Eddie Red-maybe

[birdsofshore]

So, what do we think about Eddie Redmayne apparently being confirmed in the role of Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts film?



If you're not sure who he is, he's a British actor who recently won a lot of awards for his role as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.

Personally, I think I'm fairly happy about it.

[Poll #2011357][Poll #2011357]

Is there a different actor you hoped would star in the film? Let me know all of your thoughts in the comments, please!

Comments

[this-bloody-cat.livejournal.com]

Who is this person even? Should I know this person? Because I don't think I do, but then, I'm terrible at recognising the faces of people I've met before so, er. I don't know? D:

[birdsofshore]

Ah, he's pretty well known in the UK for his role as Stephen Hawking, but I'm guessing now that film was only big over here. Sorry! I've amended the post with a little info...

[disapparater.livejournal.com]

'Ambivalent' might be a better word for me... i like the freckles, but can't get passed that weird-looking mouth.

[gracerene]

These are my exact thoughts! :D

[lightofdaye]

I'd forgotten this film was coming out until I saw this post...

[birdsofshore]

I'm quite excited! I think he's the only Brit, though? The rest of the characters are American, which will seem a bit funny in an HP story.

[eidheann_writes]

I know nothing about the actor in question? XD I'm useless at this poll, I know.

[birdsofshore]

Sorry, he's quite well-known over here and I didn't realise The Theory of Everything had not gone big in the US. I've put in a brief note in the post now!

[pauraque]

Put me down as another "never heard of him"!

[birdsofshore]

I apologise, I presumed he was known outside the UK but I guess not!

[cabinetcaligari.livejournal.com]

Lalalala exciiiiited! I think he has the right combination of a bit dorky, and eyecandiness.

[birdsofshore]

YES! A bit dorky. That's very appealing. But quite pretty, too *clasps him to bosom*

[lordhellebore]

Ohh, shiny! :) I really liked him in Black Death and The Pillars of the Earth (they really could have done much, much worse with Jack there!), and I definitely have to check him out as Hawking!

[birdsofshore]

I've only seen him as Hawking - he certainly did a good job in that role.

[besamislabios]

I know him from Jupiter Ascending. I've been meaning to watch The Theory of Everything but I haven't yet. I really don't have any strong feelings about him, he's a great actor though.

[birdsofshore]

I've only seen the one film he was in but it seemed apparent he could certainly act. I quite like the fact he's a bit quirky-looking. But in another moment he can look awfully pretty.

[idikehaine.livejournal.com]

I can only decide AFTER seeing him in the role of Newt. Maybe he'll do a terrific job. Maybe not. I saw the movie with him playing Hawking and I loved it :))

[birdsofshore]

Yes, we can only speculate at the moment! Fingers crossed.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hannelore/]

Add me as one who had never heard of him until "The Theory of Everything," but I thought he was pretty amazing in that. He seems distinctively Potter-ish and since we don't really know much about Newt than he wrote a book, I can't say that I really had a picture of him in my head.

[vaysh]

He seems distinctively Potter-ish
That's what I thought. :)

[nia_kantorka]

I know he's won all the big prizes this winter (Oscar included) but as the worst movie watcher ever, I have no clue about his other films beside Hawking.

It's unlikely going to change with that film because I don't care if I'll watch it sooner (at the cinema) or later (at home).

Sorry, I'm no help either. ;p

[birdsofshore]

I'm quite excited about the film in general, and if this is the direction the casting's going in, I feel optimistic.

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

Sigh. I don't know anything about him aside from general musings about him as a Cumberbatch-esque sort of figure - award-winning, feted, celebrated, attractive in a mildly quirky sort of way, and incredibly privileged (as in, same Eton class as Prince William and on to Cambridge type privileged). I don't doubt that he's smart or a good actor or that he'll be fine in the role, so my disappointment isn't really down to him. But in JKR's Pottermore writing about the Quidditch World Cup she described Rolf Scamander as "swarthy," leading to much hopeful speculation on tumblr that Rolf's swarthiness might suggest that Newt, too, was dark-skinned and that FBAWTFT might be a story in the HP verse with a leading man of color at its center. Which would've made sense and been absolutely fascinating in a story set in NYC in the 1920s. Eddie Redmayne is...well, obviously not going to fit that bill, and is sort of the epitome of not fitting that bill. In a movie that's just about bound to do well at the box office, and in a franchise that's had considerable star-making power, and with a script-writer/canon creator who already described member of this family as "swarthy" it's a bit of a bummer to see them ignore the chance to confer all the opportunities being part of this movie would bring on someone like Eddie Redmayne, instead of using it as a chance to help establish an up-and-coming non-white actor. That's got far more to do with my politics than with Eddie Redmayne who, I'm sure, will be fine. But the choice itself has me disappointed.

[birdsofshore]

Gosh, yes, he's awfully white and awfully posh. It would indeed have been awesome to have a POC in the leading role. I hadn't picked that up about Rolf... is it me, or is 'swarthy' a fairly icky way to describe somebody who's black? I would have probably assumed she meant he was tanned and leathery from being out in the sun all day doing his zoology thing.

Anyway, I'm sorry you're disappointed, and I can quite see why.

[gryffindorj.livejournal.com]

As soon as I saw him in My Week With Marilyn I wanted to do him so if we're going off my instant sexual attraction then yes good casting.

If we're going off him being able to act then again good casting. They really do get a lot of good talent for JKR's movies don't they? Now the script, that's where it can go pear shaped. She's writing it though, yeah? It's not a hired screen writer.

[vaysh]

Rowling is writing the script, yes. :)

[vaysh]

I think they have the type – Pretty posh British explorer travelling the world to discover fantastic beasts, reminiscent of Britain's Imperialist past – down pat. I like the actor's looks, there is something endearingly boyish about him, and I've seen a vid that has loads of steaming sex-appeal. It would have been fascinating if Warner Bros had given this chance to make it big in show biz to a black actor but I never expected it from this franchise.

[birdsofshore]

It definitely seems like they're playing it safe by giving the part to someone with his pretty white posh boy credentials. I think he'll do a good job - hopefully a fantastic job...

I know what you mean about endearingly boyish. He's got a lot of charm.

[celestlyn.livejournal.com]

I sort of imagine Matt Smith as having that weird, quirkiness required to play Newt. He wouldn't be a perfect fit if he played him as schizo as the Doctor--that's pretty over-the-top, but he comes closest right now to what I imagine.

[birdsofshore]

I've seen Matt Smith suggested before! I think that would have been a lot of fun. But I've never seen him on the big screen... do you rate him as a film actor?

[chickenpumpkin.livejournal.com]

Wasn't he in Les Mis? Or am I thinking of someone else? Anyway, I agree, a person of color would've been really good here, but I've only ever seen 'swarthy' used to describe white people with ruddy, sort of rough-looking skin. Like a pirate. Or Johnny Depp in a pirate movie.

[birdsofshore]

Yep, he was in Les Mis, I believe!

Swarthy is an odd word. When I looked it up, it does say 'dark-skinned' but I've never thought of it as meaning black.

Thanks for friending me, by the way! I'm just about to friend you back :D

[anemonen.livejournal.com]

I rather liked him in My Week with Marilyn and Les Miserables, and he apparently did a great job in the Stephen Hawking film, so he'd probably do a good job for these too. And I must admit I find him awfully attractive, that boyishness and the freckles.

[capitu]

Didn't he make you think of James Sirius in a way? XD

[snowgall]

My first exposure to him was as Marius in Les Mis, and he was actually very very good. I usually find Marius a bit dull, but he made him work.

Don't really have any opinions on this movie or this casting though, since there really isn't much canon to go off of. It'll be interesting to see what they do!

[birdsofshore]

Yes, JKR had a lot of free rein when she started writing this. I'm guessing that's partly what appealed to her about the project.

I'm definitely excited. Starting to feel like it is coming together nicely if they have people of the calibre of Eddie Redmayne on board.

[capitu]

I'm happy. :D I like the freckles. In fact, I saw him and thought "James!" – the second. So you see, I like him. :D

[birdsofshore]

Your James headcanon and mine are quite different, I think! You ought to do a James post with lots of photos and descriptions and FEELS.

[drarryxlover.livejournal.com]

I love him, he's an incredible actor and deserves accolade for The Theory of Everything, his performance in that was mind blowing.

But I kind of hoped we'd get a relatively unknown actor. I'm sure he'll do it justice though.

[birdsofshore]

I'm really interested to see what he does with the part!

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

I am excited for the movie; I don't really care who plays the lead.

[birdsofshore]

It's good to know it's all going ahead smoothly. I can't wait to see the 'look' of the film.

[notearchiver.livejournal.com]

As I'm not going to see the film, I don't really care. At all.

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

Red(dish) hair and freckles?

I AM SO THERE. :DDD

[nevrafire.livejournal.com]

is this officially confirmed? :/ cause I haven't seen it in any official website. Just that he's the top candidate.

Not that he's who I imagined as Newt (I imagined Martin Freeman based on what the Newt's chocolate frog card looks like--- or matt smith for excentric factor)

But I like Eddie so I'm waiting to see where it goes.

and I Heard that they're casting Newt's wife Porpentina Scamander? If I have to guess She's the POC one.

But I'm so excited! and they need to hurry up Because I Want Newssss! I missed getting Hp movie news! (and more HP stuff to play with- Pottermore is Great but it's taking Foreverrrrr)