post # 4 {hamlet re-casting}
The re-casting of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark
I just finished reading Hamlet for my AP English class, and, even though I didn't really fall in love with it (I'm not a huge fan of Shakespeare), I thought it'd make a great idea for picspammy's casting challenge! This is also the first time I try my hand at a picspam of any sort, but I had a ton of fun doing it, and the sense of accomplishment I feel now is incomparable. I excluded a bunch of minor character in this picspam, such as Marcellus, Bernardo, Reynaldo, and the gravediggers, not because they're not important, but because they didn't make much of an impression on me. I kind of regret it now, but what's done is done, I guess.
Enjoy!
Cillian Murphy
as
Prince Hamlet
Those of you who know me well will surely roll your eyes at this. But I swear, I did not choose Cillian Murphy simply because he's so unbelievably gorgeous my favorite actor. He is extremely talented and he goes both ways: sweet or totally evil and male or female. Since Hamlet spends most of his time in the play being insane, I feel like Cillian Murphy is the best person to portray that. His expressions, and his eyes especially, can portray madness very well. I also considered Dominic Monoghan for this role, since I feel like he can also procure that murderous glint of the eyes, but went with Cillian in the end.
Alan Rickman
as
The Ghost of King Hamlet
I've only seen one scene in Kenneth Branagh's version of this play, so I don't know how The Ghost is portrayed, but in my head I always see a slightly transparent yet relatively solid silhouette of a person. I think what made me think of Alan Rickman was his voice - he's got those deep, chilling vocals that would be perfect for a murdered king. Besides, he looks just as regal as a king should, and he's got phenomenal acting prowess.
Anthony Head
as
Claudius
I love this man to death. I think he's the sexiest person on Merlin and I would shag him in a minute. Claudius is one of my favorite characters in this play because I think he's an amazing villain. That soliloquy, where he admits he's guilty of murder but doesn't actually feel guilt? Fabulous. Anthony Head has that quality in him - I see it in Uther on Merlin. He's got the ability to make you sympathize with him and love him but simultaneously despise him. That's just what I wanted to capture for Claudius. Plus, he's so hot that you can really understand why Gertrude would cheat on King Hamlet with him.
Emilia Fox
as
Queen Gertrude
I know she's young, perhaps too young for this particular role. My excuse is that back then women married early. Besides, she looks rather wise. I was having a very difficult time finding someone for Gertrude, but then Emilia Fox just popped into my head, and I couldn't get her out. I think she'd be perfect for this role, and she's just as beautiful and elegant as the Queen of Denmark is supposed to be.
Bill Murray
as
Polonius
I don't know why, but I've always seen Polonius as a bit comedic. Perhaps it's because of all those times Hamlet was insulting him and he didn't get it. Granted, most characters couldn't see through Hamlet's madness, but I perceived Polonius as especially thick-headed. He was the character I cast last, because I couldn't think of someone who would portray him properly. I absolutely adore Bill Murray (see him in Lost in Translation and Ed Wood!), and when I saw his name I immediately knew he was right for this role. He'd be able to have Polonius carry humor, but still seem like an elegant adviser. He can also very easily get you to feel sorry for him (in my case, anyway), which is necessary for this character.
Anna Faris
as
Ophelia
For this role I was initially going to cast Emilie de Ravin, but I reconsidered because she didn't look innocent enough. With Ophelia, she's just this poor, naive little girl caught up in Hamlet and Claudius's schemes. She doesn't know what's going on, she thinks Hamlet is mad because of her, and therefore she thinks she is indirectly responsible for her father's death at his hands. I didn't like Ophelia much because she's such a doormat throughout the entire play, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Anna Faris is totally adorable and looks just like a little girl no matter what, so I think she can really capture the demure, timid essence of Ophelia.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
as
Laertes
He's such a heartthrob, isn't he? Laertes doesn't really have a huge part in the play, but I thought it was pretty damn tragic how the poor guy comes back from abroad to find his father killed and his sister gone mad. I can really see Joseph playing desperate and hopeless, especially when he discovers that Ophelia has lost her mind. I can also see him being devious when he plots to kill Hamlet with Claudius.
Adrien Brody
as
Horatio
I felt like we didn't get much character development for Horatio - not that Shakespeare ever really develops his characters much anyway, but I really couldn't identify with Horatio at all. But I pictured Adrien Brody immediately when I thought of him, for reasons unknown to me.
Paul Bettany
as
Fortinbras
Fortinbras, who shows up in, what, two scenes, seems like a really powerful character. I've never actually seen Bettany in anything other than The Da Vinci Code (which I only watched snippets of), but he seems pretty tough. Plus, he's got the coloring for Fortinbras. I actually considered him for Hamlet for a split second, because he's another one that could play mad insanely well.
Colin Morgan & Justin Long
as
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
These two are adorable and silly, which is how I picture R&G. They also kind of look alike, which...mirrors the fact that I cannot tell R&G apart. They're just...two imbeciles who spy on Hamlet under Claudius's orders, and they don't seem to have any personality or opinions of their own (not that I could comprehend, anyway). I love Colin and Justin very, very much, and although they probably deserve bigger roles, I know they'd pull these off fantastically.