Casting Season 8

[bishopcruz]

Well, let's pretend that the universe was a perfect place and we got a big budget new Season of Buffy that followed the comics perfectly and actually moved a heck of a lot faster.

In this happy new world we would need to find actors and actresses to play the roles of our newfangled characters.

Characters to cast:

General Voll
Renee
Satsu
Leah
Rowena
Gigi
Roden

Can't think of any other major players. And I'm also running low on acutal ideas, but figured this thread could be fun. So who do you guys think should play these roles?

[KingofCretins]

The strongest I feel about any given character is Lady Genevieve. I think the perfect actress for the part is Lauren Cohan (currently playing Bela on "Supernatural"). She's American born, but educated in Britain, so she had the accent.

Lauren Cohan in formalwear

Lauren Cohan with a very Genevieve-like expression

She's the one, IMO. Heather even said, since I mentioned it, she can picture her when reading the transcripts.

As for Satsu, Stormwreath, on LiveJournal, actually had a poll over this, which has several suggestions. You can see the results here.

I can't think of anything else very clearly. I've thought about Natalia Tena for Leah (she plays Tonks in the Harry Potter movies), but... I dunno. I could see Cillian Murphy as Roden.

[Thomas]

I agree, for Gigi, I could see Lauren Cohen.

Aasha Davis for Renee. Though, she maybe a little young.

For Satsu, I think Gossip Girl's Nan Zhang.

[KingofCretins]

I feel like that idiot who sings the wrong lyrics. Am I the only person reading Season 8 who can't tell that Renee is supposed to be black? I had never even heard it suggested before a couple weeks ago, and re-reading the series, I *still* can't see it. Dark complected, sure, but to look at her I still hadn't ruled out her as caucasian, or perhaps a mixed race child of a causasian and east indian or pakastani. I don't care one way or another, I just feel truly dense if this is supposed to be obvious and I just don't see it.

[bishopcruz]

I feel like that idiot who sings the wrong lyrics. Am I the only person reading Season 8 who can't tell that Renee is supposed to be black? I had never even heard it suggested before a couple weeks ago, and re-reading the series, I *still* can't see it. Dark complected, sure, but to look at her I still hadn't ruled out her as caucasian, or perhaps a mixed race child of a causasian and east indian or pakastani. I don't care one way or another, I just feel truly dense if this is supposed to be obvious and I just don't see it.

Once again KoC, we agree. Especially with the earring in issue 1, I figured she was either native-american, or a big mix of ethnicities, kinda like a female Tiger Woods. I suppose mulatto would be the best term I can think of. I know in the fic I am writing I described her as ethnically ambiguous.

Problem has been finding young actresses. I mean I have a feeling that most of these girls were called from the ages of 12-18 or so. That means the oldest any of the Slayers (Outside of Buffy and Faith) should be is maybe 20.

Though after much searching I may have found the perfect Renee. Megan Echikunwoke. Half Nigerian, with Cherokee blood, a great actress, young, and hey... HOT.

In an evening gown
Face close up

And since I was thinking of 24 I remembered the absolute perfect actor for General Voll. My boy, Powers Boothe

[KingofCretins]

Three proposals for Renee, all with different takes on her ethnicity --

1. Christina Milian ("Man of the House", "Be Cool", "Smallville")

Close-up

Christian Milian photoshoot

2. Noureen Dewulf ("Ocean's Thirteen", "Pledge This")

Close-up

Noureen Dewulf Maxim Photoshoot

3. Lauren London ("This Christmas", "A.T.L.")

Close-up

Lauren London photo-shoot

Right now, I'd say Lauren London and Christina Milian are the best choices.

[bishopcruz]

Interesting, problem with Christina though is after I saw he in 'Love Don't Cost a Thing.' I don't think I could ever take her serious in any role she plays ever again. That movie scarred me.

Part of the problem is that for these photos it's really hard to get someone in a 'Renee' like facial expression. Especially since she kinda does the whole introverted, non-sexy thing. Still having to stick with Megalyn so far though.

Keep em' coming and maybe we can get a poll going.

[KingofCretins]

I'll have to meet you in the middle and say Lauren London. Her close-up and photoshoot picture look most like the scene where Xander talks to Renee in the infirmary in 8.03.

[Weredog]

Gigi:
Whoever that "Supernatural" actress is -- I don't know who she is -- I am calling her agent right now. She pretty is Gigi. Great choice.

Roden:
Rob O'Malley

General Voll:
Corbing Bernsen

Renee:
As for the ethnicity: I thought she was black...

[vampmogs]

I always saw Renee as African American personally

Here is my suggestion for General Voll. I think someone has already stated it before on another thread but I agree with them so I'm posting it again.

General Voll:

Alan Dale

[KingofCretins]

If she's even American, that is. But, I'm willing to defer to the consensus on this, even though I really can't see it. I renew my vote for Lauren London.

Of the General Voll ideas so far, I like Powers Boothe the most, based mostly on how cool he was in "Sin City". Actually, I think Mickey Rourke could work as well.

[vampmogs]

If she's even American, that is. But, I'm willing to defer to the consensus on this, even though I really can't see it. I renew my vote for Lauren London.

Good point. I still can't help but automatically assume anyone who the writers haven't bothered to give a thick accent to is American because the Scoobies are. But really she could have been from anywhere. Though given the name I'd say she is a westerner and the lack of a distinctive accent kind of makes me think American.

[KingofCretins]

So far, I'm convinced by Lauren Cohan and, personally, Lauren London. For Satsu, I could also see Ziyi Zhang -- she's played a japanese character already, and she would undoubtedly be great for fanart because of her martial arts roles. Purely on a fan art level, it would almost have to be Ziyi Zhang or Devon Aoki.

[bishopcruz]

Gah, Devon Aoki is a decided no on my part. She really doesn't have the look for Satsu at all. Just because she is half Japanese she always shows up in polls for Japanese characters.

So far I'll say Ms. Zhang has the look for Satsu. Powers Boothe as Voll for a certainty. As for Renee, KoC and I are probably going to butt heads on this but I really still like Megalyn Echikunwoke, that shot in the formal gown just does it for me.

My only concern with Lauren Cohen, is that she might look a bit too old, even though she does have an awesome Gigi expression.

[KingofCretins]

Ziyi Zhang works for me... you decide. Is this Satsu? In a perfect world, there'd be a japanese actress who just jumped out to everyone, but, Ziyi can definitely sell Slayer.

I think our disagreement over Renee is going to continue, since I just think Lauren London is better looking

Actually, on further consideration of Megalyn's pictures, she's just fine for Renee.

I don't think Lauren Cohan looks too old -- Alyson Hannigan started playing Willow when she was 23; I think Lauren Cohan can pull off 19 years old at age 25

[bishopcruz]

I'll try to hunt down some other pictures of Lauren Cohen, where she seems to look younger than in those pics you put up (where she appears older than her age.) and I can dig it. Those pics made me think she was in her 30s for some reason. So I'll sign off on her.

Zyi Zhang probably has the look better than anyone, so barring finding anyone better. I can sign off on her as well.

[KingofCretins]

Lauren Cohan has a good profile picture on her IMDb page, that should convince you.

Compare it to the last page panel of 8.07 and the first few pages of 8.08, and you'll see that she is Lady Genevieve to the very life.

I feel good about Genevieve and Renee now, I'm going to work on Leah. Still not convinced about Satsu -- did any of the women on Stormwreath's poll work for you?

[Thomas]

For Leah, I could see Stacey Farber. She's only 20.

[KingofCretins]

I like her, but I've been trying to find someone who seems a bit... wiser. Leah has given off this kind of mature, sardonic sort of vibe so far. Kinda like Laura Prepon when "That 70s Show" started, maybe.

I wonder if we could just take Shannon Woodward's hair and photoshop it red

[Thomas]

For Rowena, there's an actress named Lisa Pace. In her IMDb profile, she has red hair, but she's blond now.