If there was a Farseer Film...?

[greylin]

Originally Posted by ScottSF

Since the fool is a woman it only makes sense.

Is he, though?

[Talysia]

Still one of the most contentious aspects of Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy - the Fool's gender! Welcome to Chronicles, Greylin!

[Apanomar]

For Molly's character -- this link to John Howe's sketch of Molly, for some reason really looks to me like Selma Blair!
:// John Howe :: Illustrator [ Portfolio ] Cover Art*/*Robin HOBB*/*The Farseer Trilogy Book 2: Royal Assassin - Molly
Any thoughts?

[Illiad]

He's a male, You can tell, but it's very hard. There's lots of little things that point to both.

[Talysia]

So do you cast a masculine looking woman or an effeminate looking man? This seems to have been one of the biggest questions we've had so far! There's been a poll started about it, too, and opinion seems to be divided.

[Teir]

No one could play the parts in a way which would satisfy me *shrug* I think I'd cry if a film was made,lol, it would never do the books justice. I'd have to see it though...one of those things you cant help but look at...like puppies on train tracks *grin*

[nettle]

Fareseer film? I do not think it would work...

[Rahl Windsong]

The hardest part to get right would be the bond between Fitz and Nighteyes, as I really do believe that the entire story depends on getting that part absolutley the same as the reader got from reading the novels. If they can not accomplish that I think it would fail and very poorly at that.

[Kennit's Coterie]

Here's some suggestions...
* Johnny depp as the Fool/ Amber/ Lord Golden. Any Johnny Depp fan would know he's quirky enough to pull it off, he'd have to bleach his hair!! Very pale in Edward Scissorhands (He'd make a good Kennit too).
* Bill Nighy as Chade
* James McAvoy as a possible young Fitz (Played Dan Foster in State of Play)
PS Any film that's worth it's salt needs a role for Samuel L Jackson... He's in everything! Can't work out who he could possibly be!

[Terran Nytefyer]

I've actually been thinking about this, myself. (I'm only in the second book of the Farseer Trilogy). And, because I'm an aspiring author myself, I have a bad habit of picturing actors halfway through what I'm reading or writing (just in case anything I ever publish gets made, lol).

As far as Fitz, honestly, first person that came to mind was Haley Joel Osment. I honestly think he could do a good job.

For Burrich, I see Brendan Gleeson, the one who played "MadEye Moody" in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".

Where Kettricken, the Queen-in-Waiting, is concerned, oddly enough (and bear with me here), I see Trini Alvarado from "The Frighteners". Go back and watch that film, I think you'll understand why I pick her.

As for the Fool, Tilda Swinton all the way.

For Galen, I see Jeff Goldblum.

For Regal, I see Jason Isaacs.

For Chade, I'm thinking either Donald Sutherland or Jeremy Irons. Even Patrick Stewart could work, here.

For Verity, I see Johnny Depp.



Now, whether or not you agree with my choices (and I'm sure many of you won't, lol), the choices COULD work, given the proper writers and director. Look at "Shawshank Redemption". The characters looked nothing like their story counterparts (in the story, Red was Irish, yet in the movie he was Morgan Freeman; Andy Dufresne was a SHORT man in the story -- 5'4", I believe -- and in the movie he was played by 6'3" Tim Robbins. :-D). I honestly think it could work.

It COULD be disappointing for a movie to be made, but I seriously think it COULD be done properly. All it would take is the right writer and director.

[manephelien]

I really like your ideas, TN. With the right writer and director it could be done. And yes, do cast a woman as The Fool. It would have to be someone who's very limber, though, for all the tumbling the Fool does.

[Quokka]

Taking it as a given that any movie probably wouldn't work... if they did decide to make one or a series.

A female actor would probably work best for the Fool and Tilda Swinton sounds good but for a male actor I'll throw Cillian Murphy's hat into the ring.

Terran's mention of Donald Sutherland for Chade made me think that a young Kiefer (think lost boys) might have worked for Fitz. I always pictured Fitz as a bit short and if not stocky atleast broad shouldered but I cant remember if he actually was in the book or if it was just my take on it .

I've never seen Seth Green in anything but comedies but I wonder if he could play Fitz, although again it really needs to be someone younger.

Joaquin Phoenix for Regal?

[Ice fyre]

Ahhh, now two very very good actors have been mentioned on this thread. Joaquin Phenonix is superb in "the Village" I look forward to seeing walk the line soon. Jonny Depp is just such a camelon he can do so many things, compare Willy Wonka to Captain Jack Sparrow.

For Chade Patrick Stewart either that or the king shrewd
For Fitz himself I think Joaquin
For the fool Jonny Depp, although wouldnt say no to Tilda swinton (the white queen from Chroncles of Narnia as if you need her identified )

As for Nighteyes animatronics and CGI is coming along nicely could be done but the problem is more budget and interest. I dont see them making it in the next few years, but who knows who thought Lord Of The Rings would be ever filmed in live action.

Ooooo, Peter Jackson to direct!

[Terran Nytefyer]

The major problem I'm seeing, is people are worried that if a movie ( or movies ) were made, it wouldn't be exactly like the book.

As much as I'm a fan for movies being like the books they're based on, I know that if a movie is TOO much like the book, it actually ruins the movie.

I have seen a couple of movies that were almost exactly like the books they were based on. And I couldn't stand them. There is something to be said for minor creative license.

I'm not at all for too much being changed between the Farseer Trilogy and movies being made, but slight changes or merged changes could definitely make the movies well worth watching.

It's like with watching movies based on video games. Take "Super Mario Bros." for example. I LOVED the movie. Because it wasn't exactly like the games. It was corny and silly and didn't take itself too seriously. I would have been bored to tears if it had remained too faithful to the game. I would not really care for a movie about a plumber and him brother running around jumping on mushrooms and turtles and jumping into sewer holes. It'd be boring. lol

But, as stated, I do believe that movies could work if the characters were correctly cast, and the heart of the book, given small details here and there, remained true.

And yes, I agree, a lot would be balanced on the Nighteyes/Fitz bond. It could be done. It could be done well. It'd be difficult, but it could be done well. That, and the friendship between Fitz and The Fool.

But, given the right writer, the right director, and the right actors, I believe the books could make a beautiful transition from written page to big screen.

[TheBlueFool]

Originally Posted by the_faery_queen

there's no one alive perfect enough for the fool, i think

I agree
Maybe an anime film? I'm not normally a huge fan of anime but if it was well illustrated and coloured and such I think it would look very good. The Fool would certainly make a great anime character.
I also think all three trilogies could fit into three films, it wouldn't even need to be condensed too greatly. Just in the books a lot goes into descriptions which could obviously be shown in the visual aspects of the film, and the characters personal contemplations and feelings, which could possibly be conveyed in some other way.
But if it were to be real actors and such, I think Joaquim Phoenix would make a pretty good Fitz
As far as looks are concerned, I think Elijah Wood would look great as the young Fool. But Johnny Depp's definately got the right personality and quirkiness to pull off the Fool's whimsicality aswell as looks. Maybe Viggo Mortensen as Verity (yeah I'm sorta crossing into LotR casts here now lol)