Vimes in movie

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simmonds91

Lance-Corporal
Oct 29, 2012
248
1,825
#43
A decent actor to play Vimes is all well and good but I think the best of them will be fans of TPratchetts art, I call it art for he paints a world, his canvas: our imagination. Ooooooooooo :laugh: :laugh: seriously though, it may be cliche or whatever but the best actor to portray Vimes will be a fan I think, he'd have the right mindset what with reading him for however long.
 

Margi

Constable
Sep 17, 2012
56
1,650
66
Treacle Mine Road, Ankh Morpork
#44
I can't picture any actor for Vimes - I have such a strong picture in my head of him that it would take a long time to change that by watching someone play him who isn't exactly like my picture.

I can think of someone for Carrot though. I only know his first name was John, and I have only seen him act once, but...
He would need no makeup; he is about 6'3", bright ginger, built like a Greek god and possesses the stage when playing a bit part without even trying. He walks on and suddenly there is no one else there. Sound familiar? When I think of Carrot, I see that lad.

He was a pupil at King's School, Bruton, in Somerset. He would be about 26 or so now and I saw him in a school play when he was 17 or 18, just before he went off to spend a summer playing with the National Youth Theatre who had talent spotted him. I would love to know what happened to his career, or if he even continued in acting. I really should go back and ask the school for his name and see if they have any news. They keep track of all their old boys if they can.
 

Beti

New Member
Oct 2, 2011
7
2,150
#45
Wow. I always find these "who would you cast" threads fascinating. People have such wide-ranging ideas of The Perfect Actor.

While I love Hugh Laurie, I can't get Bertie Wooster and the Prince Regent out of my head. John Simm seems too nice. Philip Glenister, now, that's seems very close to me - grumpy as hell and borderline burned out but will do the right thing in the end (more or less). Sean Pertwee (I didn't realize who his dad was - now it's blindingly obvious) might be good but I haven't seen him in a lot of things.

It's too bad that Damian Lewis is too old. He was so squared away and straight-arrow in BoB, I think he'd be quite good. Toby Stephens might be alright, looks-wise, but I haven't seen him act.

I agree that it's probably best to go with unknowns. They don't have to unlearn any previous big roles and we don't have to try to dismiss any previous characters.
 

MrK

New Member
Jan 28, 2013
6
1,650
#47
Hi everyone.
I've read these threads for a while but finally took the plunge to get an account and contribute to this thread as this my first post. Pratchett is my favourite writer and as a slow reader I have read more of his books than any other author.

With The Watch on the way I agree with a lot that has been said, but since it is a continuation, therefore with Vimes older and therefore maybe only in and out of it for a few scenes a big name could be possible. I agree with previouls posts Hugh Lawrie etc. But I see him as Clint Eastwood. I just wish he had an english accent. (I agree it shouldnt be a "hollywood" actor but that would cover all the bases people have mensioned in this thread (gravitas, look, grufness).

Miranda as Sybil really would be great, I can just see her belowing "SWALLOW" while throwing a tablet down a dragons throat!

But I disagree with the Idea that Vimes is the most important casting. He will be key, but I feel for the people trying to cast Nobby. Its imposible. The casting in the Hogfather just didnt seem right to me.
Otherwise I'm open to any good unknown actors who have a good feel for the character, I mean look at the last two Doctors in Dr Who.
 

=Tamar

Lieutenant
May 20, 2012
13,301
2,900
#49
MrK said:
I feel for the people trying to cast Nobby. Its imposible. The casting in the Hogfather just didnt seem right to me.
I thought the Nobby in Hogfather did rather well, especially just at the end ("Some people wouldn't know the spirit of Christmas if it smacked them in the gob") when it was facial expression rather than makeup. I recall Sir Terry saying something similar, that he had doubts but was convinced finally. CGI should not be necessary; remember, Nobby does pass as human (with the help of a certificate signed by the Patrician).
 

Penfold

Sergeant-at-Arms
Dec 29, 2009
9,134
3,050
Worthing
www.lenbrookphotography.com
#50
If anybody has to play Nobby, then I don't think they would go far wrong with Andy Serkis.

Also, from what I understand from Narrativia statements, most of the characters in 'The Watch' series will be new ones with only cameo style appearances by the main characters from the books. Theoretically, this means that a few biggish names could be utilized on a part-time basis to help boost audiences. :think:
 

MrK

New Member
Jan 28, 2013
6
1,650
#51
I didn't dislike the Nobby in the Hogfather at all. He was OK. Just didnt quite fit how I had imagined him in my mind.
 
Jan 15, 2013
54
2,150
#54
Beti said:
Sean Pertwee (I didn't realize who his dad was - now it's blindingly obvious)
Same here :laugh: not till I looked him up on Wikipedia.

Pertwee can't be that common a name, but I just didn't make the connection.



I think Vimes is the most important casting not because he's the most difficult necessarily (he's probably not) but because I think the most important cast-member is whoever is the central character in the show's story. If the show is following the books closely, that's gonna be Vimes: Carrot may be the catalyst, other characters may get viewpoint narration, but the story is always Vimes' emotionally etc.

Of course, the show might have a different angle. It;s been mentioned somewhere that it'll feature original characters - it might take the approach of having the Watch already established and have a new recruit as the central character.
 

Ghost

Sergeant-at-Arms
Dec 6, 2012
6,035
3,175
45
Blackcountry
#55
well the Pertwee family has worked a lot in the entertainment industry
not just in performance but the technical side as well
but saying that Sean looks a lot like his farther Jon
 

gskipper

New Member
Feb 4, 2013
1
1,650
#56
One problem with using an actor from Life on Mars ... everyone will think TP stole the idea ... after all, Sam Tyler (Sam Vimes), a metropolitan policeman, is injured and finds himself in his own past ... TP beat Life on Mars by 4 years, but I've never seen any acknowledgement by Life on Mars of their undoubted debt (perhaps the writers read Night Watch with their kids?)
 

Margi

Constable
Sep 17, 2012
56
1,650
66
Treacle Mine Road, Ankh Morpork
#57
Hmmm.... Skipper, I think there have been so many hundreds of stories about time travel along similar lines that the thought of plagiarism could never stand. It just happens that these two are close together in the public consciousness and both are police ones. Coincidence I'm sure... (trots off whistling and hoping she's right).
 
Feb 4, 2013
56
2,150
#58
I would have said Pete Postlethwaite myself, but sadly he passed away. He was a great actor, and would have been awesome for the role.
 

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