Let's cast the stars of "Defending Jacob!"

[Mark]

What about David Duchovny?

[Plop]

Andy - John Schneider, Leonardo Dicaprio, Kevin Costner, Russel Crowe

Laurie - Judy Foster

Jonathan Klein - Ed Harris

Paul Duffy - Hugh Laurie

[Sandra]

well, I think movie is gonna be great with great actors to play the lead. good job Warners

[Lisa]

One of the top 10 books I read in 2013 - loved this!

Still no buzz on a release or any actors who have been cast.

Andy is hard to pick. Really hard.

I also think Jennifer Aniston could be great as Laurie.

And I love Paul Giamatti as Loguidice. Fantastic.

Taylor Lautner would be great as Jacob. He's moody enough.

And I agree - Jon Voight as Billy Barber.

[Lisa]

I think Shawn Ashmore would be a perfect Jacob.
I picture Andy as tall, slender and light brown to blondish hair. Bryan Cranston would be perfect. Ewan McGregor? Liam Neeson?
Laurie--Julianne Moore would be excellent. Or Jennifer Garner?

[Mark]

Bryan Cranston is one of better ideas I've heard yet

[Kim]

I loved this book so much that I think the characters should be carefully selected with well known actors. My thoughts are

Andy..Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Russel Crow

Laurie.. Ashley Judd, Jodie Foster, Julianne Moore

Jacob...Chandler Riggs (from the Walking Dead), Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel)

Jonathan...Michael Douglas

[Highlandbird]

julianna margulies for the wife

[Diane]

Andy - Tim Robbins ................Laurie - Helen Hunt or Laura Linney....................Bloody Billy - Billy Bob Thornton

[Lobstergirl]

Linda wrote: "Most of the suggestions for the parents are too old. They would be in their 30s, not 40s or 50s."

No, they are around 50.

[Lobstergirl]

Abby wrote: "Andy: Greg Kinnear
Laurie: Keri Russell or Betsy Brandt
Father O'Leary: Jon Voight (agree he is killing it on Ray Donovan) or Jonathan Banks
Paul Duffy: Clive Owen
Loguidice: Paul Giamatti
Lynn (DA..."

Keri Russell would have to put on so much aging makeup. Laurie was already in her late 40s, and her appearance aged during the trial, she had baggy eyes and saggy breasts.

[Lobstergirl]

Mark wrote: "What about David Duchovny?"

I like it. He would be able to walk that line between initially likeable but then verging on morally failed.

[Lobstergirl]

Taylor Lautner is 22. Jacob is 14.

[Lobstergirl]

To be true to the text, Laurie has to look at least a little Jewish. Her hair is often frizzed. I don't think any of these waspy women like Helen Hunt or Laura Linney or Julianne Moore are going to fit the bill.

I'd look for someone more like Rita Wilson, although she's too old (57), Laurie should look around 50. Rita Wilson is half Greek, half Bulgarian.

The picture I had in my mind was more along the lines of Susie Essman, who was on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

[Lobstergirl]

The person I had in my mind for Jacob was the same actor who played Kevin in We Need to Talk About Kevin, Ezra Miller. Probably much too old now, but I was picturing someone with dark, sulky good looks.

[Lobstergirl]

Highlandbird wrote: "julianna margulies for the wife"

She's 47, that could definitely work. Give her some frizz and gray streaks in her hair.

[Debbie]

Jim Caviezel and Laura Dern.

[Sharon]

andy should be Gary Sinese

[Mariah]

I really like Gary Sinese that's an interesting choice. I also thought of Laura Dern when I read this novel as Laurie. I think those are probably my pick. As for Jacob.. that's a lot harder for me to predict.

[Sharon]

laura dern is spot on

[Val]

Jacob-Miles Heizer =perfect
Bloody Billy-Billy Bob Thornton
Andy-Liam Neeson
Laurie-Diane Lane
Paul Duffy-John Torturro

[Genn]

Jennifer Anniston and Daniel Craig- Laurie /ANdy
Christopher McDonald- Loguidice
Denofrio- Bloody Billy
Michael Rapport- Duffy
Joe Pesci or Bruce Willis- Father O'Leary
Asa Butterfield- Jacob

[Val]

Lisat wrote: "One of the top 10 books I read in 2013 - loved this!

Still no buzz on a release or any actors who have been cast.

Andy is hard to pick. Really hard.

I also think Jennifer Aniston could be gre..."


Shawn Ashmore is 35, Jacob was a teen. Don't think that would work. Do you?

[Katie]

I saw Aaron Eckhart as Andy and Mary Louise Parker as Laurie the entire time. They both kind of give off that naive sweet suburban vibe if you ask me.

[Liza]

Anna Gunn as Laurie!!

[Mariah]

Actually Anna gunn as Laurie would be a great idea!

[Sean]

Andy- Christopher Meloni

Laurie- Laura Dern

Jacob- Asa Butterfield

Father O'Leary- Jack Nicholson

Loguidice- PJ Byrne


Bloody Billy- Bill Murray/Robert De Niro

Patz- Stanley Tucci/ creepier Will Sasso

Judge French- Neil Patrick Harris/ Matthew McConaughey

[Anna]

Andy Barber: Liam Neeson or Liev Schreiber
Laurie Barber: Annabeth Gish or Diane Lane
Jacob Barber: Freddie Highmore
Neal Logiudice: Oliver Platt
Jonathan Klein: David Strathairn
Leonard Patz: Pruitt Taylor Vince
Bloody Billy Barber: Robert Duvall
Paul Duffy: Jeremy Piven
Elizabeth Vogel (Psychiatrist): Mary Steenburgen
Lynn Canavan (D.A.): Jeanne Tripplehorn
Hope Connors: Elle Fanning
Ben Rifkin: Logan Lerman
Derek Yoo: Kevin Wu

[Lucy]

Why has no one said George Clooney for Andy? From the first page that's who I pictured. And I also had Laura Linney in my head as Laurie. For Jacob I thought about Tye Sheridan who was in Mud and is going to play Ben Day in Dark Places.

[Anna]

I thought Laurie was described as a petite brunette, so I kept thinking Annabeth Gish or Diane Lane. Did I read that wrong?? Was Laurie a tall blonde?

I was thinking Liam Neeson or Liev Schreiber as Andy. He was described as a tall, hulking man.

Didn't know Dark Places was being made in to a movie. When is that supposed to come out?

[Mona]

Laurie was definitely not a tall blonde! I like your choices but as we know by now, author's portrayal does not always translate authentically to film.

[Anna]

Thanks for confirming about Laurie Barber. I've seen several threads listing Laura Dern, Laura Linney or Anna Gunn as casting choices for Laurie, who are all tall blondes.

[Andy]

Andy - Mark Ruffalo (best guy)

Laurie - Annette Bening

Bloody Bill - Jack Nicholson (OF COURSE!)

Paul Duffy - Gary Oldman

Loguidice - Ralph Fiennes

[Mariah]

Annette banning is another good choicw

[AJ]

Elizabeth wrote: "I just finished this book tonight. I agree with most of these castings.

Patton Oswalt: Logiudice - Yes.
Ed O'Neill - Bloody Billy - Yes.
Jacob - what about Taylor Lautner? I read Nicholas Hoult..."


YES TO JULIANNE MOORE!

[Matthew]

Andy Barber: Tom Selleck
Laurie: Courtney Cox or Mary Steenburgen
Jacob: Chandler Riggs
Klein: Michael Kelly
Logiduce: Patton Oswalt
Bloody Barber: Hulk Hogan
Mr. Rifkin: Clark Carmichael

[Jeff]

Jeff wrote: "Laurie: Annette Bening. But there's someone better, I can't think of her name... middle aged actress, narrow face, long straight dark brown hair, thin build... Agh, Bening for now.

Replying to my own comment here... The woman I was thinking of for Laurie was Catherine Keener!! I think she fits the description better than Annette Bening. I think Keener would be perfect. At 56 yrs old, she can easily be made to look 10-15 years younger if needed (though I don't think that's necessary for Laurie).

[Harold]

Anna wrote: "Andy Barber: Liam Neeson or Liev Schreiber
Laurie Barber: Annabeth Gish or Diane Lane
Jacob Barber: Freddie Highmore
Neal Logiudice: Oliver Platt
Jonathan Klein: David Strathairn
Leonard Patz: Pr..."
Great job-you're hired

[Catherine]

I always picture Tom Hanks as Andy when I read this book

[Catherine]

Matthew wrote: "Andy Barber: Tom Selleck
Laurie: Courtney Cox or Mary Steenburgen
Jacob: Chandler Riggs
Klein: Michael Kelly
Logiduce: Patton Oswalt
Bloody Barber: Hulk Hogan
Mr. Rifkin: Clark Carmichael"
Agreed on Chandler Riggs as Jacob!

[Mona]

Thanks, Jeff, for mentioning Catherine Keener...although I definitely think I prefer Annette Bening. At this point, wish there was more to report from Steve Kloves (director) or Mary Parent (producer).

[[deleted user]]

I dislike almost all of the suggestions for Andy and Jacob so I'm going to post my own

Andy : Patrick Dempsey , John Slattery, or Jason Lewis

Jacob: Asa Butterfield ( but the suggestion of Logan Lerman was good too)

Sarah: i want to play her role XD

Jonathan Klein: Can be john Slattery if he doesn't get Andy's role

Billy Barber: Michael Massee

Laurie: Michelle Pfeiffer ( i really can't stand Laurie though)

[Fred]

This is a great book. Any updates on when a movie would be produced & ready for the theaters?

[Mona]

Update!
Spoke (via email) to author William Landay today...here's the latest:

The option with Disruption/Warner Bros. expired last fall, and Defending Jacob was just picked up by the production company that created "True Detective" for HBO, and it will be developed as a TV series, if all goes well. Fingers crossed.

Landay said he loved the Robbins/Bening casting, but, in his words, "we may need their younger contemporary equivalents now."

Thoughts?

[Harold]

Thanks for following up. I think Robbins and Benning are far too old for the parts. I'm disappointed that it will be a pay for TV series rather than a major feature film. On the other hand, it may be 10 episodes so that's welcome news.

[Jeff]

Haha, thanks for sharing, Mona. That is good to hear.

[Mona]

FINALLY. Ironically, I don't have Apple TV. Did anyone pick this cast? Maybe some enterprising researcher will check! 😄 https://g.co/kgs/gzKnUK

[Mona]

https://collider.com/chris-evans-defe...

[Mona]

Actor JK Simmons plays Jacob’s grandfather, Billy Barber, a convicted murderer and rapist who offers some wisdom to his son Andy after he visits him in prison.

[Mona]

Hint: Captain America and Lady Mary Crawley clinch the lead roles!