{"id":25163,"date":"2012-11-28T23:42:30","date_gmt":"2012-11-29T04:42:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.filmbuffonline.com\/FBOLNewsreel\/wordpress\/?p=25163"},"modified":"2012-11-28T23:50:09","modified_gmt":"2012-11-29T04:50:09","slug":"five-called-to-audition-for-lead-in-guardians-of-the-galaxy-three-more-possibly-in-waiting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.filmbuffonline.com\/FBOLNewsreel\/wordpress\/2012\/11\/28\/five-called-to-audition-for-lead-in-guardians-of-the-galaxy-three-more-possibly-in-waiting\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Called To Audition For Lead In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, Three More Possibly In Waiting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a> The Guardians of the Galaxy<\/strong> is one of Marvel’s lesser known properties, so there isn’t a huge build in audience for it. They’d better have a really strong lead to bring the audiences in and keep them interested while they are there.<\/p>\n

Deadline<\/a> is reporting that the casting process for the ipso facto lead of the film has begun. Five actors have been hired for “test deals” for Peter Quill, a.k.a. The Star-Lord, the half-human, half-alien leader of the team. The website states that three more are also being considered, but have not been signed test deals yet.<\/p>\n

Who are these actors? Here, let me tell you, starting with the five test subjects:<\/p>\n

Joel Edgerton<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a> <\/strong>Nationality:<\/span><\/strong> Australian.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Where Do I Know Him From?<\/span>:\u00a0<\/strong>He starred in last year’s\u00a0The Thing\u00a0<\/strong>remake, Warrior<\/strong> and in this years\u00a0The Odd Life of Timothy Green.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, but is he in anything now?:<\/span> <\/strong>He will be in the Osama Bin Laden thriller,\u00a0Zero Dark Thirty<\/strong>, opening in limited release on\u00a0December\u00a019th.<\/p>\n

What am I supposed to think about this actor?:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Edgerton is a hot property in Hollywood these days. His name is often mentioned in reference to just about every major male role in just about every film in development. Someone in Hollywood likes him, but his recent film output leaves something to be desired when it comes to box office receipts.<\/p>\n

But does he have geek cred?:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Yes. He starred as the young Owen Lars (Luke’s uncle) in\u00a0Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith<\/strong>. And Joe Carnahan has said that he was the first choice to play Matt Murdock in Carnahan’s aborted\u00a0Daredevil\u00a0<\/strong>reboot.<\/p>\n

Jack Huston<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>Nationality:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>English<\/p>\n

Where Do I Know Him From?<\/strong><\/span>: He played Royce King in\u00a0The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, but is he in anything now?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>He plays Richard Harrow in HBO’s\u00a0Boardwalk Empire.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What am I supposed to think about this actor?:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Though born and raised in England, he is\u00a0descended\u00a0from Hollywood royalty–the Huston family (he’s also descended from British royalty as well, the lucky stiff). Legendary character actor Walter Huston was his great-grandfather, legendary director John Huston is his grandfather. Anjelica Huston and Danny Huston, legendary status pending, are his aunt and uncle, respectively. If talent for film is genetic, then he’s got it in spades.<\/p>\n

But does he have geek cred?: <\/strong><\/span>It’s in the family. Uncle Danny played William Stryker in\u00a0X-Men Origins: Wolverine\u00a0<\/strong>and Marlow in\u00a030 Days of Night<\/strong>. Aunt\u00a0Anjelica played Morticia Addams in\u00a0The Addams Family <\/strong>and The Addams Family Values\u00a0<\/strong>and had a role in Art School Confidential<\/strong>. \u00a0And grandfather John directed\u00a0Annie\u00a0<\/strong>and voice Gandalf in the Rankin\/Bass version of\u00a0The Hobbit\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0The Return of the King<\/strong>. For him, well,\u00a0Twilight\u00a0<\/strong>counts, doesn’t it?<\/p>\n

Jim Sturgess<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>Nationality:<\/strong> <\/span>English<\/p>\n

Where Do I Know Him From?:<\/strong><\/span>He played the lead in Julie Taymor’s\u00a0Across the Universe\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a021.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, but is he in anything now?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>He plays multiple roles in\u00a0Cloud Atlas<\/strong>, currently in theaters.<\/p>\n

What am I supposed to think about this actor?:<\/strong><\/span> He is arguably the most well-known of the actors who are getting tests, with a number of high profile lead roles under his belt. And while he doesn’t seem quite as rough hewn as the comic book version of the character, he should pull off the character’s roguish charm fairly well. But back in 2008, Sturgess had this to say about playing a superhero in the future:\u00a0“No, I’ve never seen myself as an actor who might pass off as a superhero … and I’m amazed that I’m even being considered for the Spider-Man role. Maybe it’s my long legs … I dunno.”<\/p>\n

But does he have geek cred?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Yes, and Marvel Comics geek cred to boot. He worked with Taymor and his Across the Universe <\/strong>co-star Evan Rachel Wood to workshop Taymor’s\u00a0Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark\u00a0<\/strong>during it’s long and\u00a0arduous\u00a0trek to the Broadway stage. He played Peter Parker\/Spider-Man. As mentioned above, he was rumored to also be in the running for the same character\u00a0in\u00a0The Amazing Spider-Man<\/strong>\u00a0before the part went to fellow Brit Andrew Garfield.<\/p>\n

Lee Pace<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>Nationality:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>American<\/p>\n

Where Do I Know Him From?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>He was the star of the cult-favorite ABC TV show,\u00a0Pushing Daises.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Yeah, but is he in anything now?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Pace is having a busy fall movie season, with roles in Lincoln<\/strong>, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2<\/strong>,\u00a0and the forthcoming The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey<\/strong><\/p>\n

What am I supposed to think about this actor?:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0I’ll have to tread carefully here, because my editor-in-chief is a huge\u00a0Pushing Daises\u00a0<\/strong>fan, but nothing I saw of him in that role made me think that he would be perfect in the role as the leader of a band of alien freedom fighters. Granted, I have not seen\u00a0Breaking Dawn, Part 2<\/strong> (and likely never will), but I will be keeping a keen eye on him in\u00a0The Hobbit.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But does he have geek cred?: <\/strong><\/span>If being the star of a short-lived TV show whose small fan base is in a perpetual state of mourning over its too soon end (and hoping it will be\u00a0revived in\u00a0some form or another) isn’t enough to give Pace geek cred, then playing King Thranduil will surely finish the job. Also,\u00a0Twilight<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Eddie Redmayne<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>Nationality:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>English<\/p>\n

Where Do I Know Him From?:<\/strong><\/span> He played the focal point character Colin Clark in last year’s\u00a0My Week with Marilyn.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Yeah, but is he in anything now?:<\/strong><\/span> <\/strong>Redmayne will be playing Marius in the eagerly\u00a0anticipated adaptation of the Broadway version of\u00a0Les Miserables<\/strong>, opening on Christmas day.<\/p>\n

What am I supposed to think about this actor?:<\/strong><\/span> Redmayne doesn’t have an extensive resume of known work that we can judge whether or not he will be good for the part. I don’t know enough about Les Miz<\/strong>\u00a0to know if his role in that will give us any indication either. In my mind, that means he’s pretty much a lock for this part.<\/p>\n

But does he have geek cred?:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Well, yes. He is also on the short list of potential candidates to play Harry Osborn in\u00a0The Amazing Spider-Man\u00a0<\/strong>2<\/strong>. That is enough to give him some geek cred in my eyes.<\/p>\n

In addition to these five men, Deadline states that they have heard that Marvel is also interested in three other actors for the role. They are:<\/p>\n

Garrett Hedlund<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>Nationality:<\/strong><\/span> American<\/p>\n

Where Do I Know Him From?:<\/strong><\/span> He has quite an extensive film career, acting in everything from\u00a0Friday Night Lights<\/strong> to\u00a0Eragon\u00a0<\/strong>to\u00a0Country Strong\u00a0<\/strong>to\u00a0Tron: Legacy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Yeah, but is he in anything now?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>He is starring as Dean\u00a0Moriarty in the adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s seminal novel,\u00a0On the Road<\/strong>, which is set to open in limited release on December 21st.<\/p>\n

What am I supposed to think about this actor?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Hedlund, like Edgerton, is often mentioned as a possible candidate in a number of high-profile films. He already has one franchise to his name–Tron<\/strong>–so he probably would be able to deal with one more.<\/p>\n

But does he have geek cred?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Well, he was in\u00a0Tron: Legacy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

James Marsden<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>Nationality:<\/strong><\/span> American<\/p>\n

Where Do I Know Him From?:<\/strong><\/span> He played Cyclops in the\u00a0X-Men\u00a0<\/strong>films, Richard White in\u00a0Superman Returns,\u00a0<\/strong>Prince Edward in Enchanted,\u00a0<\/strong>need I go on?<\/p>\n

Yeah, but is he in anything now?:<\/strong><\/span> He plays Liz Lemon’s boyfriend Criss on\u00a030 Rock<\/strong> and had roles in\u00a0Robot & Frank\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Bachelorette<\/strong> this year.<\/p>\n

What am I supposed to think about this actor?:<\/strong><\/span> Personally, I think Marsden is an underrated actor. I think he’s skilled at drama, comedy and action. If I had a rooting interest in this contest, my money would be on him.<\/p>\n

But does he have geek cred?:<\/strong><\/span> He played Cyclops. Geek cred, established. Playing the less creepy romantic alternative for Lois Lane was just icing on the geek cred cake.<\/p>\n

Sullivan Stapleton<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>Nationality:<\/strong><\/span> Australian.<\/p>\n

Where Do I Know Him From?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>He co-starred in\u00a0Animal Kingdom\u00a0<\/strong>with Joel Edgerton (one of many wacky connections between the actors on this list. Seriously, each actor is six degrees of separation from each other).<\/p>\n

Yeah, but is he in anything now?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Well, you\u00a0would\u00a0have seen him in\u00a0Gangster Squad<\/strong>, if that film wasn’t moved back from September to January due to the Aurora shootings. But if you have Cinemax, you might have seen him in the recently completed third season of\u00a0Strike Back<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What am I supposed to think about this actor?:<\/strong><\/span> Um, damned if I know. I can honestly say I have never seen anything he’s been in. looks the part of a space-faring rogue, though.<\/p>\n

But does he have geek cred?:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Well, he does have the lead role in the 300<\/strong> sequel, 300: Rise of an Empire<\/strong>, set to hit theaters in August. That counts, right?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Which up and coming male actor will be tapped to play Peter Quill, the Star-Lord? Deadline thinks it’s one of these eight men. Here is your scorecard.<\/div>\n

[click for more]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[106,84],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-25163","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-comicsandfilm","7":"category-news"},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t