By now, you know that there is a live action movie based on the 80's cartoon "Transformers" but did you know that there is also a "Voltron" flick in the works as well? Yeah, I'm not too happy about the idea myself as I'm sure it's going to suck... but it begs the question, "Where the hell is the Thundercats movie?"
Yeah, you heard me, I said Thundercats movie. How can you make the other two and not this one? Not that I'm really championing this movie being made [because I'm sure it would be done all wrong and suck out loud] but I'm kinda suprised that Thundercats hasn't been added in the lineup of possible live action flicks to be optioned once Transformers got the green light. I mean even at it's core it has the makings of a great action flick... last vestiges of a species from a dying planet take to outter space in hopes of finding a new home. [Superman, but with more people!] Once they land on the new planet, they are saddened to learn that the elder of the group/tribe has not survived the journey. The elder however is available to them in spirit form when needed, [like Obi Wan Kanobi in Star Wars V] to give guidance to the younger members. Throw in the Adam and Eve thing since there is only one female to build up sexual tension and a new mortal enemy on the new home planet, and you have the beginnings of a good screenplay.
It just didn't make sense to me, so I started looking around ye olde interweb [which, as you know, is a series of tubes] to see if a Thundercats movie has ever been in the works and I have to say that I was surprised at what I found. Someone put in a bunch of effort to create a movie poster for a Thundercats movie that featured Mathew McConnaughey as Liono, Ed Harris as Mumm-Ra, Tea Leoni as Cheetara, Wesley Snipes as Panthro, and David Carradine as Tygra. "WOW!" says I, just wow. It's obviously bunk, but impressive bunk in any case... except with the casting of Tea Leoni as Cheetara. Cheetara is a character with gravitas in both her mannerisms and voice... gravitas that Ms. Leoni just doesn't have. Even after looking at the impossible lineup I might have been able to be convinced that this was a plausible flick, but the press release gives away the joke. The fact that the movie was slated for 98' but was held up because they were trying to fight an "NC-17" rating made me spit my soda out of my mouth for all the laughter that was welling up inside. It did get me thinking though, if I did get my secret wish and a Thundercats live action movie was to be made, who would I cast in the kitty roles? Right off the bat I'd cast Michael Clark Duncan as Panthro. He's used to live action [remember that Daredevil movie?] and has the right build and voice for the character. Then there is Tygra. Tygra is kinda hot, but also quite brilliant... like rocket scientist brilliant. Whoever gets this role has to be able to pull this off, so I'd pick Hugo Weaving. [agent Smith from the "Matrix" movie.] For Cheetara I find myself going back and forth on this one. My gut tells me that Angela Basset is the right choice for the job [you know, the gravitas thing] but a small piece of me would like to see singer Ciara try it out. That girl is FLEXIBLE! As the twins I would cast Haley Joel Osment and Hayden Panettiere. [That's "Sixth Sense" boy and "Heroes" cheerleader girl] Snarf would be CGI with mocap by Andy Serkis. Jaga, the elder would have to be Christopher Lee, which leaves me with Liono. And this was tough. Very, very tough. I first started leaning towards that good lookin kid from the "O.C." the blond one [because Liono is really a kid in a mans body having to grow up] but decided on Marton Csokas because he has the chops and the body build to do it.
There's my cast. What's yours?
Labels: Casting-Call, Movie, Thundercats, TV
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