Recasting the Cast

[maggiethecat]

This started over in the "New Take on the Pilot" thread, with the suggestion that Blind Justice -- and the character of Jim Dunbar -- would have been an entirely proposition with another actor, such as Forest Whittaker (!).

Here's Kyt's last response:
Though you've got me curious now whether or not Whitaker's take on the character would've won me over sooner. I know from his previous roles, that Whitaker can readily win my support for various characters. I just don't know what kind of traits he'd have brought to the role of Dunbar. An entertaining consideration. Thanks.
Kyt

Well, Kyt, just off the top of my head, I'm giggling at the thought of "Tell me that gun on your hip is plastic and we got no beef," since Whittaker's got about ten inches and seventy pounds on Frank Grillo.

But again, if we want to run with this, I doubt the networks would have gone for the show with Whittaker in the lead. Blind cop played by blonde leading man type with a string of TV and movie credits, versus blind cop played by middle-aged African-American character actor with a string of movie and TV credits? Can't imagine even Bochco making that sale.

[housemouse]

maggiethecat said:

This started over in the "New Take on the Pilot" thread, with the suggestion that Blind Justice -- and the character of Jim Dunbar -- would have been an entirely proposition with another actor, such as Forest Whittaker (!).

Here's Kyt's last response:
Though you've got me curious now whether or not Whitaker's take on the character would've won me over sooner. I know from his previous roles, that Whitaker can readily win my support for various characters. I just don't know what kind of traits he'd have brought to the role of Dunbar. An entertaining consideration. Thanks.
Kyt

Well, Kyt, just off the top of my head, I'm giggling at the thought of "Tell me that gun on your hip is plastic and we got no beef," since Whittaker's got about ten inches and seventy pounds on Frank Grillo.

But again, if we want to run with this, I doubt the networks would have gone for the show with Whittaker in the lead. Blind cop played by blonde leading man type with a string of TV and movie credits, versus blind cop played by middle-aged African-American character actor with a string of movie and TV credits? Can't imagine even Bochco making that sale.

As I read the posts in the pilot thread, two very able actors, who are not as easy on the eyes as Ron Eldard, came to mind. Would we all have been so readily on detective Dunbar's side were he played by John Toturro or Steve Buscemi? Both great actors, who could play the role flawlessly (pun intended), but does their relative lack of sex appeal make it harder to get viewers on their side? What about Phillip Seymour Hoffman?

Next up, recasting Chrisite.

[maggiethecat]

Steve Buscemi? Oh my gosh, Margie. "He was a funny-lookin' little guy." Heh.

With Philip Seymour Hoffman, I think we'd know how Dunbar spent that year off -- raiding the fridge. (Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.)

I guess what we're really rolling around here is the concept of Lead Actor versus Character Actor, and I like a little eye candy in a Lead. (Although I did love the British series Cracker with Robbie Coltrane.) Looks aside for a minute, you also need a certain indefinable charisma in a lead, which you don't always get with great character actors. After watching the entire series (Hell, after watching The Pilot), I couldn't for the life of me imagine anyone else playing Dunbar with the complexity and slightly bent magnetism Ron Eldard brought to the role. Plus I never could catch him "acting," could you?

That said, I'm not sure this discussion was ever destined to go very far. After all, the part of Dunbar was written for Ron Eldard and Ron Eldard alone -- tailormade to his specific qualities, if you will -- and if Steven Bochco never imagined anyone else in the role . . .?

As for Christie? Oh, I don't know . . . how about an actress with a little warmth? Someone a little less wooden, who could deliver some of Christie's nastier lines in such a way that we would actually like her.

Mary Louise Parker?

But I'd be stuck when it came to Karen, Fisk, Russo, and Selway -- I think those actors were perfectly cast.

[housemouse]

maggiethecat said:

I guess what we're really rolling around here is the concept of Lead Actor versus Character Actor, and I like a little eye candy in a Lead. (Although I did love the British series Cracker with Robbie Coltrane.) Looks aside for a minute, you also need a certain indefinable charisma in a lead, which you don't always get with great character actors. After watching the entire series (Hell, after watching The Pilot), I couldn't for the life of me imagine anyone else playing Dunbar with the complexity and slightly bent magnetism Ron Eldard brought to the role. Plus I never could catch him "acting," could you?

If memory serves, Phillip Seymour Hoffman was just nominated for an Oscar for best actor in a leading role.

Even if the roles are impeccably cast, it is interesting to think of how the characters would have been received had they been played by different actors. I think had Dunbar been portrayed by an actor who came across as more arrogant, we might not have been on his side so readily.

As for Christie, how about Christine Baranski? Karen, Lisa Kudrow. Marty Russo, none other than Corbin Bernsen. As for detective Sellway, how about Blair Underwood ( talk about eye candy!). Patrick Stewart would be a must see as Lt. Fisk. Alternate casting for Dunbar - what about Robbie Coltrane?

[Katryna]

maggiethecat said:

After watching the entire series (Hell, after watching The Pilot), I couldn't for the life of me imagine anyone else playing Dunbar with the complexity and slightly bent magnetism Ron Eldard brought to the role. Plus I never could catch him "acting," could you?

I agree with you entirely Maggie. I can't imagine anyone else playing Jim Dunbar. But in a sort of reverse thought - I would love to have seen Ron Eldard playing DCI Ross Tanner in Second Sight. When I watched it, I could just see Ron in the role - he would have been excellent. Since DCI Tanner's visual impairment was intermittent, it would have given us a chance to see Ron doing some scenes sighted and others trying to hide his visual impairment. A challenging contrast.

[Duchess of Lashes]

kathy said:

maggiethecat said:

After watching the entire series (Hell, after watching The Pilot), I couldn't for the life of me imagine anyone else playing Dunbar with the complexity and slightly bent magnetism Ron Eldard brought to the role. Plus I never could catch him "acting," could you?

I agree with you entirely Maggie. I can't imagine anyone else playing Jim Dunbar. But in a sort of reverse thought - I would love to have seen Ron Eldard playing DCI Ross Tanner in Second Sight. When I watched it, I could just see Ron in the role - he would have been excellent. Since DCI Tanner's visual impairment was intermittent, it would have given us a chance to see Ron doing some scenes sighted and others trying to hide his visual impairment. A challenging contrast.

The manner in which he switched from one to the other at the end of In Your Face was amazing - so effortless! One of the best things about Ron Eldard is, as Maggie said, the fact that you couldn't catch him acting- he was Jim Dunbar and he was riveting!

On a side note, I happened to like Rena Sofer in the role of Christie! She did what she could with the material she was given - I don't think someone else in the role would have made any difference. Some different angles in the writing would have.

[maggiethecat]

housemouse said:

If memory serves, Phillip Seymour Hoffman was just nominated for an Oscar for best actor in a leading role.

Playing Truman Capote, which, while a superb writer and one of my all time literary heroes, hardly what I'd call eye candy!

Robbie Coltrane as Dunbar? Jeez, Mouse, you are cracking me up here. Interrogation, phooey, he could just sit on the perps.

And Christine Baranski (LOVED her in The Ref) is old enough to be Dunbar's aunt. LOL! ;D

[housemouse]

maggiethecat said:

housemouse said:

If memory serves, Phillip Seymour Hoffman was just nominated for an Oscar for best actor in a leading role.

Playing Truman Capote, which, while a superb writer and one of my all time literary heroes, hardly what I'd call eye candy!

Robbie Coltrane as Dunbar? Jeez, Mouse, you are cracking me up here. Interrogation, phooey, he could just sit on the perps.

And Christine Baranski (LOVED her in The Ref) is old enough to be Dunbar's aunt. LOL! ;D

All right, not Robbie Coltrane, how about, ummm say Michael Chiklis?!

You know, it really is a good thing I didn't take that job as a casting agent I was offered a while back.

[carl1951]

Lara Flynn Boyle: As Christy

Later, Carl

[awlrite4now]

maggiethecat said:

I guess what we're really rolling around here is the concept of Lead Actor versus Character Actor, and I like a little eye candy in a Lead. (Although I did love the British series Cracker with Robbie Coltrane.) Looks aside for a minute, you also need a certain indefinable charisma in a lead, which you don't always get with great character actors. After watching the entire series (Hell, after watching The Pilot), I couldn't for the life of me imagine anyone else playing Dunbar with the complexity and slightly bent magnetism Ron Eldard brought to the role. Plus I never could catch him "acting," could you?

That said, I'm not sure this discussion was ever destined to go very far. After all, the part of Dunbar was written for Ron Eldard and Ron Eldard alone -- tailormade to his specific qualities, if you will -- and if Steven Bochco never imagined anyone else in the role . . .?

Where was it stated that the part was written for Ron Eldard alone?

I know that as it went along, they put in the script the part about the boxing, but that could have been added at a much later date, as it comes along fairly late in the series.

When shown the script (or at least, pitched the idea), it was reported that Eldard didn't want to do the part because "who would believe a blind cop would have a gun?"

Who said that Bochco only pitched this to Eldard? I missed that entirely. Please, somebody show me. I just have a tough time believing that someone would formulate an entire show for one actor BEFORE he was signed on.

[doobrah]

I have a habit of really enjoying intense English actors. So I'd like to see a British version:

Jim Dunbar-- Gerry Butler (remember the Phantom?) or Robson Green. Both have impressive blue eyes and dark hair, and bring that same intensity that Ron has.
Christy -- Gillian Anderson. Don't laugh. She grew up in England and is excellent in "Bleak House" now running on Masterpiece Theatre as the upper crust Lady Dedlock. Sienna Miller -- she was great in "Keen Eddie" and could pull off Christy.
Karen -- Emily Mortimer. She's a fiesty little thang. Been in lots of movies -- she's one of those, "oh yeah, that girl."
Marty -- Jude Law. He could pull off the withering jokes.
Sellway -- Now there's a role for Robbie Coltrane. Pottery class indeed.
Fisk -- Bob Hoskins. Or Michael Caine. HA!
Terry -- Pierce Brosnan would look nice, but may not be believable. Craig Ferguson, maybe? Or how about that other ex-Bond: Timothy Dalton. Oooh.

[inuvik]

Can we recast the minor characters too?

Eric Stoltz as Warren Doyle. He's excellent at scummy characters. He's even played a pedophile before, in The Butterfly Effect.

[shmeep]

Okay, I'm feeling all inspired now.

How about...wait for it...

Blind Justice: The Musical!

Here is the dream cast.

Gerard Butler as Jim Dunbar:



I know Doobrah already said that, but he's sexy as hell, he sings, and he can do that intense-but-vulnerable thing.

Catherine Zeta Jones as Christie:



It'll show another side. Maybe she'll let loose a little. Maybe we'll warm to her more.

Julie Andrews as Karen:



She's warm and sweet, but can really pull off the appropriate 'tude.

Gordon MacRae as Marty:



He can nail the smart-alecky aspect--and in such a voice! I look forward to this performance.

Wayne Brady as Tom:



He can flesh out all those subtle jokes and give us a Tom we'll never forget--and the thought of him teaming up with Curly from Oklahoma makes me giggle.

Robert Preston as Lt. Fisk:



He'd add a bit of mischief to the good boss.

And our special guest stars!

Buddy Hacket as Sonny:



and Russ Tamblyn as Pete:

[maggiethecat]

Shmeep, let's start those backers auditions now. I smell a hit. Can we get Mel Brooks to write the music and Susan Strohman to do the choreography? I mean, after what she did with a bunch of walkers in "Little Old Lady Land," just imagine the possibilities for a chorus wielding canes!

If we can't get your first choice for the lead, there's always Hugh Jackman. Talk about eye candy. Woof.

[dogma]

that is too funny,, i have one to add,, maybe he could be the chief of d's? and remember,, he did sing in a musical,,( not that he can carry a tune,, but he can carry crackers to chew in my bed anytime ) he was "pardner" in the 1969 musical,, Paint your wagon