# Who would you cast in Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 27, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825 "2011-02-27T18:41:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/21 "2011-07-01T18:08:28Z")
I’d like to see Aidan Gillen in a role. He would probably work for Lascelle or Drawlight, though his recent pictures make him look older than I remember. For the Gentleman With The Thistle-Down Hair, while I know you said you want him to be unique, I’d suggest Hugo Weaving precisely to capture the Agent V Elrond presence. Also voting for Chiwetel Ejiofor for Black. Great actor, he’d be perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/22 "2011-07-01T18:24:02Z")
What about Benedict Cumberbatch as the Gentleman with Thistle-down Hair? He looks pretty other-worldly to me. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/23 "2011-07-01T18:29:06Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > What about Benedict Cumberbatch as the Gentleman with Thistle-down Hair? He looks pretty other-worldly to me. Holy crap, you’d barely have to apply any makeup. Gets my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/24 "2011-07-01T18:44:08Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > …or maybe Ian Holm if “old, short, beady-eyed” is a requirement… AKA Bilbo Baggins. This is who I pictured as Mr. Norrell. I like Bill Nighy for Childermass. Is he too old? Generally speaking, this book did not strike me as one that would translate well to the big screen. Would be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/25 "2011-07-01T18:48:52Z")
Ideally, I think any cinematic adaptation should take the Game of Thrones route. If you could take a lot of time and do it episodically it could work very well as a mini-series. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/26 "2011-07-02T02:40:15Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Ideally, I think any cinematic adaptation should take the Game of Thrones route. If you could take a lot of time and do it episodically it could work very well as a mini-series. Quite so - just what I said in the OP! ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/27 "2011-07-02T02:52:35Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > What about Benedict Cumberbatch as the Gentleman with Thistle-down Hair? He looks pretty other-worldly to me. Just what I came in to post! I recently saw him in the BBC’s new Sherlock Holmes and I immediately casted him as the Gentleman. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/28 "2011-07-05T04:29:39Z")
Yes, that could work. Good idea. I could see him as Lascelles, too. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/29 "2011-07-05T08:45:41Z")
I also enjoyed the book, but I’m very dubious a film version will ever see the light of day, or that it can be made to work if it does. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > King George III: Nigel Hawthorne Sadly, Nigel Hawthorn won’t be reprising his role as King George III, as he died 10 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/30 "2011-07-06T03:26:41Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > …Sadly, Nigel Hawthorn won’t be reprising his role as King George III, as he died 10 years ago. Thanks - I hadn’t heard! Too bad. I would like to have seen him return to that role. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/31 "2012-11-30T22:29:43Z")
I have some very good news: [http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/23665/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-coming-to-the-bbc](http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/23665/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-coming-to-the-bbc) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/32 "2012-11-30T22:42:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I have some very good news: [http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/23665/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-coming-to-the-bbc](http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/23665/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-coming-to-the-bbc) Interesting! I liked _Sherlock_, so hopefully the BBC can pull off a respectable effort. One also hopes they’re willing to pay more for a little cut above standard _Doctor Who_-level special effects. Not that you need a ton of them for this adaptation, but set design in particular should get some loving treatment. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/33 "2012-11-30T22:49:00Z")
Yay! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/34 "2012-11-30T22:53:30Z")
I realize I’m responding to some zombie posts, but given the recent news it still seems relevant. > [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I like Bill Nighy for Childermass. Is he too old? I forget if it was explicit or implied, but I remember Childermass as a hale man in his 30s or 40s. Very much in the prime of life. As for Norrell, if we were to toss out faithfulness to literal details and just go with personality, I’d be very much in favor of Jonathan Pryce. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky\_the\_Wonder\_Spirit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Sparky\_the\_Wonder\_Spirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky_the_Wonder_Spirit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/35 "2012-11-30T22:57:17Z")
I think the new Q from _Skyfall_ would make a good Jonathan Strange. [He can pull off the Regency Era costumes](http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/9100000/Bright-Star-movies-9133153-1600-1000.jpg) as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/36 "2012-12-01T02:37:45Z")
Ben Whishaw (the new Q & Freddie Lyon in _The Hour_) is excellent but a bit frail for Jonathan Strange. Benedict Cumberbatch looks well in [Regency attire](http://www.janeitejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Benedict-Cumberbatch.jpg) & could even keep his natural hair color (dark red) for the role. Of course, he’s been very busy, too… Whoever is cast, this project is great news! A miniseries is the best way to present the story. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/37 "2012-12-01T04:42:16Z")
Hmm. I see Benedict Cumberbatch more and more as the Gentleman with the Thistle-Down Hair. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/38 "2012-12-01T04:51:02Z")
Stephen Fry as the Duke of Wellington. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/39 "2012-12-01T05:26:11Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > Stephen Fry as the Duke of Wellington. The Duke was never that plump, was he? Fry has gotten quite rotund. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/40 "2012-12-01T05:54:35Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The Duke was never that plump, was he? Fry has gotten quite rotund. [Shout, shout, and shout again! BAAAAAH!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clM1i88s-7Q) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825.md?page=3)