Fantasy Movie Casting: "The Dresden Files"

Several years ago I was introduced to a series of novels by author Jim Butcher titled "The Dresden Files".  TDF follows the adventures of Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden (named after 3 famous stage magicians - Harry Houdini, Harry Blackstone, Sr., and David Copperfield) who works as a paranormal investigator in Chicago, Illinois and who is also a very powerful wizard.  Swords and sorcery with a modern twist, as it were.  I fell in love with the mythology, thanks mostly to Butcher's wit and excellent sense of storytelling, and quickly absorbed the material, reading the first twelve books of the series in relatively short order (I have the thirteenth book - "Ghost Story" - at home now) and I eagerly await the opportunity to see where the group of characters making up this series will be taken to with each new iteration.

The popularity of the novels made it a hot commodity and as such a television series was developed.  I'd not gotten into the world of Harry Dresden when the TV series originally aired on the Sci Fi Channel in 2007 (Side Note - It still bothers me that the Sci Fi Channel is now the SyFy Channel...I know, it's a gimmick, but it looks dumb and if pronounced literally it would sound like siff-ee.) and I've not yet bothered to watch any episodes of the series (it only ran for one season) mainly because it appears that there were significant liberties taken with the source material in adapting it for TV.  I'm not entirely opposed to alterations being made when it comes to translating a work of literature to a medium like television because there are many logistical issues that can stand in the way of successfully doing so.  However, I take great exception to the practice when characters are altered entirely because some random producer feels their vision will work better than the original incarnation.  This being the case, I felt like I - speaking on behalf of Dresden fans everywhere - should do Hollywood a favor and submit what is, in my eyes, a definitive cast that would do great justice to bringing "The Dresden Files" to the silver screen.

Please note that this list of characters contains only a select few of the primary cast of recurring characters.  To me, these are the characters holding the most significant roles within the saga.  As you might imagine with a series that is now better than a decade old, the supporting players are numerous (more than 60, according to a Wikipedia article on the subject) and if I were to try and cast them all I'd never make it through to the end.

HARRY DRESDEN - Bradley Cooper

Dresden is a heroically tragic figure as he quite regularly gets his ass handed to him in fights which he's gotten caught up in thanks to his sense of fierce loyalty to friends and allies.  Truth be told, there has been at least one scenario in every Dresden novel where I've thought to myself, "Jim Butcher must really hate this guy else he wouldn't write him into these situations..." (This is, of course, a classic tactic for building an audience's appreciation for a hero.) Nevertheless, through it all he maintains a relentless drive to do what's right and his razor sharp sarcastic humor.

I feel like Bradley Cooper - who also happens to share many of Harry's physical characteristics - could quite simply dye his hair black, get into wardrobe, and be fully capable of bringing Dresden to life.  Cooper has the charisma and acting ability to carry the weight of being a leading man, but he hasn't yet had a career-defining role that would forever put him into the upper echelon of actors who're adored for their efforts.  For these reasons, he's an ideal choice to play the part of Harry Dresden.

KARRIN MURPHY - Jennifer Aniston

Karrin Murphy (more often referred to simply as Murphy) is a veteran of the Chicago Police Department who - despite her abilities as an officer - has been relegated to managing the special investigations division.  She, much like Dresden, has stuck her nose a little too deep into the business of others, her superiors specifically, and doing so has wound up killing her career.  SI is essentially a "catch-all" office responsible for handling cases deemed out of the ordinary or in some way related to the paranormal.  A dedication to her work and the realization that some things going on in the world around her can't be explained by other means is what puts her on a path to encountering Harry.

When I began thinking about actresses who could take on Karrin Murphy, there were only a few who came to mind and an admittedly sinister ulterior motive (which will be revealed later) is what ultimately lead me to my choice.  Jennifer Aniston has never been involved in a big budget action flick or anything related the science fiction/fantasy genre, and that's what makes me think she'd be ideal.  A part like this would be a true shot in the arm for her career as it would be a big step away from the parts for which she's become known - a real opportunity to stretch her legs, as it were.

BOB - Bill Murray

Bob isn't so much a who as he is a what.  Bob is an air spirit of intellect with no tactile form; he exists within an enchanted human skull that Dresden keeps in his laboratory.  When active, Bob's essence glows with an orange hue from the eye sockets of the skull.  It's difficult to describe Bob and his abilities; to put it in terms of technological analogy, Bob is like a massive hard drive filled with information about people, creatures, places, and events in our realm as well as the Nevernever (which is a dimension beyond our own from whence beings like Bob originate).  He's a vast resource of knowledge that Harry makes use of quite regularly (wizards and electronics don't get along; since Harry can do damage to machines like computers by just being around them, having Bob around is invaluable).  As such, you might think he's a real downer to be around but the opposite is quite true as Bob appreciates Harry's humor, has a fondness for romance novels, and absolutely loves boobs.

The role of Bob would be a pure voiceover assignment.  So why Bill Murray?  By in large, Bob is a wise-cracking smart aleck who is able to trade quips with Harry like no one else in the Dresden-verse.  Personally, when I think of actors who've made a career out of being wise-cracking smart alecks, Bill Murray is pretty close to the top of the list.  What may present a challenge here is that there have been occasions where Bob's personality shifts entirely, usually based on who's taken possession of him, as he's gone from happy go lucky to downright homicidal within the course of one story.  Call it an opportunity for Murray to expand his range - I think he could pull it off.

SUSAN RODRIGUEZ - Jessica Biel

Every hero who is surrounded by tragedy will almost certainly owe at least some of his heartache to a romantic relationship gone sour, and this is exactly the case for Harry Dresden.  Susan Rodriguez initially encounters Dresden while working as a reporter for a tabloid newspaper specializing in all-things paranormal.  Their relationship quickly goes from cordial to coital (See what I did there?) and the two seem nearly inseparable - that is until Susan is bitten by a vampire of the Red Court (in the Dresden-verse there are two vampire "families", the Red Court and the White Court; neither are particularly cheery but the reds are by far the most horrible).

The potential for chemistry between actors, especially those who will be engaged in an on-screen romantic relationship, is an important consideration to make when casting.  As you may or may not be aware, Jessica Biel and Bradley Cooper have swapped spit (it dawned on me whilst writing this particular paragraph that the phrase "swapped spit" doesn't get used nearly enough) previously as they were an item in The A-Team.  The role wouldn't necessarily be physically demanding at first but that changes as Susan metamorphoses from her human form to that of an individual fighting to maintain her humanity by denying the hunger of the demon inside her after she's attacked by vampires.  Biel has had exposure to action and vampires in Blade: Trinity, making her even more ideal for the part.

THOMAS RAITH - Chris Hemsworth

Thomas Raith is a vampire of the White Court and an heir to the throne of their kingdom, for lack of a better term.  Thomas' lineage is somewhat complicated by the fact that he's the offspring of a vampire (his father, Lord Raith) and a human woman (a fact which will also complicate his relationship with Dresden).  Unlike Red Court vampires, those of the White Court don't sap the life force of their victims via physical attacks.  Rather they rely on their inherent natural beauty to woo humans into their presence, making them feel a sensation of bliss derived from intense sexual arousal which takes away all other needs and desires, and essentially drain energy from their captives by way of an outpouring of emotion.

Thomas has been described by Harry as being the "Lost Greek God of Body Cologne" and "the High Priest of Bowflex".  Anyone who's seen Chris Hemsworth's recent work in Thor knows that the guy is not only a talented actor but that he also happens to be in incredible physical condition.  I think he'd make a valuable addition to the cast and add much to the depth of the presentation.

LARA RAITH - Angelina Jolie

Lara Raith is Thomas Raith's elder sister.  Her beauty is only outmatched by her ability to manipulate those around her as she has proven time and time again to be a masterful schemer in the art of seduction.  Having taken an intense interest in usurping the potential power beheld by her siblings, Lara has over time been able to all but assume control of the White Court (her father remains his kingship but is not more than a figurehead).  She and Harry have crossed paths on multiple occasions and have maintained something of a workable relationship as both characters know their ends may only be met by way of means the other can provide.

Remember when I wrote earlier in this piece about casting Jennifer Aniston for a reason?  Well, here's that ulterior motive I mentioned.  I'm fairly certain that simply having Aniston and Jolie in the same film would make people interested in seeing it.  I'm not recommending her for the part solely because of a desire to take advantage of the human interest angle, though, as Jolie is an ideal candidate to portray Lara (even though it would mean her being known as two Lara's - Raith and Croft).  Her work in Beowulf is evidence that she can devour scenes while handling the role of a villainess.

EBENEZAR MCCOY - Tommy Lee Jones

Ebenezar McCoy is an incredibly powerful wizard and senior member of the White Council, a governing body (The White Council itself is presided over by the Merlin - who isn't the original Merlin but rather a wizard given the title of Merlin. Confused yet?) that presides over all individuals recognized as having a talent for wizardry and witchcraft by enforcing the seven Laws of Magic.  McCoy is also Harry Dresden's mentor and almost certainly Harry's most powerful ally.  McCoy functions as something of a moral compass for Harry but their relationship is damaged when it is revealed that Ebenezar is the White Council's "blackstaff" - a designation given to a wizard of the White Council to function outside of the laws of magic, meaning he has been given free reign to do anything necessary in order to protect the interests of the White Council (and I do mean anything).

McCoy is one of my favorite characters of the series.  He's one of several characters that I always look forward to learning more about and seeing as how McCoy is more than 200 years old (wizards can live to be an extraordinary age but they are not immortal or any less susceptible to injury than you or I) there's plenty more to tell than what's been told thus far.  That said, I could think of no one else I'd sooner see play McCoy than Tommy Lee Jones who, not surprisingly, is one of my favorite actors.  The grizzled yet still emotionally identifiable presentation that Jones brings to his performances has made him an icon in my eyes and there is literally no one else I would have in the role - as in if I were actually able to cast this film and he said no I'd more than likely say to the producer, "MOVIE'S OFF, CANCEL KRAFT SERVICES, EVERYONE GO HOME!"

MICHAEL CARPENTER - Ray Stevenson

Michael Carpenter is one of three individuals who are recognized as being Knights of the Cross, an ancient organization given the divine right to carry enchanted swords embedded with one of the nails used to crucify Jesus Christ. (Michael's sword, Amoracchius, is believed to be Excalibur, the mythical Sword in the Stone as it was at one point in time entrusted to Merlin - as in the original Merlin not some other guy.) Michael, not surprisingly, is a devout Christian and quite often rubs Harry the wrong way with his persistent trust that through all trials God's will holds what's best for each of us.  Despite this, Michael knows that at Harry's center is a desire to do what's right, and Harry values Michael's friendship and council.

Ray Stevenson isn't exactly a household name.  He's had some mainstream exposure with roles in movies such as Punisher: War Zone, King Arthur, and The Book of Eli (if you haven't seen Eli, do yourself a favor and do so - very profound movie that hasn't been fully appreciated yet, in my opinion).  Why Stevenson?  It's a role that would allow him to establish himself as being more than a bit-player, for one, as most of his gigs have been as supporting cast up to this point.  Michael Carpenter is a pillar of a man, resolute in his beliefs and sturdy to his core.  Stevenson, with his gravel-y voice, domineering physical presence, and rugged good looks is an ideal choice.

CHARITY CARPENTER - Gillian Anderson

Charity Carpenter, Michael's wife, is just shy of being worthy of the old battleaxe tag so many strong-willed women have been burdened with.  However, being the wife of a Knight of the Cross and mother to seven (yes, SEVEN) children gives her the right to be who she is - a protective woman willing to do anything to preserve the safety of her family.  She at first tolerates Harry's presence around Michael, thinking him to be a source of great danger (and rightfully so), but her stance softens with time after she realizes that Harry would lay down his own life for a member of her family.  It will be revealed that she, like many characters within the Dresden-verse, is harboring a deep secret of which not even her husband is aware.

By a show of hands, who amongst you reading this has never seen an episode of The X-Files?  How awesome was that show?!  I miss the ongoing adventures of Mulder and Scully, for crying out loud!  That said, I think it's time Gillian Anderson got back on the horse and did something with a large scope and feel to it.  She's been keeping busy with smaller projects since the curtain closed on X-Files and now that she's a three-time mother and a bit older (wow, I felt bad having to write that she's qualified because she's older - Hollywood is a fickle beast) I feel like she'd be able to pour her personal experiences into the role.  On top of that, her geek-icon status would do well to attract audiences, making her welcome addition to the cast for an entirely different reason.

MOLLY CARPENTER - Chloe Moretz

Molly Carpenter is the oldest child of Michael and Charity Carpenter.  A rebellious teenager, Molly inadvertently breaks one of the Laws of Magic by using a form of mind control (an ability which Molly was able to cultivate on her own after having noticed her abilities) to help several of her friends kick their drug addictions and having done so draws the attention of the White Council.  Regardless of her noble intentions, the White Council identifies her use of black magic as a potential threat and thereby seeks to punish her accordingly - by chopping off her head (the White Council isn't exactly lenient when it comes to dealing with apparent heretics; they believe that once a person has taken a path away from harnessing their powers through proper training ["proper training" being techniques and values endorsed by the White Council, thereby conditioning the beliefs system of a particular individual] that they're more or less an enemy combatant).  Harry, McCoy, Michael, and others come to her aid and manage to prevent her demise, after which she becomes Harry's apprentice.

The character of Molly is one that we literally watch as she grows up and matures from one novel to the next.  This being the case, it would be a welcome idea to cast an actress who - for the sake of consistency - could maintain her presence in the series without the role having to be re-cast every so often.  At 14 years of age presently Chloe Moretz, perhaps better known as Hit Girl from Kick Ass, is exactly that.  Moretz is a blossoming talent and the role of Molly would give her a chance to establish herself within a character that will grow significantly over the course of the series.

"GENTLEMAN" JOHNNY MARCONE - George Clooney

 A crime lord whose rise to power has landed him in control of Chicago's underworld, "Gentleman" Johnny Marcone presents a man who is most accurately described as being a double-edged sword.  On the one hand, as a mafioso, he's an adversary of Dresden - be that as it may, Marcone and Dresden often find themselves working together.  Like most mob bosses of legend, Marcone isn't afraid of getting his hands dirty if it means protecting his interests.  On the other hand, Marcone has shown that while he may be a criminal he is not without some sense of morality.  Marcone feels great remorse for injuries suffered by a young girl who happened to be caught in the crossfire during an attempt to murder him by a rival gang, and has gone to great lengths to provide care for her after the fact.

Marcone, in my mind, is equal parts savvy businessman and criminal genius but the line between one and the other is often blurred.  George Clooney has the capacity to capture the look of both aspects of Marcone's personality, but more importantly he is more than talented enough to play a cool, calculating mastermind of the underworld.  You may think I would point to his swing as Danny Ocean in the Oceans 11 films, however for this I actually think his work in From Dusk Til Dawn would be a more appropriate source of justification.  Therein his character is a violent felon confronted with supernatural baddies (vampires) who finds himself having to help a group of people he wouldn't have normally cared less about in order to save his own skin, and in the end he shows signs of compassion for those who've fought alongside him.

WALDO BUTTERS - Neil Grayston

It seems that every courageous hero must, by default, have a bumbling, cowardly yet able to be inspired sidekick.  Waldo Butters is exactly that for Harry Dresden.  A medical examiner by trade and one-man polka band by the grace of the Almighty (as Michael Carpenter might say), Butters landed himself in psychiatric treatment after having performed autopsies on the remains of several vampires which he declared in his reports as being "human-like but not human".  He was allowed to resume his work but demoted for his efforts.  He's since become Harry's go-to resource for medical attention (Have I mentioned that Dresden gets beat up, and frequently?) as Dresden trusts Butters because of his having been thrust into the world of the paranormal.

Unless you're a frequent viewer of Eureka on the SyFy Channel you more than likely have no idea who Neil Grayston is.  In Eureka, Grayston plays Douglas Fargo who's a brilliant but socially awkward scientist.  Grayston is another example of a young actor whose career could greatly benefit from a role in a big-time production such as this as it would be a recurring part in an expansive universe.  Butters is a beloved character by fans of the Dresden novels and I feel like Grayston is a genuinely likeable guy, which is just another feather in his cap when it comes to his involvement with the project.