The Avengers--You cast the movie

TheDeeMan · Post by **TheDeeMan** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:08 pm

The Avengers movie was not very good, but it is a guilty favorite of mine. Fiennes and Thurman were woefully miscast in their roles as Steed and Peel. So, here's the deal. Say you were directing a new version of The Avengers movie, who would you cast in the lead roles as John Steed and Emma Peel?

I would cast Clive Owen as Steed and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Emma Peel. I think they'd be perfect.

Anybody else?

Dee

Dandy Forsdyke · Post by **Dandy Forsdyke** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:23 pm

Harry Hill and Dawn French.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nca7BuzpgY

TheDeeMan · Post by **TheDeeMan** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 4:30 pm

But seriously.

Dee

Philippa · Post by **Philippa** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:16 pm

How about this then?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB9MLnBx0HM

TheDeeMan · Post by **TheDeeMan** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:24 pm

Sigh. I give up.

I figured as much as folks hated Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman as Steed and Emma that maybe you all had some SERIOUS notions as to who you'd like to see play the parts if ever there was ever a new version of the Avengers made.

But i guess not.

Dee

Philippa · Post by **Philippa** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:34 pm

^I was only joking!
I shall give it some serious thought, I promise.

kim · Post by **kim** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:13 pm

TheDeeMan wrote:Sigh. I give up.

I figured as much as folks hated Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman as Steed and Emma that maybe you all had some SERIOUS notions as to who you'd like to see play the parts if ever there was ever a new version of the Avengers made.

But i guess not.

Dee

I think one of the problems in recasting the roles is that you are going to have a weak imitation at best. There was just something in the way Patrick and Diana played their parts and then played off of each other that isn't likely to be captured again. I can't picture any of the others, i.e., Tara, Purdey, etc., ever being recast either.

On a side note, I didn't hate Fieness or Thurman in the roles of Steed and Peel per se. Both are great actors, but as I said above, there was just something that came from Patrick and Diana that just can't be done by anyone else.

Dandy Forsdyke · Post by **Dandy Forsdyke** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:32 pm

Philippa wrote:How about this then?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB9MLnBx0HM

I think that is such an affectionate take on The Avengers - I love it. Everything from the 'Linda Thorson' comment to Dawn's 'Diana Rigg' smirk and that accurate Patrick Macnee voice at the end.

The mad professor actor was even in a New Avengers episode!

There are some quality Avengers send ups out there - a lot of them on YouTube.

Dandy Forsdyke · Post by **Dandy Forsdyke** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:41 pm

TheDeeMan wrote:But seriously.

Dee

One of the reasons it's hard to cast The Avengers, even in fun, is traditionally every time they've cast an actor they've been an unknown. Only Ian Hendry was well known when he landed the Keel role (indeed The Avengers was based around him initially).

So, were I casting The Avengers, I'd cast my net wide and gather publicity for the project by a huge audition process, with screen tests for the final few.

However I thought Saffron Burrows was an interesing suggestion when it was rumoured she was attached to an Avengers project a few years back.

http://debrief.commanderbond.net/index. ... ded&start=

Timeless A-Peel · Post by **Timeless A-Peel** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:18 pm

Dandy Forsdyke wrote:
Philippa wrote:How about this then?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB9MLnBx0HM
I think that is such an affectionate take on The Avengers - I love it. Everything from the 'Linda Thorson' comment to Dawn's 'Diana Rigg' smirk and that accurate Patrick Macnee voice at the end.

The mad professor actor was even in a New Avengers episode!

There are some quality Avengers send ups out there - a lot of them on YouTube.

The wardrobes! "It's been as bad as this from Linda Thorson onwards!" The clothes! What happened to the clothes?

I agree--it would probably work best to cast unknowns. I've never really thought about it, but it's true that, other than Ian, and I suppose Gareth as well (because of Upstairs, Downstairs) were unknowns to the British television viewing public. Patrick was more famous here in Canada for being in pretty much everything the CBC pumped out in the fifties, Diana was on stage, Linda was fresh out of drama school, Joanna was better known as a model, and Honor was being nice and submissive in her English rose roles. So it would make sense to follow the trend and go for fresh blood.

But if you want names, the best I can still come with for Steed is Stephen Fry in his Jeeves and Wooster days--I still maintain he has the right sort of face and build for it. I never know what to do for a girl. Jamie Murray, perhaps? We've all seen that Hustle episode with her in the catsuit, right?