Going off the music topic for a quick second and mentioning historical books and films.
A few months back I had mentioned that I had read the book "Manhunt-the 12 Day search for Lincoln's killer" by James L. Swanson. The book is about the search for John Wilkes Booth the man who assassinated Abe Lincoln and the conspiracy around the assassination of President Lincoln, JWB and his co co conspirators planned to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward all on the same night. The person who was to kill Andrew Johnson, George Atzerodt got drunk and lost his nerve, the person who was to kill Secretary of State William Seward, Louis Powell attacked Seward and his son injuring them both severely. "Manhunt-the 12 Day search for Lincoln's Killer" is one of the most riveting, fascinating and scariest books that I have ever read!! That book got me so interested in John Wilkes Booth's story, the manhunt and the Lincoln conspiracy, that I read another book on the subject called "American Brutus" by Michael Kaufman. "American Brutus" is more of a biography on John Wilkes Booth and delves more into the conspiracy then the manhunt.
Anyway I was really excited to read that HBO is planning on making a mini series based on the book "Manhunt-the 12 Day Search for Lincoln's killer" and so far Harrison Ford has been cast as Everton Conger who was one of the main DC police detectives who lead the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth. I'm kinda meh on that bit of casting news cause in my mind Harrison Ford doesn't have enough intensity for that role, but who knows he's a good enough actor where he maybe able to pull off the role. I would have cast Harrison Ford as Lafayette Baker who was the head of the DC police force at the time and I would have cast Edward Norton in the Everton Conger role.
I totally think Johnny Depp should play Booth! Even though Depp is about twenty years older then Booth was at the time of the assassination I totally think he can pull it off. He's got the right look and the right intensity for the role!! I also think that Orlando Bloom could play a really good Booth. Even Jude Law can pull off Booth well.
Here's how I would cast the rest of the film "Manhunt":
Brad Pitt or George Clooney: Edward Doherty(the leader of 71st NY Volunteers sent to capture Booth)
Jessica Lang: Mary Suratt (one of Booth's conspirators)
Casey Afleck: David Herold (one of Booth's conspirators who was on the run with Booth)
Sam Rockwell or Mike Myers: George Atzerodt (one of Booth's conspirators)
Tom Hanks, Liam Neison or David Statharin: Abe Lincoln
James Broadbent: Edwin Stanton (the Secretary of War)
James Cromwell: William Seward
Joaquin Phoenix or the kid from "ET" Henry Thomas: Lewis Powell
Those are my pics...wishful thinking is that the casting director for the film "Manhunt" is an indie music fan and reads this blog!! Or maybe hopefully the casting director and I think a like!!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
The information you have about Harrison Ford playing Everett Conger in a version of "Manhunt" is no longer true. That project has been scrapped. However, HBO was planning to come out with a 2-hour special in 2009 and no further plans have been announced about who is to play in that. In December 2007, The History Channel had a special based on "American Brutus" entitled "The Hunt for John Wilkes Booth."
I have seen the History Channel special and it was very well done. This story would make for such a fantastic, suspenseful and spine tingling movie. HBO would do a really great job with this story. And another actor who would make a great JWB...Ryan Gosling!
Post a Comment