The Specialists

Some of you may be too young to remember a time when superhero movies didn’t come out every Summer, but I lived through those dark times and I could tell you some tales… Sure, there were a few: the Superman and Batman series each supplied one or two decent films, but for the most part, superheroes required special effects that were beyond the limits of movie magic.

But we dared to dream, as geeks do, compiling cast lists for movies that we never thought would exist. I’d feel pretty proud of having predicted the casting of Patrick Stewart as Professor X, if he weren’t the most obvious choice since Yul Brynner. (Also, file this under “Times Change”: when I was a kid, the perfect actor to play Tony Stark was Tom Selleck. Ask your parents, kids.)

So now The Specialists gets the fantasy casting treatment. Since this is all hypothetical anyway, we’re not going to be too concerned with things like age or even death. This movie exists outside of time and space. Shawn is in blue and Al is red.

Max

If I didn’t know better, I’d say that you had specifically based the design of Max on a young (maybe Rushmore-era) Jason Schwartzman. Physically, he was a perfect match. I actually can’t think of a good modern-day actor young enough to play Max. I guess we’d have to go with an unknown.

I don’t know of a particular actor I’d pick for our Young Genius. I think we could go with an unknown, so long as he’s of an appropriate age (around 16 or so; I can’t stand it when Hollywood casts 25 year-olds as high school kids).

Agreed. Max shouldn’t get a five o’clock shadow.

Luke

I’ve thought a bit about casting Luke. I think Karl Urban would do a good job; he’s turned in a good performance in every movie of his I’ve seen. And you may think I’m kidding, but I’ve always had it in the back of my head that Rick Schroder would fit the part as well—he certainly looks like Luke, and though I haven’t seen him in anything since NYPD Blue, I think he’s got the acting chops.

If I could choose any actor ever, I’d pick Burt Lancaster. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.

Wow, those are three names I’d never thought of, and some pretty interesting choices. I’d never have thought of Rick Schroder, but he does look the part these days (I still have a hard time not thinking of him as little Ricky Schroder). My choice would be Josh Holloway, best known as Sawyer from Lost. He did a great job of playing someone that you liked despite his many obvious flaws.

Agnes

If I had to choose a modern actress for Agnes, I’d probably go with Michelle Williams, who proved with her recent turn as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn that she can play a troubled sex symbol quite well. However, since we’re playing fast and loose with time, we probably couldn’t do better than Veronica Lake, one of the great blond bombshells of the 40s.

I like the notion of Michelle Williams playing Lady Liberty. My other choice would be Anna Torv (Fringe, if you didn’t already know). She had a brief but memorable role in HBO’s The Pacific as a blonde bombshell (the main reason why I’m picking her here).

And I will second Veronica Lake; I used photos of Ms. Lake as reference when working on the concept art for Lady Liberty.

Henry

My one-and-only choice for Henry is Josh Lucas. I think he can do the “handsome yet arrogant and petty jerk” thing quite well (see Ang Lee’s Hulk).

Good call! He’d actually crossed my mind to play Luke, but he would be better as Henry.

Kate

I was struggling with this one until I remembered that we’re ignoring the laws of spacetime, and then it was easy: Gillian “Dana Scully” Anderson, circa 1995. I dare you to top that!

Well, I—like any other geek who lived through the ’90s—cannot help but agree with your choice. Well played, sir!

I’ll put forth one other name: Ruth Wilson. I saw her in A&E’s update of The Prisoner in 2009, and immediately thought she’d be good for the part of Kate (she’d have to lose the English accent though.)

Walter

Ten or twenty years ago, Denzel Washington would have been an obvious choice for Walter. But today, I’d nominate Chiwetel Ejiofor, who is probably best known to science fiction fans as the Agent from Serenity. He’s got the right look, and he’s a fine actor. (He’d have to disguise his English accent as well, but I have faith!)

I agree with your choices(s).

Mark

This is a gimme: Michael Fassbender of Inglorious Basterds, X-Men: First Class, and others. (Jude Law would also work.)

Jude Law hadn’t even crossed my mind, but I think I’d prefer him as Mark (Mr. Fassbender would be a fine choice too). I feel as though I’d want an authentic Englishman in the part, in any case. I’m not sure how Mr. Law does with accents and such.

Hartmann

Depending on the budget, I suppose it would be a toss-up if Hartmann would be computer generated or an actor in Brute make-up. The part of me that pines for the days of classic monster make-up (from Jack Pierce to Dick Smith to Stan Winston, et al.) would prefer to see an actor in make-up; though it would have to be a hulk of a man to begin with. I humbly suggest Ralf Moeller. (Andy Serkis would be the go-to guy for a motion-captured performance, I suppose.)

I had been waiting for you to take a crack at Hartmann, because I couldn’t think of anyone. Moeller would fit the bill, but are you sure we shouldn’t save him to play Panzer? Also, I think I’d prefer makeup over mo-cap. If it’s good enough to turn Kellsey Grammar into Beast, it’s good enough for Hartmann!

Let’s sign up Rick Baker to design the Brute make-up and we’re good to go.

That’s it for The Specialists. We’ll continue the discussion on Thursday with Die Übermenschen. Feel free to share your own suggestions in the comments. I’m sure there are lots of great actors we’ve overlooked!