# Who would you cast as Roland of Gilead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965 "2006-12-13T15:48:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/1 "2006-12-13T15:48:45Z")
I have not the slightest hope any of Stephen King’s [_Dark Tower_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Tower_%28series%29) novels will ever make it to the big or the little screen, but nevertheless . . . who would be equal to the role? ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/2 "2006-12-13T16:23:14Z")
Clint Eastwood. Preferably a younger Clint, but definitely him. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/3 "2006-12-13T16:29:00Z")
They’d probably go with Viggo Mortensen. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/4 "2006-12-13T18:18:43Z")
Viggo Mortensen could probably do it, yeah. A younger Clint Eastwood is the obvious choice. Of course, Roland is said to be ugly (at least seen through the eyes of Eddie Dean), which pretty much means no big movie stars. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/5 "2006-12-13T18:21:37Z")
Which is too bad, because the role is made for Clint. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/6 "2006-12-13T18:23:17Z")
Roland is actually quite expressive, during certain moments; underneath that gruff cynical exterior beats the bleeding heart of an idealist/romantic. I doubt Clint could pull off the breadth that the role demands. Viggo, with about another 10 years on him, could work, as he can actually act a little. I am skeptical of this series being made into a series of films, and not only because the last 3-4 books blew rotten chunks… ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/7 "2006-12-13T19:01:03Z")
The piercing eyes are a requirement, though, and I don’t think Viggo has them. I’d say Hugh Jackman, as I always pictured Roland as a young, but weathered, Clint Eastwood, and Hugh could probably pull that off. I don’t know about his acting ability, though. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/8 "2006-12-13T19:04:18Z")
I agree with the previous poster who mentioned the last few books Hooverifically sucking, but since the first 4 books were so brilliant, maybe we can hold out hope for an epic mini-series that follows it through W&G and then sums up in 10 mins at the end. 🙂 Years ago, I would’ve been all over Clint or Viggo. Lately though, I can’t stop imagining Hugh Laurie in this role. I think he could really pull it off and really show Roland for the bleak, dark but charming cowboy that he is. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/9 "2006-12-13T19:09:00Z")
[QUOTE=malkavia] Lately though, I can’t stop imagining Hugh Laurie in this role. [/QUOTE] Before _House_, I would have labelled you completely insane for suggesting this. Now, I’ll merely label you slightly disturbed. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/10 "2006-12-13T19:20:06Z")
[QUOTE=malkavia] Lately though, I can’t stop imagining Hugh Laurie in this role. I think he could really pull it off and really show Roland for the bleak, dark but charming cowboy that he is. [/QUOTE] I think you might be on to something. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/11 "2006-12-13T19:45:23Z")
I think **Jean-Claude Van Damme** might be up to it. He has the breadth, the depth, the subtlety, the _gravitas_ if you will. If the Muscles from Brussels are unavailable, I don’t even know where to look to next. Curse you, **malkavia** , for suggesting a Brit could play Roland. :mad: 😉 Seriously? Hugh Laurie might not be too bad. He’s charismatic without being conventionally handsome, and can certainly do “dark and cynical”. However, maybe it’s just because I’ve grown used to seeing him as House, but I wonder if he has the physical presence to pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/12 "2006-12-13T20:43:14Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] Before _House_, I would have labelled you completely insane for suggesting this. Now, I’ll merely label you slightly disturbed. [/QUOTE] Really? He’s an awesome actor who has shown quite a bit of versatility. Plus, the chiseled face, the piercing eyes, the sinewy forearms.. _ahem_ Sorry about that. Hugh FTW! > [@One Cent Stamp](#): > > I think Jean-Claude Van Damme might be up to it. \ Curse you, malkavia, for suggesting a Brit could play Roland. I’m sorry, you appear to have lost your [cursing privileges](http://static.flickr.com/58/189258674_8769b0b642_o.gif). ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/13 "2006-12-13T21:14:11Z")
There’s a drawing in one of the books that looks suspiciously close to Timothy Dalton. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/14 "2006-12-13T21:38:26Z")
[QUOTE=malkavia] He’s an awesome actor who has shown quite a bit of versatility. [/QUOTE] Yeah, well, before _House_ he was three people to me: 1. Prince and Lieutenant George. 2. Bertie Wooster. 3. His comedic self from _A Bit of Fry and Laurie_. None of these lend themselves easily to my image of Roland Deschain. > [@ivylass](#): > > There’s a drawing in one of the books that looks suspiciously close to Timothy Dalton. Which one? ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/15 "2006-12-13T21:50:08Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] Yeah, well, before _House_ he was three people to me: 1. Prince and Lieutenant George. 2. Bertie Wooster. 3. His comedic self from _A Bit of Fry and Laurie_. None of these lend themselves easily to my image of Roland Deschain.Which one? [/QUOTE] Well, yeah. BEFORE House, he was Fredrick Little, the bow-tie sporting adoptive father of a talking mouse. I wouldn’t have recommend him pre-House. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/16 "2006-12-14T03:10:52Z")
No votes for Woody Allen? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/17 "2006-12-14T03:17:13Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] No votes for Woody Allen? [/QUOTE] Only if they can’t get Paul Reubens. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/18 "2006-12-14T03:22:49Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Only if they can’t get Paul Reubens. [/QUOTE] PEE-WEE HERMAN: I know you are, but what is this? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/19 "2006-12-14T03:23:27Z")
Lance Henricksen? ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965/20 "2006-12-14T14:18:25Z")
Scott Glenn. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-as-roland-of-gilead/383965.md?page=2)