LPM OnlineNovember 16, 1999 |
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Admirers of Ayn Rand's 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged have definite ideas about casting the movie, and some may want to fight it out when they see the suggestions of others for the TNT miniseries to be made next year. ''This is a big deal for us,'' writes David M. DiQuinzio of Annapolis, Md. He says Hank Rearden needs strength and reserve, ''not an ounce of cowboy or punk in him,'' and suggests Martin Sheen or James Caan. Dagny Taggart: ''I always pictured her blonde, but this should not be a requirement.'' Galt ''must come across as a credible inventor/scientist. Should not be too macho,'' could be Anthony Edwards or Keanu Reeves. ''I am a 16-year-old high school student from Oregon,'' writes a youth with the online name of John Galt (''I wish,'' he says). ''Atlas Shrugged has been the most influential piece of fiction to ever affect my life.'' He votes for Sharon Stone and Harrison Ford, with George Clooney as Galt and Bruce Willis as James Taggart, brother of Dagny. ''I was so pumped to read that someone is FINALLY going to put the masterpiece'' on film, writes Mark Stanton of Menomonee Falls, Wis. He sees a lack of actors with the needed ''richness of character,'' but suggests Mira Sorvino as Dagny, Dylan McDermott as Galt, Alec Baldwin as Rearden. I like his idea of Sting as the composer Richard Halley (or a bigger role?). Mark suggests Tim Roth for James Taggart and Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver for Ragnar Danesjkold, Rand's reckless wanderer, and his wife. Doc and Darlyne Rosario of North Carolina say a friend of theirs sees that swashbuckling quality in Val Kilmer. Darlyne likes David James Elliot of JAG for Galt; Doc says Matt Damon. The Rosarios add: ''If they select any of these most qualified, we want credit and compensation . . . as any good true-blooded CAPITALIST would expect.'' Hope they're kidding. Catherine D. Kabana is one of many Jodie Foster backers. ''She possesses the attitude and self-confidence that are the trademark of Dagny Taggart. But this reader is thumbs-down on another popular choice, Antonio Banderas for aristocratic D'Anconia. Meagan Dolleris of Nashville is equally passionate about the characters; to her, Dagny must be Cate Blanchett, ''who has the grace, elegance and strength.'' She wants a ''no-nonsense'' Rearden -- David Duchovny -- and Vince Vaughn as Galt, plus David Hyde Pierce as the ''weaselly'' Jim Taggart. ''I think whether or not I watch this movie will depend on the actors chosen. I hope the casting makes sense!'' she adds. Susan Sarandon gets some votes to play Dagny, but mostly for Lillian Rearden, nasty wife of Dagny's brother. Sarandon told me this week that when she read Atlas, ''it was one of those way-out novels, but I don't think it's so out there anymore.'' ''Linda Hamilton was born to play Dagny,'' writes Peter Formaini of Ithaca, N.Y. ''Striking, angular, able to play softness and strength.'' Regina N. of the Bronx, N.Y., says, ''For the love of God, please don't cast Gwyneth Paltrow'' as Dagny. She wants Linda Fiorentino. And Kate Mulgrew of Star Trek: Voyager got the same enthusiasm: ''No one else can play this character and give it what it deserves in its place in film history,'' writes Alfred Medeiros of Boca Raton, Fla. ''I've read the book three times, cover to cover.'' (Note: Paperback Atlas runs 1,000-plus pages.) Michael Biehn's fan club turned out in force to push him for Rearden. Dan Cassenti suggests Tim Robbins for that role, using ''the calm, cold appearance with the spark of a brilliant mind behind it'' in the way he played Andy DuFresne in The Shawshank Redemption. Kevin Spacey and Brent Spiner get some votes. And Randall J. Weytens worries that if the miniseries winds up politically correct, ''the whole Objectivist philosophy which is the base of the film will be perverted.'' Well, I heard from Bob Bidinotto, director of development at the Objectivist Center for the study of Rand's work. He hopes casting ''does not violate the expectations and hopes of fans of the novel.'' The center has no say in it, but Bidinotto is high on Adrian Paul for D'Anconia, Brosnan as Galt, Ford as Rearden, Sigourney Weaver as Dagny, and Anthony Hopkins as Jim Taggart. Brosnan ''would bring much-needed credibility as a man who could pull off a huge caper -- such as bringing down the entire world economy!'' All e-mails will be forwarded to TNT and the producer, Al Ruddy, and all who e-mailed will receive a more complete list of suggestions. Ruddy promises to keep us up to date. |
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