OK, for a while last summer, I tried to come up with Sandman movie castings (the results are at asite if you want to take a gander, alot of the AFNG faithful contributed) its at http://members.tripod.com/sandmanmovie/
(cheap plug!) it hasnt been updated in aaaaaaaages (about a year). ANYHOO....
who would people cast in various roles in AG? My two favourites for very different reasons for Shadow would be a) Benicio Del Toro or B) Vin Diesel. what do you think? Wednesday=Ian McKellen, maybe? or is that to easy?

Alright. This topic has already been introduced, but I'll repeat what I said earlier.
Here is who I pictured as some of the main characters:
Patrick Warburton (Putty from Seinfield) as Shadow
Nicol Williamson (Merlin in 'Excalibur') as Wednsday
Natalie Portman as Sam
Tim Roth as Loki
Michael Ontkean (Sheriff Truman from Twin Peaks) as the Sheriff of Lakeside
Madchen Amick (Shelly from Twin Peaks) as Shadow's wife, Laura
Julianna Marguellies as Marge Olsen
Garrett Morris (from the early seasons of SNL) as Mr. Nancy
Christopher Walken as Czernobog
Max Von Sidow as Odin from the postscript
Sean Bean (006 from Goldeneye) as Mad Sweeney
and of course, James Earl Jones as the voice of the buffalo-headed man, the land itself.
That's all I can think of for now.
Cheers

I always saw Morgan Freeman as Mr. Nancy. I just liked him as quietly sarcastic. Plus thought he'd look funny in yellow rubber gloves.

I saw the other topic-d'oh! a case of post-first-thin-later unfortunately.

I LOVE the idea of Tim Roth as Loki. Another idea (and don't shout me off the board for this) is Jim Carrey. I'm not 100% sold on him, but think he's grown enough as an actor to manage it. whaddya think?

I could see Jim Carrey as Loki. He's shown that he can be low key (no pun intended) in dramatic roles, a la The Truman Show. But I still think Tim Roth is a better pick. That's who I pictured when I read the book.
I don't agree with Morgan Freeman as Aunt Nancy. Nancy is a trickster god, and I just don't picture him being very subtle or subdued, especially if he wears yellow gloves.
Cheers



[This message has been edited by parsival (edited 07-26-2001).]

Shadow- Hugh Jackman
Wednesday- Robert Loggia
Sherriff- Richard Lineback (Lance Harbour's dad in Varsity Blues)

I dont have any other clear ideas about the rest yet. I see faces but dont know any actors/actresses that fit the descriptions.

I couldn't get Vin Diesel as Shadow out of my head as I read AG.

No no no no NO! Why can't anyone see that the only person who can play Wednesday is Rip Torn? I mean really, guys, when you read him saying "M'boy" how can you think of anyone else?

I had Steve Buscemi in my head for Mad Sweeney. I love the idea as Tim Roth for Loki. I actually see Christopher Walkin as Wednesday more than Czernobog. I was imagining someone more like Jerry Stiller as Czernobog for some odd reason. I was also thinking Bebe Neuwirth for Zorya Polunochnaya. And this one's way out there - but I was thinking Cameron Mathison (plays a character named Ryan on All my Children and was one of the topless bartenders in "54") for Shadow. I have no idea why, but he fit that part in my mind (yes, I've spotted that soap opera during dull times. I'll await my stoning now. heh). A lot of the others are still mixing about in my head.

Cool. I think I like Steve Buscemi as Mad Sweeney better than Sean Bean, although he is a little short ofr the part. I could see Jerry Stiller as Czernobog, but I still like Christopher Walken better. I definitely like Bebe Neuwirth as Zorya, with aging makeup (but you probably only thought of it because of Snow, Glass, Apples).
Cheers,
Parsival

Strangely enough, I've never seen Snow, Glass, Apples. That's just kinda spooky now that I see what you're talking about. Must be that she's just one of the few actresses out there that's dark enough to fit his description of Zorya. She just fits the character a little too well. Wonder if maybe that's intentional? Hmmmm.

And now that I've given it thought - Rip Torn is pretty damn funny to imagine as Wednesday. I think that would work.

It just struck me, finally, who would be great as Shadow - Ryan Reynolds (from various movies, more commonly known from "Two Guys and a Girl" sitcom.) For some reason, I keep coming back to him but it took me until today and seeing him in a silly movie to figure out his name.

I picture someone along the lines of Scatman Crothers as Nancy...for some reason I saw him as an older version of Huggie Bear from Baretta. I can't think of a living actor that fits that part, though.

-Merkatroyd

[This message has been edited by merkatroyd (edited 08-04-2001).]

[This message has been edited by merkatroyd (edited 08-04-2001).]

Oh, man, if Scatman Crothers were still alive he would be THE perfect choice for Nancy. For the most part, as I read books, I cast the parts in my head with actors without regard as to whether or not they could be in a movie based on the book.
Parsival

I thought of Wednesday as resembling Stacy Keach.

Christina Ricci as Sam.

Well, what the heck...how about Sean Connery as Wednesday?

Hi everyone! I hope you don't mind me just jumping right in here. I have quite a few ideas on casting a movie of American Gods.

First off, because of the whole nature of Shadow's character, being throughout the story someone who doesn't really know his own self, I think a thus far unknown actor would be best for this part.

I think Anthony Hopkins would make a great Wednesday.

I bet Ossie Davis (he IS still alive, isn't he?) would be incredible as Mr. Nancy. And maybe Gary Oldman as Czernobog, but I'm not so sure of that one.

I think I would like Catherine Zeta-Jones as Zorya Polunochnaya. For Sam, Anna Paquin seems a good choice.

For Mr. World/Loki, I think the perfect choice would be the actor who played The Smoking Man on X-Files, though I don't know that guy's name.

For Mr. Ibis, I wonder if Benicio del Toro might be good. And Lawrence Fishburne as Mr. Jacquel.

I really have no idea who I'd cast as Laura. I can't think of any good actors for her part at this point.

--Matt--

I was picturing Laura as the woman who plays Christopher Titus' wife on the "Titus" show. Obviously, not thinking character acting, just that I think she has the ability to play such a character. Don't know her name, either - only know her as the girl in the Nutri-Grain bar commercial as well as the Titus show.

-Merkatroyd

I think of Laura a little more deadpan and world-wise than the woman on "Titus". I kept getting the picture of the woman on The Sopranos, Edie Falco. She's got that great, steady look in her eyes I always pictured on Laura. Unflinching.

How about Buscemi as Loki?

Kevin Spacey as Wednesday?

Martin Landau as Czernobog...using his raspy Bela Lugosi drawl.

i'd go with rip torn for wednesday, vin diesel for shadow, and ossie davis as mr. nancy.

somehow, i can't imagine natalie portman as lesbian, even if i do think she's a good actress.

what about a dark-haired (like Pump Up the Volume) samantha mathis as sam?

Samantha Mathis has this strange mouth-pout thing she does that drives me insane, not in a good way. Her lips are full, the pouting and lip-thrusting is overkill. That's all I can think about when I see her onscreen. "Quit doing that mouth thing!" I think I'd be too distracted to enjoy her in AG. Am I alone? [crickets chirp, tumbleweed rolls by...]