August 18, 2008
Do You Ever Do This?
Written by Margo Maguire in Jaunty PostDo you ever choose actors or actresses to play your favorite characters in books? It’s funny - I don’t really have a clear “photo” of my heroes and heroines as I write them, not until I’m about halfway through the book.
But when I read other books - especially series books, I definitely picture the main characters and who would play them if the books were made into movies. Take the Stephanie Plum books (by Janet Evanovich). I always see Stephanie as Jennifer Aniston.
Stephanie is a comedic character, but she also has to be fairly hot to keep Morelli and Ranger interested, and Jennifer Aniston is that, for sure. As for Morelli, I always see him as Josh Lucas. Morelli is a former bad boy turned cop, and in one of the early books, after Stephanie takes great pains to get herself all dressed up and ready to go out with him, I can almost see Morelli (Josh) looking her over and delivering the priceless line, “Nice dress. Take it off.”
And then there’s Ranger, also a bad boy who functions outside the law when he feels it’s necessary, because he operates under his own code of right and wrong. He’s big and powerful and after listening to the latest Plum book on CD, I’ve been picturing Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson in the role.
There’s another series of books that I’m hooked on, too. They’re the Jack Reacher novels, written by Lee Child. Jack is the main character of all of them, a former army MP who is about 6 foot 5 and somewhere between 225 and 250 pounds. He is larger than life, has no ties to anyone or anything, and is a complete wise guy with great one-liners … For example, In One Shot, he tells a punk store clerk that he needs some information and the punk replies that he wants to see some ID first. Jack doesn’t take any flack … he gives the guy his demand once more, cooly, as his patience starts to wear thin. The kid says he wants to see something. Jack’s response: “The next thing you’re going to see is the inside of an ambulance, Gary …” And he means it. He states it as fact, no bragging, no bravado. Nobody messes with Jack Reacher.
So I’m thinking about an actor from way back, a man who played the strong and silent type, mostly in westerns, I think. He’s Clint Walker, although his hair needs to be lightened up a bit, since Reacher is described as having “dirty blonde hair.”
Or maybe Aaron Eckhart would do. He’s got Jack Reacher-kind of looks, but I don’t think he’s anywhere near big enough. Reacher is big and tough. He’s a guy you wouldn’t want to cross.
Sometimes, the wrong actors are cast in much-anticipated films. Viggo Mortenson, for example. I know I’m in the minority here, but I didn’t think he was the best Aragorn Peter Jackson could have come up with. (Hey, what was Hugh Jackman doing back then??) I thought Viggo looked downright silly wearing the crown at the end of The Return of the King. Sean Bean would have been better, too, but he played another part and got killed off much too soon!
Oh well, we don’t always get our druthers. But if you had to choose, who would you cast in your favorite books, or re-cast in movies you’ve seen?
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Laura Says:
I can’t see Jennifer Aniston in the role of Stephanie. I see Janet Evanovich herself in that role for some reason. The guys though, I can so see the ones you picked.
I know that wasn’t the question but that’s all I’ve got this early.
Shana Says:
I can see the Rock as Ranger. Stephanie is harder to cast. You know, I don’t watch a lot of TV or movies, so I don’t always have an idea in my head as far as actors or actresses. Sometimes I’ll cut out a picture or make a collage. That often helps when I’m writing.
Margo Maguire Says:
I agree that Stephanie is tough to cast. I read somewhere that there were talks about Sandra Bullock as Stephanie. I just can’t see her in the role.
RobynDeHart Says:
I always thought Oded Fehr would make a perfect Ranger - you know he’s the guy from the Mummy, the one with the long hair and make-up. I never could come up with anyone for Morelli or Steph though and I stopped reading the books at #5. I don’t do this so much as a reader, but as a writer, I always have to find the right picture for my characters. It’s never really about the actor/actress, but the specific picture.
Emily McKay Says:
Great post, Margo!
I’ve never had a clear stephanie in my mind. I think, like Laura, I kinda just pictured Janet Evanovich in the role. But after reading your post today, I was watching an episode of Friends while making dinner and the idea of Jennifer Aniston started working in the back of my mind. I think she could pull it off.
As for Ranger, I totally think Oded Fehr would be awesome, but the Rock could do it too. My concern about him is that he’s a little too hammy, ya know?
And, geesh, I’d watch Josh Lucas in anything. He’s so cute I’m amazed he hasn’t been just gobbled up on the streets by random fans.
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