Question #4: Casting Call!

[[deleted user]]

The film rights to The Illegal have been acquired by Toronto-based Conquering Lion Pictures. If you had your pick of any actors to cast in The Illegal, who would you choose?

[Dana]

I love to play this game when I read books!
Yoyo - Idris Elba (please!)
Keita - Michael B. Jordan
Ivernia - Blythe Danner
Anton Hamm - The Rock
John Falconer - ?
Rocco - Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Lula - Oprah
Viola Hill - Viola Davis (what a coincidence)
Keita's cop girlfriend - Zoe Saldana

[Emily]

Dana wrote: "I love to play this game when I read books!
Yoyo - Idris Elba (please!)
Keita - Michael B. Jordan
Ivernia - Blythe Danner
Anton Hamm - The Rock
John Falconer - ?
Rocco - Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Lula -..."


Oooh, I love these suggestions! And Viola Davis already has the toned Viola Hill arms, that wouldn't even take any extra effort on her part!

[Rocio]

I am not very good at this game because I don't know much about actors or actresses but I would love to see Will Smith as Keita or is he too old for that role?

[Maureen]

Great fun! Perhaps it was just me but I found myself thinking about who should play what while reading the book. Oprah would make a great Lula!

I love Omar Sy and think he'd be great as Keita; Octavia Spenser as Viola; Maggie Smith as Ivernia; Liam Neeson as Rocco; possibly Rico Rodriguez as John Falconer. Lots of wonderful black actors out there, both male and female, hard to choose, but not so easy with child actors.

[Allison]

I'm also not great at this game, Maureen, but I know that Will Smith and Omar Sy are waaayyy too old to play Keita! I love the suggestion for Maggie Smith as Ivernia and Michael B. Jordan for Keita. I imagined someone of smaller stature for Yoyo than Idris Elba, who is somewhat intimidating (but maybe he could be turned into a gentle giant of sorts). And I *love* the idea of Oprah for Lula! Zoe Saldana is also a great pick for the cop girlfriend (somebody help me, what is this character's name?!) ... and I'm going to put Jason Bateman's name out there for the clueless and bumbling character of Rocco.

[Emily]

Here are some more ideas... :)

Keita - John Boyega
Ivernia - Judy Dench
Candace - Lupita Nyong'o

[Allison]

Emily wrote: "Here are some more ideas... :)

Keita - John Boyega
Ivernia - Judy Dench
Candace - Lupita Nyong'o"

Thank you for remembering the cop girlfriend's name, Emily. Candace! I knew it started with a "C" ...I like Lupita for this role as well, and I think she would also be brilliant as either Viola or Charity.

[Susan]

Rocio wrote: "I am not very good at this game because I don't know much about actors or actresses but I would love to see Will Smith as Keita or is he too old for that role?"

I am terrible at this game and am glad to read others' replies. Maybe Will Smith is too old, but what about him as Yoyo and Jaden and Willow Smith as Keita and Charity?? to push the point - maybe Jada Pinkett Smith could be the mother Lena.

[Allison]

Susan wrote: "Rocio wrote: "I am not very good at this game because I don't know much about actors or actresses but I would love to see Will Smith as Keita or is he too old for that role?"

I am terrible at this..."

I think you're onto something here, Susan!

[Dana]

I couldn't remember Candace's name either... I agree Idris Elba would be a bit too big, I just find him so handsome! :)

Rico Rodriguez would be a great John falconer, he is so cute

[Allison]

Dana wrote: "I couldn't remember Candace's name either... I agree Idris Elba would be a bit too big, I just find him so handsome! :)

Rico Rodriguez would be a great John falconer, he is so cute"

I just looked up Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Dana! How could I not know this actor? Can I just say, in my professional librarian opinion ...hubba hubba. :) He's magnificent!

[Susan]

Dana wrote: "I love to play this game when I read books!
Yoyo - Idris Elba (please!)
Keita - Michael B. Jordan
Ivernia - Blythe Danner
Anton Hamm - The Rock
John Falconer - ?
Rocco - Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Lula -..."
Great suggestions, Dana. You're very good at this! I love Oprah for Lula, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan for Keita. I second Allison's sentiments! I would never have thought of Blythe Danner, but I'm not sure if she's old enough to play Ivernia.

As others have stated, I would love to see Lupita Nyong'o in the film, perhaps as Viola or Candace. And the woman who played Aminata in The Book of Negroes, Aunjane Ellis, is so beautiful and talented and could play any number of parts.

[Susan]

We might have found the perfect Keita in Stephan James, a 22-year-old Canadian who is currently starring in Race, the new movie about Jesse Owens. And he's already in great running shape!

[Allison]

Susan wrote: "We might have found the perfect Keita in Stephan James, a 22-year-old Canadian who is currently starring in Race, the new movie about Jesse Owens. And he's already in great running shape!"

Yes, I was thinking the same thing when I heard about this Race movie, Susan!

[Susan]

Allison wrote: "Susan wrote: "We might have found the perfect Keita in Stephan James, a 22-year-old Canadian who is currently starring in Race, the new movie about Jesse Owens. And he's already in great running sh..."

Had the same thought as I saw him interviewed this week.

[Maureen]

Oh, I saw an article about Stephan James in the Star this past weekend and thought the same! This casting call is harder than it looks, so many talented people out there.

[Susan]

Maureen wrote: "Oh, I saw an article about Stephan James in the Star this past weekend and thought the same! This casting call is harder than it looks, so many talented people out there."
So glad to hear, Maureen, given the "Oscars So White" controversy dominating the news right now.