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OT: Who Would You Like to See Play the Role of Dagny Taggart in “Atlas Shrugged?”
By JLP | April 2, 2009
It looks like they finally might be making a movie based on Ayn Rand’s book, Atlas Shrugged
Angelina Jolie
Charlize Theron
Julia Roberts
Anne Hathaway
Angelina Jolie is supposedly the front-runner but I think I’d rather see the part go to Chalize Theron or Anne Hathaway.
I know it’s a silly question, but who would you pick? Most important of all: would you go see it?
It’s Friday…let’s have a little fun.
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Topics: Question of the Day | 20 Comments »
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:28 am
*cough* Dagny *cough*
Before the haters truly come out in force. Feel free to delete the comment once it’s fixed. >.>
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:13 am
Erica,
Thanks for the catch. That’s what I get for posting so late at night.
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:03 am
Anne Hathaway just doesn’t seem sassy enough. I’d with Angelina Jolie. Or add Maggie Gyllenhaal to the list.
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:13 am
Definitely not Julia Roberts…
I like Angelina Jolie in that part… but it makes me think of the other actors to play certain roles… like Antonio Banderas as Francisco D’Anconia, Billy Bob Thorton as Hank Rearden, and Brad Pitt as John Gault. I think that is a weird, but fitting makeup for those characters, simply based on Jolie, herself. It freaks me out.
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:16 am
Well, I might see that but I’m not sure about the box office for this movie.
Just see what happenned to other life-like movies around…
Anne Hathaway is too young to play Dagny Taggart. Maybe in a few years.
Julia Roberts would be great in “Erin Brockovich” days, but she wouldn’t be a good choice now. Just watch “Duplicity”.
So, I guess it is mainly between Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron.
Though a good actress, I’m affraid Charlize Theron doesn’t have star power enough to carry the movie by herself.
Producers probably would need to cast a strong male character (they’re always thinking about box office), and that could not be good for Dagny part.
So, in a strong role like this, I guess the best choice of this list is really Angelina Jolie of “Girl, Interrupted” and “A Might Heart”. If she can play Dagny with the same competence, the movie will work. And producers may cast any male actor (Johnny Depp would be a dream) and Dagny will still be there.
This also increases box office chances.
Though one might have some restrictions with Jolie outside action movies, Changeling made > $110 million worldwide (and Changeling is an excellent Eastwood but it is not for everyone).
Outside of this list (is it official?), Jodie Foster would deserve a screen test.
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:29 am
My vote is for Charlize Theron.
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:48 am
The production of this film has been pushed back for years.. I hope it actually gets done. I always feared our country was too dopey or complacent to support this kind of movie.. My how times have changed! I think the country NEEDS this movie now.
I agree with Compounding.. It is like the characters were made to be played by these actors.. Or visa versa (however you spell that).
Dagny Taggart: Angelina Jolie
Hank Reardon: Daniel Day Lewis
Francisco: Antonio Banderas
John Galt: Brad Pitt
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:28 am
I have never read the book, and so couldn’t comment on the best actress for the part. There are a lot of other actresses that could be considered as well.
As for whether I would see the movie, I guess it depends on the reviews.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I do think I heard that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie already bought the rights to this for thier production company. Who knows if they will star in it too.
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I really enjoyed the book, but I don’t know about it as a movie. I mean would you base it in the past? A woman trying to keep her railroad company from going under? To your standard audience who don’t know the book, I see very little interest in this. I don’t even think Angelina can pull this off. Throw in Brad Pitt and maybe.
Why not release the Fountainhead with Brad Pitt playing the main role. That could be successful.
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I hope it’s okay to go off the list because I’d like Cate Blanchett for the part. Nonetheless, I’ve got a BAD feeling about Hollywood touching this project.
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Don’t you think that the potential Dagny Taggart actresses should at least be slightly middle left poltically? I don’t know who, if any, of the actresses you listed would be even close to middle left, much less close to the character Ms Rand envisoned.
April 4th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I’m actually reading the book for the first time, and about two-thirds the way through this intimidatingly-long tome. Very good book this far, though it continues to cement why I’m a conservative and not a libertarian/”objectivist”. Nonetheless, I’m glad I’m reading it.
Not sure how Hollywood can get this into a single movie. This would be an easy movie to water down or otherwise screw up; but I see from the linked article that the Rand estate will be very particular…hopefully.
I like Lisa’s idea of Cate “Galadriel” Blanchett better than any of the alternatives.
April 4th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I agree with Angelina for Dagny, Brad Pitt for John Galt, and Antonio Banderas for Francisco D’Anconia. Dont know about Billy Bob as Rearden though…
April 4th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I think it has the potential to be a very good movie (depending on how the screenplay ends up). If you can get past the soliloquies (sometimes downright ramblings) of Rand, there is a good story to be brought out. If you could get half the A-list actors listed here, it could be great (I would put a strong Jolie as Dagny).
Trying to push the whole story into a film might be difficult–but I will reserve judgment until the film finally (hopefully) beings production and is released.
April 6th, 2009 at 1:39 am
Uugh! None of those ladies, it wouldn’t work (Theron might be able to do it, but she doesn’t have the right look). I vote for:
Tilda Swinton
Cate Blanchett
April 6th, 2009 at 1:45 am
I hope Stephen Soderbergh is directing….
May 14th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Lisa mentioned Cate Blanchett in the role of Dagny. No way! She would be absolutely perfect, however, in the role of Hank Reardon’s wife. Stick straight posture, pale blonde coolness, icy and unfeeling. She would be spot on.
I believe that Keira Knightly would be better as Dagny than all the other women mentioned here. Physically she has the right frame, as well.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:14 am
I think it should be at least a two part movie, but probably three in rapid succession, all released within a year and a half. The breaks would be Reardens trial, and the tunnel disaster or shortly thereafter. There should be few if any big name actors in it, in my opinion. Mostly it should be very good, but little known actors to save the budget for filming and sets. I don’t have a Dagny prospect yet. I really don’t think any of the A-list should do her. Dagny needs to be an exceptional actor, not a “popular” actor. Same with Reardon and D’Anconia. I would love to personally pick Jim Taggart Lillian Rearden, and Wesley Mouch though. Those will be the characters you most love to hate! I agree with those who are little worried about what Hollywood might do to this film, but I think the “Rand” folks who own the rights will be pretty careful with that. Recently read that Ayn Rand wanted Farrah Fawcett to play Dagny. I couldn’t agree less…but what the heck, it was her book.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Big name actors?
Really?
I can’t even express my disgust.
This does not need to be a mainstream movie,
but I think Maggie gylenhall should be Dagny for sure.