the ask@AAR: Who would you cast in Lord of Scoundrels and other favorite romances?
In our lively discussion about Bridgerton, several readers have shared how much they lust for love Regé-Jean Page, the absurdly sexy British-Zimbabwean actor who plays Simon Basset aka the Duke of Hastings.
The show, already one of Netflix’s most watched shows ever, has proved that the world is more than ready for our favorite romances to be on the screen. Film it and we will come!
The classic romance I’d adore seeing an adaptation of is Loretta Chase’s perennial favorite novel, The Lord of Scoundrels.Its feminist heroine, bantering wit, and winning humor make it a good choice for today’s savvy streamers. Casting it would be big fun. Here are my picks:
Jessica Trent: Zendaya
Sebastian Ballister, the Marquess of Dain:
Bertram Trent: Joe Alwyn
Genevieve, Lady Pembury: Vanessa Williams
Francis Beaumont: Michael B. Jordan
Who would you cast? And are their other pairings you’re dying to see? (Here’s one I’d watch in a skinny minute: Jennifer Hudson and Channing Tatum in Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ It Had to Be You.)
Adam Driver should be Sebastian since he’s not that handsome as mentioned in the book.
I just need Henry Cavill in a historical romance. I don’t really care which one LOL But he was who I had in my head for Simon before the wonderful Regé-Jean Page was cast.
He was definitely the best looking Sherlock Holmes I’d ever seen (I love Benedict Cumberbatch and find him quite the compelling actor who dominates his roles, but he’s not classically handsome). If there are any sequels to Enola Holmes, I hope he continues as Sherlock.
It’s always fun to see how people would fancast book characters, but I find it terribly hard to do myself. I usually have an image in my mind of how characters look, and they don’t look like any existing persons. I don’t know how to put that aside and think who would be the actors most capable of doing the characters justice. Nobody I come up with ever seems quite right.
I’d give a lot to see a screen adaptation of Lord of Scoundrels. I love that book so much. I agree with everyone who has said that Sebastian should be played by someone not traditionally handsome. In my opinion, the way he looks is so integral to the story and who he is as a person that casting someone too beautiful would make the plot confusing.
Also, pondering about this subject has made me realize that I am terribly lacking in knowledge of young actors. I can’t think of even one actor under 30 even from my own country let alone elsewhere, and my knowledge of actors in their 30s is embarrasingly patchy. I’ve been able to spend so little time online in the last seven years, and have consumed entertainment and media so irregularly and in so much smaller quantities than I used to that I seem to be out of touch with just about everything and everyone. That’s what you get for living under a rock, I guess.
I don’t know a lot of the young actors either and I’m not a big fan of the young ones I do know of. Young people’s tastes seem to be very different to mine and many of the ones people think are very handsome aren’t my cup of tea. Eddie Redmayne may be a great actor but he’s not my ideal looking guy -and he’s a former successful model. Maybe it’s a generational thing as well?
Most actors I know are from British TV series or historical mini-series. A few from movies.
I’m glad I’m not the only one. Most young actors I know are Finnish, but the rest are mostly British for the same reasons you mentioned, plus a few actors from other European countries thrown into the mix. I was actually trying to think of an Italian actor to play Sebastian since his mother was Italian and even managed to come up with a few suggestions that I thought weren’t totally terrible until I realized that language might be a problem, lol.
I think Eddie Redmayne is a talented actor, and I’ll happily watch him in the productions he’s been cast in, but I don’t find him handsome either. He was born the same year as I was, so my first thought that not being too enamored with the younger actors I know had something to do with me getting older is maybe not accurate after all. Perhaps ideals have changed. I don’t know. And since I’ve just admitted to be basically living under a rock I reckon my opinion matters not at all.
I put David Tennant’s face on every single character described as lean and angular – either easygoing OR dangerous. So he’s Archimedes Fox in the Meljean Brook Iron Seas series.He’d also work as Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent in “Devil In Winter.” I’ve got the actual Duke of Wellington in my vision of Wulfric Bedwyn in Mary Balogh’s “Slightly Dangerous”. But he’s, unfortunately, not available for auditions.
I used to put Daniel Day Lewis in those roles, but while he is still quite attractive he is too old to play heroes in their 30s and has retired from acting.
I think of Sebastian Lord St. Vincent as being the perfect “golden god” type with his fair hair I don’t think I could picture David Tennant (who I think is great as him).
In my mind he’s a stunningly handsome golden blonde guy like Charlie Hunnum. Almost on the side of beautiful but still masculine.
I could see Armie Hammer.
I forgot Benjamin Cumberbatch who was born for the part of Raven in Loretta Chase’s “Dukes Prefer Blonds”
James Norton for Christy Morrell in Patricia Gaffney’s “To Love and To Cherish”. He’s tall, he’s blond, he majored in theology at Cambridge, and he’s already played a vicar so he could step into the role with no need for additional advance preparation.
Sam Heughan for Sebastian Audley in Stella Rice’s “The Wicked Cousin”. I find the portrait on the cover of the book rather off-putting, but Heughan is a devastatingly handsome redhead and definitely rocks late 18th C clothing (see “Outlander”).
I’m clearly quite taken with James Norton at the moment. Just finished the most recent Lady Darby mystery and can see him as Sebastian Gage.
He is GORGEOUS.
This is fun, I was thinking about Joanna Bourne books.
Maybe Theo James for Adrian and Lea Seydoux for Justine?
If it were years ago, maybe Audrey Tatou as Annique?
I am absolutely delighted that “Bridgerton” is breaking records on Netflix, as Hollywood will be more apt to make romance books into movies. I am sooo tired of boy heroes and contrived, stupid set-ups. Right now, I am also tired of main characters who are psychopaths and the examination of people’s unhappy marriages, soul-killing, corrupt employment, troubled, awful children, and life in general. “Bridgerton” was an expensive movie, done by Shonda Rhimes who has a lot of power. Let’s hope that in the future that Hollywood doesn’t decide that they know better than millions of readers and change the dynamics, characters, and plot of the book.
I think, unfortunately, Hollywood has a bad track record when it comes to producing art- or things people actually like. And it’s only getting worse. Part of the reason, I believe, comes down to studios getting more bureaucratic. According to a Hollywood special effects guy in David Graeber’s book, Bullshit Jobs, (IIRC) things are more likely to be written (or at least heavily edited/butchered) by committees these days than actual writers who have a clue about the craft.
I’m totally with you on the contrived, stupid set-ups. Another annoyance of mine are these films that move at a glacial pace, largely because they consist of having actors emote by staring out of windows or in the mirror for inordinate lengths of time. Staring… Something anybody can do and be just as boring at it as big name actors. Ten years ago, the big problem I noticed in mainstream films was the lighting being so dark, I couldn’t see the characters or what the heck they were doing. Now, it’s all this boring emoting that feels like the opposite of an info-dump in a book. Don’t show me the character is conflicted or sad by having her stare out of the window! (Or if you do, cut it short. We get the idea.) Let the emotions come through in the actions and dialogue. Of course, that would require good screenwriting, something that is sadly lacking.
Tom Bateman or Matthew Goode as Sebastian.
Lesley Manville as Lady Pembury.
As I mentioned in another post, I am currently obsessed with Lucy Parker’s London Celebrities series, especially the last two books “The Austen Playbook” and “Headliners”. Of course, upon first sight, Regé-Jean Page was my ideal Nick Davonport (*signing up for Nick’s Chicks right now*). That got me thinking about the rest of the cast. This is what I’ve got so far:
Sabrina Carlton: Karen Gillan (loved her in Jumanji!)
Nick Davenport: Regé-Jean Page (DUH!)
Freddie Carlton: Hailee Steinfeld (She showed that quirky energy in Pitch Perfect2)
Rupert Carlton: Colin Firth
Charlie Ford-Griffin: From the picture above, Joe Alwyn would be a great contender!!!
Iain Campbell: Sam Heughan
Joe Ferren: Shazad Latif
Akiko: Eleanor Matsuura
BUT, for the life of me, I cannot come up with with a fitting GRIFF!!!!!
Loved “Headliners”…..but for me Colin Firth is tooo nice for Rupert….what about Bill Nighy? or Rowan Atkinson?….both capable of that edge.
Colin Firth is an awesome actor and I think he could pull it off… I always picture Rupert as suave and charismatic, but also very selfish and bitter… Bill Nighy, too sarcastic; Rowan Atkinson, too Blackadder! But that is just my opinion…
I guess it’s just that I don’t want to see Colin Firth as a manipulative, selfish, lying bastard. And the humiliation of the exposure. So – for me- anyone else but…..
Richard Troy always read as Richard Armitage to me.
YES!!! That is how I picture him, too, everytime! Richard Armitage from “North and South”!!! Unfortunately, he’d be too old now…
It would be so awesome if Headliners was made into a movie or series. I feel like all Parker’s books would make splendid screen adaptations. Embarrassingly enough, I had to google several names to be able to put a face and name and acting credits on everyone, but it looks like a solid list. I would gladly watch Headliners with your cast.
If he had a SAG card, I’d toss Rafael Medina, Duke of Feria into this in a thumping heartbeat. And the fun…a real Duke in HR land!
It’s wild there are still Dukes.
His face – that nose !! – is absolutely astonishing.
If I’ve learned anything from Page, Golding, and Sam Heughan, it’s that there are exceptional talents out there I haven’t heard of yet.
Would love to see Michael B. Jordan as a romantic lead, rather than as a villain. He has sooooooo much charisma. Maybe Sebastian in Kleypas’s Wallflowers – that would let him go villain and hero.
I think Jordan would be a great romantic lead. But he’s said he loves to play villains so I thought he’d be fun here.
‘Who would I cast’ is one of my favorite games. :-) I haven’t read ‘Lord of Scoundrels’ and am not familiar with Joe Alwyn but would watch the rest of that cast in just about anything.
It is fun, isn’t it?
Really? this is your post for the day?
Um… yes? Why?
Thank goodness I’m not the only one who puts faces to the characters I read. Good one, Dabney!!!
I could do this all day…..
I will fully admit that I am one of the shameless readers lusting after the glorious Regé! I love Henry Golding but I think he may be too polished for Sebastian! Let me think on this a bit more!
Jason Momoa as the “hulking brute” Sebastian
I thought about him but he doesn’t strike me as haughty enough!
I…. have no idea who any of those people are. (Oh, wait – Zendaya is in Spiderman so I must’ve seen her.)
Really? That surprises me. #Americanpopculture
Henry Golding is the star of Crazy Rich Asians among other films.
Joe Alwyn is Taylor Swift’s boyfriend and a rising movie star.
Vanessa Williams was the first black Miss America and has been a TV star in the US as well as a famous singer for decades.
Michael B. Jordan is perhaps the most famous young male Black actor in America and especially known for playing the villain in Black Panther.
I know the name of Vanessa Williams, but I couldn’t pick her out of a line up. Same with Michael B. Jordan, and I’ve never heard of the others. Given Dane is a Brit, I think he needs to be played by one, no? Or at least one who can do the accent without making those of us on this side of the Pond wince in disbelief ;)
No way. Any good actor can do an accent. “seeLittleWomen
That’s what I said, someone who can do it properly. But given the number of audiobooks I’ve listened to with otherwise good actors who can’t do an English accent to save their lives, it strikes me as much easier to just get a British actor. There are plenty of them working in the US after all!
Henry Golding has lived in Surrey, England, since he was a child (born in Malaysia) and Joe Alwyn is all English.
Don’t know why it is, but I think British actors do American accents much better than American actors do British ones. Think of Damian Lewis in “Homeland” or most of the actors who played in the most recent “Little Women”
I think it depends on the actor, some are great and some are abysmal. Benedict Cumberbatch is a great actor but his Boston accent was bad.
British actors often go too nasal or think everyone in the US is from the Deep South. Renée Zellweger nailed a very specific accent for Bridget Jones movies.
I think it depends on the actor and how specific they are in their preparation. Even US actors do a bad job when they go too generic. Hardly anyone in Massachusetts talks like a Kennedy. A southern accent from Arkansas is wildly different from an accent from Georgia.
I didn’t know James Marsters wasn’t from England until a couple of years into his run on Buffy.
Oh, Caz, me, either, but I thought I was the only one! LOL!
Sebastian: Adam Driver.
Yes isn’t he supposed to be not conventionally handsome? And he thinks of himself as ugly? I could see Adam Driver pulling this off too.
I adore Henry Golding but he’s so stunning what could they do to him to make him believable as Sebastian?
I propose recasting the role of Sir Phillip in Bridgerton and bringing Henry Golden in to play him.
Good point!
You’ve put Henry Golding in my mind and now I want to cast him as everyone!
He has the sense of humor I think Sebastian needs.
I think he’s just off the charts in terms of charm. Love him.
Agree with you Chrisreader! Henry golding is too gorgeous. I am not sure if I would agree with Henry for Sir Phillip though, Sir Phillip is supposed to be huge and tall. I see Henry more as someone like Michael Stirling:)
Oooooooo! Good call.
Or see my earlier comment re the Bridgerton series that I see James Norton (with dark hair) as Sir Philip or as Michael Stirling.
To picture him as Adam Driver was not my idea. A reader said this in my blog and I realised that he is exactly described that way in the book – A ‘monster’, not typically handsome, great nose (lika a Medici), but big and powerful. Adam Driver is perfect for the role. Now I cannot see him in any other look.
Bridgerton has encouraged me, in my imaginary casting, to break free of the descriptions of characters in the book. I just watched the second season of His Dark Materials–the leads look nothing like they do in Pullman’s books but they work.
For me it depends on how much the descriptions are integral to the characters. In Quinn’s books Simon is a handsome guy so race isn’t a factor even though he’s supposedly of Ango-Saxon ancestry. You can cast any handsome guy with any hair color of any race as long as he’s charismatic and can act. It doesn’t take away from the character.
With Sebastian his specific looks are so much a part of his psyche that if you cast someone conventionally gorgeous (unless they were going to try and change their face with makeup or prosthetics) then I think it would make Sebastian’s hang ups seem a little crazy. I think the great thing about Adam Driver is that before I watched him in anything I did not get it. I remember thinking what is it about this guy that people are raving about? Then you watch him act and he draws you in.
I do think there is just plain bad casting and it can be physically related. Not in terms of race as some people will argue, but take Tom Cruise in Interview With The Vampire. He did his best and ethnically he fit a “white” Lestat but book Lestat is an elegant, ascetic, aristocratic type. I imagine a tall, slim sophisticated actor like a young Ralph Fiennes or Tom Hiddleston or even Rene Jean Page (who is not as thin). Something about Cruise, despite all his work, never rang true for me. There was a certain physicality he just didn’t have. To me he was never this kind of louche, languid aristocrat.
I could see Dev Patel.
I think Anne Rice once said she pictured Rutger Hauer in the role, but by the time they made the movie he was too old. He definitely made my heart beat faster in “Ladyhawke”.
The first thing I saw him in was Blade Runner and then The Hitcher. He does menacing terrifyingly well.
I used to love Rutger Hauer. He’s one of those actors that got stuck in the villain role after playing them so successfully.
Yes, I thought of him. I was going for younger.
I think Adam Driver would be a better fit than Henry Golding as Sebastian. Henry might be a better fit for one of the other Lords in that series (Edenmont or Ainsworth perhaps).
I don’t have a particular book in mind but after watching all of Schitt’s Creek earlier this year I think the actor and actress who played Ted and Alexis had great chemistry and were adorable together. I’d watch them in a heartbeat in a rom com.
I would listen to “A Little Bit Alexis” all day long.