# What books would you like to see made into movies- and who would you cast?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 25, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934 "2004-04-25T17:51:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/1 "2004-04-25T17:51:11Z")
A few of mine:
Gore Vidal’s _Burr_- as a TV miniseries. I’d cast William Daniels (_1776, Boy Meets World_) as the old Burr with handsome unknowns as the young Burr & Hamilton and a Baldwin as the middle-aged Hamilton. Kelsey Grammer would reprise the role of George Washington from his performance in the _Benedict Arnold_ movie, Tim Robbins as Thomas Jefferson, Katherine Helmond as Mme. Jumel (Burr’s extremely wealthy last wife) and special guest appearance by Angelina Jolie as Theodosia Burr.
Anne Tyler’s _Searching for Caleb_- Sissy Spacek as the Fortune-teller, Eddie Albert (if he’s still mobile at 96) as her grandfather [as an old man], David Hyde Pierce as her husband-cousin, and Karl Malden as old Caleb. (Younger actors for the same characters in flashback scenes.)
Joseph Heller’s _God Knows_- In an homage to the age of epics, I’d cast Charlton Heston & Elizabeth Taylor as the old David & Bathsheba with Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron as the young twosome. Christopher Lloyd as the prophet Samuel, Christopher Meloni as King Saul and Jude Law as Absalom.
Pratchett & Gaiman’s _Good Omens_- Stephen Frye as Azirophale, Rowan Atkinson as Crowley, Billy Connelly as the Witchfinder Shadwell, and cameos from Monty Python as various other characters.
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### Author:  [@Yesterdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yesterdog)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/2 "2004-04-25T17:54:36Z")
Dan Browns’ _DaVinci Code_ with Harrison Ford as Robert Langdon.
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### Author:  [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/3 "2004-04-25T17:57:54Z")
O Henry’s _The Gift Of The Magi_, black and white, silent, with no intertitles.
Starring Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/4 "2004-04-25T18:00:57Z")
Actually, there’s no way that Johnny Depp could ever grow into Charlton Heston, so please replace him in _God Knows_ with Brendan Fraser.
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/5 "2004-04-25T18:51:55Z")
I’d love to see a movie made of _Vampire$_ by John Steakley. If you haven’t read this book it’s really badass and I’d love to see it get----
What did you say?
No. No, It’s never been made into a movie.
What?
[grits teeth] I SAID…It’s **NEVER** been made into a movie. Never.
…
I’m in such denial. But I would have loved to have seen this done properly.
- Peter Wiggen
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/6 "2004-04-25T18:59:13Z")
I’ve tried to think of possible ways to update Sunset Blvd., but I cannot think of anyway to update Norma Desmond (a filthy rich totally faded middle-aged superstar of a genre that no longer exists). This is for several reasons:
\*50 year old stars today look 30 due to plastic surgery and personal trainers
\*With television and direct to video movies, the chances of being as unemployable as Norma would seem to be less
\*I cannot think of anything that even remotely compares to silent film as a worldwide supherhuge genre that vanished almost completely within 5 years
If you were to update Norma, what would you do with her? My takes:
\*A prequel (perfect for Eve to write if she has a few spare minutes) that examines Norma & Max in their heydey, from the time she’s a psychotic 15 year old new face and he’s a sexually strange wunderkind genius- great way to splice some of the great anecdotes of the silent era into a roman’a’clef
\*A 1970s disco diva who refuses to change her sound and is a joke to most young people
Any suggestions?
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/7 "2004-04-25T19:00:37Z")
Oops! The above was meant to be a new thread. Please disregard.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/8 "2004-04-25T19:01:46Z")
I’ve tried to think of possible ways to update Sunset Blvd., but I cannot think of anyway to update Norma Desmond (a filthy rich totally faded middle-aged superstar of a genre that no longer exists). This is for several reasons:
\*50 year old stars today look 30 due to plastic surgery and personal trainers
\*With television and direct to video movies, the chances of being as unemployable as Norma would seem to be less
\*I cannot think of anything that even remotely compares to silent film as a worldwide supherhuge genre that vanished almost completely within 5 years
If you were to update Norma, what would you do with her? My takes:
\*A prequel (perfect for Eve to write if she has a few spare minutes) that examines Norma & Max in their heydey, from the time she’s a psychotic 15 year old new face and he’s a sexually strange wunderkind genius- great way to splice some of the great anecdotes of the silent era into a roman’a’clef
\*A 1970s disco diva who refuses to change her sound and is a joke to most young people
Any suggestions?
* * *
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/9 "2004-04-25T19:02:59Z")
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! What the hell is happening here? That time I \*_KNOW_ I pressed New Thread.
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### Author:  [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/10 "2004-04-25T19:17:19Z")
Allright, **Sampiro** , we know some people like to pad their posts, but there is no need to be so blatant about it. 😛
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### Author:  [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/11 "2004-04-25T20:25:33Z")
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> …Pratchett & Gaiman’s _Good Omens_- Stephen Frye as Azirophale, Rowan Atkinson as Crowley, Billy Connelly as the Witchfinder Shadwell, and cameos from Monty Python as various other characters.
You may get your wish… Terry Gilliam has mentioned that this adaptation is on his radar.
The one I’d like to see is **Things my Girlfriend and I Have Argued About.** I’m not as familiar with the breadth of English actors as I would need to be to cast this one properly, but working from the limited scope I have, I would have to say Tim Roth and Minnie Driver\* as Pel and Ursula.
- It’s been too long since she’s had a good role.
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### Author:  [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/12 "2004-04-26T01:37:57Z")
This is a constant topic of discussion in Haus **GMRyujin** regarding the _Dark Tower_ books, which I think would be an awesome movie.
We’ve cast **Adrian Paul** as Young Roland because 1. He gets shitty roles and I want to see him in a good one, 2. He looks good in a hat, 3. He does a lot of accents in _Highlander_ and pulls them off reasonably well (this is an issue because I expect him having to babble High Speech and not sound like a jackass.
For Old Roland, I like Eastwood, though he’s probably too old and would grimace his way through the role. Harrison Ford’s name has come up, but it’s met with “Eh”, even though we’re both fans.
We like Johnny Depp to play Eddie and haven’t decided on Susannah or Jake.
Walter should be played by Christopher Lee or Christopher Walken. I like Christopher Lee, but he may be too old, so Walken’s my second choice.
The “That Guy Would Be Perfect For _DarK Tower_” Gameis a game we play a lot.
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### Author:  [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/13 "2004-04-26T01:47:31Z")
Mini-series, not movies:
_Outlander_ by Diana Gabaldon. Alex Kingston as Claire, don’t know yet who can play Jamie. He’d have to be tall, with deep red hair, and a Scottish accent. I would be more than happy to help, uh—screen test— the applicants.
_First Man of Rome_ by Colleen McCullough. There’s so many meaty parts you can get any number of good actors, but I would love to see Christopher Walken play Sulla.
And as a television series:
_The Dark Tower_ by Stephen King. There’s no WAY they can cram those books into a movie or a mini-series. And I could see Timothy Dalton as Roland.
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### Author:  [@RealTronic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealTronic)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/14 "2004-04-27T01:34:14Z")
A few years ago (or, maybe 10 years ago…time flies) there were rumours floating around that they were making Donna Tartt’s **The Secret History** into a movie! I was really excited about that (and still am) but the project must have died somewhere.
Can’t say who I’d cast though - it’s been a while since I read the book.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/15 "2004-04-27T02:24:02Z")
Fredric Brown’s **Arena** – it’s a short story, but done properly, you could turn it into a good full-length movie. I’ve filmed it in my head. With CGI, you could do a creditable job --without voice-overs or any of the other ceap tricks of cinema. And you could film it _straight_ for once, instead of compromising the sytory, as all the rip-offs over the years (and the Star Trek TOS episode nominaly baed upon it) have done. I don’t have a choice for casting, though.
Frederick Forsyth’s **The Devil’s Alternative** , as a mini-series. It’s set in the Cold War, so I’d do it as a period piece, without trying to update it or anything. Sort o an “alternative history”.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/16 "2004-04-27T02:31:10Z")
Roger Zelazney’s _Lord of Light_.
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### Author:  [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/17 "2004-04-27T02:51:10Z")
I’m a fan of historical fiction, so put me down for the following:
Wilbur Smith - Courtney Series - _Birds of Prey, Monsoon, Blue Horizon_
Wilbur Smith - Egyptian Series - _River God, Seventh Scroll, Warlock_
Bernard Cornwell - Civil War Series - _Rebel, Copperhead, Battle Flag, The Bloody Ground_
Dewey Lambdin - Alan Lewrie Series
_Killer Angels_ - top notch tale of Gettysburg
As for the casting:
Nathaniel Starbuck (Cornwell Civil War) - Timothy Olyphant
Alan Lewrie - Clancy Brown
Lostris - (Smith Egyptian) - Halle Berry
‘Hal’ Courteney - Tim DeKay
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### Author:  [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2004, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/18 "2004-04-27T03:40:07Z")
I read that at the time he died, Frank Herbert was negotiating the film rights to **The Santaroga Barrier**. It probably never will be made. _sigh_
(It could be worse, I suppose. With my luck, “they” would give it to Paul Verhoeven.)
I don’t go to many movies, so I’m not terribly familiar with the current crop of actors/actresses. The elder Ottlet suggested Johnny Depp as Gil Dasein (hero worship, I’m thinking) and Christina Ricci as Jenny Sorge, but I have trouble visualizing either one. The one I _can_ visualize (or, more accurately, “audialize”) is Morgan Freeman as Win Burdeaux. I realize that he may be too old, but his is the voice I hear when I see Win’s dialogue.
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### Author:  [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/19 "2004-04-27T04:17:29Z")
**PeterWiggen** has the right idea - _Johnny Mnemonic_ was never made into a movie! Like **CalMeacham** , I’ve filmed it in my head. We see JM loading the sawed-off shotgun, taping it to hais hand, and putting it in the gym bag as we hear a voice-over of the ‘technical boy’ speech. We take everything straight from the story, In the LoTek settlement up under the dome we have that wonderful formal fight between the razorgirl and the cloned ninja, exactly as in the story. In fact, everything is exactly as in the story.
Damn, it could have been good!
I’m not really up on current actors, so I’ll leave the casting to others.
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### Author:  [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-movies-and-who-would-you-cast/241934/20 "2004-04-27T04:33:29Z")
[Replay](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/068816112X/qid=1083040127/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-1819736-3289449?v=glance&s=books) by Ken Grimwood. One of my all time favourites which I can’t believe hasn’t been made into a movie (AFAIK).
I don’t want to spoil it, but will say it’s about a guy who gets to re-live his life again, and again, …
How about Edward Norton in the lead?
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