The Walking Dead Casting

I would like to thank everyone for being so patient as I spent the better part of this week putting this article together. This Week In Zombies is delayed until Monday but will still reflect the past week. Fear not. I have gone over this list more times than I can count to really be sure of the decisions I have made so let’s get some discussion going.

First up, let me state right up front that this all based on speculation and proposal. I have no idea what AMC has in mind (minus some serious speculation on the casting of Rick Grimes). What I AM doing however, is throwing down some faces that I think would be a perfect match for AMC’s “The Walking Dead” series. I would love to hear what YOUR casting decision would be here. What I DON’T want is for you to cast some 18-bajillion dollar pilot with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise and that sort unless you REALLY believe it possible (financially and otherwise). This is my only turn-off for fantasy casting. All I am going to do is get into the main characters of the first couple of books, not wanting to go TOO deep. But I think this would be a fun little exercise. I will include alternates suggested by other sites that I have found. I am only casting for the roles that really come to me as the cast is actually QUITE massive over the course of the saga. Also, do yourself a favour and shamble on over to our sister site, talkingdeadpodcast.com. There you will find a great podcast run by Chris and Jason as they discuss the upcoming AMC television series based on Robert Kirkman’s “The Walking Dead” comics. I urge you to subscribe, and while you are at it, subscribe to Renerd Radio too. Chris and Jason do a wonderful job on the podcast and if you aren’t listening then you are missing out on some serious nerdabulism.

So here we go.

Rick Grimes is the “hero” of the story, the one whose perspective we see things. Rick was a sheriff before the world went to hell and so he needs to be pretty fit, but I don’t think he can be too traditionally handsome. Rick needs to be a ruggedly handsome cat who looks like he could wrassle a rabid dog if he needed to. I know a couple of people have been suggested as being in the running including Stuart Townsend (whu?) and Jamie Bamber. The third choice, and to me, the CLEAR frontrunner,has to be Mark Pelligrino from Showtime’s Dexter and ABC’s LOST.

MTV Suggests: Peter Krause
UGO Suggests: Justin Kirk

Shane is Rick’s friend in the Sheriff’s Department and the … ahem … protector of Rick’s wife, Lori, and son, Carl. I think Shane should be a very handsome and charismatic actor. He should DEFINITELY be a little prettier than Rick and be able to pull of some serious bouts of rage. In a bizarre twist of fate I honestly believe that no one other than the aforementioned Jamie Bamber would be able to pull of this role without a hitch. He would just have to maintain the Americanese again, which he seems to do quite well. Shane is a bit of a sad character but at the same time part asshole as well.

UGO Suggest: Rob Riggle

Fearhurst, J, and I all unanimously voted on this one. Kate Kelton is so very lovely that we cannot see anyone else filling the shoes of Rick’s lost wife, Lori Grimes. Kelton is a talented actress with a rabid fanbase, and, well, let’s face it, she is O.U.M.O.H.F.A.T.R. And she can shoot. She has the look that seems just right for this sort of role. And look at those eyes. Really. How could you not want her to survive the zombie apocalypse? For the record I tried to find Angry Kate Kelton photos and this was the closest I could come. More Kate Kelton? Yes please! COME ON AMC!

MTV Suggests: Kim Raver
UGO Suggests: Cobie Smulders

There can be only one. Black Dynamite himself Michael Jai White. If you LOOK at White, he just looks like he could impossibly take on a whole gymnasium swarming with the undead. Of course this might put a damper on the Black Dynamite VS. The Undead movie that I wanted to propose but this one works just as well. White can act, he is in INCREDIBLE shape and he looks like he could have been that sort of football star. The sort of endorsements and contracts and all that up the wazoo. I think both he and Mark Pelligrino look like they could have some great chemistry on-screen.

In-a-bizarre-surprise-move-that-is-the-most-imaginitive-everyone-and-their-mother Suggests: Tyrese. Really people? THIS is all you can think of? Sheesh.

Clark Johnson. Here is my reasoning. He can play burly, he is a solid, proven actor, and he is just that damned cool. I think we cannot cast exactly as the drawings and I like the implications of the relationship he gets into with one of the other survivors later on down the road. He looks like he could be a peaceful father figure type of cat. Take a good look and tell me you can’t see him driving an RV, wearing a fishing hat, and toting a rifle on the roof of said RV.

UGO Suggests: Jim Beaver
MTV Suggests: Terry O’Quinn

I have never, for one second, thought of anyone else in this role except for Michelle Rodriguez. I think she has the graveness in her look that can pull off a woman, who, when we first meet her, is leading two zombies out of the woods in chains. Picture a samurai sword strapped to her back and you will see my vision. I know there are those that argue, but I think she can also pull off hot and seductive. She has a great physique for such a demanding role as Michonne is a VERY physical woman and goes through some pretty terrible things (by the same token so does most everyone, cuz … y’know … Coming Zombie Apocalypse that is no longer Coming but actually here.)

What I would love is for everyone to stop saying Zoe Saldana. For the love of pete you are aware that there are other black actors out there right? Sheesh. What’s next? Mo’Nique? Hmmm. wait a sec…

For the role of Tyreese’s daughter I would give it to Jessica Lucas whom you may have seen in “Cloverfield” and on TV in “Melrose Place“. The God’s honest truth is I hope “Melrose Place” dumps her just so she can get on board here. She may be chonologically a little older than expected but she does look very young and that may work in her favour. I think they may even be able to young her up a little. It is TV after all. She could play the daughter of a famous football player couldn’t she?

And really. I just put her here cuz she’s hot.

There I said it. Happy?

I REALLY have to agree with the same choice as MTV for Summer Glau in the role of Andrea. This former dancer turned actor has shown she can tote some serious hardware and look pretty badass not to mention she already has a TON of nerd-cred with roles in the amazing “Firefly” & “Serenity” as well as the now defunct “Terminator” TV show. She can also play vulnerable and sensitive which I think is very important for this role (as bad-ass as Andrea is)

I look at who I chose for Dale and I look at Glau and I think that would be an extremely watchable combination.

Emma Caulfield has got to be the winner for Carol. I think she would be great, she’s right around the same age, she’s saucy, and she’s just a wonderful personality on-screen. I remember seeing her at one of the nerd-fests and thinking how lovely she really is. She even walked past as we recorded a mobile Renerd Radio at Fan Expo last year. She did such an amazing job as “Anya” on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” that she soon became my favourite character. Quite honestly I want to see more of her on the small screen. For the sake of full disclosure I actually had Maria Bello originally cast for this, but after seeing Caulfield it seemed a much more natural fit, although I am sure Bello would also rock it given the opportunity. I stick to my guns though. Caulfield FTW.

Allen, along with his wife Donna have two kids Ben & Billy. They struggle to try and raise their kids in this infested world, and quite honestly Allen is a Dad’s dad (as far as I can remember). Funny story, I actually have an Aunt and Uncle named Allen and Donna. She looks a lot like the Donna in The Walking Dead. It’s a little eerie. At any rate my vote for this role goes to Michael Rooker. I am tired of him playing heavies all the time and would LOVE to see him get a more sympathetic role. I absolutely love it when actors that I am used to playing a particular type on film get cast in unexpected roles and I think this is one that Rooker would knock out of the park given a shot.