EPIC
FANTASY CASTINGThe recent deafening buzz around the grand premiere of HBO’s Game of Thrones -- about which we can’t seem to stop talking -- got us thinking. One thing that GoT really has going for it is an unusually strong cast. Lena Headey rocks the house as the devious Cersei Lannister; Sean Bean was clearly born to play Ned Stark; and Those Who Know are already whispering “Emmy! Emmy!” about Peter Dinklage’s star-making turn as aggrieved, principled Tyrion.
So we thought: if you’re going to bring a genre epic to the screen -- and you’re going to do it right -- casting is obviously key. (Along with a decent scriptwriter, an accomplished costumier, and an extremely robust special effects budget, of course.) And we thought: could we do it as well as the Game of Thrones casting team? And we further thought: why not try?
One difficulty in casting any Epic Fantasy series lies in the similarly epic amount of characters they invariably employ. Clearly, all-star casts are completely out of the question; unless these movies, mini-series or TV shows have budgets the size of Avatar’s, filling out their rosters with A-Listers is obviously impossible. On the other hand, these are the casts we’d like to see in an ideal world, so ignore their probable salary demands and do try to remember, it’s all in the spirit of good fun.
Here, then, for your consideration, are Fantasy Casts for four of our favorite epic series -- but, like HBO, we’re going to mainly concentrate here on the first novel in each. We’re not aware of any definitive plans to bring these to screens large or small anytime soon, but if it ever happens… producers, you can send us the usual casting fee in care of Geek Speak Magazine. And be sure to thank us warmly in your Golden Globe acceptance speech!
Onward:
Pawn of ProphecyBook 1 of The Belgariad, by David Eddings
1982
Along with Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain, The Belgariad is most often the gateway drug via which an Epic Fantasy fan is made. The questing story of young Rightful Heir Garion (later Belgarion) and his motley crew of sorcerers, warriors, shapeshifters and royalty -- plus, there are gods; what would an Eddings book be without gods wreaking havoc in the affairs of men? -- the five book series (as well as it’s follow on pentalogy , The Malloreon, and three adjunct novels, Belgarath the Sorcerer, Polgara the Sorceress and The Rivan Codex) is a mainstay on any list of top Fantasy series, and remains one of the most beloved of all such adventures. To bring this honored story to life, we propose:
 Nathan Kress |
Just nine years old when the book begins, perhaps The Middle’s excellent and adorable Atticus Shaffer (13, though can easily pass for much younger) could best portray the juvenile Garion’s curiosity and sweetness. At fourteen, Garion commences his questing adventures, at which time perhaps his most appropriate avatar might be Jansen Panettiere (16 -- yes, he’s Hayden’s younger brother), who really showed his acting chops in the 2009 baseball movie The Perfect Game. As for the eighteen-and-up version of Garion? Hmmm. Maybe iCarly’s resident heartthrob, Nathan Kress (18)? Because surely a Disney Channel alum must be mentioned in here somewhere, and Kress is too good not to go on to bigger and better things.
 Terence Stamp |
An unimaginably ancient sorcerer of skill and renown, gruff and gravelly Belgarath first comes to us an itinerant story-teller, apparently humble and yet possessed of great charisma; he must be commanding and dignified but also full of a sprightly humor and an almost childlike whimsy. Who but a bearded Terence Stamp (72) could better fill all of these criteria?
 Liv Tyler |
No stranger to Fantasy series icon status, Liv Tyler (33) -- most recently seen (in one of the world's more peculiar casting decisions) as Rainn Wilson's wife in the indie comedy Super -- could perfectly encapsulate the long-lived and short-tempered sorceress, Polgara; she of the long dark hair (complete with one white lock, naturally), surpassing beauty, voluptuous figure and mysterious past -- mysterious until the much-later prequel novel Polgara the Sorceress, that is.
 Jason Clarke |
A simple blacksmith by birth, a smitten courtier to Polgara by inclination, Durnik is the strong, silent, rugged type, a man full of virtue, good sense and unshakeable devotion. Australian Jason Clarke (33), of Showtime’s Brotherhood and FOX’s new procedural drama The Chicago Code, is a “plain man”, much like Durnik, but -- also like Durnik – gives off a vibe of implacable determination and innate decency that can’t help but attract. He also showed he can play badass in Death Race, and Durnik needs a little badass in him as well.
 Joe Mangianello |
Burly, brusque and boisterous, Barak is a warrior in the Viking mold: bearded, red-haired and jolly, but very quick of temper. It seems only fitting that the badass, bass-voiced Joe Mangianello (34) take the role -- after a dye job, of course. He has the size, he has the strength, and most importantly, after making short shrift of turning into a wolf on True Blood last season, he would no doubt find turning into a bear (as his character does in later books) no trouble at all. Yes, Mangianello seems a good choice -- the only concern being that Barak just doesn't go shirtless enough.. Well, it's either him or Barack Obama, anyway, if only because that is a very enjoyable name-based pun.
 Joseph Gordon-Levitt |
Cynical, sly and always thinking five steps ahead, the accomplished covert operative and player of palace politics that is Prince Kheldar of Drasnia needs to be portrayed by an actor of consummate charm, intelligence, wit and unknowable appeal. For this, Generation Y character actor par excellence Joseph Gordon-Levitt (30) is an absolute must. True, Gordon-Levitt is hardly “rat-faced” and can claim far more personal beauty than “the little Drasnian” was ever accorded, but he is nevertheless the perfect choice for one of the more challenging roles of the series.
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If casting further ahead in the Belgariad to at least the next book, Queen of Sorcery, these other indispensible souls must surely be included:
 Henry Cavill |
Owning one of the most romantic histories in all of Epic Fantasy -- along with some of the most outrageous lines, all spoken in a devastatingly archaic syntax -- the stalwart Sir Mandorallen must needs be played by a man by turns courtly, contentious and confoundingly simple. The stock of Brit Henry Cavill (27), may be just about to take a massive upswing, owing to his appearance as sword-wielding Greek hero Theseus in this year’s Immortals, and as cape-wearing comic book hero Superman in next year’s Man of Steel, but for now, we feel this The Tudors star is just the right amount of famous to make Mandorallen’s armor-clad gallantry work for him.
 Rudy Youngblood |
A fierce warrior and prince of a nomadic horse tribe, Hettar is a man of few, but often decisive words. Rudy Youngblood (28), the unknown who came from a Native American dance troupe to headline Mel Gibson’s epic Mayan-language movie Apocalypto, has both the physicality and the inscrutability to pull off this forceful young man admirably. (Is it racist of us to assume Youngblood would look to be at home as a horse lord? We hope not.)
 Bella Thorne |
A spoilt princess, brattish but beautiful, Ce’Nedra’s Titian tresses and air of petulance could only be represented by Big Love and Shake it Up!’s elfin Bella Thorne (13) -- if she can be persuaded to keep to her hair red for more than a few days, that is. And for the older Ce’Nedra seen later in the series… Doctor Who’s pocket-sized beauty Karen Gillan (23) would rock the role, and rock it hard. (And wouldn’t young Nathan Kress just love that?)
Arrows of the QueenBook 1 of Valdemar, by Mercedes Lackey
1987
In the more than thirty years (and books) since its inception, the Valdemar series has thrown out many an unforgettable character, touching romance and thrilling climactic battle -- whether magical or otherwise. In stories running the gamut of all the Fantasy tropes, but consistently given their own unique Lackeyan spin, we have soared with gryphons and marched with mercenary companies, traveled the length and breadth of a vast and variable landscape (well, except for Iftel; we’ve never been to Iftel), and discovered a wealth of turbulent history and magical power amid exquisitely wrought tales of the outcast and oppressed saved from drudgery by the sentient horses known as Companions, who determine who shall be the protectors of their utopian realm.
Back at the very beginning of all of this was Talia, a young girl who begins a journey of discovery that ultimately leads her to take on one of the highest offices in the land. And Arrows of the Queen is the very start of Talia’s trilogy (most every Valdamaran story comes in trilogy form), to which we now turn our attention…
 Ariel Winter |
Raised in a polygamous, patriarchal and ascetic society, thirteen-year old Talia is taken to the Valdemaran capital of Haven by her new Companion, the stately Rolan (ideally voiced by Kevin Conroy, from Batman: The Animated Series) and inducted into the ways of her Heraldic duties. She has much ignorance and insecurity to overcome before she finally takes her rightful place at the Queen’s side, and for this part of her early life might we suggest Modern Family’s snarky but soulful Ariel Winter (13)? And for later on, what about the luminous Ashley Greene
 Ashley Greene |
 Benjamin Whitrow |
Mentor to Talia, a Herald by training and a Bard in his own right, Jadus is a father figure full of good humor, intelligence, and an old-world kindliness. Silver-haired and missing a leg (lost in the Tedrel Wars, don’t you know), he is unfailingly courteous and yet will brook no nonsense. Can you see British actor Benjamin Whitrow (74), best known as Mr. Bennet in the 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice in the role? We sure can.
 Stephen R. McQueen |
Taken off the mean streets by his Choosing, Skif is a thief and a pickpocket who is quick of wits, hands and eyes, and who is Talia’s best friend among all the other Herald Trainees. For the young Skif... what of star-in-the-making Zachary Gordon (13), best known as Greg Heffley in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies? As for the later, more grown-up Skif (with whom Talia -- in Ashley Greene form here -- comes to a kind of friends-with-benefits arrangement, and who much later hooks up with a human/cat hybrid named Nyara), we feel he might best be played by the mischievous Stephen R. McQueen (23), of The Vampire Diaries. (He is certainly no stranger to inter-species dating.)
 Ashley Boettcher |
A Crown Princess known popularly as “The Brat”, Elspeth is seven years old to Talia’s thirteen at the outset of the acquaintance, and gets a few years older by the end of this first book. Therefore, we humbly submit Ashley Boettcher (11), who captured our hearts in 2009’s Aliens in the Attic, and proved therein she could convincingly play spoilt, tempestuous and also adorable. For the teen Elspeth, perhaps the expressive Victoria Justice (18), of Nickelodeon’s Victorious -- segueing into the earnest and yet engaging Danielle Panabaker (23), of Shark and Sky High fame, for Elspeth's own trilogy. (We won’t hold the 2009 Friday the 13th remake against her.)
 Christpher Mintz-Plasse |
Tall, lanky, homely and far too noble for his own good, Dirk has not long been a Herald himself when he encounters the newly-hatched Talia, and spends a goodly portion of three books fighting his unbidden attachment to her. Tall. Lanky. Homely. Has a thing for hot chicks he thinks are too good for him. Christopher Mintz-Plasse (21), come on down! Your star-making appearances in Superbad and Kick-Ass showed us beyond a doubt that you can do this thing. Besides, Mintz-Plasse and Greene as an onscreen couple?? Not since that gawky kid from Road Trip ended up with Eliza Dushku in The New Guy would we so gladden fanboy hearts.
 Tricia Helfer |
Little more than a bit part, really, it would be remiss of us not to give Selenay a face; after all, the majority of the Valdemar trilogies do occur during her reign. Blonde of hair and athletic of build, she is described as being a woman of great character and intelligence, and bearing a magnetic attraction that awakens devotion in her loyal subjects; to this end, Tricia Helfer (37), Battlestar Galactica’s statuesque resident temptress and Burn Notice’s one-time puppet master, would be a compelling choice.
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 Ed Westwick |
But why him, you ask? Simple.
He’s Chuck Bass.
Ahead: Fionovar and Camber...