Casting Call #1: The Sandman

I remember, in grade school and high school, reading a magazine (Wizard ata) that sometimes featured a bit where they would cast a movie they would want to see made (the movie was usually based on one comic book or another). Since I always thought it was a cool exercise, thinking of actors to play certain parts, and since now, I have somewhere to publish my opinions, I decided to make my own bit.

As you can see in the title of this post, my current “wish movie” is the Sandman. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Sandman (meron pa ba?), it’s a graphic novel by writer Neil Gaiman (Stardust, Neverwhere, American Gods) which focuses on Dream/Morpheus and his quest to find meaning to his existence (this is what I think anyways). He is a member of the Endless, seven siblings who have existed since the beginning of time, each of them embodies one thing that makes humans human. So below is a “casting call” for the Endless. I would’ve liked to “cast” more of the characters (daming cool characters sa series na ‘to e.g. The Corinthian, Cain, Abel etc…), but doing so would take too much of my time (and my time is very valuable… ha!).


Movie: The Sandman

Director: Tim Burton
-Tim Burton is the obvious choice, his style and aesthetic fits perfectly with The Sandman’s often times, dark and surreal world. I think Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins) would do a good job too.

Dream/Morpheus: Johnny Depp
-I think he’s the only one who can play Dream. Johnny Depp can play stoic characters like Edward Scissorhands, he can be introspective like his character in Sleepy Hollow he can be savvy-cool like Jack Sparrow or weird like Willy Wonka. He has enough range to play the often times unpredictable Dream. Plus, if Tim Burton is aboard, you gotta have Johnny Depp right!? They go together like bread and butter, like lamb and tuna fish!

Destiny: Christopher Lee
-He played the White Wizard Saruman, Count Dracula, Count Dookoo and most recently Willi Wonka’s dentist dad. How hard could it be to play a guy in friar’s robes who mostly just stands around looking cool? In fact, almost anyone can play Destiny. I just chose Christopher Lee ‘cause he’s in 2 Tim Burton movies this year (Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride). If he doesn’t want the role, you could always get the guy who plays Darth Sidious/ Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars Movies…

Death: Keira Knightley
-Death is almost everyone’s favorite character in the series, kaya tingin ko marami ang ‘di mag-a agree sa choice ko. Why Keira Knightley? Why not? Dye her hair black and make it curly. Make her skin pale. Give her the outfit; Black Sleeveless top, leather pants and boots, the ankh necklace and that cute cooky top hat. Finally, give her the henna-like-design tattoo under her left eye and you got the perfect Death! Plus Keira Knightley is totally hot (I love her cute English accent too)!

Destruction: Triple H
-Who better to play a muscle bound, long haired, bearded man than a wrestler? Triple H looks the part! Since he’s a wrestler, he can most probably act decent enough too (Triple H was in the movie Blade Trinity, didn’t watch the movie though ‘cause a lot of people said it sucked big time).

Desire: The chick that played Angel Gabriel in Constantine
-Dammit! I forgot her name! But the girl (she also plays the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia) who played the androgynous Angel Gabriel in Constantine seems perfect. I’ve never been a fan of how Desire looks in the comic book. She/He has never looked… umm “Desirous”. If you have a name like Desire, you should be totally hot right? Oh well Rockwell.

Despair: CG character voiced by Helena Bonham Carter
-Despair is a little gray, obese woman with lots of scars (plus she practically has nothing on). I think using a real live actor to play her would be super gross! Go the Gollum/Smeagol route to get a faithful adaptation of Despair. Why is she voiced by Helena Bonham Carter? Uhh… because Tim Burton is directing the movie and he probably can’t resist casting his real life wifey.

Delirium: Dakota Fanning
-I know she’s probably too young to play this role, but Hollywood movie magic can rectify this problem. Aside from her age, I think she has what it takes as an actress to play the crazy-insane Delirium.