Laurie R. King Virtual Book Club discussion

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message 1: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Can't resist thinking about what a great series of mini-series could be created with Mary and Sherlock's adventures. With a nod for any previous posts on this subject (I'm new to the group), I would enjoy hearing member suggestions for actors we'd love to see as Mary and Sherlock ... and supporting cast, too.


message 2: by Cynthia (new)

Cynthia (indigogirl17) | 16 comments what a fun idea! I'll have to think about that.


message 3: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Cynthia wrote: "what a fun idea! I'll have to think about that."

Me, too! Still pondering ...


message 4: by Lenore (new)

Lenore | 1087 comments I've long thought Jeremy Irons would be the perfect Holmes. Russell is much, much harder to cast.


message 5: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Lenore wrote: "I've long thought Jeremy Irons would be the perfect Holmes. Russell is much, much harder to cast."

Excellent choice!


message 6: by Erin (new)

Erin (erin_pettegrew) | 5 comments Hi! I'm a long time lurker but had to jump in. I like Evanna Lynch (Luna from Harry Potter) as Mary. She has that interesting and smart look to her.


message 7: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Wow, I love it! She'd be amazing in this role.


message 8: by Erin (new)

Erin (tangential1) | 1638 comments Mod
Erin wrote: "Hi! I'm a long time lurker but had to jump in. I like Evanna Lynch (Luna from Harry Potter) as Mary. She has that interesting and smart look to her."

Oh! Now that you've mentioned her, Saoirse Ronan totally comes to mind too. And she is a seriously amazing actress too.


message 9: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Another excellent suggestion :)


message 10: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn (carolynclarke) | 10 comments Mary Russell - Hillary Swank (unconventional beauty, can play any age between 19 and 49, but I'm not sure if she is tall enough.

Sherlock Holmes (in this series) - Alan Rickman (sardonic, intelligent looking) or Jeremy Irons

Mycroft Holmes - Stephen Fry or Brian Blessed


message 11: by Laura (new)

Laura Stratton | 241 comments I would like to see Cate Blanchett or Hillary Swenk as Mary. Jeremy Irons as Holmes would be fascinating. But I think Alan Rickman may be too well known as Snape for movie goers to see Holmes.

Is there really going to be a movie or a BBC series or is this just fun speculation??


message 12: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments This is just for fun :) I really like the idea of Alan Rickman for Sherlock and Stephen Fry for Mycroft. Haven't seen Brian Blessed in a role for a while, but have always liked his acting, too.


message 13: by Lenore (new)

Lenore | 1087 comments Laura wrote: "I would like to see Cate Blanchett or Hillary Swenk as Mary. Jeremy Irons as Holmes would be fascinating. But I think Alan Rickman may be too well known as Snape for movie goers to see Holmes...."

Don't mean to be argumentative, but Cate Blanchett, Hilary Swank, and Brian Blessed, as fabulous as they are, are all WAY too old to do these roles.


message 14: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Lenore -- I like your honest assessment! Made me curious, so I checked: Alan Rickman is now 68, Jeremy Irons is 65, Brian Blessed is 75.

I've done some thinking and searching, came up with these casting calls for Sherlock:
Jason Isaacs, age 50
Hugh Laurie, age 54
Daniel Day-Lewis, age 56
Ralph Fiennes, age 50

Mary Russell needs to be believable as a teen and young woman, age 21, for the all-important process and chemistry of falling in love with a Sherlock in his 50s. So far, I'm liking:
Saoirse Ronan, age 20
Evanna Lynch, age 22
Emma Stone, age 25
Anna Sophia Robb, age 20
Gemma Arterton, age 28

Anyone else? This is rather fun!


message 15: by C.P. (last edited May 18, 2014 04:33PM) (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 133 comments Daniel Day-Lewis is always marvelous, as is Ralph Fiennes (and Alan Rickman). Laurie at one point mentioned Patrick Stewart (64) as her ideal Holmes; he would also be very good. Don't forget that makeup can easily take off ten years.

I agree that Russell is harder, not least because she has to be fifteen in Beekeeper's Apprentice. How about Emma Watson?


message 16: by Bridgette (new)

Bridgette (bek1995) I VOLUNTEER TO BY MARY!!!


message 17: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 133 comments Bridgette wrote: "I VOLUNTEER TO BY MARY!!!"

:-D

I would, too, only I look more like Mary's granny, at this point. ;-)


message 18: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn (carolynclarke) | 10 comments I agree on Daniel Day-Lewis would be lovely for Holmes but I think that Mary should be an American. What about Jennifer Lawrence?


message 19: by Lenore (new)

Lenore | 1087 comments Not objecting to Jennifer Lawrence, but with a British mother and having spent a lot of time in England before coming to live there, Russell might well have a British accent, which would only grow from the age of 15. Jenny Sterlin, who reads the audiobooks (fabulously, I might add), has a British accent. So the chosen actress would not really need to be an American, IMHO.


message 20: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn (carolynclarke) | 10 comments Excellent idea. I didn't even think about Jennie Sterling


message 21: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn (carolynclarke) | 10 comments Sterling, I mean. What about the age issue?


message 22: by Carol (new)

Carol Mullane | 16 comments A nifty Stewart/King connection.......a few years ago I went out for breakfast in my very, very small town. Facing me at an adjoining table was Patrick Stewart, reading and enjoying his meal. I tried to appear nonchalant, ordered and began reading as well. As he left, he stopped by my table and said he was glad to see someone else who reads while dining alone. Tucked under his arm was a Laurie King book. I managed a nod and a smile. When I later called for the check, the server told me Stewart had picked up the tab
"for his fellow reader".


message 23: by Lenore (new)

Lenore | 1087 comments Oh, wow! What a great story!!


message 24: by Lenore (new)

Lenore | 1087 comments Carolyn wrote: "Sterling, I mean. What about the age issue?"

Alas, not the right age. But (OT) here's an interesting profile of her: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/narr...


message 25: by Erin (new)

Erin (erin_pettegrew) | 5 comments Oh, with that suggested list of Holmes actors, I'd be very happy to play Mary myself. I'll just shave 20 years and 50 pounds (riiight). Jason Isaacs, yum.

Carol, that's an incredible story. How cool that it was even an LRK book. I don't think I could have remained nonchalant. I'd have done something incredibly inappropriate and immature. Too much of a Next Generation fan to remain in my seat.


TL *Humaning the Best She Can* Carol wrote: "A nifty Stewart/King connection.......a few years ago I went out for breakfast in my very, very small town. Facing me at an adjoining table was Patrick Stewart, reading and enjoying his meal. I t..."

aaw, that's wonderful :)


message 27: by Carol (new)

Carol Mullane | 16 comments Erin wrote: "Oh, with that suggested list of Holmes actors, I'd be very happy to play Mary myself. I'll just shave 20 years and 50 pounds (riiight). Jason Isaacs, yum.

Carol, that's an incredible story. How..."


Erin, since I consider Patrick Stewart one of the sexiest men on the planet, it was probably best that I didn't say anything - it most likely been a cliche or embarrassingly inappropriate. Also the other folks there, though certainly aware, we're giving him his privacy (but quite the buzz when he left).


message 28: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments C.P. wrote: "Daniel Day-Lewis is always marvelous, as is Ralph Fiennes (and Alan Rickman). Laurie at one point mentioned Patrick Stewart (64) as her ideal Holmes; he would also be very good. Don't forget that m..."

Love, love, love Sir Patrick :) I'd also thought of Emma Watson; she's certainly got the acting credentials and looks.
I'm just struggling with the notion of chemistry between the two leads ...


message 29: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Carolyn wrote: "I agree on Daniel Day-Lewis would be lovely for Holmes but I think that Mary should be an American. What about Jennifer Lawrence?"

Now, that's interesting chemistry ;) I do like Jennifer Lawrence's acting chops.


message 30: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Carol wrote: "A nifty Stewart/King connection.......a few years ago I went out for breakfast in my very, very small town. Facing me at an adjoining table was Patrick Stewart, reading and enjoying his meal. I t..."

Sigh .........


message 31: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Lenore wrote: "Not objecting to Jennifer Lawrence, but with a British mother and having spent a lot of time in England before coming to live there, Russell might well have a British accent, which would only grow ..."

Agreeing :) I've got three Americans on my list now.


message 32: by Margaret (new)

Margaret | 128 comments I loved Evanna Lynch as Luna in Harry Potter. I think she probably has the acting ability but is she tall enough? They'd have a problem with Mary's height.
Jeremy Irons gets my vote for Holmes.


message 33: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Margaret wrote: "I loved Evanna Lynch as Luna in Harry Potter. I think she probably has the acting ability but is she tall enough? They'd have a problem with Mary's height.
Jeremy Irons gets my vote for Holmes."


Ah, excellent observation. Worth at least one Sherlock point! Hadn't thought of height, then on a whim looked up Bonnie Wright, who never did have enough lines in her role as Ginny Weasley ... she's a respectable 5'10"

Of course, it's all just fun and fancy, this thread -- in my heart, I prefer the Mary and Sherlock I've imagined through reading King's books.


message 34: by Erin (new)

Erin (tangential1) | 1638 comments Mod
Given that movie magic and camera perspective made Robbie Coltrane look about 10 feet tall in HP, I think they could work around height for Mary ;-)


message 35: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Erin wrote: "Given that movie magic and camera perspective made Robbie Coltrane look about 10 feet tall in HP, I think they could work around height for Mary ;-)"

Funny :)


message 36: by Ermalinda (new)

Ermalinda Horne | 1 comments hmm how about A. Rickman and E. Blunt?


message 37: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Ermalinda wrote: "hmm how about A. Rickman and E. Blunt?"

Both fine actors! Alan Rickman's name pops up often.



message 38: by Bridgette (last edited Jun 04, 2014 09:36PM) (new)

Bridgette (bek1995) C.P. wrote: I would, too, only I look more like Mary's granny, at this point. ;-)


You could be Mary when she's older and writing her books to send to LRK!


message 39: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 133 comments I could go for that! :-)


message 40: by Sandy (new)

Sandy | 11 comments Claire Danes, although she's only 5 feet 5 1/2 inches tall, she's an American actress with the range and fearlessness and intelligence and vulnerability required to embody Mary Russell.


message 41: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Danes -- great suggestion. I'm a fan of her work, too.


message 42: by Erin (last edited Sep 10, 2014 04:35PM) (new)

Erin (tangential1) | 1638 comments Mod
So I just saw a reference to a new Holmes movie out next year (Mr. Holmes) starring Ian McKellen. Ian McKellen! I don't think he'd ever occurred to me as a possible Holmes, but he actually rather looks the part.


message 43: by Bardbooks (new)

Bardbooks | 79 comments Thanks for the heads-up on the new movie. I'll enjoy watching this actor take on the role.


message 44: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn (carolynclarke) | 10 comments Do a search at Wikipedia using "Mr. Holmes" for more info.


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