Miscellaneous (Maiar/Villains)
Tilion - Darri Ingolfson
Boldog - Conan Stevens
Shelob (Voice) - Julia Bache-Wiig
Frame
Halbarad - Kieran Bew
Hamilcar - Aramis Knight
Teen Estel - Timothée Chalamet
Dwarves
Telchar - Zoë Bell
Gamil Brôg - Brian Blessed
Norn - Errikos Litsis
Azaghâl - Javier Bardem
Laurin - Brendan Gleeson
Elves of Beleriand
Lúthien - Jessica Brown Findlay
Daeron - George Blagden
Denethor - Matt Cohen
Saeros - Rob James-Collier
Galdor - Tom Payne
Fëanoreans
Maedhros - Armie Hammer
Maglor - Oliver Thompsett
Celegorm - Sam Claflin
Curufin - Ben Barnes
Caranthir - NOT CAST*
Amrod - Harry Treadaway
Amras - Luke Treadaway
Celebrimbor - Ezra Miller
House of Fingolfin
Fingon - Brandon Routh
Turgon - Pål Sverre Hagen
Aredhel - Charlotte Riley
Elenwë - Gabriella Wilde
Young Idril - Mckenna Grace
House of Finarfin
Finrod - Nico Evers-Swindell
Angrod - Chris Zylka
Aegnor - Scott Eastwood
Orodreth - Toby Regbo
Amarië - Maude Hirst
Comments - about particular roles/actors
Tómas Lemarquis has a very striking and unique look, and the hosts would like to see him as a villain in our project at some point.
Sure, Conan Stevens has played an orc before, but he got rather short shrift there - we'd want to give him a real role in this project!
The Hosts look forward to casting Maisie Williams in this project, but maybe as someone who is not at all like Arya Stark!
It will be fine if Halbarad has white hair by the time we reach the Battle of Pelennor Fields, as long as he's still able to play an active role there.
The concern was raised that Zoë Bell mostly does stunt work, not acting, so that she might not be as likable as we might desire as Telchar. Likewise, no one seems to be familiar with Errikos Litsis' work, so while he has a good look, there was some concern over whether or not he'd be able to carry our 'most likable dwarf' torch.
There was a lot of angst over the gravity of casting Lúthien, but the Hosts seemed happy with the choice of the vote and frankly relieved to have that out of the way. They were comforted that she is a skilled dancer, at least. There was a sense that no actual person would be lovely enough for the role.
The Hosts feel the audience will be thrilled to see a drinking goblet thrown into the face of Rob James-Collier after having watched Downton Abbey.
Denethor was the messiest choice - a perfect three-way tie, and I foolishly left the fourth choice off the poll! So, I guess we lacked a clear consensus on who we wanted him to be, but the Hosts did choose one.
Henry Cavill was suggested for the role of Túrin and also as Caranthir.
*Caranthir was not cast today* All of the nominees were vetoed on account of being too slim/scrawny. Caranthir is a brash, outspoken guy - the kind of person who goes looking for bar fights. The Hosts are picturing him more as a bruiser - someone who is physically strong/intimidating, and can take the hits he is so often asking for. They are afraid that if he does not have this physically imposing physique, he'll be a bit of a joke or laughing stock. They want him to be convincing as a rugby player, and after Maedhros, one of the best fighters amongst the Fëanoreans. So, we'll come up with new nominees and vote for him again next season. Back to the drawing board....
We will have to see if Ezra Miller will grow into his role as Celebrimbor, or if we'll need to recast him in the 2nd Age.
Angrod and Aegnor look like warriors who can take on a balrog, and Orodreth looks sufficiently deer-in-the-headlights. So, well done on those choices, everyone!
Rest assured, Eddie Redmayne is still available to be cast as Gwindor if we want to save him for that role - and Trish Lambert knows who he is.
Comments - general
When the Hosts are not familiar with the work of an actor or actress, they tend to base their decision on the photos available on that actor's imdb page. So, when there is a particular reason to cast an actor for a certain role, it is important to vocalize that during the broadcast, to give them fodder for their decision making.
Voice roles do not prevent someone from being cast (again) later on in the project, particularly if their voice work has distortion in it. (Think of Gimli and Treebeard, or the Witch-king and Gothmog, being the same actors in Peter Jackson's film)
The Hosts were very enthusiastic about the casting for the Frame. Trish thinks Kieran Bew looks a bit like Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn. Corey Olsen actually knew who Aramis Knight was, and Dave Kale had positive things to say about up-and-coming Timothée Chalamet. The voting strongly favored these candidates as well - so, good job, team, on those selections!
There was a strong desire for tall male actors to play elves, and shorter male actors to play dwarves. In reality, it's better to cast large people if you plan to scale anyone down with forced perspective, and if all of our elves are over 6' tall, they're not going to stand out as very tall 😛 As a for instance, Turgon and Fingon are now both 6'5", and their sister is 5'5", so she's just going to look very diminutive next to them. Maedhros the Tall and Turgon were both meant to be tall, but it's hard to stand a head above in this bunch! At least it will be easy for the elves to be taller than the Men when we get to that part of casting....
Tilion - Darri Ingolfson
Boldog - Conan Stevens
Shelob (Voice) - Julia Bache-Wiig
Frame
Halbarad - Kieran Bew
Hamilcar - Aramis Knight
Teen Estel - Timothée Chalamet
Dwarves
Telchar - Zoë Bell
Gamil Brôg - Brian Blessed
Norn - Errikos Litsis
Azaghâl - Javier Bardem
Laurin - Brendan Gleeson
Elves of Beleriand
Lúthien - Jessica Brown Findlay
Daeron - George Blagden
Denethor - Matt Cohen
Saeros - Rob James-Collier
Galdor - Tom Payne
Fëanoreans
Maedhros - Armie Hammer
Maglor - Oliver Thompsett
Celegorm - Sam Claflin
Curufin - Ben Barnes
Caranthir - NOT CAST*
Amrod - Harry Treadaway
Amras - Luke Treadaway
Celebrimbor - Ezra Miller
House of Fingolfin
Fingon - Brandon Routh
Turgon - Pål Sverre Hagen
Aredhel - Charlotte Riley
Elenwë - Gabriella Wilde
Young Idril - Mckenna Grace
House of Finarfin
Finrod - Nico Evers-Swindell
Angrod - Chris Zylka
Aegnor - Scott Eastwood
Orodreth - Toby Regbo
Amarië - Maude Hirst
Comments - about particular roles/actors
Tómas Lemarquis has a very striking and unique look, and the hosts would like to see him as a villain in our project at some point.
Sure, Conan Stevens has played an orc before, but he got rather short shrift there - we'd want to give him a real role in this project!
The Hosts look forward to casting Maisie Williams in this project, but maybe as someone who is not at all like Arya Stark!
It will be fine if Halbarad has white hair by the time we reach the Battle of Pelennor Fields, as long as he's still able to play an active role there.
The concern was raised that Zoë Bell mostly does stunt work, not acting, so that she might not be as likable as we might desire as Telchar. Likewise, no one seems to be familiar with Errikos Litsis' work, so while he has a good look, there was some concern over whether or not he'd be able to carry our 'most likable dwarf' torch.
There was a lot of angst over the gravity of casting Lúthien, but the Hosts seemed happy with the choice of the vote and frankly relieved to have that out of the way. They were comforted that she is a skilled dancer, at least. There was a sense that no actual person would be lovely enough for the role.
The Hosts feel the audience will be thrilled to see a drinking goblet thrown into the face of Rob James-Collier after having watched Downton Abbey.
Denethor was the messiest choice - a perfect three-way tie, and I foolishly left the fourth choice off the poll! So, I guess we lacked a clear consensus on who we wanted him to be, but the Hosts did choose one.
Henry Cavill was suggested for the role of Túrin and also as Caranthir.
*Caranthir was not cast today* All of the nominees were vetoed on account of being too slim/scrawny. Caranthir is a brash, outspoken guy - the kind of person who goes looking for bar fights. The Hosts are picturing him more as a bruiser - someone who is physically strong/intimidating, and can take the hits he is so often asking for. They are afraid that if he does not have this physically imposing physique, he'll be a bit of a joke or laughing stock. They want him to be convincing as a rugby player, and after Maedhros, one of the best fighters amongst the Fëanoreans. So, we'll come up with new nominees and vote for him again next season. Back to the drawing board....
We will have to see if Ezra Miller will grow into his role as Celebrimbor, or if we'll need to recast him in the 2nd Age.
Angrod and Aegnor look like warriors who can take on a balrog, and Orodreth looks sufficiently deer-in-the-headlights. So, well done on those choices, everyone!
Rest assured, Eddie Redmayne is still available to be cast as Gwindor if we want to save him for that role - and Trish Lambert knows who he is.
Comments - general
When the Hosts are not familiar with the work of an actor or actress, they tend to base their decision on the photos available on that actor's imdb page. So, when there is a particular reason to cast an actor for a certain role, it is important to vocalize that during the broadcast, to give them fodder for their decision making.
Voice roles do not prevent someone from being cast (again) later on in the project, particularly if their voice work has distortion in it. (Think of Gimli and Treebeard, or the Witch-king and Gothmog, being the same actors in Peter Jackson's film)
The Hosts were very enthusiastic about the casting for the Frame. Trish thinks Kieran Bew looks a bit like Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn. Corey Olsen actually knew who Aramis Knight was, and Dave Kale had positive things to say about up-and-coming Timothée Chalamet. The voting strongly favored these candidates as well - so, good job, team, on those selections!
There was a strong desire for tall male actors to play elves, and shorter male actors to play dwarves. In reality, it's better to cast large people if you plan to scale anyone down with forced perspective, and if all of our elves are over 6' tall, they're not going to stand out as very tall 😛 As a for instance, Turgon and Fingon are now both 6'5", and their sister is 5'5", so she's just going to look very diminutive next to them. Maedhros the Tall and Turgon were both meant to be tall, but it's hard to stand a head above in this bunch! At least it will be easy for the elves to be taller than the Men when we get to that part of casting....
