Responses to "Imagine there's going to be a Cat Who... movie or television production. You're the casting director; which actors would you choose to play which characters? Cast whichever and as many (or few) characters as you'd like.":

Special Note: There is now an entire mailing list devoted to this topic - send an e-mail to TCWmovie@yahoogroups.com.

Cathy (the one who suggested this poll!)

Kevin Kline as Qwill, Beverly D'angelo (in pulled back bun, powdered a bit? Or, maybe Sally Fields?) as Polly, and I've been racking my brain, but what got me started thinking about this is a thin, older actress, graying, energetic, always wears flats and skirts (very New England type) to play Amanda Goodwinter--if I could just think of her name or one movie in which I've seen her! Arrrgh! She'd be perfect! [Maintainer's note: Does anyone out there know the name of the actress Cathy is describing?] Of course Sean Connery as Brodie (sans ponytail...), Demi Moore as Fran (fix her hair) and Rene Russo as Hixie (or vice versa?), and maybe Dan Aykroyd and Rosie O'Donnell as Arch and Mildred Riker (Bette Midler would be a stitch as either Hixie or Mildred Riker if we could do something about her accent!). I can't think of anyone young enough, nice enough, and short enough to cast as Jr. Goodwinter (anyone know of a young Dustin Hoffman?)--too bad nobody in Moose County is Black--Cuba Gooding Jr. would be great.
In addition:
Michael J. Fox! What a Great Idea! I also adore Kathy Bates, but is she soft enough to interest Quill? What about Glenn Close? Remember her in "The World According to Garp"? Maybe we could forget that Amanda's supposed to be excruciatingly thin and cast Kathy as Amanda...Sam Elliot was my second choice for Qwill, only because I think Kevin Kline has a better sense of humor...and what about Derek and Elizabeth? Is there anyone TALL enough to play him? Maybe Jodie Foster as Liz?

Rebecca (site maintainer)

I myself probably would have to go with Eric Braeden out of the popular choices. While I haven't seen him on The Young and the Restless, I have seen him on Politically Incorrect, and he seems to have the assurance, intelligence, and good-natured wit to come off as an effective Qwilleran.
Concerning Junior - I love Cathy's suggestion of Cuba Gooding Jr. - he has just the personality for it. If we can't get Cuba, though, how about Bruce Harwood, the actor who plays Byers on The X-Files? (If you watch The X-Files (and God help you if you have lately, the sixth season has stunk so), you've probably actually unknowingly seen the man but don't know whom I'm talking about. Byers is one of the Lone Gunmen, Mulder's trio of paranoid tech-head friends who publish a conspiracy newsletter. Byers is the red-haired one in the suit.) Junior's tact of trying to grow a beard to appear older but still looking like a boy definitely applies to Harwood, and I think the actor has the combination of alertness, sensitivity, and gee-whizness to pull it off.

Loreli

I don't have any picks for actors to play in a Cat Who movie/t.v.series. I wouldn't want to see a movie/t.v. show of the series. I'd rather just picture them the way I do from reading the books. Every time I see a movie or t.v. program from my favorite books I am disappointed. Although I think my siamese Kooky would be good for the part of Koko!

Leslie

The perfect Qwill would be Sam Elliot. He already has the mustache and the soulful eyes. I think Polly should be played by Kathy Bates. She has the intelligence and sense of humor for the part. I agree with Dan Akroyd and Rosie O'Donnell as Arch and Mildred. Ellen Burstein would be good as Amanda. She has the character range to cover Amanda's moods.

Donna

I think Michael J. Fox would make a good Jr. Goodwinter.

Ila

How about Tom Selleck as Qwill, Marion Ross as Polly, and Polly Holliday as Amanda? I agree with the suggestion of Dan Aykroyd as Arch, but how about Patricia Richardson as Mildred and Harrison Ford as Brodie? I also think that Michael J. Fox would be good as Junior.

Angel

I agree with Loreli, I don't want to think about a movie or TV show about the Cat Who books. In my humble opinion, there are been extremely few good book-to-movie adaptations. Details get left out, screenwriters often "jazz up" a storyline, and no actor is going to look like the characters in my imagination.
I realize that "casting" for the books is fun, but as I have observed on the Cat Who mailing list, there is no one actor that perfectly fits the bill for everyone. No matter WHO gets cast, there are going to be Cat Who fans that are disappointed with the choices.
Having said that, if a Cat Who movie or TV show came on, I would probably watch it, but I am sure that I would be setting myself up for disappointment.

Carole

I'm a French fan and was thinking of Tom Selleck for Qwill... this moustache, this "allure", well he's Qwill! M. J. Fox would be a perfect Junior but I don't really know the others names you've written. What about the actress of "Murder She Wrote" for Amanda?

Crystal

I'd cast Harrison Ford as Qwill. He's the right age, athletic and action-oriented, and would look great in a Macdowell mustache. Can't think of an appropriate Polly, but Helen Mirren would be a perfect Amanda G.

Greg

Qwill-Tom Skerrit
Arch Riker-Gene Hackman
Amanda Goodwinter- Glenn Close
Hixie- Peri Gilpin (Roz, from Frasier)
Junior-Woody Harrelson
Chief Brodie-Brian Dennehy
Fran-Jodie Foster
Iris-Marion Ross

MasterCat

Two words: Roger Moore.
Does anybody remember Moore when he was Bond? Add a mustache the color of his hair, droop the eyes a little, make the head a little wider, and PRESTO! Instant Qwill! Also, Arch Riker: Steve Martin. Fran: Gillian Anderson with The Mighty hairdo. Celia: Demi Moore.

Mousecatcher

Ouch. I would have to add my sentiments to those who say they don't want to see a visual production. I have such clear pictures in my mind of what they are like. If I had to choose; Sean Connery might make a good Qwill, even though he is a wee bit too old now. Dyan Cannon or Goldie Hawn (dressing down) as Polly. Richard Belzer as Arch Riker. Gary Oldman for Junior Goodwinter.

Peggy

Qwill: Tom Selleck
Polly: Susan Sarandon
Mildred: Kathy Bates
Decided not to finish as no one could be any of those characters as they are each in our own mind and hearts. The books are so special I don't think any movie would do them justice.

Bill

Qwill=Kevin Kline
Polly=Sally Field
Amanda Goodwinter--Jessica Tandy or Angela Lansbury
Brodie=Michael Douglas
Fran -Demi Moore-I agree with Cathy here
Iris - Whoopi Goldberg (only kidding) Julia Roberts
Arch =Dan Aykroyd and Rosie O'Donnell as Mildred
Junior=Michael J. Fox
Celia= Marion Ross
These are some of my choices. Some of them agree with Cathy and others. Some of them are my own original.
I also agree with some of the other people that I movie or a series might ruin my own perception of what the characters look like.

LBoese

I would like to respond to the poll about which actors should play which characters in the book. I put in my vote for Tom Selleck as Qwilleran and Diane Keaton as Polly.

Daphne H.

In my mind, Tom Selleck IS Qwill. I keep seeing reruns of Magnum and he would be perfect, second the choice of Diane Keaton as Polly.



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