Cast the Avengers

[ringsyde]

I do this with friends a lot, and a few of us have dabbled here on the boards.

I want to know who you all would cast for a live action Avengers movie. I started this discussion at work today (around 1:00 central time) and I just finished it an hour ago.

Here's my roster and cast:
Captain America - Brad Pitt (His post-TROY physique, square jaw and Mr. & MRS. SMITH demeanor sold me on him playing Steve Rogers. Doesn't hurt that he looks right for the part either)

Hawkeye - Matt Damon (He can do the smarmy jokester and the testy rebel convincingly)

Thor - Ralf Moeller (the monster from the movie Gladiator has the pedigree and the look, and he's convincing as a warrior from the past)

Black Panther - Michael Jai White (the combination of martial arts experience, voice and look give him the edge over the aging Wesley Snipes. Plus this guy can act when given the right role)

Vision & Scarlet Witch - Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna (This real life husband and wife duo are both older, in incredible shape and can act. Lisa Rinna is a soap star by trade, but she has appeared in numerous movies and television shows, and Harry Hamlin was Perseus in the movie, Clash of the Titans. These two look like Vision and Scarlet Witch, and they look a little like Ian McKellen, the man who plays Magneto in the X men movies)

Iron Man - George Clooney (Not a big Clooney fan, especially after his rape of Batman, but he's on a real short list of older actors who are convincing as both a survivor of a war, a failing heart and alcoholism, and as a suave billionaire bachelor who moonlights as the armored Avenger. Ralph Fiennes comes in as a close second for this role and for the role of Vision)


I am still debating whether or not I'd include the Pyms in the first movie. As for the villain, I would start off with Ultron.

Okay, it's your turn. Who would you cast, what role and why?

[neil]

how about the guy who played thing in ff as thor?

[Thad Killian]

I don't know if I would start Ultron in the first movie...how about the Mandarin? You could put a few of his henchmen in there...

[ringsyde]

Neil, I think Michael Chiklis is a little too short and a little too Brooklyn to play a believable Thor. He was almost too short to play a believable Thing.

As for villains, I see Mandarin as more of an Iron Man villain and Ultron as more of an Earth's mightiest heroes sort of villain. I also think that advancements in studio technology and animation would blend well with this ahead-of-his-times villain in a way that would interest non-comic fans moreso than Mandarin.

I think Jeremy Irons would provide a great voice for the android.

I'm also changing my Vision pick. Because of his eyes and his simple appearance, I think William Fitchner (Crash, Invasion) absolutely looks like an android, and he's eerily silent in many of his roles. After having time to think about it, I'm convinced he's a better fit.

[neil]

how about doph lundgren as thor?hes got the size for it imo.

[Mike M]

I like the Mandrin as well..... for the henchmen factor alone. Anyone ever see Giant-Sized Avengers from 1975? That goes down as one of my all-time favorite books.

[ringsyde]

Good point!!

[gwffantrav]

I'm disappointed...Pitt and Clooney Ringsyde!?!? Ughhhh...I want no dorf playing Cap!!!!

I love MJW as Panther and Lisa Rinna as Scarlet Witch (she is still super sexy). Heck, I'd like Eva Longoria for her though.

But it's some hard choices though...

[ringsyde]

If not Brad Pitt, then who? Cap's tough to cast in today's Hollywood because there aren't too many perfectly built, blond-haired, blue-eyed stars out there who could pull this off.

Because most of the scenes would be in armor, Clooney could arguably be replaced with a number of guys, but he's on a real short list of actors who really do live the "Stark" life and could convey that in a film. Were it not for his appearance in the HULK film, I would love to see Eric Bana play Tony Stark.

A friend suggested that Hugo Weaving (Matrix's Agent Smith) and Jessica Biel (Texas Chainsaw Masssacre, Blade 3) play Vision and Scarlet Witch, and I liked those picks as well.

So who else do you suggest, trav?

[gwffantrav]

Yeah, I agree it's hard to cast Cap. This is going to be a weekend project then Ringsyde! To make it my quest to find the perfect Cap.

It's a shame it isn't 15 years ago, I always pictured Tom Selleck as Iron Man/Tony Stark.

[ringsyde]

Yeah, fifteen years ago, I had Selleck cast as Iron Man, Andrew Bryniarski (he played Max Shreck's son in Batman Returns, and he was the roided up monster in the college football movie, THE PROGRAM) as Cap, Jeremy Irons as Vision and Dirk Benedict as Henry Pym.

Let me know what you come up with for Cap.

[gwffantrav]

Okay RingsYde, I think I may have found a good Cap. We're both fans of this guy, so I chose:

ART BELLJUST KIDDING...

Matthew McConaughey (and I don't know if you're a fan of McConaughey, but it was just a Coast to Coast joke)

[ringsyde]

McConaughay is a great choice. I think his southern twang kills the Northern New Yorker thing that Steve Rodgers is supposed to have. Otherwise, he's a great pick.

Art Bell. Now that would be funny.

[Wad]

ringsyde said:

McConaughay is a great choice. I think his southern twang kills the Northern New Yorker thing that Steve Rodgers is supposed to have. Otherwise, he's a great pick.

He could play Hawkeye, while Matt Damon could be bumped up to Captain America.

[Wad]

neil said:

how about doph lundgren as thor?hes got the size for it imo.

Is he still working?

[gwffantrav]

If you catch I love the 80s 3-D on VH1 (which it's on all the time), they talk about Rocky IV and they have Lundgren talking about the movie.

[Pepsiking]

To me, I don't really care who they cast in this movie, i'm going to see it because I love the Avengers over any other team.

Just put Cap, She-Hulk, Wasp and the Scarlet Witch in the group and i'll see it multiple times.

Eric

[pikemojo]

RingsYde, I think you nailed Vision with whats his name from Invasion and Crash. He could do that silent robotic look really well. And I am all for Dolph Lundgren in any role. I think he should be Cap. I am just kidding, except not about my super fandom of all things Dolph.
Honestly I think Tom Cruise would make a decent Tony Stark. Clooney would be okay but I think Cruise has the look a little better. And boy can he play crazy.
She-Hulk should be Chyna. Or maybe Jazz. It needs to be someone buff.
Being a huge Lost fan I think I have found some good people to fill some of those parts and they would be young and hunky like Hollywood would want. Matthew Fox as Iron Man and Josh Holloway as Cap. Holloway would be playing a completely different character but I think he could pull it off.
This is fun do some more RingsYde.