Serenity Casting (Major Spoilers) No Book!

POSTED BY: outlander
UPDATED: Friday, March 26, 2004 04:35
VIEWED: 20447
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SOUTHERNMERC

Saturday, March 13, 2004 4:50 PM

I just have to say, hogwash.

Upon perusal of the synopsis of each character, it is apparent to me that whomever is responsible for this hasn't REALLY watched Firefly. There are A LOT of inconsistancies with established characters.

The Operative. This guy sounds a bit over-the-top. Not that Joss hasn't used such a character before, but it was pretty obvious what his opinion of such folks were in "The Train Job" (remember Crow, the "I-fit-in-Serenity's-engine-guy?") Still, that doesn't preclude the possibility, so I won't write this guy off.

Mr. Universe. Since when does Mal depend on ANYONE outside the crew of Serenity? Useful contact? Sure. I can buy that, but the "lovebot"? That sounds a bit odd. Again, this guy is possible, but not likely.

Dr. Mathias. Very few characters Joss has made are completely unlikable. Each one has certain qualities that, while they do not redeem them, make them enjoyable to have on-screen. Even Niska was fun to have around. The second thing is, for a program to turn out psychics with MASSIVE fiddling with brain tissue, you wouldn't want just one guy who knew what was going on. You would want lots of people who were competent and able to carry on in the worst case that one is killed or kidnapped. Also, with only one, that one has an overinflated sense of his own worth, so multiple experts would dilute that sense and keep negotiations for "special funding" and the like to a minimum...cause you could always use one of the others. The brain fix on River is DEFINATELY not a one-person job.

Older Companion, Sheydra. Comments about Inara sound out of character. Inara could have left, but it just seems...off. Especially our favorite Companion's opinions. This is a wait and see as well, with reservations.

Dr. Caron. Not enough information. Hologram on a desolate planet? Lot of questions raised. Why would the crew be there? What message would she leave? Why would she leave it? Piques interest, but could easily be a cheap plot device of someone's (not Joss's) concocting.

River Tam at 10. Ok, the "mental powers" bit may throw a few off, but could easily mean her astonishing super-genius (yes, that is a real term folks). Only problem is, well, River displayed NO sypmathy toward the Independants in the flashback during the episode "Safe". She clearly was on the side of the Alliance. Not to say she couldn't have changed her mind (children do that alot), but just sounds fishy.

Young Tough. Wouldn't include such a character in this, except that it points to a MAJOR flaw with this whole document. Namely, WTF are Mal and crew doing a bank heist in the FIRST place??? And Mal would have to have a DAMN pressing reason to bring this guy along. Remember, Simon was allowed to stay ONLY because he could help Kaylee, and Mal would have LOVED to have parted with him except for that same fact. He had to be COERCED into letting him stay. Mal doesn't give trust easily. Nor would Mal pull a BANK JOB. Ok, I can think of a couple of possibilities, but they are EXTREME.

Alliance bank guard. Easily cowed greenhorn, ok I can buy that. But where are the OTHER Alliance personnel? I'm assuming, of course, that if there is one Fed guarding the place, that there are more. What, does Mal gun them down and make good their escape?

In conclusion, this smells fishy. Like three-day-dead fish. Too many inconsistancies with established character traits, too much like a Hollywood Blockbustertm show. Not to say Joss hasn't pulled some crazy things out of his hat and turned cliches on their ear, but this seems anti-Whedon. Hopefully, we will get a real scoop soon. If Joss comes out and says "yup, he got it right!", then I'll believe. Joss is quite the gifted storyteller, I believe he could make all this good. But until then, I will have to say "not likely".

Thoughts, comments? Would love to hear other opinions. Especially detailed ones with words from Joss.

Edited for punctuation, nitpicky me.
Jayne: "How big a room?"

SHINY

Saturday, March 13, 2004 5:22 PM

I don't buy it.

RIVER
Purple elephants are flying.
MAL
Good. Thanks for the update.

TRASK43

Saturday, March 13, 2004 5:41 PM

I do think some of this sound a little unlike Joss (mainly the bank job and the lovebot) I wouldnt discount this completely. Most of the discriptions for the characters are going to be realy obvious and basic as they are aimed at people who dont know the show very well. I also think the story from what we can gather sounds like it would probably start with the bank job to get the audience familiar with the crew and their jobs. Then it would move on the river storyline. Which sounds quite realistic to me. Also we know that the script was changed to allow for the series to return so I think one of the main stories would have had to be pushed to the background and that might explain why theres no reavers being cast.

www.summer-glau.com

SHADOWVESSEL

Saturday, March 13, 2004 7:42 PM

I think I'm gonna stay on a "wait and see" level myself. The bank job doesn't sound right, but they did do a train job so I guess it's not too far off.

I've got a little concern about the Operative. It says "lead" under his description. Does that mean that the story will be told from his point of view or what?

"I'll be in my bunk."

SOWBUG

Saturday, March 13, 2004 7:47 PM

Looks real to me. This movie doesn't start shooting till Summer. The casting they are doing now is for the main characters. Reavers will probably be cast by extras or stunt people. What would the break down be for a reaver?

[REAVER] 18-50 years old. A flesh hungry feral mad man/woman, who rapes his/her victims to death and wears the flesh of his/her victims sewn into his/her clothes. Submit all ethnicities. Two speeches, both unitelligible screaming.

Sowbug

NEROLI

Saturday, March 13, 2004 8:04 PM

Ok, how come at top they say 10 year old River and then in the teachers description they say 12 year old?

And if they are planning on having her Doctor in there wouldn't it make sense to also cast a 14 year old River for flashbacks on that?

TALONPEST

Saturday, March 13, 2004 8:04 PM

Looks to me like they've got too many characters on that for it to be real. Joss has 9 (maybe 10) characters to introduce, so there isn't going to be a huge cast of minor characters. He's too smart to dilute the character development so much.

BLINKER

Saturday, March 13, 2004 9:53 PM

Well, a computer geek named Mr. Universe would fit right into the Jossverse, in the same vein as a tough guy named Jayne and a gorgeous woman named Fred.

Quote:
With accents that sound lower class British, Mingo and Fanty are ... Middlemen who handle stolen goods ... Intent on screwing Mal after his latest bank job goes badly awry

Okay, who's been mass-producing Badger clones, and why?

Quote:
Also. . .LOVE BOT? How completely NON-Joss is THAT?

o/` The Love Bot soon will be making another run
The Love Bot promises something for everyone o/`

_________
Sliders: Gate Haven - http://slidersweb.net/blinker

FOURSKYS

Saturday, March 13, 2004 9:55 PM

Two Questions:

1) Isn't there already an actor to play River at 10? The one they had in the series should be about that age now, don't you think?

2) Does anyone know the source of this Casting Call? I mean, it is off Browncoats.com, but where di they get it from?

DELIA

Saturday, March 13, 2004 10:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sowbug:
[REAVER] 18-50 years old. A flesh hungry feral mad man/woman, who rapes his/her victims to death and wears the flesh of his/her victims sewn into his/her clothes. Submit all ethnicities. Two speeches, both unitelligible screaming.

Sowbug

Thanks, Sowbug. I got a much needed laugh reading your casting call for the reavers.

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