The ONLY Casting For Roland That Makes Sense...

[M_Parabola]

Is Anson Mount. And I'll tell you why, but first let me provide you with some photos and a video for those unfamiliar with the actor.

Trailer of Hell on Wheels:
Now I'll go into some detail. He's the correct age, and his features match the physical descriptions of Roland in the book with eerie similarity. He even has that look in his eyes, bombardier eyes. Why no one has ever even mentioned Anson Mount as a possible Roland baffles me. The only thing reason I can come up with is that he's relatively unknown. After watching every season of Hell on Wheels, his acting, the way he talks, the way he moves, there is not a single doubt in my mind that this would be the BEST choice for Roland.

I think Idris Elba, if they do decide to cast him, would make a better Crimson King. I also agree with others who say that Aaron Paul could be Eddie. In terms of the mention of Bryan Cranston, I think Bryan Cranston could play the version of Roland's father in the parts where Roland is growing up to become a gunslinger, as his facial features are perfect for the role.

But again, look at some of Anson's work on Hell on Wheels and tell me what you think. Does he not look like the Roland described in the books?! Why is he not being considered for casting, I checked his IMDB and he has no other projects right now, he should at least be given the opportunity to audition for the role. Thoughts?

 

[Moderator]

Is Anson Mount. And I'll tell you why, but first let me provide you with some photos and a video for those unfamiliar with the actor.

Trailer of Hell on Wheels:
Now I'll go into some detail. He's the correct age, and his features match the physical descriptions of Roland in the book with eerie similarity. He even has that look in his eyes, bombardier eyes. Why no one has ever even mentioned Anson Mount as a possible Roland baffles me. The only thing reason I can come up with is that he's relatively unknown. After watching every season of Hell on Wheels, his acting, the way he talks, the way he moves, there is not a single doubt in my mind that this would be the BEST choice for Roland.

I think Idris Elba, if they do decide to cast him, would make a better Crimson King. I also agree with others who say that Aaron Paul could be Eddie. In terms of the mention of Bryan Cranston, I think Bryan Cranston could play the version of Roland's father in the parts where Roland is growing up to become a gunslinger, as his facial features are perfect for the role.

But again, look at some of Anson's work on Hell on Wheels and tell me what you think. Does he not look like the Roland described in the books?! Why is he not being considered for casting, I checked his IMDB and he has no other projects right now, he should at least be given the opportunity to audition for the role. Thoughts?

He has been mentioned before but that's probably buried in with all the other casting suggestions. I passed his name as well as the others who have been mentioned most often by fans along to the producers when they asked if names had been suggested and what others thought, for or against.

 

[skimom2]

"Too much twisted steel and sex appeal" (to quote Holly Hunter in Always ). I've never thought Roland should be pretty--in fact, Eddie calls him 'long, tall, and ugly' more than once. I got a sort of rawboned but strong vibe from the books, with startling eyes. If he was younger, Jurgen Prochnow would be an interesting candidate. This pic is in B&W, but his eyes are this shocking ice blue--startling, because he's usually very tan.

 

[Robert Gray]

I'd rather see Bryan Cranston as Cort. While in general, I prefer unknowns for the Dark Tower (talented unknowns), Cranston's ability to remake himself is well known so that you see the character and not the actor. With the proper scars added I have no doubt he could bring Cort to life.

 

[Cowboy]

Finally! somebody I had not thought of that I think would make a good Roland. Loved Anson's character in Hell on Wheels.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

I'm not familiar with Mount so I couldn't vote.

Has Viggo Mortensen ever been mentioned for the part of Roland? (Hey... He even has a spaghetti western sounding name. )

 

[Moderator]

I'm not familiar with Mount so I couldn't vote.

Has Viggo Mortensen ever been mentioned for the part of Roland? (Hey... He even has a spaghetti western sounding name. )

Many times, especially at the beginning when the movie was first announced.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Many times, especially at the beginning when the movie was first announced.

Good. Enjoyed him in Hidalgo.

 

[M_Parabola]

"Too much twisted steel and sex appeal" (to quote Holly Hunter in Always ). I've never thought Roland should be pretty--in fact, Eddie calls him 'long, tall, and ugly' more than once. I got a sort of rawboned but strong vibe from the books, with startling eyes. If he was younger, Jurgen Prochnow would be an interesting candidate. This pic is in B&W, but his eyes are this shocking ice blue--startling, because he's usually very tan.
View attachment 14120

I concur that Roland needs to be gritty but that's what makeup effects are for. Many people also consider Viggo and McConaughey, two actors that also have a great amount of sex appeal in their own way. The great thing is that in every film you watch they have a fantastic makeup and effects team to add grit, dirt, scars, pockmarks, and puckers. It's the same when you are a costume designer and have to take an outfit and make it look like it's been dragged through the desert. Studios can make the most attractive actor into a vile, ugly character with easy.

Additionally, yes Mount's eyes are not blue, but that brings me back again to the point of "studio magic" as I call it. Anyone they cast whether it be Viggo, or McConaughey, etc, will have to undergo movie makeup and quite likely will be given contacts to mimic that striking "bombardier blue". When I say that Mount has the "right eyes", what I mean to say is that he has the ability to harden them. To make them cold, make them look like the man of a killer. Consider Roland's role in Hell on Wheels, a former soldier who joins the railroad to seek vengeance on those who brutally murdered his wife and son. The scenes where Roland's character is chatting with that kind of dark humor tinged with self-hatred... it's so good:

Even watching him use those guns, it's great!

It's hard to find the scenes to show exactly what I mean if you've never seen the show.

I see Roland's character as a hardened, gritty character. I see him as an Eastwood, as King has described him before, and in that respect I feel there needs to be an actor with the capacity to change their eyes the way Mount can in the show, to have that easy confidence I feel with Roland without coming off forced. Mount has shown so much talent as Bohannon on Hell on Wheels. Over and over again as I watched the show I felt as though I was watching Roland come to life.

In the end I don't care who they choose as long as the movie does justice to my favorite book series. I just felt like making a serious case for Mount amidst all this recent Elba controversy going on. Anson Mount should at very least be given an opportunity by the casting directors to audition for the role. Then again, who knows? Maybe he doesn't want it.

I can kind of see Viggo as Marten, if not Viggo then Christian Bale would be another good one. Both would act very well as versatile villains. I still think Elba would be great as the Crimson King though.

 

[M_Parabola]

He has been mentioned before but that's probably buried in with all the other casting suggestions. I passed his name as well as the others who have been mentioned most often by fans along to the producers when they asked if names had been suggested and what others thought, for or against.

There are quite a few really good suggestions, I just never see Mount's name included among them and I feel he deserves a shot just as much as all the other fantastic actors that have been suggested. I hope the casting directors give Mount at least the opportunity to audition. Let him read a few lines, compare him to the cast they are considering. I trust them to make the right call in the end. All I care is that he gets a fair shot at the role, after his incredible work on Hell on Wheels he deserves at least a serious nod of consideration instead of getting buried under the suggestion pile.

 

[Moderator]

McConaughey isn't being considered for Roland but is the #1 pick for Walter.

 

[M_Parabola]

McConaughey isn't being considered for Roland but is the #1 pick for Walter.

I had heard rumors on the net that he was also briefly considered for Roland but the net is full of so much garbage it's hard to trust what's what. I could see him as Walter I suppose.

OH, another choice for Crimson King besides Elba would be William Dafoe. Thoughts?

 

[prufrock21]

Looks good, but Christian Bale is my first choice.

 

[GNTLGNT]

 

[Tery]

Still my choice.

 

[Robert Gray]

Still my choice.

Seems doable. Like Cranston, this guy can completely transform himself.

 

[FlakeNoir]

Still my choice.

Me too Tery, he has the look, those "blue bombardier eyes"--he is wonderful at transforming himself into very nearly any character.

 

[Spideyman]

Still my choice.

Good choice, I had not considered him before.

 

[M_Parabola]

I concur Hugh Laurie would also make a good choice, he's closer to the right age at 56, Mount currently at 42, Viggo at 57. All great ages. I personally don't think anyone over the age of 60 would work well for the role. I can see Roland as being aged, but not anywhere over 60 in appearance. Especially in the beginning novels! My only issue with Hugh Laurie is that I am not sure if his delivery of Roland's hardened nature would come off "Western" enough if that makes any sense at all. In most of the roles I've watched him in he's got a very comfortable soft-spoken tone of voice, even when delivering quips in House it's done in a very calm nature. I don't think this fits the true GRIT of a character that is, in himself, very much WESTERN. Not trying to be biased with Mount who has had the fortune to act in an outright Western TV series, I've seen some of his other works, and his delivery is just as good in those as it is in Hell on Wheels.

Also, casting someone too young would be a huge mistake, as it is implied Roland has been fleeing across this universe for quite some time chasing the Man in Black (I don't want to post spoilers, even in a thread where I know everyone has read the books). I'm glad that at least everyone's suggestions fit the age bracket (pretty damn close too, isn't it interesting everyone picks actors anywhere from 40-60, not over or under?).

It'd be very interesting to see who they will cast as a YOUNG Roland when they show his backstory with Susan Delgado. (which they better god damn do at some point in the movie series, the backstory in book 4 is too good to leave out, and is done so very well in the graphic novels!)

 

[M_Parabola]

One final thing, not all "bombardier" eyes have to be blue. Movie makeup can alter the eye color of any actor they choose, when I picture "bombardier" eyes I see in my mind the definition of bombardier itself which is: "A member of a bomber crew in the US Air Force responsible for sighting and releasing bombs." In essence a soldier who has seen and done horrific things, fitting for Roland in description for certain. Not simply blue as the skies in which a bombardier flies, but hard and cold. How could you not be after dropping bombs?