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A murder in the Louvre museum reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected by a clandestine society since the days of Christ.
I've never heard of Paul, but he sounds good for the role. I think Kevin Kline would be good. He has that whole professor thing down. I heard Russel Crowe was going to play the part of Langdon, which is fine with me as well.
I think that Sophie Marceau would be good as Sophie Neveu. She is at least French, unlike Kate Beckinsale who is reportedly to play Neveu. I guess she would be okay, though.
I can't wait until I hear some more news about the casting of this movie to see if my predictions are correct.
I liked Sophie Marceau in Braveheart. She would be good. I don't know how old she is, but the character of Sophie Neuveu is in her thirties.
Maybe this film is on hold because Howard is waiting for Crowe to finish shooting Cinderella Man. I guess we shall see what happens.
Casting Russell Crowe in this role is just more hollywood POOP.
Dont get me wrong, I Like Crowe a lot, but Langdon is a swimmer, not a beefy guy like Crowe (have you seen him in Virtuousity?).
A guy like Duchovny or Schreiber would be more visibly in line with the character introduced in the novels.
Oh, and WTF is with not doing "Angels & Demons" first?
They might be doing the Da Vinci Code before Angels and Demons because it was more popular. I hope they make Angels and Demons into a movie, too, since I liked it as much as the Da Vinci Code.
Anyways, I don't know who would make a good Silas, the albino. The only movie I can think about with an hunchback-like albino would be The Princess Bride. I know that actor would be a bad choice for Silas. Does anyone else have any suggestions on who would be good as him?
Hi guys, my first posting here. :)
I'm really hoping The Da Vinci Code gets the proper care & attention it deserves both in pre-production, and in the casting choices they make. I have to say I'm a little apprehensive about Akiva Goldsman - he wrote Batman & Robin and was also involved on I, Robot. The latter was dumbed down too much from Asimov's material, so I hope they don't do the same with DVC.
As far as casting Langdon, it could well hinge on plans for future movies. If they cast him slightly younger, say Paul McGann (which I think may well work) then there would be no need to recast for sequels. Personally, I think Sam Neill would be a great Langdon. Dan Brown appears to have modelled Langdon on himself (take a look at www.DanBrown.com - it's uncanny!). Neill has done a few higher profile movies making him recognised but not really associated with anything in particular - the less baggage an actor brings with them, the more believable they are as a new character.
Silas can only be played by one person - Davd Morse. He worked on, amongst other things, The Green Mile, The Rock & 12 Monkeys. He has the physical presence and the right build. Take a look at images of him in The Crossing Guard - he's done the long hair thing before!
And although they seem to be the obvious choices, Jean Reno & Vincent Cassel would be great as Fache & Collet. Ian McNeice would make a great Teabing, and it seems Sophie Marceau was born to play Sophie...
I visualized Derek Jacobi as Teabing.
David Suchet (Poirot) as Fache. I know, he's played the French Investigator Poirot, already. Totally stereotyped, but I couldn't help visualizing Fache/Suchet. Reno would be good.
I do not want to see Russell Crowe as Langdon. I liked him in other movies, but this role doesn't suit him.
If there were to be sequels, and the character of Langdon will continue on to new adventuers, Crowe will be too busy with other movies.
Sam Neil has done this kind of part many times over. The academic, the professor involved in a big mystery. Is that a good thing or a bad? It's almost as if you expect to see him play that same role over and over.
Duchovney would be good, but he's got the baggage of X-Files. There is quite an X-Files element to this story but it would be type casting him as Mulder in a subconcious way. And would it be possible for him not to have that Mulder sense of humour--so Mulder-like?.
McGann is not so well known in North America so that people won't have pre concieved notions of what to expect.
Yes, maybe they will do Angels and Demons as the sequel. I haven't read that one yet.
I'm down with Schreiber. He seems like a better choice than Duchovny, or Neill but if you have trouble with the Mulder factor, you should have seen Kalifornia, which came out before X-files.
As for Crowe, I think he's just as worng for the part as Bronson Pinchot, just at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Paul McGann is a rather unappealing looking individual if I might say so myself. I don't understand what the fascination with that guy is. My vote is for Aaron Eckhart. The guy is not the most brilliant actor, but it could lead up to something big for his reputation. I too, envisioned Robert Langdon looking a bit like Dan Brown. Hugh Jackman might make a convincing Langdon, but then again he might be to pretty boyish. I Voted for Aaron Eckhart as Robert Langdon, Kate Beckinsale as Sophie Neveu, Jean Reno as Capt. Bezu Fache, Vincent Cassel as Collett, Jim Broadbent as Sir Leigh Teabing, Ben Kingley as Remy, Alfred Molina as Bishop Aringarosa, Paul Bettany as Silas, and Sir Ian Mckellen as Jacques Sauniere. I just hope that Akiva doesn't write a terrible screen adaptation of this great book. We'll see...
maybe I should read the book first...is it a good idea?
maybe I should read the book first...is it a good idea?
Probably, but such a minor detail shouldn't preclude you from offering opinion.
I'd read Angels & Demons first, if i were you. It has better character development for Langdon, IMHO.
I like the use of Jim Broadbent and Sir Ian, but i think that Daivd Thewlis, even though he isn't American, should play Langdon. I don't know why, but he has that whole teacher, full of knowledge and silence thing going for him. Also, READ THE BOOK!!!!! Even if it isn't important to understanding the movie, it is still of of the best books ever!
Definitley read the book!!!
I voted for:
Pierce Brosnan- Robert Langdon
Sophie Marceau- Sophie Neveu
Jean Reno- Capt. Bezu Fache
Ian McNiece- Sir Leigh Teabing
Vincent Cassel- Collett
Victor Varnado- Silas
Geoffrey Rush- Bishop Aringarosa
Sir Ian McKellen- Remy
Ian Holm- Jacques Sauniere
Maddy wrote:
Born to Play Robert Langdon.
Who the heck is Paul Mcgann?
I think his fan club has tilted the voting a bit on this subject...
Here is a link to a short bio of his work with a picture.
http://kinlochalinecastle.tripod.com/princes/paulmc.html
His fans did vote. They also wrote letters to Ron Howard too.
Just thought he'd be good for the part of Langdon.
He will be in the upcoming A&E Poirot episode, as Dr. Lord in Sad Cypress on A&E sept 19, 10 pm est.
The fans of other actors can vote as they please.
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I vote for and support the British actor, Paul McGann to play Professor Robert Langdon.
Paul is a fantastic actor.
He's charming, funny, swooningly handsome and quite versatile.
He would bring such warmth, depth, resonance and humour to the character of Langdon.
This film needs to be grounded by a character, and that's Langdon.
In the first third of the book, most of the build up focuses on Langdon being taken to a crime scene in the Louvre. This is interspliced with scenes of Silas the albino baddie.
In Langdon's scenes, information is being conveyed to him, and to us. They discuss the symbols found at the crime scene. All this information is crucial to the story. For the beginning of the film--I guess, first 20 minutes, iit will take place in the museum with bit scenes of Silas in the other locations.
Most of what is required of Langdon is to respond, to think, listen, to give some insight to the detective and to us, and answer Fache's questions. His character lets us know, what he knows of the subject matter, and we also try to figure out the puzzle with him. Remember, (HIS THOUGHTS, unless they do flashbacks, WILL NOT APPEAR ON FILM, being the nature of the film medium) So, if an actor is to develop a character cinematically in that amount of time and let us get to know him, and like him too, the actor has to know how to respond, how to take advantage of being in front of a camera while being still, or giving a response in dialouge, or with his eyes.
This beginning, is all about getting information across. But for the movie's purpose, we want to know something about the character, and root for Langdon.
Paul is a brilliant actor, and does this very well. Your eyes are drawn into watching him when he's on film, and when whether he has dialouge or not, Paul conveys so much. And you know that in this movie, there is much infomration to convey.
Information about who he is, how he feels, what he thinks, and for this story, information about the subject matter which is really, the biggest feature of the film, what the story is about. Subject matter.
I think that the book Langdon is not, for literary purposes, well developed. Or, rather, he seems a bit flat. I have nothing agasint the book, in fact, I like it very much. The book is about the subject matter, and not really about character development. It's not that kind of a book, that stresses the development of character as...say, one of the great characters of literature. It's a truly good story, a good yarn, a fascinating story, about seeking information ( a sort of treature hunt, if you will) and what happens along the way. It's a Quest. And you all know, it's the journey...
So, for cinematic story telling purposes, the main character still needs to draw us in, to make us care about what happens to him, as he leads us through the puzzle. We have to care...that's how it works. That is done through cinematic character development, in what we see, and how that actor makes us see it through his eyes.
In this beginning portion of the film, Paul will bring Langdon to life by doing what he does so well.
Paul will develop the character into someone who is real, and unflatten the book Langdon and let's us see what makes him tick, and what ticks him off, and make us fear what he fears, and love what he loves. A good actor can do that with a look, a move of his body, or a well said line of dialouge.
For the adventuresome action scenes, Paul loves these kinds of roles too. He's wonderful as Lt. Bush, with his sword! Running out the guns, or storming a beach.
Paul has played historic dudes, romantic heart throbs, adventuresome dudes, intellectual dudes, bad guys, nut cases, doctors, priests and academics, among others. He's mostly appeared in British films. But rich, interesting, varied roles.
Paul is the right age to play Robert Langdon--40-ish. And he's looking better than ever. He's got magnetism. Women of all ages all over the world, are drawn to Paul. They are discovering him through his role as Lt. Bush in the Hornblower films. Paul will be perfect to play the academic Langdon.
The women in the book describe Landon as having a voice as good as chocolate...well, Paul's fans have been swooning over his voice alone, for years! In Japan, his fans call him sweet like caramel. And then add to it, his Celtic beauty!
He has a lovely singing voice too! Not that singing is needed in the film. But hey, Hugh Jackman can sing too, so why not let people know Paul cansing too! Paul can also cut a powerful, lion's roar of a yell when called upon. (You can hear that in the Horatio Hornblower Films.)! It's deep, of a raspy-late night whisky drinking timbre. You just don't expect it when you hear him normally speak in gentle, honey-caramel tones. But it's there.
If you are an audio book listener, Paul McGann's recordings are the finest readings known to humanity. He's a joy to listen to. He could read the phone book cover to cover and it would be a joy to hearl. His voice is beautifuli. Take a listen to his readings for Bernard Cornwell's SHARPE audio series. Or the Sci Fi audio VURT. WOW! Don't listen to them while driving a car or operating dangerous machinary, they are very distracting. His readings are the best of the best. So he's got the Robert Langdon beautiful voice thing down over anyone, ever, hands down, no question. One of the world's top readers, if ever there was to be a contest for such a thing. He'd be an Olympian champion of the voice.
Looking the part?
Sexy, swoonable, sometimes quite shy. He's a lovely mixture of the masculine, adventuresome, playful, fun loving with the intelligent, shy, bookish, museum going type, and sexy--did I say sexy?
Take a look at his performance in Horatio Hornblower, as Lt. Bush! What a strong, thoughtful, gentle and intelligent face! He has a strong jaw line, great facial features, brilliantly gorgeous blue eyes, and lovely wavey brown- reddish hair. Watch him when he's not even in the center camera frame, when he's responding to the other characters. Brilliant! I find myself watching him in the background...to see what he will do next. He's got the athletic body of a swimmer. Perfect for an academic. He looks dashing in suits, as well as casual clothes. He can do all sorts of accents, from the everyday working man to an aristocrat.
About his work:
He's been professionally acting since the late 80's.
Paul's more recent work:
Paul has appeared in the nautical adventure series Horatio Hornblower on A&E, as Lieutenant William Bush, Hornblower's second in command and best buddy. You get to hear him yell out orders, and man, you don't expect such a commanding, deep sonorous voice to come out like that. I love how he delivered the line..."We want burning ships, not a boiling sea!" Wow! Then, his voice is sweet and mellow as honey. Amazing!
He also appeared as the 8th Doctor in the DOCTOR WHO movie, and has done many of the audio plays as the 8th Doctor.
He appeared in a Ken Branagh's short film, "Listening." Ken wanted Paul to play the lead, because... he said something about Paul's face having a saint like beauty....Wow, that's strange, considering this film. But it's true!
He worked on David Fincher's first film: Alien3, but Fox Suits butchered the film up and most of Paul's part as Golic was cut. Paul played a psycho, who tries to buddy up to the alien and do a "You and me, monster!" He was covered in gore most of the film and shaved.
He had a small part in Queen of the Damned, as David from the Talemasca. His hair was quite short, and he's only on film for less than 7 minutes tops, but he looks so sweet and vulnerable at the big Rock Concert scene in his glasses, or at the end, where he meets Lestat.
In the late 90's he played a Professor Patrick Vine, a College Academic who'se sideline is helping people get Revenge on those who deserveed it. "Sweet Revenge" was made for BBC. It has not been shown in the states. This is such a wonderful drama! I recommend it if you ever do get to see it. Very clever and witty. So, he's got the academic, intellectual dude of letters down. In it there's a few scenes of him giving lectures.
For romance, he has been in the BBC adaptation of OUR MUTUAL FRIEND as Eugene Wrayburn, the fellow genetically attached to lazing around on a couch till he falls in love with Lizzie a poor boat handler's daughter. His performance is stunning and right on the money. You just watch him, as he responds to what goes on around him, taking it all in, and the camera eats this up. The way he delivered dialouge in this film was teasing, tempting and swaggering. In this film, the not doing, but the responding, really conveys so much to the audience about Eugene Wrayburn in the moments of stillness, while the eyes watch and take in what is around him, or his body does a slight tilt of the head, or a lowering of the eyes...beautiful. Especially the scene where he first lays eyes on Lizzie! And he's not supposed to be watching her, noticing her, be he does. Beautiful.
And that's just when he's not speaking! Langdon will need to be expressive, because he cares about what he does. I don't know if they will film the scene where he flashes back to his Art Class and he's telling his students about the Divine Proportions and giving slide examples...and you know Langdon is really loving how his students are responding, which makes him respond back...and he begins racing through the slides with excitement at their amazement in the subject. This scene is a way for the filmmakers to show who Langdon is, what he loves and cares about. Paul would be excellent doing the quick back and forth dialouge with the skeptical students. There's a bit of Dr. Who in Langdon the professsor. He enjoys teasing, and having fun. Paul is marvelous with this sort of thing.
Older works:
Some may know of the cult British classic comedy "Withnail and I." Paul played Marwood and it's a hoot!
He also was brilliant as the controversial truel story about the WW1 mutineer, Percy Toplis for BBC's Monocled Mutineer. This is not available in the states, but it's a real eye opener if you can see a copy of it. Paul was brilliant as the selfish, rebel out for number one, who winds up leading a mutiny...and caring about something. Percy's character is very similar to Randall McMurphy of One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest. It's one of the best tv made movies around.
I can't recommend him more highly as being absolutely appropriate for this part.
He is the actor to bring Langdon to life.
Since this movie is insured to be a box office hit, no matter who plays Langdon, it doesn' require the typical box office celebrity we see in just about every big budget film----and a, OH, Him Again?
It's a win-win situation.
If Ron Howard, (dir) wants to reach a little deeper, and go a little further as a filmmaker, and try for something of a higher, truer quality than the normal pop commercial film with big budget stars, he'll stay away from casting a Tom Cruises, Russell Crowe or a Johnny Depp forLangdon. Not that I don't like those actors, but they automatically get all the roles because they are popular.
This film is insured to be a hit commercially.
Howard should go for something a bit more unusual.
The part of Langdon requires subtlety and grace, it requires someone like Paul.
Paul was born to play Robert Langdon, to bring that Professor to life.
Maddy