is that as the Royal Family is completely flexible. They are all immortal, and thus their relative ages are virtually insignificant (can you tell the difference between a man that's 1200 years old and one who is 1700 years old? Me neither.) Plus, each of them has spent time in various shadows and were born in parallel worlds, so they could be played by actors of varying ages, races and cultures without voiding the integrity of the story. This made this fantasy cast equal parts awesome and exhausting to make. First, awesome, because it could be ANYBODY, whoever I pictured in my head. Second, exhausting, because it could be ANYBODY. And there are a LOT of "anybodys" out there in Hollywoodland.
But, I am nothing if not tireless. Working for you, my readers. I hope you're grateful. Just kidding. I would be doing this even if you weren't reading :) I love it that much.
Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh, yes. Amber. I have put together a fantasy cast for the Great Book of Amber, comprising the 10 main Amber novels, both Corwin's and Merlin's story arcs. I've split them up, however, and you are only going to get the Corwin arc today. You'll have to come back another day for the Merlin arc (insert evil laugh here)...
Corwin, the man of the hour. I have always pictured Kiefer Sutherland in this role. Always. And I read these books before 24 started airing, so this is more of a Three Musketeers inspired casting choice.
Random is the half brother that Corwin says he loves like a real brother. He's sort of a joke in the family, the spineless, amiable guy that everybody likes but nobody counts on. Did somebody say John C. Reilly?
Next, our master warrior, Benedict. Can you really see anybody but Sean Connery as the unbeatable warrior? Older and wiser than the rest, he voluntarily takes himself out of the running for the crown, leaving the younger ones to squabble about it.
Eric. The prideful piece of junk who vies for the crown against Corwin. He burns Corwin's eyes out, he tries to rule with the Jewel of Judgment. He's sinister and self absorbed and a total tyrant. I vote for Tim Curry.
Dworkin, the creator of Amber and all the Amberites therein. We only see him for a few minutes here at the beginning, but I think of only one man when I read this character: Ian Holm
Deirdre is the half sister that Corwin wishes wasn't a sister at all, if ya know what I mean. And she, ahem, feels the same way. If this were ever made into a movie, Dierdre would have to be played by an actress that just about everybody on the planet likes, in order to gloss over the gross-out. She also has to be pretty and she has to be convincingly smart. Natalie Portman is the girl I always pictured. And I picture her wearing a Victorian style dress, like Winona Ryder in Dracula. Weird?
Next, for the "redheads"
Fiona- Deirdre Quinn. I love this lady and I think she deserves a big part like this. I think she can be a double-crossing type of chickadee.
As for Brand, I think that William Atherton has the special kind of crazy that is needed to play this part. Seriously, picture him with the crazy, grown out beard. Kind of like he was at the end of Bio-Dome.
Bleys- Ryan Reynolds. I don't know why. I can't quite put my finger on it, but this is the guy I pick. I know, I know. He isn't a redhead. But that can be easily fixed. Maybe he won't be quite so red as Deirdre Quinn, but he could be as red as William Atherton and look just fine.
Caine is the double-crossing seafarer that enters and exits the story over and over again at the most critical of moments. Edward Norton is my pick. I think he is amazing, and for this part I always picture him with facial hair.
Flora is always considered the dumb blond, and is renown for her beauty. However shallow she may seem, she manages to always be on the winning side of things. So, she's either the determining factor in success, or she's extremely shrewd at picking her partners in crime. Either way, she's one smart cookie. I pick Ali Larter.
Julian is the crazy, bloodthirsty brother who utters the famous line: "I enjoy slaughtering beasts and I think of my relatives constantly." The guy with the horses. I have always thought of Billy Zane.
Gerard is the strongest, particularly at the hand-to-hand type of combat. Could there really be anybody better than Jason Statham for this?
Llewella is sort of an outcast of the house of Amber. She is born of an affair, she lives apart from any of her siblings, underwater of all places, and mainly keeps out of the family drama. I think that Lynn Collins can play the melancholy character just right.
Dara. The great-granddaughter of Benedict, lover of Corwin (her great half uncle? is that OK?) and a ruler of the Courts of Chaos. The lovely, the manipulative, the wonderful, Cate Blanchett. Not many women can be motherly, sensual, intelligent, timeless warrior women.
And, for our abdicator, Oberon. Could there really be anyone better than Liam Neeson
to play the calculating, philandering, leader of the one true world?
Agree? Disagree? Post your thoughts in the comments!
Images: Google Images
