Who should portray J.G. Ballard?

Cafe Society
1

If they made a movie about J.G. Ballard, who should play him?

2

Hemmings is dead, so he’s out. Bale and Hopkins, although not English, have demonstrated that they have the acting chops to easily pull off the accent, mannerisms and attitude. I’m not so sure about Fox. I guess it depends on what kind of movie it was.

Would it be a bio pic, from youth to death? If so, we need a lot of actors. But if it was a film about him as a writer, from his 30’s until death, then maybe Bale could do it (and it would be a fitting turn of the wheel to have him play the writer of the book, the film of which launched Bale’s carreer).

I’m not well-versed enough in current UK actors who might be suitable, and like you, I lean towards a UK actor rather than one from somewhere else.

3

Michael Sheen.

4

For those who, like me, didn’t know who he was: J. G. Ballard - Wikipedia

Ciaran Hinds is very good, and bears a certain resemblance, methinks: http://www.buddytv.com/articles/rome/images/ciaran-hinds-4.jpg

5

Thinking (way) out of the box here: Nicolas Cage.

6

Bale, of course, already portrayed J.G. Ballard once, in Empire of the Sun, so it would be exceptionally fitting for him to do so again. And I think if he gained about 30 pounds and had his hair cut so as to make his hairline more receding, he’d look the part too. I guess the movie would go from Ballard’s thirties or forties to his old age (the old age part could probably be accomplished with makeup and other effects.) Maybe there could even be a few very brief flashbacks to his childhood - not even really flashbacks but quick ‘cuts’ - where footage from Empire of the Sun could be incorporated.

7

From what I have seen of JG Ballard in interviews, you need someone with a slightly lugubrious air about them. Bill Nighy, perhaps?

I don’t think it’s a huge stretch for Welshman Anthony Hopkins to play an English character. Bale, although born in Wales, is to all intents and purposes English.

8

Hell, he’s already played an Englishman before (C.S. Lewis), to say nothing of a German (Hitler) and an American (Nixon).