The guessing which characters Ben Whishaw is playing in Cloud Atlas post

Been meaning to write this post about the casting for Tom Twyker Cloud Atlas film for a while, almost entirely for my own enjoyment but also to put my marker in the sand before full casting details are finally revealed (which can't be long now as filming starts in September).

Among the titbits that have been made public is that Hugo Weaving is playing seven characters and Mr W is playing more than one. What that means for the other actors and whether they will all have multiple roles, I don't know. And if they do have more than one part, will they have one major character and others minor or more than one biggie? Lots of questions. But anyway, this is what I reckon for the moment.

For Ben Whishaw in order of likelihood:

Robert Frobisher - the bi-sexual musician. When I was reading the book it's the first character that screamed Mr W at me. Adding further evidence to the case is this recent interview in which he says he's learning to play the piano for the film.

Adam Ewing - the young solicitor on a voyage with Henry Goose in the first story.

Archivist - a bit of a curve ball because that story is set in a futuristic Korea and we know that Somni 451 is being played by Doona Bae, although Natalie Portman was originally cast before dropping out when she got pregnant.

Zachary - this is more wishful thinking because I think he's a little too old to play him

Isaac - the young worker at Seaboard who Sixsmith was a bit of a mentor to.

Hugo Weaving:

Old Georgie (he'd make a great devil), Reverend Horrox, Bill Smoke - I know that is only three but I'm still pondering on the others. In the Robert Frobisher story he could play one of the visiting musicians or the man Robert sells books to perhaps.

Susan Sarandon:

Mrs Latham & Abbess

Jim Broadbent:

Vyvyan Ayrs and Timothy Cavendish (when I was reading the book I couldn't get the image of Mark Gatiss out of my head for playing his brother Denholm)

Tom Hanks:

We know he's playing Dr Henry Goose but what about also playing someone like Albert Grimaldi CEO of Seaboard?

And that's all I've got for the moment but will add if and when others occur.

Comments

[Rev Stan]

I think he's too old to play Adam Ewing and IMDb has Tom Hanks as playing Dr Henry Goose http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/ which is a better fit I think.

[Jauntystreams]

I thought I read that Tom Hanks was playing Adam Ewing.

[Rev Stan]

Hi Jessica, thanks very much for the comment. I'm greedy and want to see him in as many parts as possible!
You are right about Zachry and Twyker I'm sure Ben could pull it off and I've got my fingers crossed too.
He's already proved his skill at playing different characters in the same project in The Pride. He was able to switch between the different physical and emotional personas of the two characters effortlessly.
He could of course be popping up in relatively small roles throughout Cloud Atlas as well as having a larger part of two. I'm really hoping more info comes out soon.

[Jessica Allen]

I'd love to see Ben Whishaw in at least two major parts, and especially as Zachry. He may be a little old, but I think he could make himself convincingly young enough. He really is still very boyish. And Twyker knows he how well he can play a man who has been partially (or differently) civilized. Also, of the cast already assembled, could any of the others do Zachry? I'm keeping my fingers crossed. (By the way, I love your blogs.)