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#1 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: England
Posts: 96
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Who Should Play Beorn in The Hobbit?
Being one of my favourite characters in that book I got to thinking about who could play him in a possible movie. Who would you pick to play Beorn? I thought about Eric Bana but maybe he wouldn't suit the role.
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#2 |
Fading Fëanorion
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: into the flood again
Posts: 2,911
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Though I really like Bana, I don't think that a minor character like Beorn could justify an actor as popular (and expensive!) like him. I'm sure they'll find some decent actor, whom probably none of us had known before.
Besides, am I the only one who fears that Beorn could perhaps share the fate of Tom Bombadil? ![]() |
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#3 | |
Cryptic Aura
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,989
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Still, one would think they would need all the action they can get if they want this expansion. Surely a shape-shifting bear could be used to provide some log rolling if not tree shielding comic relief?
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I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. Last edited by Bêthberry; 12-07-2006 at 01:37 PM. |
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#4 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Muddy-earth
Posts: 1,297
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Robbie Coltrane, for those non-British he is the actor who plays Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies.
P.S Hairy Potter and The Prisoners on a Razorban, or Potty Harry and The Goblins on Fire
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#5 |
Fair and Cold
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Robbie Coltrane would be pretty sweet. Also, Brian Blessed is amazing.
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~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~ |
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#6 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: England
Posts: 96
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But Beorn is in my mind a character who is almost an antihero, I'll never forget how he nailed the Warg skin to a tree. Whoever plays him needs to have a real edge.
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Remember, stranger, passing by: As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you shall be. Prepare thyself to follow me. |
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#7 |
Fair and Cold
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Coltrane has major edge. Have you ever watched "Cracker"?
![]() They could do something really new, and get Michael Clarke Duncan. ![]()
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~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~ |
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#8 | |
Delver in the Deep
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Aotearoa
Posts: 960
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But Gwindor answered: 'The doom lies in yourself, not in your name'. |
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#9 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Muddy-earth
Posts: 1,297
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Robbie Coltrane IS a maniac, but he is also a good comedy actor and comedian.
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[B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER. |
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#10 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: England
Posts: 96
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But Beorn is not comic relief within the book, his brutality is really quite stunning for a story aimed toward a young audience.
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Remember, stranger, passing by: As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you shall be. Prepare thyself to follow me. |
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#11 |
Fair and Cold
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Yes, but Coltrane is capable of much more than comic relief. Hence my mention of "Cracker."
![]() Another possibility: Samuel le Bihan? He was brutal, and honourable, and magnificent, in "Le Pacte des Loups." He's not a huge guy per se (height-wise), but he certainly has gravitas. Stephen Fry is a big guy (people forget how big he actually is) with enormous range. He might seem too genteel, but he can do it. Random trivia: My boyfriend's dad broke Fry's nose in a rugby match! Which is truly hilarious, because he's half Fry's size! ![]()
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~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~ |
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#12 |
Blithe Spirit
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,779
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How about Vinnie Jones?
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Out went the candle, and we were left darkling |
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#13 | ||
Wight
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: England, UK
Posts: 178
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The problem with Bombadil was that he would have totally ruined the atmosphere. Think about it - we have the scared Hobbits fleeing through the night in the shadowy forests from the ghostly Ringwraiths, when suddenly...'Hey dol! Merry dol! Don't you crush my lillies!' The movie would have lost all credibility, I'm afraid.
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#14 | |
Regal Dwarven Shade
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold
Posts: 3,589
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I will loudly and wildly second any and all nominations of Brian Blessed.
Quote:
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#15 |
Maundering Mage
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 4,644
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Me? I could do it.
I'm wondering if they will actually expand the role a bit and have Beorn play a bit more active part in the adventure and battle.
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“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” |
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#16 |
Bittersweet Symphony
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise
Posts: 1,814
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Chuck Norris.
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#17 | |
Regal Dwarven Shade
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold
Posts: 3,589
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When the Great Goblin went to sleep every night, he checked his closet for Chuck Beorn. Chuck Beorn single-handedly won the Battle of Five Armies...oh...wait a minute... Okay, I'll stop now. ![]()
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...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no... |
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#18 |
Raffish Rapscallion
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Far from the 'Downs, it seems :-(
Posts: 2,835
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William Dafoe.
![]() Well, he is one of the scariest looking actors out there.. ![]() |
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#19 |
Wight
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I too think Robbie Coltrane would play the roll well.
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God created night, but man created darkness.... |
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#20 |
Shady She-Penguin
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: In a far land beyond the Sea
Posts: 8,093
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I think Coltrane's too obvious and he will look too much like Hagrid for the big audience.
All the critics would write "Robbie Coltrane plays Beorn, the more evil twin brother of Hagrid". Wouldn't that be funny? ![]()
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Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris
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#21 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: In a world grown ever smaller.
Posts: 678
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um, Peter Jackson?
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I've got bridge club on Wednesday,
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#22 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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Mhm, well we must realise that Beorn is supposed to a large muscled firgure when not in bear form. Therefore although Coltraine would no doubt give an adequate performance I think the role would be best suited to Arnold Schwarzenegger, his roles in Predator and Terminator are perfect for the "isolated" and "weary" Beorn in the Hobbit. Not to mention his build would be ideal.
"Jaa, I'm a cybernetic organism, living tissue over a metal endoskeleton." Though on a more serious note, I do not believe that Coltraine would be hampered by his performance as Hagrid, I myself could forget about him ever having played Hagrid in order to appreciate his performance...getting side tracked a little, Jeremy Irons popped into my head, not necessarily as the role as Beorn but I think he is a superb actor who might fit the bill for another character however I cannot quite place one. Perhaps Bard? Oh and why not have John Rhys-Davies back as Thorin or one of the thirteen dwarves?
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"I am, I fear, a most unsatisfactory person."
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#23 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: England
Posts: 96
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What about Ray Winstone in the role? After seeing him in Henry VIII I think he'd be quite admirable as the barbaric shapeshifter.
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Remember, stranger, passing by: As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you shall be. Prepare thyself to follow me. |
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#24 |
Cryptic Aura
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,989
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Bob Hoskins. Here he is as Odin and then as Badger, from Wind in the Willows.
![]() ![]() He's maybe a bit short for a bear, but that's no impediment to an actor of his abilities. He lumbers very well, has a great sense of humour, and does delicious villians. I could even see him as Bilbo, depending upon how young the director wants to make Bilbo appear (as opposed to how old he is in the book).
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I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. Last edited by Bêthberry; 12-12-2006 at 01:43 PM. |
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#25 | |
Fading Fëanorion
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: into the flood again
Posts: 2,911
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Quote:
In the LotR movies we have not heard of shape-shifters, so we need to spend more time for the introduction of Beorn than for those of other characters, because he will appear very weird otherwise (not to mention the animals that serve the companions). The same holds for Bombadil in a way - you'd have to invest a lot of time to make him look "realistic". Otherwise, as cool as Beorn might be, I fear many movie-goers might think "Huh? What is that guy supposed to be? This is soo not Middle-earth!" ![]() And then the question arises: is it worth the effort? Would it be so disastrous to let the Eagles drop the travelling party immediately at Mirkwood? Is Beorn's appearance at the Battle really that important? Would we cut him in order to have more time to invest at the other stages of the story, to give more depth to other characters (for example certain characters that can fly and breathe fire and whom this story actually is about)? The alternative would be to increase his role, like morm suggested. Of course I'd favour this as well, but what if screen time is getting short? And now you may throw the stones. ![]() Last edited by Macalaure; 12-12-2006 at 04:09 PM. |
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#26 | |
Reflection of Darkness
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Polishing the stars. Well, somebody has to do it; they're looking a little bit dull.
Posts: 2,983
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If anything, why not bring back Lawrence Makoare as Beorn? It'd be interesting to see him play a good guy for once. ![]() EDIT: My 1,000th post! ![]()
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Nolite te bastardes carborundorum |
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#27 |
Flame of the Ainulindalë
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Congrats Brinniel for the milestone!
Otherwise I'm afraid that Macalaure is right. The party is most economically carried to Mirkwood by the eagles and Beorn can be written off from the battle... Sadly so. But it could make also a fine action-movieish (?) introduction to show Beorn shifting shape in an introductory action-scene! It would just require lots of explanations afterwards and an action movie would not bear (sic!) that... ![]() Why I speak of an action movie? Well it's not going to be a Bergman-drama anyway... ![]()
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Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet... |
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#28 | |
Fading Fëanorion
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: into the flood again
Posts: 2,911
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![]() Besides, I'm seconding Lalaith on Vinnie Jones. |
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#29 | |
Wight
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#30 | |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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Originally posted by FeRaL sHaDoW
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Good Lord NO! And I have noticed a spelling mistake. I meant "wary" not "weary".
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"I am, I fear, a most unsatisfactory person."
- (Letter #124 To Sir Stanley Unwin) |
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#31 |
Wight
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he would be a good beorn he might even put in the "ill be back" somewhere in the movie
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God created night, but man created darkness.... |
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#32 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Muddy-earth
Posts: 1,297
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If Peter Jackson makes the film watch out for Bjorn the Bare leader of a nudist colony.
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[B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER. |
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#33 |
Fair and Cold
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Vinnie Jones is fabulous.
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~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~ |
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#34 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: England
Posts: 96
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Can he actually act?
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Remember, stranger, passing by: As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you shall be. Prepare thyself to follow me. |
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#35 |
Fading Fëanorion
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: into the flood again
Posts: 2,911
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Can Craig Parker?
![]() I'm being mean, I'm sorry. Seriously though, I don't think you need a Shakespeare-actor for Beorn. It's not like he's that complicated. |
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#36 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: England
Posts: 96
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No but he is quite a deep character being a representation of the awful force of nature in that he is (in my view) equally treacherous and loyal. He'll rip the dwarves apart if he has to, could Vinnie Jones portray this type of person? After watching him very recently in Snatch I'm not too sure
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Remember, stranger, passing by: As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you shall be. Prepare thyself to follow me. |
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#37 |
Wight
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Posts: 111
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Though not a household name, I think that actor Marc Nelson (who is a large man, not to mention an absolute master of dialects) would be perfect! He has a long history in theater (starred with Amanda Plummer in the critically acclaimed "Killer Joe") and more recently was the lead in my own film "The Nuke Brothers."
![]() ![]() --Scott www.myspace.com/sardy
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www.scottchristiancarr.com They passed slowly, and the hobbits could see the starlight glimmering on their hair and in their eyes. |
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#38 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: The Shire (Staffordshire), United Kingdom
Posts: 273
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Like others before me, I'll vote for Brian Blessed acting in the over-the-top style he used in Flash Gordon.
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#39 | |
Corpus Cacophonous
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: A green and pleasant land
Posts: 8,390
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![]() "Gordon's alive!" ![]() Still, while he does rather look the part, I am not sure that "over the top" is what is called for in Beorn's role. I see him as a rather more understared character. So, for me, Brian Blessed would top my list of picks for Tom Bombadil, rather than Beorn. Robbie Coltrane would seem the obvious choice, given his association with the Hagrid role in the Harry Potter films, and I am sure that he would be considered for the role. Stephen Fry is an interesting suggestion. He certainly has the stature, but I am not sure that it is his sort of role. Then again, Beorn in the style of Jeeves or, better still, Oscar Wilde might be interesting ... ![]() What about Stellan Skarsgård? He certainly made an imposing Viking leader in King Arthur. Or even, as was suggested earlier, Ray Winstone - for a bit of a dodgy-but-salt-of-the-earth-geezer-type Beorn. |
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#40 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Party Tree
Posts: 1,042
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Gotta love imdb. Most of the actors suggested I had to look up.
I like the looks of Marc Nelson, Sardy. How about Michael Clarke Duncan. He's a big guy and he can certainly pull off the hospitable yet don't get too comfortable Beorn. I agree though, they probably won't put him in.
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