# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/41 "2012-12-02T00:31:29Z")
I love this book, but have no idea how I would cast it. There are so many great character parts. Just for fun, the cast of The Office would almost work. Jim as Strange, Pam his wife. Dwight as Mr. Norrell, Michael Scott as the Gentleman, Darryl as Stephen, Andy as Wellington, Ryan as Sir Walter and Kelly as his wife. Creed as Vinculus, of course. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Without proper casting of Footnotes, I’m not sure how the movie could possibly capture the book’s aesthetic. I was thinking this book could make a good radio play, like Hitchhikers Guide. Then the footnotes would read like the the Book. I suppose if they are included in the miniseries they may be worked in through a little narration and flashbacks. I could see it starting with Norrell not wanting to waste time telling the story and magicking up a statue to do it for him. ---
**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 2, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/42 "2012-12-02T19:45:52Z")
I suspect the footnotes will be drastically cut back, if not eliminated entirely, and that they’ll be handled as voiceovers. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/43 "2012-12-03T03:42:54Z")
They could do some of the footnotes the way flashbacks were handled in _Jekyll_ - star an episode with a relevant footnote bit, then go into the rest of the story. Some of the footnotes were my favorite parts and I would hate to see them done away with. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/44 "2012-12-03T19:53:46Z")
Actually, I’ve changed my mind. Cumberbatch would be a great Strange, and cast Tom Hiddleston as the man with thisledown hair. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/45 "2012-12-03T21:42:18Z")
I think Cillian Murphy is so versatile he could pull off either Jonathan Strange or The Thistledown Hair Gentleman. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/46 "2012-12-08T03:50:25Z")
I was just thinking: what would be perfect for the footnotes is a supplemental program like Dr. Who Confidential. > [@Aquadementia](#): > > Just for fun, the cast of The Office would almost work. Jim as Strange, Pam his wife. Dwight as Mr. Norrell, Michael Scott as the Gentleman, Darryl as Stephen, Andy as Wellington, Ryan as Sir Walter and Kelly as his wife. Creed as Vinculus, of course. Way off, buddy. Robert California would be the perfect Office gentleman with thistledown hair. Which would make Michael the new Duke, bumping Andy to Mr. Segundus. And then Gabe as Strange’s brother inlaw, David Wallace as Childermass and Angela would be a perfect fairy woman. It appears my brain is spinning its wheels again. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/47 "2012-12-08T03:59:10Z")
> [@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) Holy crap! You have made my day! 😃 ---
**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:** [April 9, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/48 "2013-04-09T23:09:05Z")
[BBCamerica will join with BBC](http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/bbc-to-adapt-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-as-miniseries/) to produce the 7 hour long miniseries. It will air in 2014… ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/49 "2013-04-09T23:16:10Z")
Yes. ---
**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:** [April 10, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/50 "2013-04-10T04:29:28Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > [BBCamerica will join with BBC](http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/bbc-to-adapt-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-as-miniseries/) to produce the 7 hour long miniseries. It will air in 2014… Excellent - thanks! ---
**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:** [January 17, 2014, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/51 "2014-01-17T05:47:31Z")
I’d missed these back in October: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-bbc-one-casting-release.html](http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-bbc-one-casting-release.html) > **[BBC Bring 'Strange' Bestseller To Life](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/25/jonathan-strange-and-mr-norrell-eddie-marsan-bertie-carvel_n_4156941.html)** > > BBC Bring 'Strange' Bestseller To Life > **[More Actors for BBC's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Miniseries | The Mary...](https://www.themarysue.com/jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-casting/)** > > A day may come when I am not filled with a sense of glee at anything related to the Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell miniseries. But it is not this day! So… Eddie Marsan as Norrell: [http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/eddie-marsan-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-bbc-america.jpg](http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/eddie-marsan-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-bbc-america.jpg) Bertie Carvel as Strange: [http://images.bwwstatic.com/columnpic6/25B5244B2-F95D-CA44-2C72431D6ADA3A7F.jpg](http://images.bwwstatic.com/columnpic6/25B5244B2-F95D-CA44-2C72431D6ADA3A7F.jpg) Enzo Cilenti as Childermass: [http://images.starpulse.com/pictures/2013/12/09/previews/Enzo%20Cilenti-LMK-106487.jpg](http://images.starpulse.com/pictures/2013/12/09/previews/Enzo%20Cilenti-LMK-106487.jpg) Not who I envisioned, but hope they get it right! ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/52 "2014-01-17T14:36:21Z")
Sweet. Thanks for the heads up. ---
**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:** [January 17, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/53 "2014-01-17T17:20:04Z")
Marsan was Lestrade in the recent Robert Downey _Sherlock Holmes_ movies; I don’t know the other two. These aren’t A-list actors, but I’m crossing my fingers. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/54 "2014-01-17T19:18:14Z")
Marsan’s been in a bunch of stuff. Most recently he was one of the guys in **The World’s End** , and he’s also a regular cast member in the show **Ray Donovan**. I like him quite a bit. Childermass I recognize as the guy that was the father of Niobe’s baby in **Rome**. Love that Vinculus is going to be played by Thoros of Myr from **Game of Thrones**. The other guy playing Strange I don’t recognize at all. Bummer that we don’t know yet who’s going to be the Man with the Thistle-Down hair, John Sugundus, or John Uskglass. I’m really looking forward to seeing how they’re going to show characters moving about two different worlds in London at the same time and in the same place. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/55 "2014-01-17T19:24:45Z")
I totally forgot about this! So… squeeeee!!! though BBC America will mean I’ll need to procure it on DVD. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/56 "2014-01-26T01:43:00Z")
More pics. Charlotte Riley as Arabella Strange: [http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/charlotte-riley.jpeg](http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/charlotte-riley.jpeg) Alice Englert as Lady Pole: [http://www.becauseiamfabulous.com/wp-content/uploads/Alice-Englert-Elie-Saab-Couture-dress-Beautiful-Creatures-Los-Angeles-Premiere-1.jpg](http://www.becauseiamfabulous.com/wp-content/uploads/Alice-Englert-Elie-Saab-Couture-dress-Beautiful-Creatures-Los-Angeles-Premiere-1.jpg) Paul Kaye as Vinculus: [http://img2-2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2012/07/13/Paul-Kaye.jpg](http://img2-2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2012/07/13/Paul-Kaye.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/57 "2014-01-26T03:15:40Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Bummer that we don’t know yet who’s going to be the Man with the Thistle-Down hair. [Marc Warren](http://www.bertiecarvelfans.co.uk/jonathanstrangeandmrnorrell.html). So thrilled to have an excuse to read the whole thing again. 🙂 ---
**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:** [January 26, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/58 "2014-01-26T19:55:19Z")
Thanks - nice to see pics of the whole cast in one place, too. ---
**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:** [January 28, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/59 "2015-01-28T17:22:10Z")
A first look at the magical gentlemen: [First Look At The BBC's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Series!](http://io9.com/first-look-at-the-bbcs-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell-s-1660791566) ---
**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:** [January 28, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825/60 "2015-01-28T19:51:20Z")
I’m realizing how much of this book I’m forgetting. Some of these characters I’m like, huh? who? Anyway, I stand by what I said 3+ years ago that I can’t see this story translating well to the screen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-cast-in-jonathan-strange-mr-norrell/572825.md?page=4)