# Can they make a good Heinlein Movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602 "2005-07-15T02:07:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/41 "2005-07-15T14:41:13Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > :smack: Should have previewed. **jrfranchi** beat me to it. I like your explaination better. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/42 "2005-07-15T14:45:05Z")
I think Stranger could get done if we get Tom Cruise on with it. Since he’s already stuck with the Scientologists if we just get him to adapt to a new religion / philosophy then we’d be all set. And I’m only half kidding here, I think that Tom Cruise could play Valentine and have it work out alright… And I’d second for his Juvenile novels. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/43 "2005-07-15T14:49:00Z")
> [@ronincyberpunk](#): > > I think Stranger could get done if we get Tom Cruise on with it. Since he’s already stuck with the Scientologists if we just get him to adapt to a new religion / philosophy then we’d be all set. And I’m only half kidding here, I think that Tom Cruise could play Valentine and have it work out alright… > > And I’d second for his Juvenile novels. You are not right in the head 😃 , Tom Cruise would be awful I want a real actor. Shouldn’t the actor be hispanic? ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/44 "2005-07-15T14:57:15Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > You are not right in the head 😃 , Tom Cruise would be awful > I want a real actor. Shouldn’t the actor be hispanic? I never claimed sanity, only humor - lol. And you’re right, I do believe he is hispanic, I don’t recall. It’s been a handful of years since I read it. I’ll have to put that in the queue after Half-blood prince. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/45 "2005-07-15T15:14:00Z")
> [@The Gaspode](#): > > \*5’11"\*\*154lb > > I like Geena Davis for the part but she’s 49 and showing it. Sigourney Weaver has the right build and charisma too, but she’s 56. There aren’t many very tall statuesque blondes between 35-40 (I agree on the age, Rick) working in Hollywood. I’m one of the few Dopers who like Ncole Kidman, but she’s not _zaftig_ enough. If she had the acting chops, we might explore casting Anna Nicole Smith - she’s 5’11". But I’d rather have a Geena Davis, a little on the older side, than an Anna Nicole Smith, physically correct but unable to act at all. > [@](#): > > I’m sticking with Jude Law. The French sounding name doesn’t mean anything, and I’ve always perceived Stuart as quite the playboy, with a casual, laissez-faire attitude. GD is wrong for that. I thought his silly role in “Bogus” showed GD’s casual, light side just fine… ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/46 "2005-07-15T15:47:55Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] If she had the acting chops, we might explore casting Anna Nicole Smith - she’s 5’11". But I’d rather have a Geena Davis, a little on the older side, than an Anna Nicole Smith, physically correct but unable to act at all. [QUOTE] I’m thinking on this for some reason. It is hard to balance the acting chops and “the look”. Could a 5’5" Julianne Moore (44 yo) pull it off? Acting chops in spades, and has been a blond before … but too short, perhaps? Or can height be compensated for in the cinematography? Kinda out of left field … and I’ve never seen her in a dramatic role … but what about Caroline Rhea (5’8", 41 yo)? Byt the time they get around to making this, Laura Prepon (5’10", 25 yo) might be old enough. Questions about acting chops obviously apply. But acting careers go into unexpected directions all the time. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/47 "2005-07-15T15:52:36Z")
I think that some of his short stories would be more adaptable. I’d particularly like to see “The Man Who Traveled in Elephants.” “The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag” could be great, if they had the courage to keep it a dark period piece. And the recent exploits of Burt Rutan make an adaptation of “The Man Who Sold the Moon” intriguing. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/48 "2005-07-15T16:11:34Z")
Dave? Count me in on the juvies and shorts. **The Roads Must Roll** or **And He Built a Crooked House** would be good choices. Plenty of room to adapt and filmable with today’s level of CGI. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/49 "2005-07-15T16:36:16Z")
The key to casting Wyoh would be the acting chops. The height isn’t that importent. Hugh Jackman is way too tall to be Wolverine, for instance. But he works in the role. I think Nicole Kidman could play Wyoh quite well. Manny could be any good young-ish actor. Makeup will make him into a mongrel, so hair and skin color really don’t matter. I doubt the racial aspects of the movie would be left in the script anyway. It’s good commentary on Earth attitudes vs Loonis ones, but it really doesn’t move the plot along. In fact, I doubt they would include the trip to earth at all. The same thing can be accomplished, plot-wise, by having Authority suits trying to corrupt Manny and the Prof while meeting in private on Luna. Hazel would be an unknown. She has to be 11-12 years old, and by the time filming would start, any young actress I know of worthy of the role would be too old. She can’t have curves! Stu could be anybody…hell, Michael Caine could do the role. If Patrick Stewart can be French, so can Michael! But I’m really stumped on the Prof. Morgan Freeman has \*\*too much \*\* gravitas for the role. People would be hearing Morgan, not Bernardo. Anthony Hopkins, maybe? As for the juveniles, I think The **Door Into Summer** has the best story that hasn’t been done to death already. Easy to CGI the effects, robots to keep the suits happy, and enough action to satisfy the plebes. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/50 "2005-07-15T17:07:26Z")
Wyoh == Tall intelligent blonde == Charlize Theron. At least, I think it would work. And I like the idea of “Adam Selene” being Alec Baldwin. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/51 "2005-07-15T18:10:29Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Hazel would be an unknown. She has to be 11-12 years old, and by the time filming would start, any young actress I know of worthy of the role would be too old. If they hurry, they might _just_ be able to get Dakota Fanning. I think she’s got a couple of “uncushioned” years in her, and I could buy her as Hazel Stone. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/52 "2005-07-15T18:26:51Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Shouldn’t the actor be hispanic? Hmm, I recall he was thrown in jail in some racist Earth precinct after a someone got a gander of a pic of him with his family. From that, I’d always assumed he was black (well, probably mongrel of several race-types, but African-ish looking). Of course, the jail-time was supposedly for his polygymist family, but it’s mentioned that the judge was offended by the range of color in the picture… hmm, I guess I’m not sure what that meant, or who was the wrong color in the group. Hmmph. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/53 "2005-07-15T21:02:59Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > If they hurry, they might _just_ be able to get Dakota Fanning. I think she’s got a couple of “uncushioned” years in her, and I could buy her as Hazel Stone. Gee, Hazel was one of my favorite characters ever. She was smart, savvy, fierce and likable. I’ve seen Dakota in 2 movies she was whiny, annoying pathetic and fake. There should be plenty of unknown 11-13 years old who are Tom Boyish and can play the part. The character is minor to the book and more important for the continuity with Rolling Stones and general future history. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/54 "2005-07-15T21:04:22Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Byt the time they get around to making this, Laura Prepon (5’10", 25 yo) might be old enough. I _like_ it. She’s a bit on the young side but she looks right. Thanks **Sam**. Remember, “Adam Selene” should be an advanced Max Headroom, so the lack of acting chops actually serves Alec Baldwin well. BTW, I kinda liked him in “The Aviator”. I think he might get true gravitas with age. I suggested Morgan Freeman because his age and gravitas. Prof is descriped as ‘spry’ when his in Luna, but I can’t think of anyone working now that’d fit the description. **Hume Cronyn** with a with stasch would’ve been right. Hmmm… How’bout Richard Dreyfuss… He’s got the intensity. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/55 "2005-07-15T21:07:43Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > You are not right in the head 😃 , Tom Cruise would be awful > I want a real actor. Shouldn’t the actor be hispanic? You were talking about SiaSL, right? Manny’s a mongrel, but Valentine Michael Smith doesn’t have any description that would make him anything but average caucasian. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/56 "2005-07-15T21:23:01Z")
> [@The Gaspode](#): > > You were talking about SiaSL, right? > Manny’s a mongrel, but Valentine Michael Smith doesn’t have any description that would make him anything but average caucasian. I was talking about Moon is a harsh Mistress. You’re right Valentine could be played by any good young actor. I can’t even begin to guess who would be right. Now SiaSL would be fun but who would go see it. The extremely loyal audience is smaller than LoTR and no epic battles for the General public. Casting Jubal would actually be the secret, a truly great actor who would be forced to steal the movie. Richard Attenborough would be good, kind of has the right look also. Could Anthony Hopkins be American enough, he could steal it. The actor needs to be a curmudgeon & rascal at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/57 "2005-07-15T21:30:16Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I’ve seen Dakota in 2 movies she was whiny, annoying pathetic and fake. There should be plenty of unknown 11-13 years old who are Tom Boyish and can play the part… Let me guess, _War of the Worlds_ and _Hide and Seek_? 😃 If so, you can be forgiven for underestimating her. She didn’t have a lot to work with, there. I’d like Dakota Fanning as Hazel because she has proven that she can do “mature beyond her years,” (eg; the fantastic _I Am Sam_ or the awful _Uptown Girls_, where she was the only bright spot,) which is important for Hazel. I don’t think that many people would agree that she’s “fake,” when compared with other actors her age – particularly unknowns. In _Stranger in a Strange Land_, Jubal says “Anybody can look at a pretty girl and see a pretty girl. An artist can look at a pretty girl and see the old woman she will become.” I think Dakota has the art to imbue her young character with a sense of the aged Hazel Stone, and I wouldn’t want to gamble on an unknown. In _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_, Hazel’s not a typical juvenile. She’s serious. Fanning can do serious. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/58 "2005-07-15T21:50:54Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Let me guess, _War of the Worlds_ and _Hide and Seek_? 😃 If so, you can be forgiven for underestimating her. She didn’t have a lot to work with, there. > > I’d like Dakota Fanning as Hazel because she has proven that she can do “mature beyond her years,” (eg; the fantastic _I Am Sam_ or the awful _Uptown Girls_, where she was the only bright spot,) which is important for Hazel. I don’t think that many people would agree that she’s “fake,” when compared with other actors her age – particularly unknowns. > > . WotW & Uptown girls were the 2. I thought she was very fake in both & annoying. Just my opinion, but I would not like her in the role. I would like to see the equivalent of Carrie Henn {the little girl in Aliens}. She was believable and tough. As stated this would still be several years away, so casting will wait for a child role. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/59 "2005-07-15T23:48:17Z")
Why does anyone care much about who would be cast for Hazel Stone in a MiaHM flick? In the book, she had little or no dialog that I can recall. She was the head of the Baker Street Irregulars, and thought well of by some of the main characters, but I’d think a bit dispensible to the overall script. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602/60 "2005-07-16T00:15:23Z")
Let me add that I like the _idea_ of Hazel’s character – a young tough kid who is in some way vital to The Revolution’s agitprop – but there wasn’t really a story arc to her in TMiaHM, just a setup to the old tough lady in The Rolling Stones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-they-make-a-good-heinlein-movie/312602.md?page=4)