent in how much can be conveyed with stylization--masks, the creative use of lights, minimal sets, allowing the actors to react to what really isn't there, etc.

Post by **mezzaninedoor** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 8:26 pm

if not a film then why not a radio play adaption like the Star Wars public radio series or the wonderful BBC radio adaption of Lord of the Rings.

in fact, due to the nature of the material, stories like the Gap, Thomas Covenant, Narnia, Lord of the Rings are well suited to radio as a medium, with strong narrative threads that pull you along with the stories and in audio you can still imagine it how you want !

tony

Post by **robo** » Thu Feb 06, 2003 2:42 am

Johnny Depp as TC.

Post by **[Syl]** » Thu Feb 06, 2003 3:44 am

subtitle "Edward Halfhands"

Post by **Hearthcoal** » Thu Feb 06, 2003 3:58 am

...is, I think, an excellent idea. And quite do-able!

I, for one, would be listening.

- Hearthcoal

Post by **Hearthcoal** » Thu Feb 06, 2003 3:59 am

...Sylvanus!

Gosh...how old is this thread? Still fascinating, too. Amazing!

- Hearthcoal

Post by **phobos** » Mon Mar 24, 2003 7:26 pm

i always thought that you couldn't get enough into a movie to cover even one book in the chronicles. the only way i think you could film it would be as a series like on HBO. maybe in a few years when the effects are cheaper and better they could pull it off with a large budget.

Post by **hamako** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:21 pm

Alan Rickman as Mhoram? it'd work,

bit of trivia - you know his character in Harry Potter is Prof Snape? First name Julian?

We share the same name. really. Just after the first film came out, I was looking for a new job and phoned a pretty highbrow consultancy in London. When I gave my name, I got a load of pisstakes down the phone - "guess who we have on the phone everybody? It's Prof Julian Snape. Ha ha". I hadn't seen the film or read the books, so was abit out of it. Not any more.

There you go. Heard it here.

Anyhow, back to the plot,

Harrison Ford would make a good Mhoram, as would Patric Stewart.

TC is a toughie, Willem Dafoe would be good, but maybe a bit old? I'm thinking that he could do the mad prophetic look with the beard well....

me , I'm off to practice my Alan Rickman impersonations

Post by **Lord Mhoram** » Wed Mar 26, 2003 12:08 am

Patrick Stewart as Mhoram!! Brilliant! Has ta grow some hair, though...

Post by **[Syl]** » Wed Mar 26, 2003 2:04 am

It could be worse, Hamako. Your name could be Michael Bolton.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

The Chronicles FILMED!

Unbeliever - The Movie

radio play

Mezzaninedoor's idea of a radio drama...

Very funny...