Armchair Casting Director: Dark Shadows
Published on September 29th, 2010 in: Halloween, Horror, Movies, Over the Gadfly's Nest, TV |
James Frain
He has portrayed a vampire before, on True Blood, but Dark Shadows might give him the opportunity for a more, shall we say, subtle performance. It’s actually his portrayal of Thomas Cromwell on The Tudors that causes me to think of him in this role. When Cromwell, threatening someone with torture, said, “I want the truth or God help me, it will go badly with you.” he spoke some of the scariest words I’ve ever heard on television.
Christopher Eccleston
Thanks to his time on Doctor Who, he has experience playing a well-known character from a long running franchise, one who has been played before by others. He managed to stay true to the essence of The Doctor, while making him his own. He’s also worked in the horror genre before, in 28 Days Later. His iconic “people killing people” speech in that film should prove his command of the sinister.
Clive Owen
He has a look that I can imagine working well for Barnabas, as well an ability to project reserve, solemnity, and pathos. His work in Children of Men impressed me very much.
Of course, no one who’s in charge at Warner Brothers is going to ask me. And it’s also not as if I think Johnny Depp will do a bad job. He just seems to have become the “go-to” actor for off-the-wall roles, even when other, less commercial actors may be as well suited or better. Whatever the case, I’m sure that vampire fans (and Depp fans) will have fun hashing over the results when Dark Shadows hits theaters.
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5 Responses to “Armchair Casting Director: Dark Shadows”
October 1st, 2010 at 12:24 am
I LOVE THIS. I agree with you re: Johnny Depp, but for the reason of his fresh-faced-ness; he is almost too smiley to be a convincing Barnabas, who needs a literally Byronic brooding quality – but even more Byron than Byron and his pretty mouth. 😉 I’m thinking someone rawboned and intense-eyed – no one with any softness in his face whatsoever. I’m drawing a blank with regards to the current crop of well-known lead actors in their 30s, who tend to be cast because of the bright openness of their eyes and the lushness of their lips (yeah, even you, Cillian Murphy, the most unsettling-looking actor of our generation). Even James Frain looks too much like a working-class rock star to make it work; Owen is too lush, and Eccleston looks too unhinged all the time. I dunno – who could it be? Maybe Johnny will go on the Master Cleanse for six weeks, smoke three packs a day, and spend some time in the slums of Calcutta to pick up some world-weary gravitas.
November 26th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
[…] am on record about feeling that Johnny Depp is overexposed. If he absolutely has to be in the Good Omens movie, however, it should be as the angel . . . just […]
December 4th, 2010 at 2:28 am
Henry Ian Cusick (Lost’s “Desmond”) might fit the bill. Of the above mentioned, Clive Owen seems the best choice. I also like Blake Ritson (“Mansfield Park”)–dead ringer for 1795 Barnabas. Robert Cavanah is a good choice, as is Matthew McFadyen–both from “Wuthering Heights”. Peter Wingfield, Methos from “Highlander” has a similar facial structure to Frid. Barnabas needs to be someone tall, dark, imposing, immaculately groomed, well-spoken, well-dressed, and suave. Depp lacks in stature, is slightly built, and seems almost too giddy; plus he’s acquired something of an affected speaking voice. He’s older now than Frid was when he began the role, and I fear that Depp will be fast approaching fifty before this film wraps. Frid had brooding down pat and Depp should study the quiet, haunted aspect that Frid brought to the role and not focus on teeth-gnashing anger that was Ben Cross’ interpretation.
December 4th, 2010 at 2:56 am
Cliff Simon who played Ba’al on Stargate shares Frid’s intense look and would make a fine Barnabas. In fact, I like him better than my earlier pick of Peter Wingfield.
Sorry, but I’m just having a difficult time envisioning Depp as a serious-minded Barnabas. I know that he has done darker roles; “From Hell” and “The Libertine” come to mind, so I will be willing to accept Depp if he doesn’t play Barnabas as a silly sap.
February 11th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
[…] know I have said that Johnny Depp plays too many oddball characters, but this role came early in his career, and is […]
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