Not Quite M Night Levels: Fantasy Casting Time!

[ukgirl71]

As it's Summer, and basically because there's nothing else to do, I've been "Chuck"ing a few fantasy casting ideas around in my head.  Specifically, what roles I would cast the SPN team in, in a world where Supernatural had never been commissioned.  If anyone else would care to play the game with me, pick a show, or even a movie, from any point in (past!) time and tell me who you would cast in any particular role, and why. 

To give you my starting thoughts, I would have Jensen play Josh Lyman in the West Wing, because he can handle drama and comedy with consummate skill and can hold his own in a 1st class group of actors.  I could also see Jensen as DiNozzo in NCIS, again for the serious vs. lightness and well, because like Michael Weatherly, I see a little of the 'matinee idol' in him.

As for Jared, how about Detective Flack in NCIS NY, because (a bit like Eddie Cahill in that role), he can keep a fairly tight rein on his emotions, and is athletic with a strong physical presence.  Or even Halstead on Chicago PD, because there's a bit of the 'boy scout' to that part, a 'junior partner' role like Sam.

None of the others are 'jumping out at me', so I'd love your inspiration.

[ILoveReading]

My fantasy casting would have been Jensen for Han Solo, Nathan Drake, or Indiana Jones.

I also think Jensen would have been the perfect Roland Deschain. (From Stephen King's The Dark Tower series)

I'd also cast Jensen as Adam in the next Guardians of the Galaxy movie..

Edited July 17, 2017 by ILoveReading

[ae2]

36 minutes ago, ukgirl71 said:

To give you my starting thoughts, I would have Jensen play Josh Lyman in the West Wing, because he can handle drama and comedy with consummate skill and can hold his own in a 1st class group of actors.  I could also see Jensen as DiNozzo in NCIS, again for the serious vs. lightness and well, because like Michael Weatherly, I see a little of the 'matinee idol' in him.

Man, it's weird to think of Jensen as being old enough to play Josh Lyman. But he's just about the same age Bradley Whitford was when West Wing started. 

I could actually see Jensen playing Sam Seaborn more than Josh. But he could probably pull off either one.

5 minutes ago, ILoveReading said:

I also think Jensen would have been the perfect Roland Deschain. 

I can't begin to tell you how perfect that is. 

I keep hearing that if the movie is a success they're going to make a TV series too. Maybe this could still happen.

[ae2]

11 minutes ago, ILoveReading said:

I also think Jensen would have been the perfect Roland Deschain. 

I can't begin to tell you how perfect that is. 

I keep hearing that if the movie is a success they're going to make a TV series too. Maybe this could still happen.

I could see Jared in some sort of modern Western TV series. There haven't been many Westerns in recent history, and I think we're due for one. So some iteration of Bonanza or Gunsmoke.

Or how about Jared as Sam Malone in Cheers?

[Wayward Son]

Since I consider Jensen, and to a lesser extent Jared, to be completely abysmal comedy actors anything involving comedy is out.

I'd have liked to have seen Jared's take on Angel from the Buffyverse. I'd love to see  Misha in a marvel movie! Perhaps as an alien of some sort? He's excellent at pulling off that whole otherworldly getting used to humanity thing. I think Jensen as the Castors from Orphan Black could have been interested! I'd also be interested to see how he holds up against Someone as strong as Tatiana Maslany. 

[Pondlass1]

I've never watched any of the shows mentioned here so far.  But I'd like to see Jensen in a remake of American Gigolo (Richard Gere).  I think both Js have a good handle on comedy - but Jensen's many other talents would be wasted if he only stuck to one genre.  I get the feeling there are a lot of casting directors out there who are very impressed with Jensen and anxious for Supernatural to end.  But it's all a crap shoot, isn't it?  David Boreanaz jumped from Angel to Bones and now has lucked into another TV series right away, and I don't think he's overly talented at all.

Jared could easily slip into any sitcom and be very successful and he'd enjoy the more relaxed shooting schedule.

Misha got lucky with Castiel.  I don't see him as a strong actor and he'll probably drift out of the limelight and work more with his charities.

Of the three, I view Jensen as the most ambitious, the most talented and probably the most successful  as the future unfolds.  I'd like to see him win some sort of recognition for his craft.

[Wayward Son]

29 minutes ago, Pondlass1 said:

Misha got lucky with Castiel.  I don't see him as a strong actor and he'll probably drift out of the limelight and work more with his charities.

 .

Eh, in drama I'd agree he's the weakest of the three, but in the area of comedy he's miles above Jared and Jensen who are truly terrible at it. 

Edited July 17, 2017 by Wayward Son

[MysteryGuest]

21 minutes ago, Wayward Son said:

Eh, in drama I'd agree he's the weakest of the three, but in the area of comedy he's miles above Jared and Jensen who are terrible at it. 

It's all pretty subjective, IMO.  I happen to think that Jensen is pretty good at comedy, with the exception of some of the over-the-top, slapstick stuff.  But even then, it's not so much that he's bad at it, I just have an issue with how they portray Dean sometimes.  In the right type of movie or series, it probably wouldn't bother me so much.

[Pondlass1]

29 minutes ago, MysteryGuest said:

with the exception of some of the over-the-top, slapstick stuff.

I agree.  Jensen fools about and it's being edited into the episode more and more.  Dean has the smart mouth, I'll go along with that but knocking things over and falling over a 4 foot fence is out of character.  Dean is stealth and coordination.

[Pondlass1]

1 hour ago, Wayward Son said:

Eh, in drama I'd agree he's the weakest of the three, but in the area of comedy he's miles above Jared and Jensen who are truly terrible at it. 

Don't agree with this ^.  Misha is naturally self depreciating and comedy gold when sparring on the JIB stage with Jensen. They could take their act on the road.  Misha has a quick wit and the king of ad-libs, but in a scripted comedy?   I don't know?

I realize this thread is about fantasy casting - but Misha is a humanitarian and activist first.   I can see him travelling the world and maybe using his celebrity to produce and appear in documentaries helping to improve the welfare and happiness of peoples in need.  

My fingers are crossed that Jensen nabs a lead role on Netflix, HBO, or whatever... and quickly.  It's quite thrilling thinking about him as someone other than Dean Winchester. 

[auntvi]

1 hour ago, Pondlass1 said:

Jared could easily slip into any sitcom and be very successful and he'd enjoy the more relaxed shooting schedule.

Wow. Sitcom, seriously? Jared plays a good straight-man to Jensen's slapstick, but he's said he doesn't like doing comedy and I really can't see him in a 1/2 hr sitcom. I have no idea if it would be a more relaxed shooting schedule or why that's relevant.

I can see Jared trying a completely different character from Sam. Something like Raylan Givens, maybe.

[gonzosgirrl]

2 hours ago, ae2 said:

Man, it's weird to think of Jensen as being old enough to play Josh Lyman. But he's just about the same age Bradley Whitford was when West Wing started. 

I could actually see Jensen playing Sam Seaborn more than Josh. But he could probably pull off either one.

I can't begin to tell you how perfect that is. 

I keep hearing that if the movie is a success they're going to make a TV series too. Maybe this could still happen.

Now you've gone and killed me. OMG, he would be so good in this role (Sam) (and I think Rob Lowe and Bradley Whitford were pretty much perfection).

Edited July 17, 2017 by gonzosgirrl

[gonzosgirrl]

Jensen: Jason Bourne. Steve Rogers.

Jared: I could see him in more of a light, rom-com role, or nerdy teacher.

[bethy]

Ever since some said that Jensen almost got or turned down the role of Hawkeye in the Marvel films, I can so see him in that role. I would also agree with a Jason Bourne or Han Solo kind of part. I think Jensen does dry or subtle humor very well. I feel like recently he's tried some slapstick type humor with Dean that hasn't worked at all, in my opinion. And whoever's directing hasn't been willing to say, "Yeah, don't do that."

[ukgirl71]

I'm loving everyone's perspectives on this - it's interesting how we see them in subtly different ways.  Thinking about it some more, I would love to see either Jared or Jensen in Chris Pratt's role in Jurassic World, which is a very physical role, with a side order of romantic hero.  Plus, how about their takes on the lead roles in Suits?

[catrox14]

8 hours ago, auntvi said:

Wow. Sitcom, seriously? Jared plays a good straight-man to Jensen's slapstick, but he's said he doesn't like doing comedy and I really can't see him in a 1/2 hr sitcom. I have no idea if it would be a more relaxed shooting schedule or why that's relevant.

I can see Jared trying a completely different character from Sam. Something like Raylan Givens, maybe.

That interesting because I've always thought Jared has a pretty good knack for light physical comedy and being a funny straight man.

For instance, I think he was really funny in Bad Day at Black Rock and French Mistake was just gold. The tripping and falling and "I lost my shoe line" are not the funniest parts of that episode for me. I think he's much funnier when he's sitting in the chair and his nose itches and his face. Jared has a great BEFUDDLED face that makes me laugh.  I don't like his OTT bitch face but the subtle confused growing irritated face is great.

He was great in In It's a Terrible Life.  And in French Mistake the 'bad acting' was great because that kind of thing can go so wrong. Like the hand thing when  he said "There must be a lock...I would imagine" just makes me laugh so hard EVERY time, because he's so darn earnest in the delivery.   Or in Wishful Thinking when he's so befuddled about them talking about how to kill the Teddy Bear and just the way he delivers the line of "I don't think that's our core problem here" will never not make me laugh.  YES  the writing absolutely helps but if you can't say the words in an interesting way then it doesn't matter and it won't be funny IMO.  So for me if he was in mockumentary style thing like in their own mockumentary  or something like VEEP or The Office I think would be right up his alley. 

I think Jensen is has a gift for how to deliver an intentionally funny line which can often go badly.  I think lately his slapstick has gone too big, but I still think he can deliver the silly, goofy, well placed zinger. He excels at that and I think some of the terrible lines he's had to say are  still funny. Like his freak out in Yellow Fever is a great funny monologue that requires deft handling and I think he still delivers on that front as long as he pulls back on the 'buffoon' things.  But a lot of people love that buffoonish physical comedy too.  I think Jensen used to be more Marx Brothers and now hes more Three Stooges or Jerry Lewis. I love the former and not so much the latter.

I would like to see Jensen play a scary, funny villain. He's done SO MUCH with Dean that he's played the drunk, depressed hero and the funny hero and the emotional character and  he's shown he can play a real psychopath in My Bloody Valentine.  So maybe a really great fun villain. 

[catrox14]

ETA: I think Jensen also has a gift for finding the comic moments in a dark episode. Yes, the writing matters but if he can't deliver a dark humor line with any alacrity, it's pointless. But I think he brings an internal sense of humor that helps Dean just be...funny. For instance, when Dean says a stupid pun that is terrible but it's funny because of Dean's total commitment to his terrible pun, which for me makes it funny and a character trait more than being funny in moments. 

[Pondlass1]

14 hours ago, catrox14 said:

I've always thought Jared has a pretty good knack for light physical comedy and being a funny straight man.

I agree.  Jared is a very good actor - and I just love the guy, he's beautiful inside and out.  But drama isn't always his thing and he tends to rely a bit too much on furrowed brow and narrowed eyes.  I'm not bashing him, honestly. His chemistry with Jensen is the backbone of this series.  But, as @catrox14 has pointed out - he can be  kinda genius in those comedic moments.  That's why I see him being very successful in a sitcom.  Maybe a dad juggling auditioning for acting jobs and looking after his kids.  I'm not bashing Jared, honestly - but I see comedy route rather than drama.

I doubt that falling over a small gate and breaking a model ship was part of any script.  It was Jensen fooling about and they left it in. 

All above my own opinion, of course.  And I've been known to be wrong. :)

[Wayward Son]

23 hours ago, auntvi said:

Wow. Sitcom, seriously? Jared plays a good straight-man to Jensen's slapstick, but he's said he doesn't like doing comedy and I really can't see him in a 1/2 hr sitcom. I have no idea if it would be a more relaxed shooting schedule or why that's relevant.

I can see Jared trying a completely different character from Sam. Something like Raylan Givens, maybe.

At least Jared seems to know his own limits! Being a bad comedy actor on a drama show like Supernatural is acceptable because the show isn't  about comedy. However, being a bad comedy actor, like J2 are, on a sitcom would just be embarrassing. 

 

On the other hand, while he's a weaker dramatic actor than J2, I feel Misha would be able to handle a role on a sitcom. He has great comedic timing and humour. 

Edited July 18, 2017 by Wayward Son

[catrox14]

4 hours ago, Wayward Son said:

At least Jared seems to know his own limits! Being a bad comedy actor on a drama show like Supernatural is acceptable because the show isn't  about comedy. However, being a bad comedy actor, like J2 are, on a sitcom would just be embarrassing. 

Taking my reply to bitch/jerk :)

ETA: I don't really know where else to put my response because it's not Sam vs Dean but it's not really bitterness/ UO. I don't know what other place to go with it. So I figure that is the safest spot.

Edited July 18, 2017 by catrox14