If there was a movie?

[HappyHippo]

hmm. I'm not sure about that, coz I've only ever seen him playing Bill Nighy - he's identical in every role. EVEN covered in tentacles, doing a LOUSY Scots accent in Pirates, he's still Bill.
HAving said that, I think he'd do wonderfully as Zalasta, with the drawly menace thing going on.
And Van Damme as Engessa would need serious fx doing, as he's only 3ft 2in tall, and Engessa's 10ft! *evil giggles*
I think I'm going to go through my DVD collection, and draw up my definitive list.

[Zombie]

Look what they did for Gimli though! He's pretty tall and ...

Hey! Tall! Ooookay, now I like Ulath (hee hee U-lat) and he needs to be played an actor who is very tall. What about Rhys Ifans? I'll admit he's got the height, and I can see him looking a bit Nordic-ish, though .... well, just not really super handsome.

Anyways John Rhys-Davies is just over six foot and they got him to look pretty short. I'm sure they could get Bill Nighy to look tall. But I really like the idea of him playing Zalasta. That's a much better role for him than Vanion.

What about Jeremy Northam for Tynian?

[Talysia]

Just catching up with reading these last few posts, and I have to say I agree with Bill Nighy for Zalasta. Good choice!

[Quokka]

Im sure Ive posted here before, probably several times, so lets see if I can contradict myself

I suggested Cillian Murphy's name as a possible Fool from Robin Hobb's series and I had forgotten how flawless Torak was meant to look.

With the right set up to make him look more impossing he might make a good Torak.

I think Patrick Stewart is a bit over exposed to be in any more SFF movies/tv at the moment, which is shame as I think he'd make a perfect Vanion.

And Bill Nighy as Zalasta is a great suggestion.

Barak - Ron Pearlman (The guy in the Hellboy suit)

Sean Connery is probably about the right age to play Belgarath and Im sure he could get the attitude right, I just always pictured him thinner?

Viggo Mortensen would work as Sparharwk but as with Stewart its maybe too similar to a previous role.

Giovanni Ribisi (younger brother in gone in sixty seconds) for Relg.

He might be too old now but Oded Fehr (The Mummy, Deuce Bigalo) would have made a good Hetter. Maybe Asharak now days .

Actually, Sendhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder in Heroes) might do ok as Hetter.

and speaking of Heroes, Greg Grunberg for Durnik? he's got that strong/nice guy sort of look.

Jennifer Connelly would be perfect for Polgara IMO

I wonder what Mena Suvari would look like with wild curly red hair?

[Zombie]

Greg Grunberg for Durnik, I like it. But he'd have to aged in makeup. He just doesn't look old enough to have all those sons (like Khalad who was an adult himself by the end of the first series).

For Miss Mena .... well, it's strawberry blonde and not that curly, but here's an idea of how she'd look.

[devilsgrin]

jennifer connelly fo Polgara is inspired...great choice!

Isn't Hettar supposed to be of the same race as Barak and Silk? I don't think that Sendhil qualifies, nor for that matter would Oded Fehr.

Mena Suvari is far too old to play Ce'Nedra.
Continuing in your 'Heroes' theme... Hayden Panattierre might be a better option.

Giovanni Ribisi for Relg is also and inspired choice.

As for Durnik, they can cast whomever they choose, so long as he remains firmly in the background since Durnik is the character i loathe most in either series. Prudish, Narrow-Minded and boring!

[HappyHippo]

Ribisi for Relg, Jennifer Connelly for Polgara: both brilliant!
I think Patrick Stewart would make a really good Annias.

Devilsgrin: yes, Durnik's a wee bit dull, but he's the key to Belgarion becoming who he really is. If Durnik doesn't die, the rest of it doesn't happen! Cut him a bit of slack!

How about Heath Ledger for Ulath? (I think Ulath casting would be a time consunming and detailed process, as all the ladies here have a firm mental image!)

[Zombie]

Eh, forget my last post up there (not like Durnik or Kurik are at all any way alike).

Giovanni Ribisi - anyone think he would also make an interesting Scarpa? He plays unstable very well.

I can agree with Patrick Stewart playing Annias, but sadly - I like him as a good guy. Though he does have a great range and would be terrific in that role. What about Malcolm McDowell as Vanion?

Ulath will most likely cause the most fighting. I couldn't go with Heath Ledger for him. Not .... barbaric enough. His order was a little rough, wearing only chain mail, throwing a preceptor into the harbor. How about Gerry Butler for the role? He did well in Beowulf & Grendel, and Ulath is kinda Scandinavian.

[Talysia]

Ooh, I definitely agree with Giovanni Ribisi for Relg. Mind you, he could play a good Scarpa, too, although I can't imagine him with a beard. Jennifer Connelly as Polgara is an inspired choice, too.

[Zombie]

Yeah, I really like Jennifer Connelly as Polgara. I couldn't see anyone else playing that part now. Would it be wrong to suggest David Bowie as Belgareth, even if it was a joke?

[HappyHippo]

no, not at all!

And Gerry Butler could play wallpaper and I'd pay to watch! *sigh*

Jennifer Connely is good, but Malcolm McDowell would be an excellent Martel. Sort of an armoured version of the guy he played in Tank Girl.

Angelina has been mentioned for Polgara (probably by me) but what about for Zandramas? She's beautiful, but very distant and hell-ethereal. (Brain's not working, bad description)

[Talysia]

Lol - I like the word hell-ethereal. It describes Zandramas very well, HH.

Now Malcolm McDowell as Martel: I can just see that!

[Zombie]

Would he be too old for Martel though? Unless you were thinking a younger Malcolm?

[HappyHippo]

I know Martel and Sparhawk are contemporaries, and I'd always worked on them being early- to mid-forties? I haven't seen Malcolm since Star Trek: Generations, so he may have aged a bit, I suppose!

BTW, thanks, Talysia :P

If time-travel for casting session is possible, Bonnie Langford (late 70's, early 80's) would be perfectly annoying for Ce'Nedra.

[Talysia]

A young Bonnie Langford would have made a perfect Ce'Nedra - almost scarily so!