Assassins Movie Fan Casting

[karmachameleon2]

Posted: 6/27/13 at 8:42pm

Okay, this might sound a bit stupid. But I digress?

I've always wanted to see a movie adaptation of the Sondheim/Weidman musical, Assassins. I've been in love with it ever since I heard both the Off-Broadway and Broadway recordings. I got a chance to read the book from my library. I love the complex story it carries. I think that with the right director, it could make for a great film that expands and stays true to the material. I even made one of those crappy fan casting lists (it is really hard to find actor:

The Proprietor - Bruce Willis
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000246/

The Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald - Kevin McHale
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2389665/

John Wilkes Booth - Joseph Gordon-Levitt
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0330687/

Charles Guiteau - Sam Rockwell
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005377/

Leon Czolgosz - Sam Riley
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727165/

Giuseppe Zangara - ????

Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme - Emma Watson
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0914612/

Sara Jane Moore - ????

John Hinckley, Jr. - ????

Samuel Byck - John C. Reilly
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000604/

David Herold - ????

Emma Goldman - Lena Dunham (it's a non-singing part, chill)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2501633/

So, what do you guys think?

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/27/13 at 10:01pm

Kevin McHale would actually be a pretty good Hinckley, I think. He reads for that part much more than he does for the Balladeer and Oswald.

[OperaBwayLover]

Posted: 6/27/13 at 10:49pm

It would definitely be interesting to see a film version of Assassins. I recently saw a college production that one of my closest friends was in (he played Zangara) and they completely embraced the whole carnival/circus atmosphere that is underlying in the show. It was in a blackbox theatre, and the characters made their entrances and exits through the audience seating. And given that the audience was so close to the show because of the theatre's layout, it made the whole thing more thought-provoking as the characters were in-your-face the whole time.

My point to all of that is, should they choose to film Assassins someday, I'd like to see that intimacy onscreen, if possible. It really is a show that makes you think hard, and filming it like that would help underscore the show's central message.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/27/13 at 11:37pm

The Balladeer - Patrick Wilson

Lee Harvey Oswald - Christopher Gorham

John Wilkes Booth - Johnny Depp

Charles Guiteau - Samuel West

Leon Czolgosz - Ryan Gosling

Giuseppe Zangara - Ben Affleck

Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme - Amy Poehler

Sara Jane Moore - Melissa McCarthy

John Hinckley, Jr. - James Corden

Samuel Byck - Jason Sudeikis

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 6/27/13 at 11:49pm

I will never be able to unsee Melissa McCarthy as Sara now. Thank you, Gotham.

[karmachameleon2]

Posted: 6/28/13 at 8:50am

Actually, I chose McHale on the merit that he kinda looks like Oswald. Seriously. Also, I imagine Hinckley to be more built.

[karmachameleon2]

Posted: 6/28/13 at 8:59am

Eh, can't really see any of it. Maybe McCarthy. The Balladeer and Oswald are the same person in new versions, so I imagine that would carry into the film. And while Zangara is usually played by a white guy, movies are more realistic and Zangara was more dark-skinned, so that probably wouldn't fly.

[evd1232]

Posted: 6/28/13 at 12:18pm

"Lee Harvey Oswald - Christopher Gorham "

I think this is perfect!!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/28/13 at 1:30pm

"Also, I imagine Hinckley to be more built."

I think Hinckley was more of a fatty. I know that there is a bit of romanticizing of the parts, but I don't quite see McHale being physically right for the role.

"The Balladeer and Oswald are the same person in new versions, so I imagine that would carry into the film."

This was absolutely the wrong thing to do. With them being the same person, it puts the show in the past. With them being separate people, you are left wondering if the Balladeer is going to be the next assassin.

Updated On: 6/28/13 at 01:30 PM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 9/1/14 at 6:06pm

I wanted to bump this thread because out of all of Weidman's books, I admire ASSASSINS the most. Here's the dream cast I had in mind.

The Proprietor- James Earl Jones
The Balladeer- Patrick Wilson
John Wilkes Booth- Hugh Jackman
Lee Harvey Oswald- Chris Pine
Charles Guiteau- Jim Parsons
Leon Czolgosz- Russell Crowe
Sara Jane Moore- Kathy Bates
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme- Kristen Bell
Samuel Byck- Jimmy Fallon
John Hinckley Jr.- Jonah Hill
Giuseppe Zangara- Ben Affleck

[The Josh]

Posted: 9/1/14 at 6:14pm

I LOVE the idea of Johnny Depp as Booth.
For whatever reason I think I'd like to see Zach Galiafinakis as Byck.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 9/1/14 at 7:01pm

^I don't know. Depp is more for Czolgosz than Booth.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 9/1/14 at 7:45pm

While Johnny Depp and Hugh Jackman look younger then their respective ages, Booth was 26 when he died. I don't want to see a 50 year old John Wilkes Booth. Both do have the charisma I personally associate with the role, but the age difference is too big.

Cervaris as Booth is one of my favorite performances ever, but it bugged the history teacher in me that we was just too old.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 9/2/14 at 12:06am

I can imagine Parsons selling it and having the time of his life playing Guiteau, Jackman showing us sympathy and hate playing Booth, Crowe doing a suprising, yet great job as Czolgosz, etc.

This could be a great film if handled well.





Updated On: 9/2/14 at 12:06 AM