Filmstalker: Watchmen casting rumours discussed

The rumoured cast list for Watchmen has been leaping around the Interflab for some time in various guises, and I guess it's time for us to look at it.

The cast list has been pulled together from various sources to present what the Interflab thinks are the best and strongest rumours for the roles, and some of them really do present a few problems for me.

You can see the full cast list below, but let me pick a few off first. Kate Winslet as Silk Spectre with Virginia Madsen as Sally Jupiter, her daughter. Well obviously Winslet has to be playing the young Silk Spectre, but I'm not sure that Kate Winslet is right for the role. Actually I could see Virginia Madsen playing the young Silk Spectre and someone like Demi Moore playing Jupiter, although acting wise they are leagues apart.

It's difficult to find that balance of looks against talent, because the natural desire here is to get the actors looking like their roles, and perhaps that's not the right thing to do.

I personally think that Patrick Wilson is too young for Night Owl, and we need someone with a little more age, a little more beef, and looking a little more world weary. Although Thomas Jane is muscular enough and has played comic characters before, I don't think he's really the hardened and vicious Comedian that has been through so many battles and is a really violent and dangerous man.

However, I do like the rumours of Jeremy Irons as Moloch and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach, and Jason Patric as Dr. Manhattan isn't bad either because he'll be in makeup and/or CGI.

That's not all though. According to the LA Daily News through Superhero Hype the casting team have another challenge, casting lookalikes for the big name roles such as Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, etc. According to their list of names there are a lot of big, real world names in there that need casting. CGI or real lookalikes?

What do you think of the full rumoured cast for the big screen Watchmen? Where does Gerard Butler fit in? Bear in mind that it is all just rumour at the moment, and ultimately I think this is just a wish list. Here's the full cast list for you.

Kate Winslet as Silk Spectre
Patrick Wilson as Night Owl
Jason Patric as Dr. Manhattan
Jude Law as Ozymandias
Thomas Jane as The Comedian
Jeremy Irons as Moloch
Virginia Madsen as Sally Jupiter
Jonah Hill as Seymour
Henry Gibson as Mr. Figure
William Fichtner as Detective Fine
Noah Emmerich as Captain Metropolis
Gretchen Mol as Janey Slater
Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach

dtheatre through Rope of Silicon have the compiled cast list.

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I also can't see Thomas Jane as the Comedian. Now, I think that Mickey Rourke would be a perfect fit for the part - I heard the rumor and wonder why it hasn't gathered enough support. He has the age, the body and of course he can portray the viciousness of the character.

I would also prefer somebody older for the Nite Owl part (John Cusack perhaps?)

Posted by: mans | July 3, 2007 12:44 PM

I heard that ages ago too, and Rourke is a strong fit. I don't know why that didn't gather more favour either.

Cusack might be good, I'm still unsure on that one.

Posted by: Richard Brunton | July 3, 2007 1:00 PM

dTheatre just lifted it wholesale from me at film ick.

And they credit me, and link back to me - but for some reason, most people reporting their story do not.

I'm as sceptical about this list as I ever was, but I'm not 100% sure it's a sham.

Posted by: Brendon Connelly | July 3, 2007 2:08 PM

Quite correct Brendon, looking at the source they do credit you with the list.

Posted by: Richard Brunton | July 3, 2007 2:34 PM

If Gerry can find the time in his work schedule to take on one of the characters, I suspect it will be the lost mariner.
That can be filmed outside of any other setting or plans.
As to the Comedian, I feel that the actor who takes him on has to be BIG, TALL, well-built, not just mean.
Most of the choices named are small men, average or below average height and weight.
surly, gruff, etc., but not The Comedian.

But, I'm not the casting agent, so......

Posted by: PIslander | July 4, 2007 1:31 AM

Not the casting agent, no, but you are a member of the audience paying their hard earned money so you're entitled to your opinion.

Plus you've just made me slap my forehead and go "Doh!". Of course that's who Butler could be up for, you mean in the Black Freighter story? I had totally forgotten that and wondered what part he could get considering all the leads seemed to be flying past quickly.

Good call.

Posted by: Richard Brunton | July 4, 2007 5:32 PM

Yep, Richard, it is the seaman from the Black Freighter I was thinking of.
Even tho that is a side-line story, it is relevant, and somewhere I read Zack Snyder saying or agreeing to the fact that he planned to include the adrift Black Freighter mariner.
Gerry would be great for that role, and could be done when he is available.
BTW, thanks for the support.
I forget that we are the "voters" of the movie world, the ones who make or break a movie.

Posted by: PIslander | July 5, 2007 7:53 AM

Yeah, I think Hollywood forget that sometimes too!

You're right on the Freighter bit. Znyder said that he would not only be doing it, but filming the whole side story. I don't know how it'll be included, definitely as a complete piece on DVD.

I wonder if they'll turn it into a film/TV series instead of a comic and cut to that throughout?

Posted by: Richard Brunton | July 5, 2007 8:45 AM