Thanks. I've actually wondered why Tom Skerritt doesn't show up more often in these fan-castings for Gordon, as he pretty much looks like comic book Gordon already, and his "Picket Fences" character was close to Gordon as well. He's who I cast when I read a Batman prose story. Remember "Once Upon a Time... in the West", at the beginning there were these three gunslingers waiting at the train station for Harmonica only to be killed at the end of the scene? Sergio Leone originally wanted these three to be played by Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach, the stars of his previous movie. At least one of them (probably Eastwood) declined, and as the gag was dependent on all three being there, they chose three other actors. But in that spirit, I'd give Weller, Smith and Wise similar small but poignant cameos, with the Joker's origin told in flashbacks adapted from The Killing Joke. Kurtwood Smith and Ray Wise would be the Redhood Gang: And Peter Weller would be the cop bringing the bad news:
Physically, maybe. I was thinking of his performance in The Outer Limits episode The Man Who Was Never Born where he played a well - educated professor even though he was physically deformed. He had a cultured speaking voice, even under all that makeup, that I've come to associate with Hank McCoy.
The scrawny, 5'6" Michael J. Pollard, a physical match for the burly Beast? I don't see that at all. I don't see his personality fitting either -- I mainly just know him from "Miri," but he's never struck me as someone who could convincingly play a cultured genius. How about Brian Dennehy?
Hank McCoy is a hard casting because of the dichotomy involved. A man built like an ape who is intelligent and well spoken. Plus he has to be in his teens or twenties depending on which era you set the film in.
Brian Dennehy would've been in his late '30s around the time of the classic "New X-Men" run, but that's close enough; Michael J. Pollard was in his 30s when cast as the "teenaged" Jahn in "Miri." And he was both a big, burly guy and well-spoken, able to convey intelligence. As it happens, George Buza, who did the Beast's refined, eloquent voice in the '90s animated series, was also a big, burly guy who looked like a trucker -- and played one in the first X-Men feature film. (He was the guy who dropped Rogue off at the diner where she met Logan.) Of course, if it were necessary for an actor to be an exact physical match for the character, we never would've gotten Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. It comes down to what you want to prioritize as the essence of the character, and for Beast that's more his intellect than his build.
Which is solved if you go with the furry version as all the movies have done. His original, pre-furry form only lasted for the first 9 years of the character's existence, until 1972, and we've been talking about retro-casting a '70s version.
I'm very fond of the 70's version. Especially as drawn by Perez or Byrne. Not too fond of Cat Beast or the current roundhead Beast. Nor Blue Universal Wolfman Beast from the Fox Films.
My preference for Beast would be to focus on the voice and personality, and then just put the actor in a muscle suit if we're in the pre-computer era, or Mo-Cap if it's today, for his body.
I think that was the thing about Beast as originally portrayed, though -- that he looked like a linebacker but had the mind of a poet. The contrast between his "bestial" look and his refined mind was what defined him. And Dennehy was someone who could play a tough guy or show a more gentle, thoughtful side, which is why I thought of him.
At least they haven't attempted to portray the Beast as originally designed: a guy the size of Terry Bradshaw with hands and feet like Andre the Giant. I shudder to think how bad that would look, even with today's CGI.
Sam Neill was born in 1947, so he would be in his late 20s, early 30s for a 'New X-Men' era Hank McCoy/Beast.
Yeah, he was always my preferred Maxwell Lord anyway. How about Robert Conrad for Wolverine and Ross Martin for Hank McCoy.
I'm sure Giffen, DeMatteis and Maguire feel the same Artie is a master of disguise, but even he cant pull off playing a teen or a twenty something.
Okay, 40s-era Aquaman. As if they made a serial like the old Captain Marvel and Batman stuff. Keep in mind that Aquaman was woefully lacking in development back in teh 40s, especially compared to Captain Marvel and the rest. He had no recurring allies (Mera came around in the 60s, IIRC, and so did Black Manta) Arthur Curry: Johnny Weismuller or Buster Crabbe, depends on if you want an Aquaman/Tarzan or Aquaman/Flash Gordon crossover Blackjack: His nemesis from the 40s, just a pirate. I choose Wallace Beery. Now for some from outside of the 40s. Mera: An unknown Cyd Charisse EDIT to add Esther Williams Black Manta: Paul Robeson Aqualad: It would have to have been Garth back then. Jackie Cooper Ocean Master: Lionel Barrymore
I'm guessing it's not a coincidence you picked two candidates for Arthur who had careers in competition swimming prior to their acting careers. Good picks.