Honor Harrington casting call

[aelius]

I'm curious how it's important that she's half Asian? And which Asian ethnicity is she?

It is not important at all. Her mother is Beowulfan. She just happens to be of Asian descent. As for Honor's appearance check out the original cover of "Field of Dishonor", that is my image of Honor.

David Weber?

Not sure what your asking. if you are asking if I am David Weber, the answer is no. If you believe I shouldn't say her Asian heritage is unimportant because I am not David Weber, I can only go by what I read in the series. The fact that her mother is genetically Asian is only apparent in her physical description. Mr. Weber makes it abundantly plain that her personality, attitude and morality are based on the norms of the planet Beowulf. While it is possible to determine that her ancestry goes back to China, that is only because her maiden name is Chou. Nowhere in the series does she speak Chinese or have any Chinese attitudes or even decorations for her home.
In fact, Mr. Weber is fond of taking names out of a grab bag and mixing them together. Such as Alfredo Yu, Edward Saganami, Allison Chou Harrington, or the blond viking guy with the entirely Japanese name that I cant remember because he was only in one scene.
Earthly ethnicity has almost no bearing in the Honorverse other that what appears to be a chance for David Weber to have fun with peoples expectations. Witness the Chinese Germans of the Andermani Empire.
As for Stephanie Jacobsen, hmm, not a bad idea.

 

[Skywalker]

I haven't read any of the Honor Harrington books, but from what I've seen on various covers, Angelina Jolie is probably the most unimaginative choice ever.

Plus, book covers do not necessarily always represent the authors' vision.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I haven't read any of the Honor Harrington books, but from what I've seen on various covers, Angelina Jolie is probably the most unimaginative choice ever.

Which is beside the point, as far as I'm concerned. Clark Gable was the most unimaginative choice ever for Rhett Butler, judging by most accounts of the time.

 

[Skywalker]

I'm just saying, until a serious movie push begins, we have the luxury of knocking down bland choices that obviously the studio heads would go with because it maximizes their chances of their movie being profitable (at least, that's what they usually do). But since we're not film producers who have to worry about the bottom line, we can be a bit more creative in our casting choices.

 

[aelius]

I'm just saying, until a serious movie push begins, we have the luxury of knocking down bland choices that obviously the studio heads would go with because it maximizes their chances of their movie being profitable (at least, that's what they usually do). But since we're not film producers who have to worry about the bottom line, we can be a bit more creative in our casting choices.

That's why I like Stephanie Jacobsen. She is relatively unknown in the U.S. except for a couple of genre shows. She seems to have the chops to pull off the role, and she fits the physical description. Well, except for being too short, but that is a problem you would have with almost any actress.
And it's Honor Stephanie Harrington.

 

[Maestro]

I heard Claudia Christian's name bandied about. I think that would be a really bad idea.

On the one hand, I can see where people are coming from (and maybe 10-15 years ago I'd be more inclined to agree), however, today, I agree with you 100%.

 

[USS Triumphant]

If we're sticking with the half-Asian thing, then I'd almost say Kreuk, but she's too short. It'd be hard to find someone to match Honor's exact physical specs, though - especially that height in a part-Asian actress who is also a GOOD actress.

Casting her less precisely, my first thought was Anne Hathaway. She looks the right age for Prolong, favors the better cover art, and can act.

 

[Maestro]

To be quite totally honest, I get the idea from the descriptions in the books that the cover art is most misleading. Honor is, essentially, a brick shit-house with slightly slanted eyes.

 

[aelius]

Well, if you are looking for physique match the only actress I can think of would be Peta Wilson.
Of course she is blonde and blue eyed and nothing even resembling asian. But she is tall and broad shouldered and athletic. And did I mention she is hot. Oh yeah...

 

[USS Triumphant]

Well, if you are looking for physique match the only actress I can think of would be Peta Wilson.
Of course she is blonde and blue eyed and nothing even resembling asian.

So, really, not a physique match at all.

 

[aelius]

Physique, not face.
I mean how many 6 foot, broad shouldered actressess are there? Especially ones that are very pretty. Which Honor is, even if it took her a while to realize it.
Still that was more of a joke...

 

[Maestro]

The height and the build are going to be pretty important. I've only read the first three books, but in those, it was made pretty clear that she's self-conscious about it.

I found an Italian who might fit the bill: Caterina Murino. She was Solange, in Casino Royale, the married woman Bond has the affair with whose husband was going to blow up the plane.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm just saying, until a serious movie push begins, we have the luxury of knocking down bland choices that obviously the studio heads would go with because it maximizes their chances of their movie being profitable (at least, that's what they usually do). But since we're not film producers who have to worry about the bottom line, we can be a bit more creative in our casting choices.

That's nice.

I like Angelina Jolie as Harrington. I haven't heard an alternative I like better, so far.

 

[Ptrope]

My biggest objection to Angelina Jolie is fer cryin' out loud can we get her off the screen for a week??? Sure, she's hot. But how many times does she have to be cast as the female lead of a genre or action film? 100s of out-of-work actresses and the best we can come up with is Angelina again?

As for how important Honor's heritage is ... from my reading of most of the novels, it's a fairly constant component of Weber's visualization of her. Her mother isn't just of Asian heritage - she's full-blooded Japanese, and the contrast of her petite physique with that of her daughter is noteworthy to any and all who meet them both. Honor's mixed heritage, with her prominent almond eyes, is a hugely influencing factor in her psychology - she isn't just shy, but seriously introverted based upon her appearance and her 'exotic' features; she's always thought they made her unattractive, and it's that inner view of herself that colors much of her interactions outside her military safety net, where she knows that she's being judged on her abilities rather than her appearance.

As much as I like David Mattingly's covers, I don't think he has ever captured the Honor that Weber describes, and it's that Honor that I'd like to see if they ever were to make a movie (or perhaps a TV series).

 

[USS Triumphant]

As much as I like David Mattingly's covers,

Even the "Michael Jackson with a pistol" one?

I don't think he has ever captured the Honor that Weber describes, and it's that Honor that I'd like to see if they ever were to make a movie (or perhaps a TV series).

Me, too. But good luck casting a 15-18 year old 6ft tall half-Asian female who can do martial arts, fence, and sword-fight convincingly, who has Honor's oblivious charisma, and who can just plain act in general.

I really sympathize with those who keep saying Jolie. I personally wouldn't want Brangelina anywhere near the project, she's too old, and her breasts are too big, but at least she is close to the right height, half-Asian, and has the acting and martial chops.

I know what we're going to have to do: travel to the Honorverse, and kidnap the real Honor to play herself.

Are Chuck Norris and Horatio Caine available? We're going to need to take them with us, if we're to have a prayer of succeeding.

 

[Skywalker]

Dude, don't waste your time with those second-rate knockoffs. Just bring Captain Robau. If he goes with you, you'll have already succeeded before you even leave.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Dude, don't waste your time with those second-rate knockoffs. Just bring Captain Robau. If he goes with you, you'll have already succeeded before you even leave.

Believe it or not, I thought of that. But I'd still need Caine and Norris, just to convince Robau that I'm badass enough to be worth helping.

 

[Forbin]

My biggest objection to Angelina Jolie is fer cryin' out loud can we get her off the screen for a week??? Sure, she's hot. But how many times does she have to be cast as the female lead of a genre or action film? 100s of out-of-work actresses and the best we can come up with is Angelina again?

And hot as I think Stephanie Jackobson is, she's got completely Asian features, which won't work in the role, and she's what, four feet tall?

 

[Maestro]

I'm not cool with Stephanie Jacobson either, mostly because she just doesn't strike me as Honor.

 

[Mysterion]

Not sure why i didn't think of this before: Kelsey Grammer as Pavel Young.