But in all seriousness there exists in musical theatre three roles from musicals based iconic French literary works where the principal antagonist is motivated by his obsession. Honestly there is more than likely more title than three* but Javert and The Phantom are from musical smash-hits and The Hunchback of Notre Dame/Notre Dame de Paris is more under-appreciated shows in the musical theater space, at least in North America. Note Dame de Paris is a little more beloved in other parts of the World.
So if you have guessed the roles are Javert, The Phantom and Frollo or as I call them “Obsessive French Man Musical Trio of Roles” though at first I used the word “triumvirate,” “trio” as a word works a little better with the music theme.
Originally I had thought there was one performer that had, at least some capacity, played all three role thus completing the trio but alas it turns out I was wrong. One, Joesph Tokarz was in ensemble of a Yeston’s Phantom production and not the Opera Ghost himself. However since I proved myself wrong there I decided to dig a little more to see if there was a Notre Dame de Paris former cast member who fit the criteria and I’m sad to say that we were so close. Wim van den Driessche was cast as Firmin and as one of the Phantom understudies for the canceled Mogador 2016 Paris cast. Could be another performer who has actively played all three roles of Frollo, Javert and the Phantom? Maybe but haven’t found that performer as of yet. But there is also hope that it could happen one day.
For the more well-known version the musicals many performers have played two out the three roles mostly The Phantom and Javert so let’s go for broke and suggest a musical performer for a Frollo who has also played Javert and The Phantom in high profile productions, Norm Lewis.
As I mention in my hypothetical casting post for Dasha Grady, there are a few names to come up in the conversations about who should be cast as Esmeralda. One of the names that come up is singer/actress Bianca Mihai
Lately I’ve been rewatching “The Gilded Age,” which I love. One of the great things about that show is the abundance of Broadway actors that they cast, including Patrick Page who played Frollo for the Disney Musical revision version at The LaJolla and PaperMills Playhouses. Now it’s completely a wild pipe-dream to even think about casting a Broadway actor for a version of Notre Dame de Paris but here we are. So might I submit for consideration for Phoebus from Notre Dame de Paris, Derek Klena.
Since Sunday was “Quasimodo Sunday” or Low Sunday let’s do a Fan-Cast for Quasimodo this month.
There seems to be a few names that get use more frequently when hypothetical fancasts for Quasimodo are brought up and one those names than get tossed around as would-be-Maybe-Quasimodo is Welsh actor/musican Iwan Rheon.
And since it’s the Bridgerton season as well as being a long while since Fleur-de-Lys got a proper Hypothetical casting post let’s analyze Phoebe Dynevor as a potential casting pick of Fleur-de-Lys.
While looking through cast options I happened upon Aidan Turner as pick for Gringoire. At the time I was in watching Poldark, which is a great show, and thought why now look into this casting idea a little bit more.
Way back in the early 2010s, Tim Burton was in talks to develop a version of The Hunchback with Josh Brolin. That version however has never since materialized but there always seems to whispers and murmurs of it every now again. The most “recent” one is an article from 2019 from Backstage though that article was only updated 2019 and originally came out in March 2011 when the news first broke. It does seem that this project is dead and according to the article Burton’s involvement was contingent on the outcome of the script.
Jenna Ortega
However if Burton ever got it into his head to actually develop his vision for a movie version of Hunchback, Jenna Ortega would be a likely choice for Esmeralda. This is due to Ortega becoming Burton’s muse and Burton preferring to work with the same actors for his projects. So the question is would Jenna Ortega make a good Esmeralda?
This suggestion was given back in March 2024, I’m just a forgetful procrastinator.
Calahan Skogman
Calahan Skogman’s name does pops up for Phoebus fan-casts, and does seems that people are spilt on him but then again Leo Tolstoy has two votes for Phoebus so I don’t think mycast is the best metric or maybe Tolstoy would have been a great Phoebus, we will never know.
Also this suggestion is more skewed towards the Disney version of Phoebus which is a blond romanesque aesthetic, owning to his name rather than the novel. The novel is rather vague on Phoebus’ looks other than he’s handsome and has Burgundian mustache (Book 2 Chapter 4.) However it’s worth pointing out that most, if not all, Phoebus actors prior to the Disney version had darker hair and Phoebus actors post Disney are blond even though there are all but two them (1997 and 1999). So Skogman’s fan-cast is Disney live action version minded which most of the fan-casts seem to be anyway.
Calahan Skogman as Matthias Helvar & Danielle Gilligan as Nina Zenik, Netflix’s Shadow and Bone (2021)
So would Calahan Skogman make a good opinion for Phoebus – Disney version or otherwise? As of right now Skogman is only really known for his role of Matthias Helvar in Netflix’s Shadow and Bone. Oddly Skogman is one of the only actors in that cast who is American though he using a “Scandinavian-like” accent. Side note still salty about the show and the spin-off getting canceled. Also side note, the first time I watched Shadow and Bone, I loved Matthias and Nina’s (Danielle Gilligan) storyline.
Matthias is not at all like Phoebus, he starts off a by-the-book prudish guy who falls in love with the enemy. He also quite religious and is falsely imprisoned – seems a bit more like Esmeralda the Phoebus. However one shouldn’t judge an actor based on one role. Is Skogman convincing a Matthias? Yes. Does he seem like he can act? Yes, he has MFA in acting so I should hope he can. So he more than likely could play a version of Phoebus.
However as previously mentioned the suggestion for Skogman as Phoebus seems to be for a Disney version Phoebus which is quite different from the novel as Disney Phoebus is nobler/heroic and has moral compass. Given his role as Matthias and Skogman’s build and looks he defiantly has a good overall look for a “Disney-like” version of Phoebus. I hesitate to say the Disney live-action version since that version has been shelved but some versions of Phoebus are depicted more favorably than the novel so he could work well in the role and he deserve another high-profile role.
Calahan Skogman
So yes, Calahan Skogman would be an great pick for Phoebus. But what do you think?
I did consider doing a post on fan-casting using the Shadow and Bone cast, much like the one I did for the Bridgerton cast. Still might but as was previously stated I’m a procrastinator.
Also you can leave suggestions for a fan-casting in the comments.
This suggestion was left in a comment on the last fan-cast post. I think it’s a crime that Vincent Cassel has NOT played Frollo, like in what reality does this man go through life having never played Frollo?
I don’t think I have seen enough of his movies to peg him for a specific type but I think he could pull off a very intense dramatic depiction of the character if the script called for it. OR he could play it more subdue. The point is I think he could pull off most takes of on Frollo. Preferably a dramatic version but if it’s a comedy, he would still deliver a great performance. He did voice Monsieur Hood in Shrek so he could handle a “humorous” take on Frollo if that is the version that was getting made.
The Look
Black Swan
Cassel also has the exact right look for Frollo. He’s has an angler, triangle shaped face which would work so well for Frollo, no conturing necessary. He also has a intense stare which is also needed.
Seriously how has he never played Frollo?
The Role
Vincent Cassel
There are few actors working today that are as perfect for a role as Vincent Cassel is for Frollo. It is an injustice that he has never played the role in a movie or series.
But What do you think? Would Vincent Cassel make an ideal Frollo? Or can you think of someone better suited to the role?
If you have a casting suggestion, please leave it in the comments, I’d love to read them.
It been a VERY LONG TIME since we have done a proper Hypothetical casting post so I thought let’s get back into the groove and cast multiple characters from a single show.
Let’s looks at Bridgerton, which I enjoy (season 3 hype) for casting options.
For those of you who do not know Bridgerton is Netflix show based on Julia Quinn’s Recency Romance Book Series. It has so far one spin-off series with Queen Charlotte but for this casting we will just source the flagship series (I will add a two actors from Charlotte as bonus because I think they would suit the role too.)
For this casting let’s use actors who have appeared in Bridgerton for a Disney version, plus one extra character because I want to. These casting picks are based on the Disney movie so the picks are based off of looks and acting. Let’s ASSUME they all can sing. Side note the gargoyles were a puzzler…..
Jonathan Bailey as Quasimodo
Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton Season 2
Quasimodo requires nuance to play and I think Jonathan Bailey could be up to the task. I mean he could Phoebus or even Frollo but we’re going Quasimodo. Give Bailey as bit of an acting challenge. Plus most actors would love to play Quasimodo.
Simone Ashley as Esmeralda
Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma Bridgeton Season 2
Simone Ashley has already been in one live action, The Little Mermaid it wasn’t a leading role. She would make a PERFECT Disney Esmeralda. She has the right type of look and she plays the head-strong, smart, no-nonsense type but with a soft sensitivity that Disney’s Esmeralda has in spades. Plus she has danced in Bridgeton.
Anthony Head as Frollo
Anthony Head as Lord Sheffield, Bridgerton Season 2
Anthony Head is one episode of season 2 so it counts. Bridgerton, and I might just have rewatch it, doesn’t have a large swath of what I would consider “Frollo-types” in the cast but I think he could make a great Frollo. He has the right look for the part and is a decent age for Disney Frollo, he can also sing which is a plus.
Freddie Stroma as Phoebus
Freddie Stroma as Prince Friedrich, Bridgerton Season 1
Phoebus should be an easy casting and that makes can make it hard. Freddie Stroma would be fine in as Phoebus but Bridgerton has many options and this just the one I picked. Originally I had considered Jonathan Bailey and Regé-Jean Page for Phoebus however Freddie Stroma just edged them out for Phoebus.
Regé-Jean Page as Clopin
Regé-Jean Page as Duke of Hasting Bridgerton Season 1
Regé-Jean Page as Clopin just seemed right. Don’t know why just does. I think he could have fun in the role furthermore couldn’t just see him killing the songs.
Hugh Sachs as Hugo
Hugh Sachs as Brimsley Bridgeton
Hugo was the hardest to cast. I think if there was new iteration of the gargoyles they have to tone them down like in the German musical, especially Hugo. So in the end I just considered just voices so it’s Hugh Sachs who plays Brimsley, also very coincidental about the names. He really the only one from the Bridgeton cast would could voice Hugo effectively.
Julian Ovenden as Victor
Julian Ovenden as Henry Granville Bridgerton Season 1
Originally it was going to be Anthony Head for Victor and Julian Ovenden for Frollo but the deciding factor was age. Disney Frollo skews older than other versions of the character so I swapped them. I do think Julian Ovenden can play the stately, sensitive slight comedic Victor very well and he can also sing very well.
Julie Andrews as Laverne
Julie Andrews
This is an indulgence because it is the treasure to humanity Julie Andrews. She is perfect and would make a perfect Laverne I have no doubt. Goldie Rosheuvel and Adjoa Andoh would also be great picks for Laverne but had to go with Andrews.
Bonus: Jessica Madsen as Fleur de Lys
Jessica Madsen as Cressida, Bridgerton Season 1
Fleur de Lys does not appear in the Disney version but Madsen as Cressida is much like a Fleur de Lys that I HAD to mention the casting. Plus a remake could add her in, the musical sort of did but is was more of name drop/homage.
Extra – I think Sam Clemmett (young Brimsley) and Guy Henry (Dr. Monro) from Queen Charlotte would be great picks for Quasimodo and Frollo respectively but I just wanted to keep this to Bridgerton but they were my first initials picks.
If you like this let know maybe I will do more like it and suggestions for casting are always welcome though I have a backlog.
