Casting: News & Wishlist

[Athena]

This is a Book Talk thread for speculation on the casting for future characters. If you have not read the books, please leave now.

 

Spoilers for audition videos and for the books are allowed.

 

You can discuss who you want from the long list of characters from this book series.

[Liser78]

I have always ( well maybe not ALWAYS, but atleast the last 5 years or so) pictured Matthew Goode as Roger.  I think he would be perfect (maybe a touch too old at this point) but I fear he is too well known to be cast.

 

And like a lot of people I think Deborah Ann Wall would be a great Brianna, but alas she is attached to the new Daredevil show (oh well).

 

I like Toby Regbo for Lord John, he can pull off the younger years and maybe even when he first becomes the Governor, but at 23-24 I am not sure he could pull off beyond that (and this show is going to cover ALL THE BOOKS, I refuse to believe differently).

 

I am having the hardest time with who should or could be Fergus and Ian.  All the suggestions I have seen seem to rely on a guy being young and good looking and lanky.....and really have nothing to do with any acting ability (and these guys are really going to have to act their asses off).  Any suggestions?

 

I have seen quite a few actresses that I think would be good as Marsali, but will have to reserve my judgement on those until I am able to see them in anything more than a clip here and there. What are everyones opinions on:Lara Goodison and Freya Maver?

[lianau]

Fergus definitely needs more than one actor as Fergus starts out as a 10 year old  . He's also French and I don't now how they will handle the French part of season 2.

[Pestilentia]

I am very worried about the Fergus casting- he has to be one of my favorite characters of the entire series.

I just want them to properly capture his street urchin arrogance and his familiarity with the mysteries of women.

Were I casting I would be searching for brothers or a father/son combination to cover the many ages of Fergus.

 

I hope we get to the point of casting Master Raymond- I look forward to him the most..

[WatchrTina]

I just finished watching the first two Harry Potter movies with my niece and was reminded how much I liked the Scottish actor who played Oliver Wood (the Quiddich captain). His name is Sean Biggerstaff. Surely we can find a role for him?

[Firebunny]

I have seen quite a few actresses that I think would be good as Marsali, but will have to reserve my judgement on those until I am able to see them in anything more than a clip here and there.

 

I would like to see Nell Hudson (current Laoghaire) play Marsali.

[WatchrTina]

That's a great idea Firebunny. And it would be nice for Nell to get to play a character who is liked and who gets the man she loves after this season's unrequited love and (let's face it) distain by the fans.

Edited December 20, 2014 by WatchrTina

[Liser78]

http://www.outlandertvnews.com/2015/01/brian-mccardie-joins-the-outlander-cast-as-sir-marcus-macrannoch/

[Nidratime]

Question about that casting news.

 

Does Wentworth prison spill over into Dragonfly in Amber? Otherwise, I don't understand how someone could just be announced as portraying a character that helps Jamie and Claire at Wentworth.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Athena
Removed spoilers. Book talk allowed.

[WatchrTina]

Nidradine the answer to your question is no.  I think that news above is not so much a casting announcement as someone calling attention to the fact that this actor will be appearing (for the first time) in one of the episodes in the second half of season one.  I presume it is all just part of the ongoing effort to maintain buzz for the show during its mid-season hiatus. 

[Nidratime]

Ah, you're right. I don't know why I didn't think of that except, I'm so focused on cast announcements that may appear for Season 2. Season 1 is more in my mental rear window.

[Liser78]

I shared the link because it was shared with me, but I had the same thought about why announce it now when he would have already filmed all his scenes.  I had to double check the dates because it threw me a bit, but I think it was just intended to be the announcement that this is who was cast by the way. And to keep us "happy" with feeding us little tidbits while we wait for the rest of the season.

[peacefrog]

I rarely speculate on who could be cast because they usually end up casting unknowns and I just am not a good judge of these things lol. This will be my first try.  

 

Season 2 and beyond:

Roger, Joshua Sasse currently playing Galavant.  He can sing!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3173770/?ref_=rvi_nm 

Lol my autocorrect made his name Sassenach at first.

 

This one just came to me while discussing Black Sails with WatchrTina in the Small Talk thread.

 

Book 4

Stephen Bonnet

Tom Hopper
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2584392/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t23

[WatchrTina]

Oooh, Peacefrog that's an interesting suggestion for book 4.  He'd probably enjoy playing a bad guy after playing one of very few "good" guys on Black Sails.  His height would come in very handy in the scenes where he is called upon to intimidate two other characters, Brianna and Roger, who will be played by tall actors if the casting is true to the books.  And of course he's already had experience on a the deck of a fake ship.

Edited January 18, 2015 by WatchrTina

[Athena]

Book spoilers are not necessary in this topic as it is a Book Talk thread. :)

[WatchrTina]

Thanks for the clarification Athena.  So since I can talk more freely I'll say that Tom Hopper looked all kinds of hot over in Black Sails, season one.  That man has a perfectly amazing upper body and a rather sweet face coupled with his intimidating stature.  That face would come in handy when Bonnet sweet talks Jamie into letting him go after he escapes justice by hiding in the Fraser's wagon.  And that sweet face would create all kinds of disconcerting feelings when he threatens the life of a baby on his ship, threatens Roger, and more-than-threatens Brianna.  I like it!

Edited January 21, 2015 by WatchrTina

[MedievalGirl]

Season 2 and beyond:

Roger, Joshua Sasse currently playing Galavant.  He can sing!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3173770/?ref_=rvi_nm 

Lol my autocorrect made his name Sassenach at first.

 

OMG! (I said it out loud.) That would work. I have nothing but incoherent syllables to add. 

[WatchrTina]

I'm watching Vikings right now (which, by the way, is awesome) and 35-year-old Travis Fimmel (Ragnar Lothbrok) and 37-year-old Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha) have "aged" at least 10 years over the first 3 seasons and are entirely credible as the parents of 22-year-old Alexander Ludwig (Bjorn).  This makes me feel very positive about the aging up of Sam & Cait as the parents of whoever is cast as Brianna.

[Tif]

I agree, WatcherTina!  If it's written well (which it is) and cast well (so far, so good), I think it can be done effectively.

[theschnauzers]

Point should be made that

 

I'm watching Vikings right now (which, by the way, is awesome) and 35-year-old Travis Fimmel (Ragnar Lothbrok) and 37-year-old Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha) have "aged" at least 10 years over the first 3 seasons and are entirely credible as the parents of 22-year-old Alexander Ludwig (Bjorn).  This makes me feel very positive about the aging up of Sam & Cait as the parents of whoever is cast as Brianna.

Alexander is playing a character who is still younger than he is. So that helps with the portrayal of the age difference. *And yes, I love Vikings, as well, and I love that the production team there is as emphatic about realism about that time and place as Ron Moore's team is being about Outlander.

[WatchrTina]

I hope I have followed the directions to load an image in an acceptable format.  Here we go.

 

 

Dear casting people:

 

The hot young man standing behind our heroine, Claire, is the extra I've named "Waldo" (as in "Where's Waldo?)  He was in the cabin when Claire first met the MacKenzie clan.  He fought at Cocknammon Rock, spurring his horse to follow after Jamie yells "Tulach Ard!"  He was there when Geordie died.  He was there on the Rent collecting trip.  He was in the crowd when Claire's wedding dress was unveiled. He's in most of the scenes that involve horses.  And he's featured in a BTS video, shown learning how to put on his great kilt.

 

Please keep using him.  As much as I love the scruffy and bearded men of Outlander (Dougal and Murtagh are particular favorites of mine) it's good to have a few fresh-faced, clean-shaven young men on the show.  Also I do  so love a highlander with long, long hair (and it's real!)  Then there is continuity -- he's clearly one of Dougal's hand-picked men so I'm expecting to see him when some of Dougal's men volunteer for the Wentworth mission in the second half of season 1.  Similarly, he should be there in Season 2, at the very least when Jamie reconnects with Dougal and his men just before Culloden.  I've figured out that he is a horse specialist so I get that he probably won't be hired to hang around in the background of many indoor scenes, but if you have horses in season 2, and in particular if Dougal is on horse-back with his men in season 2, I look forward to spotting "Waldo" in the background.

 

Sincerely,

 

-A loyal fan

 

PS:  He should have been drinking downstairs with the rest of the men during the Wedding episode.  I'm going to assume he was tending to the horses when Jamie came down the stairs.  Dedication that like should be rewarded.  Hire him again.

Edited February 22, 2015 by WatchrTina

[tcay]

So this red-headed actress has been followed on twitter by Outlander, one of the writers, and Sam Heughan:

 

https://twitter.com/Amberskye33

 

And her latest tweet is about an announcement. She's an American. Hmm!

 

ETA where I saw this: http://atom1cflea.tumblr.com/post/112157029396/smithsassenach-ugh-i-am-in-serious-outlander

Edited February 26, 2015 by tcay

[Petunia846]

I can see it. She could work for Brianna.

[Athena]

I can definitely see it too. According to her Twitter, she's been only acting for the last two years. She has three shows in her IMDB, but two of them are multi-episode arcs. She is clearly doing well for herself in such a short amount of time. Found this on her twitter as well:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvVqR571-zI

[Petunia846]

She can sing too. Does Bree sing? Obviously Roger does, but I don't remember Bree ever singing. Not that that had to factor into things, or that she's definitely Bree, just got my gears turning...

 

Looking at her followers, a lot of Outlander fans have already started following her. Heh.

Edited February 27, 2015 by Petunia846

[Athena]

She can sing too. Does Bree sing? Obviously Roger does, but I don't remember Bree ever singing. Not that that had to factor into things, or that she's definitely Bree, just got my gears turning...

 

Roger was the musical one. Jamie lacks singing ability I think, but Claire wasn't too bad? It can certainly help.

 

I can definitely see the actress in the role. She looks like Cait and Sam a bit too, but that doesn't mean she's a good actress. Hard to say at this stage and I'm not someone who loves Brianna in the earlier books either. We'll see  if she is the one and if the writing works, but yes, she definitely looks the part.

[Petunia846]

I think the real challenge of Brianna as a role will be having her feminine looks and naivety but also showing the strength she has like with her hunting. Not as much of that for this coming season though, so I guess there's time.

[peacefrog]

She has been rumoured for a very long time.  I think it was way back when Sam and some others first followed her, if I recall before Outlander even aired.  I bet she has at least auditioned. What seems to go against her as Bree is I would guess that the actors hired would not be tweeting something like that if true until Tall Ships or Sony make the announcement.  We shall see!

 

My own personal guess/hope is that Roger and Bree have been cast awhile ago :).  It might even be her.

They might be holding back announcing for fear of spoilers for non-book readers. 

Edited February 27, 2015 by peacefrog

[theschnauzers]

Don't forget that whoever is cast as Bree should be just about as tall as Sam is, since Bree was just about as tall as Jamie as an adult.

 

I also have a name for a possible Willie, Jamie's illegitimate son, as an adult. Marshall Williams is a Canadian, who is cast in this season of Glee, but has done stage film and television, and is tall and blond and can act. (In his Glee role his hair is close cropped. He's also very athletic and is an outdoors type, which sort of fits the type of actor one is going to need. And because Marxhall is almosyt a decade younger than Sam, as the adult Willliam, he would look younger to begin with.

[tcay]

Oh that would be very sneaky/interesting if Roger and Bree have been cast for a while. I didn't think about the spoiler potential but you're right, announcing that Brianna Randall was cast is quite the spoiler for non-book readers. 

[Liser78]

Don't forget that whoever is cast as Bree should be just about as tall as Sam is, since Bree was just about as tall as Jamie as an adult.

 

but she is not ;(

but she is not tiny (reportedly 5'8") maybe she can have some sneaky heels/lifts.

Sam is 6'3" and the actor she has most of her scenes with in Beauty and the Beast is 6'1" (Jay Ryan) . if you watch the acting reel Athena posted he is standing with her at :50, and 2:08, and 4:58 if that gives you some perspective.

I am concerned with her acting more, but maybe she can do it.  I didn't really care for her in BatB and I do like Bree, so not thrilled if this is the casting but I will keep my mind open.

[WatchrTina]

On Black Sails this season the lead actor, Toby Stephens, is playing a 10-years-younger version of himself in flashback scenes.  It is amazing how different he looks.  I'm sure lighting, hair and make-up are all contributing to the illusion.  He wears a good wig and no facial hair in the flashbacks, most of which are shot indoors with controlled (and probably softened) lighting, while the "present-day" (1715) scenes are mostly shot outdoors where daylight will play up any lines in the face.  But I'm sure most of the aging/de-aging I'm seeing is just good acting.  I look forward to seeing how Sam and Cait will alter their performance to depict the 20-year leap.  I also hope that whoever they cast as Brianna will be able to play younger than her age at the very beginning of her run (like Sam and Cait are doing now) to make the parent-child relationship credible.  Given how good the casting has been so far, I'm feeling quite hopeful.

[chocolatetruffle]

My personal fav choice to play Roger is Joshua Sasse (from the short-lived Galavant), who is gorgeous, British and can SING!

[Nidratime]

On another message board I peruse every so often, someone posted the following re a Brianna auditioner. I googled her and she's very charming, but don't know her work at all.

 

http://atom1cflea.tumblr.com/post/115047454311/sharon-belle-talks-about-auditioning-for-brianna

[theschnauzers]

Michael Auseillo in his Ask Auseillo column at TVLine..com today reports that there's no news yet for casting of Brianna, Roger, or Black Jack's brother, Alexander.

 

Isn't that last one a book three casting?

[justmehere]

Here's a link to that [non]casting info: http://tvline.com/2015/04/14/revenge-season-5-renewed-cancelled-abc/

 

Outlander bit is about 1/2 way down.

[Hybiscus]

Michael Auseillo in his Ask Auseillo column at TVLine..com today reports that there's no news yet for casting of Brianna, Roger, or Black Jack's brother, Alexander.

 

Isn't that last one a book three casting?

Re: Alexander, no, he's book 2. Someone asked Tobias Menzies if he'd play Alexander, too (as a joke, I think). He said he'd love to, but probably wouldn't.

I'm currently reading book 3 and have fallen totally in love with Lord John Grey. I'd love to see him played by Jensen Ackles. Jensen isn't short nor British, but he's very, very pretty, and is extremely good with accents.

[Petunia846]

I'm still stuck on Toby Regbo for Lord John, but I heard he signed for Reign S3, so I guess that's definitely not happening now.

[Nidratime]

I actually saw this mentioned a couple of days ago, but thought, since it's not major I wouldn't post it. But ... might as well since we're getting no other casting news at the moment. Plus, it reminds of something that happens in Dragonfly in Amber that I completely forgot ... which is not hard to do. I've forgotten so much.

 

http://www.outlandertvnews.com/2015/04/outlander-season-two-casting-progresses/

[mledawn]

So we do know that TM won't be playing Alexander for certain? I didn't see that announced anywhere.

 

Hell, if Tatiana Maslany can play twelve characters in Orphan Black, TM can play three.

[CatMack]

For the record, Amber Skye Noyes, the actress from upthread who has been followed by some of the Outlander cast and was teasing an announcement, made her big announcement today.  She's releasing an EP, nothing to do with Outlander.  Could still be cast, but given Ron was interviewed pretty recently saying they weren't close yet, pretty sure it's not her.  I feel kind of bad for her, so many people on twitter just assumed it was Outlander related, hopefully nobody gives her a hard time just because what she announced wasn't what they made assumptions about.  

[Nidratime]

Photo of "Bouton" from Season 2:

 

https://twitter.com/TallShipProds/status/596740556547596288

[Dust Bunny]

Could be 100% irrelevant, and she'll just get a huge bump from a retweet, but I thought it was at least intriguing that Amber Sky Noyes' tweet of her EP was retweeted by Sam 3 hours ago. She's been tweeting a bit about Outlander recently. It might just be all great PR moves for her career (especially for book readers who can imagine the timing of it - possible finale cliffhanger or shooting season 2). Her tweets, as demonstrated by me, are getting attention. But I thought it was worth noting. Possible she did a screen test, it didn't work out, but she charmed everyone and led them to support her career, such as following her on Twitter.

 

Just thought I'd pass Sam's retweet on.

[Glaze Crazy]

Kurt Sutter, showrunner and creator of Sons of Anarchy also follows her so it might just be a professional acquaintance.  KS is doing a medieval period show in Wales right now too. 

 

I wouldn't be surprised if they held off filming any of the scenes in 1968 until all the primary period stuff is finished. The difference in Jamie and Claire's hair length was slightly noticeable when they returned to Leoch after the Rents road trip, but something like that, or physical age, won't be any issue and they have until next year to put it all together anyway.  I think they know the casting for Roger and Brianna are the ones that most book readers, at least, are very interested in, so they might want to dangle that carrot for as long as possible. 

[tcay]

I think I read somewhere that casting would get announced at Comic-Con. Those characters are technically spoilers, so I understand why they haven't announced them. 

 

I was also wondering if they'd just shoot the 1960s stuff all at once or not. That seems plausible.

[areca]

Were I casting I would be searching for ... a father/son combination to cover the many ages of Fergus.

 

What a brilliant idea.  I never thought of this!  Has it been done before?

 

Edit:  That Amber girl is PERFECT for Bree.  Not too pretty, but still striking.  So's the Sharon girl.  I think I'm going to rest easy about the casting - their casting director's amazing and going to get it right.

Edited May 18, 2015 by areca

[Nidratime]

Edit:  That Amber girl is PERFECT for Bree.  Not too pretty, but still striking.  So's the Sharon girl.  I think I'm going to rest easy about the casting - their casting director's amazing and going to get it right.

 

 

Only 5'8" though and I say only relatively, because I think 5'8" is tall since I am shorter.

[areca]

Only 5'8" though and I say only relatively, because I think 5'8" is tall since I am shorter.

Actual height is unimportant in filming.  There are no hobbits in real life for example, nor dwarves.  Bree could be played by Hayden Panatierre and they'd get the perspective right with careful shooting.   And Tom Cruise is wee but you'd not know it from his work.

Edited May 18, 2015 by areca

[Nidratime]

Actual height is unimportant in filming.  There are no hobbits in real life for example, nor dwarves.  Bree could be played by Hayden Panatierre and they'd get the perspective right with careful shooting.   And Tom Cruise is wee but you'd not know it from his work.

 

 

I get ya, but there will be people screaming from high heaven about it. In any event, getting it done on a sound stage or on a movie with all the time in the world is different from having to keep the height right in the short time frames Outlander has for filming an episode in all the rough places they shoot, outdoors and in.

[GHScorpiosRule]

Actual height is unimportant in filming.  There are no hobbits in real life for example, nor dwarves.  Bree could be played by Hayden Panatierre and they'd get the perspective right with careful shooting.   And Tom Cruise is wee but you'd not know it from his work.

 

 

I get ya, but there will be people screaming from high heaven about it. In any event, getting it done on a sound stage or on a movie with all the time in the world is different from having to keep the height right in the short time frames Outlander has for filming an episode in all the rough places they shoot, outdoors and in.

 

 

Yep. I don't know if I'd call it screaming, but I think I do recall some folks saying how Sam wasn't as tall as Jamie, since Jamie was described at being a giant, roughly 6'5"ish or so? Even though Gabaldon/Claire never actually said so?  And unrelated to this show, but there are a good number of folks who didn't like the casting of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, because Jackman is "too tall" and now that he's announced he's retiring playing him, there are those who are saying maybe this time, they'll hire a shorter actor.

 

I'm just grateful no one is nitpicking over the fact that Cait's eyes are blue instead of brown, and that Laura's (Jenny's) eyes are brown instead of blue, etc., etc.