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I've been a fan of the Ender and Bean books for so long that I was thrilled to hear there was going to be a movie. My brother (also a fan) and I began speculating on who might play the lead roles. Of course, for the kids it'll be child actors and therefore mostly unknowns, but we agreed that we'd love to see Dakota Fanning play either Valentine or Petra. I think she'd be absolutely perfect as Valentine but I'd also love to see her try a role like Petra. any other ideas for actors?
Posts: 1 | Registered: Jul 2007
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Petra is Armenian, so if they have her playing an Armenian, the casting might become less international.
Posts: 41 | Registered: Feb 2006
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Welcome to Hatrack, val*wings! A lot of us have talked this subject to death over the years, which is probably why more people haven't posted in response to your question. The original debate was whether Jake Lloyd or Haley Joel Osment should play Ender, if that gives you any idea of how long some of us have been talking about it.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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That and Dakota Fanning will be about 20 by the time this movie is made . . . however Will Smith will have aged well enough to play a good Mazer Rackham. If not they could dub over his voice with Sean Connery's "your the man now dog"
Posts: 201 | Registered: Mar 2006
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You're right, if you compare any movie to one of your favorite books, you'll more than likely be disappointed. But if you judge the movie on it's merits alone you stand a better chance of leaving the theater satisfied.
At least the actor that'll play Ender has probably been born already. That's something.
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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My rule generally is that if I hear about a movie that sounds good, and then I find out it was originally a book, I ALWAYS see the movie first. However, like anyone else, I can rarely force myself to not see movies from books I like. This has led to varying results from disappointment to pure outrage! I purposefully did not let myself see "Bridge to Teribithia" because the book was too dear to me, and I could tell from the previews that it had been very distorted. However I could not stop myself from seeing Narnia.... but that was one where I ran the whole gambit. I was amazed at how REAL some of the things looked. I was sorely dissappointed with the white witch casting, but Aslan was done SO well, as were most of the creatures. However I couldn't help but be seriously peeved at what they did to the story. I'm usually annoyed, but understanding when they edit or merge some book actions. However, I was HORRIFIED that they ADDED scenes to the story that were never in the book, espescially since the scense distorted from the real meanings. I also was disgusted at how they changed Mr. Beaver's personality. On the other hand, the casting for Edmund and Susan couldn't have been better. Lucy was perhaps and little too cute, and Peter a little too... something (old or blond I'm not sure) but all in all they cast it very well.
I have the same reservations about Ender's Game being made into a book. The only good thing is that, while I love Ender, it really isn't as dear to my HEART as the Narnia Chronicles because I read it when I was older and didn't worship it as a child. Most importantly though, Card seems to be keeping a fairly tight reign on the whole thing. Though he freely admitted he wasn't all that "true" to the book in some areas, it will still have his finger prints on it. I suppose the biggest advantage is that we already have, basically, 3 different versions of the story. There is the original short story, then the Ender's Game novel, and then Ender's Shadow. Alot of times the details aren't entirely consistent (even between the two novels), so you already have to loosen certain sphincters to accept that.
All in all, I look forward to the movie because I want to see what it becomes. I don't expect it to be "true" and I already accept several different versions of the story, so it will be neat to see how you can do it on screen... as long as Ender doesn't get some revolting crush on Petra!
As for who plays the parts, I really hope we've never seen ANY of them before. Ender should be an unknown, Petra should be an unknown, and nationalities and resemblances (like between Ender and Peter and Nikolai and Bean) should be kept accurate as far as they can be, mostly though, I want them fresh so no one comes in with a pre-existing "cuteness" attached
Posts: 1321 | Registered: Jun 2006
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Yeah that's a good idea. We need actors we haven't ever seen before (not being sarcastic). I'm kind of worried about seeing the movie though. I don't want it ruining the book but it probably won't because he wrote the screenplay himself. Right? Posts: 49 | Registered: Jun 2007
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Who's even small enough, but has enough charisma to even play bean? Or will it have to be more along the lines of "Lord of the Rings" where to make him look smaller, they film them at different distances? That might be difficult for them to do for an inside scene...
You have to remember the vent shaft scene where bean crawls through them naked.
I've also wondered what the outside veiw of the batleschool would be like. Would they use the one on the new Christmas gift novella?
Posts: 8 | Registered: Jul 2007
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quote:You have to remember the vent shaft scene where bean crawls through them naked.
That's a phenomenally easy filmmaking problem to solve. Just build the vents to size around the actor. Bean's the only one in them, and the actor is all you have for scale.
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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I Feel that Mazer Rackham is almost a Han Solo kind of character. Maybe not so cocky but that is what he would look like. Harrison would fit great but would cost a lot. I think using more of a no namer would be sufficient. Nathan Fillion would be perfect. Watch Firefly and Serenity and you might agree.
Posts: 3 | Registered: Jul 2007
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lol, even i have to laugh at that! OSC even said that bean was part african in his books. Gary coleman would be perfect!
Posts: 8 | Registered: Jul 2007
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I know the perfect kid to play Bean- my son. I know that sounds like just a mom thinking her kid is perfect, but since he was little, he always looked the way I imagined Bean looked as a child. Plus, he is so energetic and smart, if anyone in charge of casting reads this, they should contact me. Posts: 1 | Registered: Jul 2007
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The actor that is going to play Ender was born in the past 6 months. Look for babies with a keen ability to create emotion. if the child can talk he'll be to old to play Ender. Posts: 856 | Registered: Jun 2007
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Id have to say that I'm I agree with both. Dakota Fanning would be an amazing Valentine, but no name actors would also put give it more of that mystery Enders game so amazingly portrays.
Posts: 1 | Registered: Aug 2007
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quote:Originally posted by LargeTuna: He could still do it hes got skill.
Does his skill allow him to act like someone who is half his age? Oh, wait...that shouldn't be a problem... Posts: 973 | Registered: Apr 2005
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The people here on Hatrack are usually pretty smart. But every time there has been discussion on casting, I'm sorry, it's just terrible. Just about every idea was bad. I mean come on, Dakota Fanning?
Posts: 1287 | Registered: Apr 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Elmer's Glue: The people here on Hatrack are usually pretty smart. But every time there has been discussion on casting, I'm sorry, it's just terrible. Just about every idea was bad.
I assume you've never seen my suggestion that Dwayne Johnson should play Bean.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
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I vote for the Rico, the obnoxious little kid from Hannah Montana: Moises Arias.
But it's terrible typecasting, even though I thought of Bean when watching the show. He does play the too smart and obnoxious thing rather well. I can see anyone he ever gives advice to hating him when he's right, getting Ender to put him down at first, and allowing Bonzo to be humiliated into a murderous rage when Ender beats his army and asks Bean what Bonzo did wrong in front of Bonzo.
But the kid is 13 now. Far too close to puberty. Shame.
Posts: 1757 | Registered: Oct 2004
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Anyone young actor that could put life to the characters would be too old for the minute ages needed
Posts: 17 | Registered: Aug 2007
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How old is Ender going to be in the movie? I thought I remembered reading that they were going to change the story so that they don't need to worry about age progression throughout the movie.
Posts: 1327 | Registered: Aug 2007
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Taking up Threads point, you need to think of actor that are of the proper age today, and not chose actors who looked young and cute IN THE MOVIES.
Haley Joel Osment is 19 years old. Even if he can play younger, he certainly can't play age 10.
I think one of the best young actors around is Freddie Highmore ('Finding Neverland'), but even he is age 15 this year.
Jake Llyod (Star Wars) is age 18.
Dakota Fanning - Age 13.
I think better than Dakota Fanning for Petra is Keisha Castle-Hughes, the lead in 'Whale Rider'. She is brilliant. But she is also age 17. Though since Petra is suppose to be older than Ender, she might still pass. But based on recent photos, that is even a stretch.
I think we will have to trust the casting directors to find the right people, and trust the Director to understand the story well enough to bring it to life.
I note the Harry Potter series of movies; they are cut extremely thin. The real underlying story is barely there, but they do manage to keep the central story alive (though, just barely).
One the other hand, the movie version of 'Eragon' was cut so thin, and lost so much of the heart and soul of the story, I'm not even sure why they bother to make it. If you aren't going to take the time to tell the story, then don't even bother to try.
No good movie is ever too long, and no bad movie is ever short enough. If your first effort is to make a good movie and tell a moving gripping story then you can't go wrong as far as I'm concerned.
I would prefer that "Enders Game" was never made, rather than have it made badly.
quote:Originally posted by PSI Teleport: I have always thought that this kid would make the perfect Ender.
I guess we'll have to go back in time and kidnap him. But then there may never be an Ender's Game at all...paradox time!
Posts: 973 | Registered: Apr 2005
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I can remember when this topic was first started back when this forum was still on AOL(I've let my membership lapse a long time ago). OSC had posted his original screenplay on the BB. I'd love to see the movie made, but until it actually goes into production I'm not going to hold my breath.
My personal opinion is that most of the child actors used for the movie should be unknowns.
Posts: 5 | Registered: Sep 2007
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I won't even try to suggest anyone for the child actors. I've listened to Card's comments after his audiobooks and agree that anyone you choose will probably be too old by the time it comes out. IMDB.com still lists the movie as coming out in 2008, but I highly doubt it because there is so little about it. Either not enough has been done yet or Card is keeping everything hush hush. I do however have one hope of a wish that perhaps Stefan Rudnicki could play the role of Colonel Graff. I really don't know how good of an actor he is, but I really do enjoy hearing him read Ender's Game and his voice fits my idea of Graff. If he can't do the act, then I would like to see him have some part in the production of the film.
Posts: 7 | Registered: Mar 2008
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what about Rutger Hauer as Anderson or Graff? or Scott Gleen as graff. Dakota Fanning plays very well but please only not as Petra. Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchak could play Bonzo or Stilson better than Ender. maybe Jackson Bond as Bean.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Mar 2008
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quote:Originally posted by .:{121}:.Scooter[SGT]: IMDB.com still lists the movie as coming out in 2008, but I highly doubt it because there is so little about it.
Last I heard, there wasn't even a final script. I'd guess that it is very unlikely that we will see this movie come out by the end of the decade.
Posts: 2437 | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Noemon: The original debate was whether Jake Lloyd or Haley Joel Osment should play Ender, if that gives you any idea of how long some of us have been talking about it.
HMMM, I kind of remember it being Jackie Coogan as Ender and Shirley Temple as Petra or Valentine, with the rest of the Little Rascals filling out the Battle School. Buckwheat as Alai, Alfalfa as Dink, and of course, Spanky as Peter.
But Jackie Coogan grew up to be Uncle Fester, Shirley Temple became an Ambassador and Buckwheet was assassinated following the debut of his album Buh'weet Sings.
So the debate goes on...
Posts: 258 | Registered: Jun 1999
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I think we should just go all out and have Pam Anderson as Valentine... I'd watch it... And who says 'The Rock' cant play bean? I mean, who knows what color he is... He could be part African...
Posts: 93 | Registered: Apr 2008
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He is part African. (I believe this is stated in Shadow Puppets, but it may be Shadow of the Giant.)
Posts: 1029 | Registered: Apr 2007
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I'm pretty sure this movie will be 100% CGI, if it ever gets made...and in 10 years, 100% CGI will probably look totally real, so it won't be a problem.
Posts: 3354 | Registered: May 2005
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I am down with CGI... It should be pretty good... Plus you dont have to switch actors when one gets old and crusty... Posts: 93 | Registered: Apr 2008
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You know, if the CGI came to be, actor age would almost be a null issue.
Watching entirely too much anime (and more recently, Avatar: The Last Airbender), this seems a viable possibility.
Posts: 691 | Registered: Nov 2008
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