Hypothetical Casting | The Hunchblog of Notre Dame

16May 2013

Hypothetical Casting for Esmeralda; Hafsia Herzi

by jess

Hafsia Herzi

A really good option for an actress to play Esmeralda would be Hafsia Herzi. Herzi is a French actress of Algerian and Tunsia decent.

Hafsia Herzi

She defiantly has a good look for Esmeralda but more than that she is a very good young actress. She bring a lot of depth, maturity and subtly to her roles. She also has one trait that an actress playing Esmeralda should have; she has a natural sensuality. I think she could either bring a new facet to the character or pull off Esmeralda persoanlity in the book while still being likable.

Hafsia Herzi as Rym in The Secret of the Grain

She has also played some one named Esmeralda one before in The Source. And she performed a memorable Belly Dance in The Secret of the Grain.

Hafsia Herzi

Personally, I think she is a really good choice to depict La Esmeralda but what do you think would Hafsia Herzi make a good Esmeralda or do have another choice for the role?

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17Apr 2013

Hypothetical Casting for Phoebus; Henry Cavill

by jess

Henry Cavill

After watching The Tudors, I thought Henry Cavill would make a great Phoebus. Cavill played Charles Brandon in The Tudors who was a close friend of Henry VIII. Cavill possess the sex appeal that Phoebus should have but he also have a smarmy quality as well as a warmth that would translate well to character. I also think he could bring a new angle to the character given the chance. Did I mention he playing Superman in the upcoming Man of Steel.

Henry Cavill as Charles Brandon from The Tudors

Plus he was born in Jersey which is where Victor Hugo himself lived from 1852-1855. yeah it’s like providential and what not.

Henry Cavill

What do you think? Would Cavill make a good Phoebus?

Henry Cavill as Superman, Man of Steel

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28Feb 2013

Hypothetical Casting for Clopin; David Tennant

by jess

David Tennant

I was reading a blog that thinks that David Tennant should be cast as Clopin. And while the blog tells the reader not to take it seriously I agree David Tennant would make a great Clopin.

David Tennant as The Doctor

Devaid Tennant is most known for his playing of the tenth incarnation of The Doctor in the BBC version of Doctor Who and for playing Bartemius “Barty” Crouch Junior in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

David Tennant as Barty Crouch, Jr

Tennant is cheerful, charismatic and he has a quick witty way of talking that would be perfect for Clopin. However he can also be threatening. Both of these facets are integral to Clopin’s character.

David Tennant as The Doctor

There just something about his mannerism and looks that I think make him an ideal choice for Clopin.

David Tennant

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17Jan 2013

Hypothetical Casting for Fleur de Lys; Holliday Grainger

by jess

Holliday Grainger

Fleur de Lys isn’t the most fleshed out character in the Hunchback of Notre Dame but she does give Phoebus more of a characterization and with ease she could be made into more of a main character. Notre Dame de Paris did it after all.

Holliday Grainger

So who would make a good Fleur de Lys? I would say Holliday Grainger would make a fine Fleur de Lys. She is very lovely and sweet looking but in such a way that she could be devious and manipulative.

Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia Borgia

She is best know for playing Lucrezia Borgia in The Borgias and if this isn’t an endorsement for casting her as Fleur de Lys I don’t know what is. She is also playing Anastasia in the upcoming Cinderella movie so that adds to her capacity for the role of Fleur de Lys. Thouth I can’t help but to think she would have made a lovely Cinderella, nothing against Lily James. Though a wicked stepsister is more fun to play.

Holliday Grainger as Anastasia with Sophie McShera in Cinderellla

But aside from looks, Grainger is a fine actress and she could pull off the character very well. I would just hope that Fleur de Lys would get slightly bigger role in future movie/television adaptations.

Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia Borgia

Off Topic – I’m really looking forward to Cinderella as a fan of The Borgias, Game of Thrones, and Downton Abbey. Get any of those actors in a Hunchback movie and my little heart might explode.

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13Dec 2012

Who should Johnny Depp play if he were casted in a Hunchback movie?

by jess

Johnny Depp

With the rumors of Tim Burton involvement on the 2013 version people started to ask “Well,What character is Johnny Depp going to play?” Since Burton more often than now casts Depp for his movies? But it is a an interesting question, Who should Johnny Depp play if he were casted in a Hunchback movie?

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp is a very versatile actor. He could play a few characters in a Hunchback version. He could play Gringoire, Clopin or Frollo. Though personally I think he would do the best as Clopin. The role of Clopin can be made into a bigger role pending on the writing. With Gringoire I feel a younger and more naive actor would be better and with Frollo, Depp doesn’t have an cold, austere look to him so I think he better suited to Clopin.

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow from The Pirates of the Caribbean

I could see Depp giving Clopin like a Jack Sparrow vibe where he can be a chaotic neutral. But I think he could do something different for him as an actor and give Clopin a new bent and he could make his own.

Johnny Depp

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11Oct 2012

Anti Hypothetical Casting – Megan Fox as Esmeralda

by jess

Typically when I do hypothetical casting posts it’s because I think a specific actor or actress would be a good choice for a certain character in the Hunchback Notre Dame. This post however is different. It’s the opposite.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox, for whatever reason, is for some people an ideal choice for Esmeralda. Now I’m not going to criticize those people. Instead I’m going make a little bit of a generalization. The people who think Fox should play Esmeralda are looking at the character from the Disney perspective; that she is a strong, independent, sexually-aware women. While I guess Fox “embodies” those traits let’s not forget that she isn’t know for her acting prowess.

Fox’s major function in the media is to be lusted after. The truth is Fox isn’t a decent actress. I’m not a great fan of Demi Moore but she can act circles around Fox, I mean she was great in Ghost. But more than that, Moore has a tenderness which did come through in her Esmeralda. Fox doesn’t seem to have anything that makes her a compelling actress outside her physical appearance.

Megan Fox

Depending on how the movie chooses to depict Esmeralda, it’s not difficult role to play. It would be harder if a movie made her like she is the in book since it would take a charismatic actress to make her likable and sympathetic. But the movies goes with the easier approach that she is kind, strong-willed, independent, and sexy. Even if it’s an easy role that doesn’t mean that a movie can cast someone solely on looks. There needs to be some charm to actress and not just an overly sexualized lady who poses in front of camera and spout off a lines.

Megan Fox

So being that Fox is for some people an ideal Esmeralda and she stared with Josh Brolin in Jonah Hex I feel compelled to voice my opinion on her playing Esmeralda; No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No!!!

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06Sep 2012

Hypothetical Casting for Frollo; Alan Rickman

by jess

Alan Rickman

A popular casting choice for Frollo is Alan Rickman. Rickman is best known for playing Professor Snape in theHarry Potter Movies . He has also played Colonel Brandon in the 1995 version of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, The Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1991 version of Robin Hood (Prince of Thieves) and Rasputin in Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.

Alan Rickman as Professor Severus Snape from Harry Potter

Rickman would make a great Frollo. He has the right level of threat and tenderness about him. He also tends to play elegant characters that may seem calm but are concealing something within and he is good at communicating that dichotomy on film. This duality is essential to Frollo’s character. Also Rickman tends to play character that have a dark streak, which a Frollo really should have.

Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility

Many ladies find Rickman attractive but he is not unconventional attractive. The aspects that people find attentive are his voice and with over-all manner. In that way Rickman has the right look and the right level of sex appeal that Frollo seems to have with fans. I mean could you imagined Rickman reciting the monologue in the jail scene (where he confesses his “love” to Esmeralda). I bet a lot fans of both Frollo and Rickman would love that.

Alan Rickman as The Sheriff of Nottingham from Robin Hood; Prince of Thieves picture image

Alan Rickman as The Sheriff of Nottingham from Robin Hood; Prince of Theives

I would just hope that if Rickman does play Frollo he is allowed to bring a dark tonality to the role and maybe recite some of Frollo’s dialogue from book largely intact.

Alan Rickman as Rasputin from Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny

But what do you think? Would Alan Rickman make a good Frollo? Or do you think he would make a terrible Frollo and how dare I even suggesting it?

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19Jul 2012

Hypothetical Casting for Esmeralda; Sofia EssaÃ¯di

by jess

Sofia EssaÃ¯di

In a post on Notre Dame de Paris Fans, there was note from a tumblr blog called Passing Dreams that had a list of who they thought would be the ideal casting choices for Esmeralda, Quaismodo and Frollo if there was a French revival of Notre Dame de Paris. Just got to say that a new French cast would be awesome. The Show hasn’t been performed as a musical in France since 2005. Anyway so I’m going to look at these people and first up is Sofia EssaÃ¯di for Esmeralda.

Sofia EssaÃ¯di

Sofia EssaÃ¯di is half French and half Moroccan so there is no denying that she has a the right look for Esmeralda and she is very beautiful. She was on the third season of France’s Star Academy (2004) which she came in second. On Star Academy she performed Vivre (see video at the bottom of the page) . She has also released an album in 2005 called Mon Cabaret (see video to hear Mon Cabaret). She was also on the French version of Dancing with the Stars were she came in second. She also played Cleopatra in the 2009 French musical ClÃ©opÃ¢tre, la DerniÃ¨re Reine d’Ã‰gypte.

EssaÃ¯di would make a great Esmeralda, she can sing and she dances very well. I just happen to not be overly fond of her voice, it’s not that it’s bad, it just doesn’t resonate with me. I also didn’t care for her rendition of Vivre but I think a musical director could help if she was cast (plus those hamster-ball people wouldn’t be there either). However I did like her as Cleopatra.

Sofia EssaÃ¯di

I think if she were to play Esmeralda it would be would be a great casting choice.

Sofia EssaÃ¯di

Videos of Sofia EssaÃ¯di

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byo5UhCOMhw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIaHuvT_FUI
Christopher Stills would make a good Phoebus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Shoiw8Xp08
click here to buy the song

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20Jun 2012

Hypothetical Casting for Frollo; Richard Armitage

by jess

Richard Armitage

As a possible movie (or mini-series) Frollo I would suggest Richard Armitage for the role. While Armiatge is younger and more attractive than Frollo is meant to be, he has a talent for playing brooding and complex characters.

Richard Armitage as John Thornton from the BBC of North & South

Armitage’s biggest roles have been playing John Thornton in the 2004 BBC version of North & South (which is one the best period pieces I ever seen), Guy of Gisborne in the BBC version of Robin Hood (which was a fun series), and he playing Thorin Oakenshield in the upcoming The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne from the BBC version of Robin Hood

Armitage is a very versatile actor. I think he pull off the descent into insanity very effectively. I know Armitage could give Frollo the complexity he has in the book but is lacking from other film versions.

Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield from The Hobbit

As for his looks, yeah Armitage would be a handsomer and younger Frollo but his looks work with the character. He is tall and lean which would enhance Frollo’s austere look. With the right costume and make-up he could be made up to look like the ideal Frollo.

Richard Armitage

Tell me what do you think. Do you like Richard Armitage would make a good Frollo or do someone else is the perfect Frollo?

Bonus – Armitage was also in Captain America as Heinz Kruger and in Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace as Naboo Fighter Pilot (he was uncredited)

Richard Armitage as Heinz Kruger in Captain America

Richard Armitage as a Naboo Fighter Pilot with Natalie Portman as Padme Amidala Star Wars; The Phantom Menace Episode I Picture image

Richard Armitage as a Naboo Fighter Pilot Star Wars; The Phantom Menace

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01May 2012

Hypothetical Casting for Esmeralda: Jessica Findlay-Brown

by jess

As a possible Esmerada I think Jessica Findlay-Brown would make a good choice.

Jessica Findlay-Brown

She has the right look as she is has an olive skin tone, black hair and she’s young enough to pull off the role.

Jessica Findlay-Brown

She is a fairly decent actress though she hasn’t been to many thing but her most notable role was Lady Sybil Crawley on Downton Abbey which isn’t the most difficult role in the world admittedly but neither in Esmeralda.