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Recasting our heroes — Page 2

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Mrebo said:

Okay...I do not understand...at all...casting people who are in their 20s and 30s for these roles.

If the next film is a continuation of the third film, it will have to be recast.  If it's a story taking place 40 years later, then we could expect to see Hamill and Ford.

I'm not sure how they would work Fisher into the story.  You would need some story element trying to explain why she's unrecognizable as the same person.  Hamill and Ford have aged correctly.  Her years of drug abuse and lifestyle have aged her prematurely.

I'm surprised at the number of people who are so emotionally against recasting. I can't think of a franchise more contaminated or more in need of a fresh start that Star Wars. 

Maybe because the NPR version of the original story is my canon, maybe because I'm EU-only, or maybe because I'm a life-long James Bond nerd - but to me the story is paramount, not the actors.  No two ways about it, actors can sometimes make a character, but if Kirk, Spock, or 007 can be played by more than one person, anyone can.

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Carrie looks older than the boys because she's a female actress of the opposite sex.

The Hollywood convention is that men are allowed to grow old disgracefully but women are only allowed to be older when they are already old or Helen Mirren.

Anyway as she is she would be ideal to play the bad guy.

One of the few things I liked about Willow was Jean Marsh.

I can see Carrie having loads of fun doing this sort of thing :

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Nathan Fillion as Han would make sense.

“Long you live and high you'll fly and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry and all you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be.” Roger Waters

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Anchorhead said:

Mrebo said:

Okay...I do not understand...at all...casting people who are in their 20s and 30s for these roles.

If the next film is a continuation of the third film, it will have to be recast.  If it's a story taking place 40 years later, then we could expect to see Hamill and Ford.

Hemsworth is 29. Ford was about 40 in ROTJ. Some confusion there. From the rumors, if true, it sounds that E7 would start some number of years after ROTJ (10? 15?). But I'm with Bingo and hope those rumors don't pan out anyhow.

I'm surprised at the number of people who are so emotionally against recasting. I can't think of a franchise more contaminated or more in need of a fresh start that Star Wars. 

Remake the PT? I'm all with ya. That's the contamination I see.

Maybe because the NPR version of the original story is my canon, maybe because I'm EU-only, or maybe because I'm a life-long James Bond nerd - but to me the story is paramount, not the actors.  No two ways about it, actors can sometimes make a character, but if Kirk, Spock, or 007 can be played by more than one person, anyone can.

:P well if the OT movies aren't your primary enjoyment I do understand your position. As a lover of Star Wars as literally defined by the OT movies...it wouldn't work for me. I've been amused and/or entertained by segments of the EU but I see those on a much lower rank. They are on about par with fan-fiction, the only difference being LFL's approval.

I've seen enough General Hospital to see how easily characters can be recast in fluff entertainment. I see major distinctions with 007 and a full re-imagining as in Trek (which I see no reason for in SW). Not about my philosophical objections, though I reallllly hope it doesn't matter. Bingo has a lot of smart things to say on Star Wars and I agree with him here. At least casting should lean toward...a continuation of the series and not a remake...since the latter is not the proposal.

Bingowings said:

she's a female actress of the opposite sex.

It's on other issues that he confuses me.

blackmagicdude said:

Nathan Fillion as Han would make sense.

-_-

The blue elephant in the room.

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         Hemsworth is a surprisingly good actor. Fillion has done a great job in a similar role.

         MH and CF were effectively total unknowns. If nothing else, that could work again.

         For a ST, I could see setting it 25-30 years later. It would be fun to see the old gang. With the new techniques, CF could quickly become a Hawt mature gal. She has the basics.

         For recasting, I'd go with a saga remake-reboot. Whats the point in putting them in an ST when you already have great storylines in the OT and a PT that could use a reboot?

        For a franchise like SW, why go with every 2-3 years? It made sense with HP because we follow him through his school years. I understand that a theatrical release makes about 90% of it's money in the first three weeks. There's enough time starting around May 22 to do 3 limited engagement releases in the summer blockbuster season. They could all work from the same marketing campaign. They could be re-released in the last half of the summer. You already know that there is almost zero chance of losing money.

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With the rumors of Hamill and Fisher meeting with George a while back, I think it is likely that the treatments GL handed over to Disney take place some 20+ years after ROTJ and will involve the original characters/cast. 

I expect to see Hamill, Fisher, and Ford return, although most likely they will be handing the torch to a new generation.  They can easily get into shape and be made-up to appear for at least a few cameo scenes.  Hamill would be the most likely to remain in the cast for all three films as a mentor figure.

If this is the case, I worry about the story.  It will be difficult to continue the story that was so neatly wrapped up in ROTJ, especially if there is a 20+ year gap.  If you're a fan of EU, you may disagree with me here, but I really don't want to see any cheesy storylines involving clones of the main characters etc...

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Ford wanted Han to be killed 30 years ago and has been grumpy since about SW, I don't see him coming back ever. And no offence to the other two, but they aren't that picture friendly anymore to do movies. It could be somewhat cool, but I'd rather see something else.

And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.

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He didn't mind reminiscing about the Holiday Special with Conan O'Brien though. ;)

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Where were you in '77?

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wabid said:

Leia

 

She was so hot back then.  Impossible to equate the girl in that photo to the woman who goes by the name of Carrie Fisher today in my mind.  Just boggles my brain, does not compute.

Anyway, bollocks to recasting.  Set it ages after ROTJ so no Han or Leia.  Cast Mark Hamill as an old Jedi Master.  Yoda lived to 900, why can't Luke?

War does not make one great.

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Fisher may be far from picture perfect at the moment, but she could easily get back into decent shape to appear in the film long enough to satisfy the needs of her character (passing the reins).  If need be, I'm more than happy to see them apply some make-up and or digital effects to help her out.

As for Ford, I think he would certainly agree to appear for a few scenes here and there throughout the series.  I certainly wouldn't expect him to return to the series as a main character however.

Hamill on the other hand, with a bit of exercise fits the bell just fine.  And I think he would be more than enthusiastic about reprising the role.

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Yoda Is Your Father said:


Cast Mark Hamill as an old Jedi Master.  Yoda lived to 900, why can't Luke?


He doesn't have to be that old ...

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Why is there a need for "passing the torch"? I think the new ones would work better without catering the fans. I don't like films that need to be dumbed down for the audience to see some kind of connection. How about adding a survived Boba Fett to break the 4th wall somewhere, too.

And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.

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+1 for Fett survival...

"passing the torch" is a convenient device but Star Wars could go more like Asimov's "Foundation" where a passing of the torch is implicit, jumping ahead by decades or more. I think for it to be part of the same story it basically has to be some kind of torch-passing, else it's a spinoff. I could totally get into an Old Republic saga. I don't think many of us have an objection to separate stories being told. If they are going to continue the Star Wars story from E6 to E7, I do want that connection.

The blue elephant in the room.

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But they killed Fett again in the EU,  With Lucas permission in the Boba Fett is dead comics.  Only so they could have Mirta his daughter take over.

I wish Mara Skywalker would be in the movies but doubt that, it was Lucas decision to have her killed anyways in the EU because the choice  Karen Traviss wanted was Luke and he said no.

Zahn was not even asked he created the character but Lucasfilm owns it.

 

A bit Spoiler-ish but those lousy ea books have been out for years.

“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

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The reason I feel there needs to be a passing of the torch is because it is Episode VII.  It's a continuation of the story that already exists.  Unless they decide to clone the Emporer or maybe Anakin generations in the future, the only way they can really connect this to the existing storyline is to include that older generation from the OT.  Otherwise why label it Episode VII?

I absolutely agree that I don't need those characters in a new Star Wars movie.  I would love to see something take place in a completely different time period with completely different characters.  But if you are going to call it Episode VII and expect it to pick up some sort of lose end or unresolved storyline from the  I-VI Star Wars Saga, then the best way to accomplish this, in my opinion, is with a "passing of the torch" series of events.

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These are all good points on either side of the coin, but what I have read is that Episode VII is only a "working title" so we still don't know if it's a continuation past ROTJ or if it will be something else entirely.  Personally, I would like to see it as a continuation and hope that they bring back Mark and Carrie at least to make all of us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

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I think the best way to go would be to have the original actors, but put them in supporting roles and focus on younger characters. Even with the whole Carrie Fisher challenge.

Even so, a story focusing on the Original Trilogy heroes would be really interesting to see, too. I don't think you could do it without recasting and having it take place not long after ROTJ.

I think Karl Urban would make a great Han Solo, although I guess him being McCoy in Star Trek already makes that a bit complicated.

Anne Hathaway would be my pick for Leia.

Isaiah Mustafa as Lando. From Colt 45 to Old Spice.

I can't think of someone for Luke, it's a rather tough role to cast.

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If Anne Hathaway shows her face in Star Wars just like she ruined Batman, I will not be a happy camper!

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“Grow up. These are my Disney's movies, not yours.”

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Yeah, over at TFN they are suggesting Justin Bieber for Episode 7.  More than one person.  I kid you not.

I wish that I could just wish my feelings away...but I can't.  Wishful wishing can only lead to wishes wished for in futile wishfulness, which is not what I wish to wish for. 

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It would probably make more sense to cast some of these people as new characters filling the archetype of the OT characters.

If Luke is now the older Master Jedi someone else should be the optimistic young hero (though it could be a girl of colour this time around).

Similarly we would need a Han type character even if Harrison is in it playing Digger Barnes.

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Bingowings said:

 

If Luke is now the older Master Jedi someone else should be the optimistic young hero (though it could be a girl of colour this time around).

Excellent idea!

I could easily see Jessica Lucas as an aspiring Jedi on some sort of "idealistic crusade".  Having her as a protegee of an an elder Luke would be very interesting.

Jessica Lucas

 

 

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It would be a way of having a Lucas onboard and a rather pleasing to the eye one if I must say so :-)