Poldark is my comfort show, I can’t recall how many times I’ve rewatched it in the last year. A sentiment that have gone up since after another hypothetical casting post for Aidan Turner where I called it simply “a great show.”
Another actor from Poldark that would make a great choice for hypothetical casting opinion for Frollo would the actor who plays Poldark nemesis and the actor is Jack Farthing.
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Playing the Villain
As stated Jack Farthing is best known for his role on Poldark as George Warleggan, Ross Poldark’s nemesis. Though it’s more like Ross lives rent free in George’s mind as George is very jealous of Ross social standing and reputation. And George is obsessed with idea of Ross and having him at his mercy and hoping the he takes up as much space in Ross’s mind as his own. He wants Ross to be jealous and envious of him but Ross is not and not as petty as all that. Not that Ross is perfect, far from it.
George is a complex villain with different facets. It would be a safe bet that Farthing would excel at playing Frollo. Farthing could give Frollo more nuanced than is seen in other movie adaptations. The better Frollos start off as well-intentioned before going full-all villain with lust and madness.
Basis for a Villainous Look
As far as looks go Farthing has the right sort of bone structure for the part. A good casting choice for Frollo should look severe, harsh, and austere.
Fathing has a narrow face, slightly gaunt cheeks with high cheek-bones and prominent eyes. His lighter coloration would also help differentiate him from the actors playing the Romani characters. His face is a good base for the over-all look of the character.
While actor cast as Frollo are older than his stated age in the book. It does make sense to cast an older actor for Frollo so point slightly against Farthing is that could be consider “young” for Frollo even he’s in Frollo’s age range. This casting might be contingent of the other actor specially Quasimodo. For the record the average age for actors playing Quasimodo is 41 and Frollo it’s 50.
Though he did play a 42 year old Prince Charles in Spencer when he was in his mid-30s so with the right make-up it could work despite whomever was cast as Quasimodo.
A Great Choice to Play the Villain
Despite him might be considered somewhat “young” for the role, Jack Farthing would make a GREAT choice for Frollo. He has the right look and the right understanding of how to play a complex villain.
Also he has some uncredited singing credits so he might be able to sing if cast as Frollo in a musical but ultimately Jack Farthing would excel no matter if a musical, a drama or some combination of both.
Extra points if Aidan Turner was cast as Gringoire along side him.
