Cast the Legend of Drizzt Movie (should it ever be made) [Archive]

That-Guy

10-28-2004, 03:02 PM

Lately I've really gotten into R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt Do'urden books. Drizzt, for those of you who don't know, is a renegade dark elf set in the fantasy world known as the Forgotten Realms. I doubt it will ever happen, but I personally would love to see a movie based on Drizzt hit theaters. I personally think it would be great if they started from the beginning, doing a film version of the Dark Elf Trilogy, which is the story of Drizzt's beginnings, and possibly Salvatore's best books, but I suppose they could also do the Icewind Dale series as well, as that series introduces a lot of other important characters like Wulfgar and and Artemis Entreri. But anyway, if such films were ever made, who would you cast? Here are some ideas I had:

Drizzt Do'Urden: Here's a character who should be dark but noble; a little crazy but certainly resourceful. An actor portraying this part should be someone who is in excellent shape but also slim and not overly tall. I had to jump on the Jude Law bandwagon (I personally never wanted him to play Superman, Batman, James Bond, the Joker, or any other character people were petitioning to have him play) butI think he'd be the perfect Drizzt. His features and range would match up perfectly. But Law is a fairly big star right now, so it might be better to go with a less known actor, so in that case I'd go for Sean Patrick Flannery. Why? Well, the guy has some interesting range (check out his character in Boondock Saints and contrast it with the guy he played in Suicide Kings) and he certainly doesn't mind doing roles that require a lot of weird makeup (Powder). A while ago there were people saying that he'd make a great Silver Surfer. Silver Surfer, in many ways, is a similar character to Drizzt, and that's what made me think of Sean for this part.

Zaknafien Do'urden: For the part of Drizzt's father and mentor, you'd need someone who can portray the whole "old and weathered warrior" part without actually looking old and weathered. My first choice would have been Liam Neeson, but since he's playing a role similar to Zaknafien in the new Batman film, I'll go with Timothy Dalton for Zaknafien. Although he's definitely my LEAST favorite James Bond, Dalton has done better when he's played darker, more embittered characters.

Jarlaxle: I hate to cast an actor in the role of a bald character just based on the fact that the actor is bald, but damn, Michael Rosenbaum would make an awesome Jarlaxle. This is a part that would require an actor to be manipulative and calculating while at the same time charming and boisterous (if you've ever seen Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Johnny Depp's character is pretty much Jarlaxle... the only reason I'm not naming him for this role is because he's such a huge star). Rosenbaum has proven himself to play this type of role (to a lesser extent) on Smallville and I think he'd make a great Jarlaxle.

I'll add more when I have more time... please feel free to give me your imput as well.

Vapor

10-28-2004, 04:02 PM

When I first saw this topic title I thought you meant a movie based on the game Fantastic Dizzy, the one with all the egg people, and had just mistyped Dizzy.

The Avatar

10-28-2004, 04:37 PM

I know Drizzt from the Baldur's Gate series and such, but that's about it. He is an awesome character though.

Movies205

10-28-2004, 04:38 PM

My friend is always telling me how there are tons of drizzt's fanboys, and how I should read the books, haven't gotten around to it yet though :(

The Avatar

10-28-2004, 04:46 PM

I think Ronnie James Dio would be great in this movie somehow.

That-Guy

10-29-2004, 02:41 PM

The Drizzt books are great. I read the Icewind Dale series first, and that was pretty cool, and now I'm currently on the last book of the Dark Elf Trilogy, which is flat out amazing. Drizzt might be the most fully developed character in fantasy literature. Salvatore really lets you delve into his psychosis... the books are very philosophical, and a lot of the situations in them are easy to relate to despite being set in a fantasy world.

Here are some more ideas I had for the cast:

Matron Malice: Jessica Lange. Okay, she's kind of a big name, but she hasn't been in a huge hit in years so she might come pretty cheap, and after seeing her chilling portrayal of Tamora in Titus, I'd have to say she'd be perfect as Drizzt's evil mother.

Artemis Entreri: This is a tough one. For Artemis, you need someone who is powerfully built and intimidating but also slim and short. Most of all though, you need an actor who can just play a genuine bastard who cares for no one but himself. Some names I would throw out here (but I can't come to a conclusion on who would be best) are Billy Crudup, Stuart Townsend, and Colin Farrell (the last one may be too big of a star, but he really would look and act the part well, I'm sure).

Hudson

10-29-2004, 02:56 PM

he's got one great moment in the demons stone game for the ps2

That-Guy

10-31-2004, 08:09 AM

I was wondering how that game was. Does Drizzt have a big part in it? Also, where in the Realms is it supposed to take place?

FrothByte

07-20-2005, 12:13 PM

I believe Marc Dacascos would be perfect for Drizzt. He has the exotic look I'd expect from a dark elf. He is also in great physical shape.

For artemis, maybe someone like hugh jackman?

wulfgar... i'd love to say nathan jones from troy, but i don't know how good an actor he is

That-Guy

07-20-2005, 12:29 PM

Hugh Jackman would rock as Artemis. Good suggestions!

The Lizard

07-20-2005, 12:42 PM

The Drizzt books are great. I read the Icewind Dale series first, and that was pretty cool, and now I'm currently on the last book of the Dark Elf Trilogy, which is flat out amazing. Drizzt might be the most fully developed character in fantasy literature. Salvatore really lets you delve into his psychosis... the books are very philosophical, and a lot of the situations in them are easy to relate to despite being set in a fantasy world.

I've read the Icewind Dale Trilogy myself, mostly just to see where the whole Drizzt thing started. It was pretty good, but considering some people were saying that the Drizzt books were "better than Tolkien", I was expecting more than I got from that trilogy.

Actually there seemed to be an awful lot of derivative elements taken from LOTR in the Icewind trilogy, from some of the names ("Cryshal Tirith", "Alustriel") to certain events (an abandoned Dwarf mine is home to an evil army, a father-figure to the group goes over a cliff in the grips of a flaming creature only to survive, a halfling loses his finger, characters "keep score" of dead foes, etc).

Overall it was a fun read however, and since it was written back in 1989-1991, I realize that Salvatore probably got sharper with his characterization and originality in later books. I'm going ahead to read the Dark Elf Trilogy next (after I finish the latest Harry Potter that is), since there seems to be a lot of potential for orginality in that storyline.

Is The Dark Elf Trilogy the best of the Drizzt series, or is there a better storyline later on?

That-Guy

07-20-2005, 12:56 PM

I've read the Icewind Dale Trilogy myself, mostly just to see where the whole Drizzt thing started. It was pretty good, but considering some people were saying that the Drizzt books were "better than Tolkien", I was expecting more than I got from that trilogy.

Actually there seemed to be an awful lot of derivative elements taken from LOTR in the Icewind trilogy, from some of the names ("Cryshal Tirith", "Alustriel") to certain events (an abandoned Dwarf mine is home to an evil army, a father-figure to the group goes over a cliff in the grips of a flaming creature only to survive, a halfling loses his finger, characters "keep score" of dead foes, etc).

Overall it was a fun read however, and since it was written back in 1989-1991, I realize that Salvatore probably got sharper with his characterization and originality in later books. I'm going ahead to read the Dark Elf Trilogy next (after I finish the latest Harry Potter that is), since there seems to be a lot of potential for orginality in that storyline.

Is The Dark Elf Trilogy the best of the Drizzt series, or is there a better storyline later on?

In my opinion, the Dark Elf Trilogy is the best of the series, in particular the first two books, Homeland and Exile. They really help you understand Drizzt a lot better and all of the Tolkien-derivative elements are pretty much gone at that point; I agree with you that as Salvatore wrote more, his writing became a lot sharper and more original. I think you can even see that in the Icewind Dale series... my favorite of those three books was "The Halfling's Gem," simply because it went in a lot of different directions and had a lot of out of the ordinary scenerios for a fantasy novel.
I've also read the "Legacy of the Drow" series, which picks up after Icewind Dale and is also very good, and right now I'm about halfway through the "Paths of Darkness" series, which is also kickass thus far.

The Lizard

07-20-2005, 02:22 PM

Good to know - I'll be sure to check out the Dark Elf Trilogy ASAP. :up:

That-Guy

07-20-2005, 02:26 PM

Rokken. :)

Movies205

07-20-2005, 02:28 PM

I've read the Icewind Dale Trilogy myself, mostly just to see where the whole Drizzt thing started. It was pretty good, but considering some people were saying that the Drizzt books were "better than Tolkien", I was expecting more than I got from that trilogy.

Actually there seemed to be an awful lot of derivative elements taken from LOTR in the Icewind trilogy, from some of the names ("Cryshal Tirith", "Alustriel") to certain events (an abandoned Dwarf mine is home to an evil army, a father-figure to the group goes over a cliff in the grips of a flaming creature only to survive, a halfling loses his finger, characters "keep score" of dead foes, etc).

Overall it was a fun read however, and since it was written back in 1989-1991, I realize that Salvatore probably got sharper with his characterization and originality in later books. I'm going ahead to read the Dark Elf Trilogy next (after I finish the latest Harry Potter that is), since there seems to be a lot of potential for orginality in that storyline.

Is The Dark Elf Trilogy the best of the Drizzt series, or is there a better storyline later on?

It should be noted though these books are merely off-shoots of DnD, that these books are novelazations of adventures meant to be played in DnD so some of the things read are actually mandates from the then TSR(now Wizards of the Coast) and in actuality DnD is really LoTR made into a table-top RPG game, and all the various worlds just branch off that. I'm surprised there aren't any Elric fans around.

Hogan

07-20-2005, 02:56 PM

I've read all things Salvatore. I started from the beginning when The Icewind Dale books came out, way back when I was in grade school. I don't read much fantasy, but I swear by these books. The characterization is beyond anything I've ever read in a sword/sorcery type book. While the Tolkein books read like history textbooks, the Drizzt books are more like journals and fireside stories told by the ones who lived the adventures. I agree that Drizzt is an incredibly fleshed out character, and it doesn't hurt that he's a supreme bad-ass. His "journal entries" at the beginnings of each section are very introspective and wise, but never seem out of place with the fantastical storylines.
The Dark Elf Trilogy is definitely one of my favorites, but the latest series (The Hunter's Blade) was just as good, if not better than any of the previous books. The new series (started with Servant Of The Shard; the new book comes out in October, I think) is focused on Entreri and Jarlaxle. Should be good stuff.
I'd also recommend the Demon Wars saga by Salvatore. Not set in the same universe as Drizzt, but incredibly compelling and definitely more epic in scope. It is a fantasy series, but contains some very astute criticism (or at least discussion) of organized religion. Not quite as lighthearted and fun as Drizzt or The Cleric Quintet (also recommended), but arguably better written.
My friends and I have often discussed Drizzt movies, and I think that the Icewind Dale trilogy would definitely translate better than The Dark Elf, especially since The Dark Elf trilogy is almost completely set in the underdark, with no light whatsoever!
I'd almost rather see the films be animated rather than live-action, because I don't know that they would be able to do the stories justice. Plus, with animation, the sky's the limit as to what they could accomplish without the limitations of special effects. I wouldn't want it to be half-assed just because it was animated though. It would have to have top notch people behind it, and not just some lame anime rip-off DTV. I have some drawings somewhere of what I would want it to look like, but I'll have to hunt them down again.

Edit: Something kinda like these: http://lavendereyes.rivkashome.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album26&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

That-Guy

07-21-2005, 03:18 PM

Good ideas, Hogan. Glad to see that there are some other hardcore Drizzt fans. Have any of you checked out the new Drizzt comic books that are out? They're based on "Homeland" from the Dark Elf series. I just found out about them at my comic shop today, so I was only able to get issue # 2 (1 was sold out). I didn't get to read it yet (just flipped through it quick) but the art looks pretty good. I'm really glad they started the series out in chronological order, with my favorite book first! :)

SuperFerret

07-21-2005, 03:24 PM

I haven't been able to find #2. But I have #1.

That-Guy

07-21-2005, 03:49 PM

#2 came out yesterday. Apparently there are 2 covers for each issue... a pianted one for $8.95 and a drawn one for $4.95.

Hogan

07-21-2005, 04:46 PM

That-Guy

07-21-2005, 04:52 PM

Yeah, I'm sure the comics won't be able to pull of the narrative genius of the books, but its still pretty cool to see what the artists interpretations of some of the creatures and characters look like. I'm also glad to see that they did it because putting the books into comic format will up Drizzt's popularity considerably among comic fans and who knows? Maybe we'll see a live action or animated movie someday.

The Lizard

07-21-2005, 05:02 PM

An animated Forgotten Realms series could indeed be cool.

Just as long as the elves aren't the typical "anime elves" with those silly foot-long ears sticking straight out from their heads! :p

The Phantom

07-21-2005, 10:52 PM

Drizzt Do'Urden: Jim Caviezel
http://www.eskimo.com/~toates/malick/trl/jim/jimrs.jpg

Cattie-brie: Alexis Bledel
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/sv/thumb/9/9b/300px-Alexis_Bledel.jpg

Wulfgar: Brandon Routh
http://blog.622design.com/weblog/images/mdf736045.jpg

Brueonor Battlehammer: Bob Hoskins
http://www.nndb.com/people/429/000024357/bhoskins2.jpg

Regis Burrfoot: Peter MacNicol (Probably too old, so I'll consider him a filler, but I have someone else in mind, just can't figure out his name.)
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/tv.yahoo.com/images/he/photo/tv_pix/fox/ally_mcbeal_cast_photos/peter_macnicol/allymcbeal2.jpg

Artemis Entreri: Leonardo DiCaprio
http://www.goldenbeaus.com/l_dicaprio/leo_dicaprio_front.jpg

The Phantom

07-21-2005, 11:13 PM

I was wondering how that game was. Does Drizzt have a big part in it? Also, where in the Realms is it supposed to take place?

You get to play as Drizzt for most of one level. That level is basically Trolls trying to break the doors to the Dwarven city, and you can use Drizzt as a playable character to defend the city. I found it to be a pretty hard level, but it's rewarding to actually play as the legendary Drow Ranger. You get to witness why he's considered one of the greatest swordsman of the Forgotten Realms, he's just flipping crazy.

The game itself takes place all over Faerun if I remember correctly. I don't think there are any unlockables, because it would have been cool to play the whole game again as Drizzt.

But they should really take that gameplay forumula and apply it to the Companions of the Hall in possibly an adaption of the Icewind Dale Trilogy, or in an all new, original story. One of the boss levels could be Drizzt v.s. Artemis Entreri, which would be a ball to watch as well as play.

That-Guy

07-25-2005, 11:00 AM

You get to play as Drizzt for most of one level. That level is basically Trolls trying to break the doors to the Dwarven city, and you can use Drizzt as a playable character to defend the city. I found it to be a pretty hard level, but it's rewarding to actually play as the legendary Drow Ranger. You get to witness why he's considered one of the greatest swordsman of the Forgotten Realms, he's just flipping crazy.

The game itself takes place all over Faerun if I remember correctly. I don't think there are any unlockables, because it would have been cool to play the whole game again as Drizzt.

But they should really take that gameplay forumula and apply it to the Companions of the Hall in possibly an adaption of the Icewind Dale Trilogy, or in an all new, original story. One of the boss levels could be Drizzt v.s. Artemis Entreri, which would be a ball to watch as well as play.

Agreed. A game where you play as Drizzt the entire time would kick total ass. Drizzt seems to be gaining some more notcie lately with the comic books that have come out and there is a even a medieval weapon company that recently put out Twinkle and Icingdeath (which both look AWESOME by the way), so maybe a Drizzt game is in the works. It would also be cool if they came out with a Marvel vs. Capcom type tournament game with fantasy characters, like Forgotten Realms vs. The Lord of the Rings or something. I know it would never happen, but just imagine Drizzt vs. Aragorn, or Sauron vs. Errtu.

The Lizard

07-25-2005, 12:45 PM

I'm halfway through the Dark Elf trilogy right now btw, and it is indeed much better than the Icewind Dale Trilogy so far. Very cool. :up:

The Phantom

07-25-2005, 12:55 PM

It would also be cool if they came out with a Marvel vs. Capcom type tournament game with fantasy characters, like Forgotten Realms vs. The Lord of the Rings or something. I know it would never happen, but just imagine Drizzt vs. Aragorn, or Sauron vs. Errtu.

I'm not too sure about an FR v.s. LOTR game. Drizzt would freaking dice Aragorn. And Sauron wouldn't even have to wink to kill Errtu. But I think the best thing for a Drizzt game to happen is to continue have Drizzt as an unlockable or playable character in games. And not just fantasy games. I mean it would be hilarious to play as Drizzt instead of Sam Fisher in a Splinter Cell game. The badguys wouldn't even have time to offer any information. But this way even mainstream gamers will see Drizzt Do'Urden and wonder who the heck is this guy. They might go to the books and or the comic. But I think the idea I'm trying to convey is there needs to be a way for gamers to be introduced to Drizzt, but not formally, so when a full on Drizzt Do'Urden/Companions of the Hall game is made, it wouldn't be totally unknown.

Drizzt Do'Urden is such an awesome fantasy character, he just needs more exposure. But RAS is a freaking genious for having created him, I mean he's just so modedrn that people need to know about him. I just love the concept of a "dark elf" and how racism is dealt with in the books (a subject very uncommon in Fantasy).

I haven't read the comic books. Are they any good? And when is that dang Wheel of Time comic book coming out?

That-Guy

07-25-2005, 01:38 PM

I'm halfway through the Dark Elf trilogy right now btw, and it is indeed much better than the Icewind Dale Trilogy so far. Very cool. :up:

Told ya. ;)

dpm07

07-25-2005, 01:42 PM

A film with Salvatore's characters done right with an epic feel ala LOTR would be fantastic to watch on screen. Phantom, I like your name (and in fact watched the Phantom film yesterday), but you're way off-base IMO regarding the cast. Brandon Routh couldn't be more wrong for Wulfgar; Peter MacNichol as Regis? Umm...no. Alexis Bledel as Cattie Brie...Ok, I'll buy it, and not a bad choice. I like Caviezel as Drizzt, and he'd definitely rock the house and bring a strong nobility to the character; However, I don't see him and Bledel with on-screen chemistry together. He's quite a bit older than she is, and this would throw a wrench in their romantic relationship that's illustrated in other novels. Bo Hoskins as Bruenor...I see where you're coming from, but I wouldn't have chosen him.

Salvatore's novels based on these characters would definitely be a major hit in the theatres, but a fantasy trilogy of this level has to be done right, and I'm really not sure anyone short of Jackson, Ridley Scott, or maybe Wolfgang Peterson could do the job justice.

Artemis Entreri is a tough individual to cast. Olivier Martinez would be an interesting choice for the role as would either Colin Farell or even Guy Pearce.

That-Guy

07-25-2005, 01:56 PM

I'm not too sure about an FR v.s. LOTR game. Drizzt would freaking dice Aragorn. And Sauron wouldn't even have to wink to kill Errtu. But I think the best thing for a Drizzt game to happen is to continue have Drizzt as an unlockable or playable character in games. And not just fantasy games. I mean it would be hilarious to play as Drizzt instead of Sam Fisher in a Splinter Cell game. The badguys wouldn't even have time to offer any information. But this way even mainstream gamers will see Drizzt Do'Urden and wonder who the heck is this guy. They might go to the books and or the comic. But I think the idea I'm trying to convey is there needs to be a way for gamers to be introduced to Drizzt, but not formally, so when a full on Drizzt Do'Urden/Companions of the Hall game is made, it wouldn't be totally unknown.

Drizzt Do'Urden is such an awesome fantasy character, he just needs more exposure. But RAS is a freaking genious for having created him, I mean he's just so modedrn that people need to know about him. I just love the concept of a "dark elf" and how racism is dealt with in the books (a subject very uncommon in Fantasy).

I haven't read the comic books. Are they any good? And when is that dang Wheel of Time comic book coming out?

LMAO. That would be kickass to put Drizzt in some completely non-fantasy related games. Could you see hacking and slashing his way through Vice City? Or how about Drizzt in some of those Tom Clancy Rainbow Six games?

I agree, there has to be some way to get Drizzt more exposure. I suppose the same could be said for a lot of Forgotten Realms characters, but Drizzt is my favorite, so if he got a movie or his own video game, I'd be happy.

RAS is indeed a genius... I love all of the realistic human elements he adds to his stories. It's really cool to see Drizzt more or less change the outlook of the people of Faerun as they begin to realize that not all dark elves are evil.

The comics are okay. I tracked down issue # 1 the other day and they do a decent job of telling the story, but they leave out some key elements. For example, [spoiler] when Matron Malice is trying to turn Drizzt evil and has him battle a goblin who has been transformed into a drow, in the book we understand that Malice and her sisters use their powers to force Drizzt to kill the defensless creature. But in the comic, they make it look as if he just gives up and stabs the guy because they want him to.[/spolier] That sort of pissed me off. But all in all, its pretty decent, and the art is pretty decent. Drizzt and Zaknafien look badass, Alton Devir looks gruesome, Menzoberrenzan is awesome, and Drizzt's sisters look hot. They could have done a better job with Masoj and Guenhwyvar though, IMO.

What is the Wheel of Time? Is Pat Sajak the main character in that? :D

The Phantom

07-25-2005, 03:29 PM

Brandon Routh couldn't be more wrong for Wulfgar
Who would you pick for Wulfgar. He's a very hard character to cast, because he's not as simple as people would imagine him at first glance. He's very, very complex, and the only thing that came to mind was Brandon Routh. But he can't be too old, because he has to fall in love with Cattie Brie, in the classic romantic sense. But I think Brandon Routh would be awesome in the role. He's buff, he looks like him, and he could probably play "semi-tortured" pretty well. His biggest scenes will most likely be when he thinks his been betrayed, or whenever on of his loved ones appear to fall in battle.

Peter MacNichol as Regis?
Yeah, he's a filler for the moment. I wish he was much younger, then he'd be awesome. Most people would go for Frodo or Sam for LOTR, but that's not using your noggin. I do have one other guy in mind but I can't seem to get his name. What about Steve Buscemi? You see, I'm going for the short whiny type of actor who feels he never gets what he deserves, and is just pretty dang lazy. That is I why I'd consider Buscemi.

Alexis Bledel as Cattie Brie...Ok, I'll buy it, and not a bad choice. I like Caviezel as Drizzt, and he'd definitely rock the house and bring a strong nobility to the character; However, I don't see him and Bledel with on-screen chemistry together. He's quite a bit older than she is, and this would throw a wrench in their romantic relationship that's illustrated in other novels.
Ewan Mcgregor was like thirtreen years older than Scarlett Johansson in The Island, and still it worked fine. I'll be honest that I haven't seen much of Bledel's work, but I was looking for someone who has to be young, because she was really young in Icewind Dale, and Drizzt was probably in his mid to late twenties. Same goes for Wulfgar, he was amazingly young.

Salvatore's novels based on these characters would definitely be a major hit in the theatres, but a fantasy trilogy of this level has to be done right, and I'm really not sure anyone short of Jackson, Ridley Scott, or maybe Wolfgang Peterson could do the job justice.

That's the thing, most people go for those kind of Directors, but Icewind Dale is not a Lord of the Rings type of movie. It's much more personal then that. It is about a small group of people in a vast world.

I'd go with John Milius just because I respect the guy and what he did for Conan.

Artemis Entreri is a tough individual to cast. Olivier Martinez would be an interesting choice for the role as would either Colin Farell or even Guy Pearce.

Collin Farrel would be cool. I've only seen Pearce in the Time Machine, which probably isn't the best movie to be looking at for his abilities. And I haven't heard of Olivier Martinez. For Entreri imagine a guy who's so frighteningly scary that just having the audience watching a scene alone with him would make everyone feel uneasy. This guy isn't Mr. Rogers, I can tell you that. And at the same time I want to see that cockyness and sarcasm come out fluently intertwined, especially when he's fighting Drizzt.

The Lizard

07-25-2005, 03:38 PM

That's the thing, most people go for those kind of Directors, but Icewind Dale is not a Lord of the Rings type of movie. It's much more personal then that. It is about a small group of people in a vast world.

Even though Icewind Dale is less epic in its scope than LOTR, there are still a lot of LOTR-type events and imagery in it. and I think it would be seen as somewhat derivative on the big screen. Better to start with the Dark Elf trilogy IMO.

The Phantom

07-25-2005, 04:45 PM

Even though Icewind Dale is less epic in its scope than LOTR, there are still a lot of LOTR-type events and imagery in it. and I think it would be seen as somewhat derivative on the big screen. Better to start with the Dark Elf trilogy IMO.
The only problem I have with starting the movies off with DET is that you could have probelms introducing the Dark Elves to the audience, and that is the people who've never even heard of Dark Elves or Menzobarrenzen. You'd need a human connection at least in the beginning. I think if they were to do DET as a movie trilogy, they'd have to begin sort of like how Interview of the Vampire began. Have Drizzt Do'urden begin telling the story to some bard-thief and then go into the actual story of it all.

What I mean by the Icewind Dale Trilogy not being like LOTR, is that in LOTR it is about a great struggle to save the world. Icewind Dale is on a smaller scale of storytelling. The first book is about defending this small town. The second book is about Bruenor restoring claim to his rightful thrown. And the third book is all about rescuing Regis for the greedy palms of Pasha Pook (my fav of the three books). You see unlike LOTR, the Icewind Dale trilogy is about heroics on a more personal level. It's about heroes fighting for what they love, and is less about saving the world. That is why I think people would enjoy Icewind Dale more than LOTR. Think about it. The only time you could really see what Icewind Dale would feel like LOTR as a movie is near the end of Fellowship of the Ring and probably all of the Aragorn/Gimli/Legolas scenes in Two Towers, that's because that is when the characters were fighting for what they wanted, and audiences connect to heroes that fight more for what they love instead of being the altruistic hero that fights to save the world. But I do agree that the visual quality of an Icewind Dale movie would probably be similar to Lord of the Rings, with Harry Potter and Conan thrown into the mix.

dpm07

07-25-2005, 06:04 PM

Vincent Cassell would make a great Artemis Entreri. His character in Brotherhood of the Wolf had some similar elements.

The Phantom

07-25-2005, 06:12 PM

That would be interesting. He seems a bit too tall, but he'd have fun with the role. Alright, everyone is gonna hate me because of this, but here I go again, Vin Diesel. Vin Diesel with hair. C'mon, you know it would be cool.http://www.realmofinfamy.com/forum/images/smilies/yb678.gif

The Lizard

07-26-2005, 10:04 AM

The only problem I have with starting the movies off with DET is that you could have probelms introducing the Dark Elves to the audience, and that is the people who've never even heard of Dark Elves or Menzobarrenzen. You'd need a human connection at least in the beginning. I think if they were to do DET as a movie trilogy, they'd have to begin sort of like how Interview of the Vampire began. Have Drizzt Do'urden begin telling the story to some bard-thief and then go into the actual story of it all.

You're right - there would indeed have to be some kind of human-interest, and that would be difficult at the beginning of the DET. It's interesting that what makes Homeland so gripping and different from other fantasy novels -- the fact that all the action takes place in an evil society that is alien to humanity -- is the same thing that would cause problems in a film format. Well, that and the fact that almost everything takes place in total darkness, but I'm sure there's some kind of CGI background effect that could get around that.

What I mean by the Icewind Dale Trilogy not being like LOTR, is that in LOTR it is about a great struggle to save the world. Icewind Dale is on a smaller scale of storytelling. The first book is about defending this small town. The second book is about Bruenor restoring claim to his rightful thrown. And the third book is all about rescuing Regis for the greedy palms of Pasha Pook (my fav of the three books). You see unlike LOTR, the Icewind Dale trilogy is about heroics on a more personal level. It's about heroes fighting for what they love, and is less about saving the world. That is why I think people would enjoy Icewind Dale more than LOTR. Think about it. The only time you could really see what Icewind Dale would feel like LOTR as a movie is near the end of Fellowship of the Ring and probably all of the Aragorn/Gimli/Legolas scenes in Two Towers, that's because that is when the characters were fighting for what they wanted, and audiences connect to heroes that fight more for what they love instead of being the altruistic hero that fights to save the world. But I do agree that the visual quality of an Icewind Dale movie would probably be similar to Lord of the Rings, with Harry Potter and Conan thrown into the mix.

I agree with the focus being more personal than LOTR, and that would actually work in favor of an Icewind Dale film.

The trouble lies with certain events and concepts that just resemble important elements from LOTR too much. For example:

1. An evil goblin/orc/troll army is gathered by a wizard at a giant tower (with the surname "Tirith", no less), and this army attacks a hopelessly outnumbered human settlement until unexpected aid comes from another group of human fighters attacking from the rear of the evil army. Also, the heroes keep count of the foes they slay in a friendly competition.

2. The aforementioned evil wizard owns a sentient artifact of great power that is actually just using the wizard to further its own agenda.

3. A human warrior who is raised in part by another race returns to his people and overthrows a corrupt leader in an effort to restore nobilty and prosperity to his people. He also has a deep emotional bond with the "daughter" of his non-human father figure.

4. A mysterious beautiful female ruler with an elvish name ending in "-riel" has a private meeting with a member of the heroes. She gives him a special magic item.

5. A dwarf strives to return to a great underground dwarf city from his past, but upon finally reaching the city, he finds the remains of his slaughtered kinsman, and an evil race's army dwelling there.

6. A powerful evil monster that had been awakened by the dwarves digging too deep arises to attack the heroes as they try to escape from the dwarven city. The fatherly leader of the heroic group valiantly attacks the creature head-on and falls into a seemingly bottomless pit in flaming battle with the monster. His remaining companions are saddened by his seeming death, but we find out in the next installment that he has survived.

7. The heroes engage in a cross-country chase to try to rescue their captured halfling friend. At one point, the halfling's finger is severed.

Of course, there are plenty of elements in the IDT that are not at all like LOTR, such as Drizzt's Guenhywver cat, the ice dragon, the crazy wizarding family (which now seems Harry Potter-esque), the golem, Artemis Entreri, and the intrigue with the thieves' guild. However, it would still take some serious retooling of the story to avoid obvious LOTR similarities in a movie version of the IDT.

The Phantom

07-26-2005, 10:24 AM

Of course, there are plenty of elements in the IDT that are not at all like LOTR, such as Drizzt's Guenhywver cat, the ice dragon, the crazy wizarding family (which now seems Harry Potter-esque), the golem, Artemis Entreri, and the intrigue with the thieves' guild. However, it would still take some serious retooling of the story to avoid obvious LOTR similarities in a movie version of the IDT.

I agree with everything you said in your post, but I don't think it would need to be retooled. So many movies of the same genre contain the same elements. All origin stories follow the same formula. All mysteries have a killer. All romantic comedies have a happy ending.

Now if IDT were to come out, soon, like right after the Dragonlance movies (which last I checked were confirmed) then it'll still be considered fresh. Plus after LOTR has finished what to people want? More LOTR! And I think this would also financial beneficial to Hollywood, because it has LOTR elements, while at the same time has its own original elements. At the same time we've got genre-killers like Uwe Boll's Dungeon Siege and D&D 2, which when I looked at the new cast and story, doesn't look like it will be better than the first.

Plus IDT deals with Racism, which is certainly a fresh element in Epic Fantasy. So I don't think it will be criticized too much for having LOTR elements.

That-Guy

07-26-2005, 11:09 AM

Dragonlance is confirmed? Sweet! Let's just hope it doesn't turn out like that god-awful Dungeons and Dragons movie.

I understand why people think that Icewind Dale would be a better way to start of the Drizzt story than the Dark Elf Trilogy; truth be told, it would be hard for audiences to connect without human characters in the film. This is why they change things in movies... for example, in the film version of Hellboy, they added the character of John Meyers because they needed someone to basically be "us" in the film... an everyman caught up in a bizarre world filled with extraordinary characters.

That beign said, if they did start out with the DET, I certainly wouldn't want the story to be seen through the eyes of some human slave in Menzoberrenzan. I think Drizzt has enough relatable elements in his character that they wouldn't need that. And it really is a genuinely better story than Icewind Dale because as much as I like Icewind Dale, at times it feels like it lacks focus and direction. Often, characters are thrown in that don't seem to add very much to the story (Allustriel and the Harpells come to mind), but then Tolkien did this kind of thing too (Bombadil, anyone?).

Possibly they could merge some of the stories together; like basically begin with The Crystal Shard but have a series of flashbacks to DET. But that might feel too cluttered.

The Phantom

07-26-2005, 11:54 AM

I don't know, I just think the movies should be done in the same publishing order as the books. The success of IDT could negate the qualms of "no human connection" in an adaption of DET. And then they can just go all James Bond, focus primarily on action for the later books in the series.

I just feel that Drizzt needs to be properly introduced to the rest of the world before we delve into his origins. It's like Indiana Jones I guess. They don't delve into the origin of Indiana Jones until "The Last Crusade". They just begin the series off with Indiana Jones in an already established universe, we don't have to find out everything about him in the first movie. That's basically how I see IDT. As the introduction of Drizzt Do'Urden, and the DET delving into his origins, which I'm sure would be really successful, because after being introduced to Drizzt, they hear about DET, they'll want to know more about him and how he came to be such a unique character.

I'm pretty sure the Harpells and Allustriel would be omitted from the script. I found it difficult to imagine a person walking upside down on the bottom of a bridge. And I didn't see how that would work in a movie when I was reading it, so I'm pretty those kinds of parts won't be in there.

All I remember about Dragonlance is that they sold their movie rights to some company and there were plans to make a movie trilogy. I've never read any DL books, so I don't know if that's good or bad.

That-Guy

07-26-2005, 01:28 PM

The only Dragonlance story I've ever read was a graphic novel back in the early 90's, but it was really cool. Friends of mine always tell me I should check out the books, but I've never gotten around to it. I'm sure I will eventually though.

The only thing that worries me is that, as I understand it, Dragonlance is like Forgotten Realms in that there are a whole slew of characters that it encompasses, and trying to make a Dragonlance movie might be difficult because there are so many areas to cover; the same way a Forgotten Realms movie would be unless they tried to make it on a smaller scale, only focusing on one group of characters, which is why a Drizzt movie could work.

The Lizard

07-26-2005, 02:20 PM

Good points regarding the IDT, That-Guy and Phantom!

One thing that had crossed my mind, although I know some fans might get angry at the very suggestion, was that each individual Drizzt novel doesn't really have to have its own movie. The events of the IDT certainly could fit into two films instead of three, and even the more-complex DET could probably fit most of the events of Homeland and Exile into one film. Just a thought.

That-Guy

07-26-2005, 04:21 PM

Yeah, I agree with you there, Lizard. I think Icewind Dale could certainly be condensed into 2 films, as could DET (various parts of Sojourn could be left out). Legacy of the Drow could probably be condensed into 2 movies as well.

Oh... back to casting... here is a revised list of actors who might work for some of the various parts… I liked a lot of the suggestions that were made, it’s just that it made me think some of the actors people mentioned might work better for other parts.

Drizzt: Ian Somerhalder
Zak’Nafien: Jim Caviezel
Jarlaxle: Tim Roth
Wulfgar: Jason Lewis
Matron Malice: Jessica Lange
Matron Baenre: Joan Allen
Matron Hunett: Marcia Cross
Artemis Entreri: Dougray Scott
Roddy McGristle: Brendan Gleeson
Catti-Brie: Scarlett Johannsen
Belwar: Bob Hoskins

That-Guy

07-27-2005, 01:21 PM

bump

Chopsticks

11-19-2006, 04:27 PM

Hey, I stumbled upon this page and found it intriguing...but if you don't mind here would be my sugestions for the roles indicated...

Drizzt: Mads Mikkelsen

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h216/abram_f/Debate/Tristan__Mads_Mikke_155406c.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h216/abram_f/Debate/untitledcopy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

Artemis Entreri: Steven Brand

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h216/abram_f/Debate/king3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h216/abram_f/Debate/king6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

I chose these two becasue as I watched their movies I thought of these characters...

That-Guy

11-20-2006, 01:31 PM

Whoa, talk about "Tales of the Long Dead Threads." I never thought I'd see this one again.

Hudson

11-20-2006, 02:49 PM

you I think I'd prefer a HBO series based on A song of Ice and fire
but if I can get both :o ...

samblade16

12-19-2006, 06:37 PM

Yea a Drizzt movie would be good i had thought the same thing as you. I wondered where they should start too. I dont think the beginning would be the way to go. Assuming (most likely) This movie would be made for the fan-boys and fan-gals, i feel it should be the 'hunter's blade trilogy' because that would attract fans and people unaware of the books, not to mention its like the best trilogy of all the books. either that series or 'the legacy of the drow' because this series introduces how the Sell sword series began for those who picked up R.A. Salvatore there.

kattibrie

12-28-2006, 04:35 AM

:) i'd love this movie :)

kattibrie

12-28-2006, 04:37 AM

definitely! and i'm working about it - i.e. the script. cast: drizzt - for the moment dave chappelle. enteri should surely be hugh jackman! :) and i've already got the soundtrack ;)

kattibrie

12-28-2006, 04:43 AM

definitely! and i'm working about it - i.e. the script. cast: drizzt - for the moment dave chappelle. enteri should surely be hugh jackman! :) and i've already got the soundtrack ;)

That-Guy

01-04-2007, 02:37 AM

Hey Kattibrie. How are things in the Dale these days? lol

I like the idea of Jackman as Entreri, but... Dave Chappelle? Please... PLEASE tell me you're joking?

kattibrie

01-04-2007, 11:20 AM

the dale... let me see... cold? :)

of course i'm jokig, silly :) but i'm serious about Hugh. (and not anly i ;) )
and a question - this whole thing... should it ever be made this movie or not? seriously?

kattibrie

01-08-2007, 06:39 AM

arghhhh! Bah mama mu stara!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nikoj li ne vliza v toq skapan forum?????????????????????????????????????????? aaaa... i mean... where are you people?! i'm waiting for reply!!! i want to talk with so about drizzt and company! please write!!!!!!

samblade16

01-08-2007, 01:54 PM

Goddessreicho

01-08-2007, 04:59 PM

I hate to break it to you but i don't see the Dark Elves, especially stand out ones like Drizzt and Lerieal, being portrayed by um...non-black actors. I mean common I read Forgotten Realms too, and I have seen many a covers for Drizzt.

I love the idea of Mos Def as Drizzt. He was so good in The Heart of Men. He's got a natural talent to transform into any role. He's wiry tall and would look killer with duel scimitars.

samblade16

01-13-2007, 02:45 AM

I agree it should be a black actor but we should think of who would be best for the part of drizzt. Who would look most like him

Drizzt Do Urden

04-13-2007, 01:30 AM

No movie Should be made yet because it would just be a knock off of LOTR.. The Homeland, Exlie , Sojourn movies would have to wait a bit and Jude law should not play Drizzt you crazy! Drizzt should be played by someone who can fight and has a nice body with some acting skills. The movies should wait plus a lot of people don't know about the forgotten reamls enough.. The comics are out so That should help!

Drizzt Do Urden

04-13-2007, 01:38 AM

ok i have one thing to say, dave chapelle, i mean seurously you got to be kidding. When i imagened dave chapelle as drizzt i busted out laughing. I think a new actor would be good someone who fits the profile.

I see Zacknafin played by weasly Snipes, I see Enteri played by hugh jackman, I see jarlax played by Johnny dep , I see Drizzt played by The guy from the movie protector or the guy from equlibrium ty gibbs i think his name is

That-Guy

04-16-2007, 05:33 PM

Taye Diggs is who you are thinking of. He's a good actor, but I can't see him as Drizzt. What I don't get is how whenever this subject comes up ANYWHERE, you get all of these people insisting that only African American actors should play the Dark Elves. People, in the the Salvator books, their skin is described as JET BLACK. No one on this planet, no matter what ethnic group he belongs to, has skin that color. Therefore, anyone of any race could play these characters.

kattibrie

06-14-2007, 05:38 PM

I see jarlax played by Johnny dep

:cmad: I didn't read that!!! :csad:

And why

No movie Should be made yet because it would just be a knock off of LOTR..???
i still think it's a good idea

bluedrow

12-11-2007, 11:38 AM

I think Johnny depp can play the role of drizzt very well even though he may suit Jaraxle more =) He is a very versatile actor. And i agree entreri shld be played by hugh jackman. With the right actors, producer and director, i believe a movie of any of drizzt's trilogy novels will be beautiful.

The Lizard

12-11-2007, 12:23 PM

e_morgan

01-07-2008, 09:31 AM

That-Guy

02-23-2008, 03:40 AM

That-Guy

02-23-2008, 03:45 AM

I've read the Drizzt books for years and JUDE LAW would be a HORRIBLE candidate for the role of Drizzt. He doesn't embody the element of Drizzt. A good candidate in my opinion (which doesn't compare to Drizzt's creator in the least I'm sure) would be Scott Speedman, he played the half werewolf, half vampire in the Underworld movies. He's got the look, the body, the fighting moves, the tenacity, and the kindness of what Drizzt would be like as a human.

:grin: By all means, as long as they don't cast a weenie to play the role of Drizzt, and as long as they stick to the book for a screenplay, then I pray that they make a Drizzt movie one day.

You know, if you took the time to check out when I posted that suggestion, you'd see that it's been FOUR YEARS since then. Agreed, I don't want Jude Law as Drizzt anymore; it wasn't all that good of an idea. However, you can't make a better suggestion than SCOTT SPEEDMAN? The Underworld movies were mediocre at best, and his acting was hardly anything to write home about. And the fighting moves? What fighting moves? He just got his ass kicked most of the time. If that's what counts as combat skill, then by all means, maybe we should just cast David Arquette as Drizzt and be done with it.

Graybeard

03-12-2008, 01:22 AM

Actually, I liked the Underworld movies:D Regarding who should play drizzt, I believe it should not be a black actor. Drizzt has always been described as fine boned. I personally feels that Orlando Bloom would fit the part perfectly. He's slight of build but still muscular, fine featured.....made a great elf in LOTR. Wesly Snipes should have no part in the movie. Wulfgar needs to be big, but athletic......and what about Milla Jovovich (spelling :|) as Cattie Bri?

Spidey17

03-14-2008, 11:19 AM

Wulfgar should be played by someone bigger than Brandon Routh, for sure. Someone like the guy who played Colossus from X-men. Maybe not him cuz I've never seen his acting skills. He had like five lines in the whole trilogy, which sucks cuz Colossus is my favorite mutant.:csad:

sensesfail8

05-03-2008, 03:55 PM

Jet Li is easily the best pick to play Drizzt. No one can compare to his fighting skills. As for the other characters...a bunch of nobodies should fill out the cast. Except for Artemis Entreri, he should be played by someone dark and witty, maybe Christian Bale, or Hugh Jackman.

블라스

05-03-2008, 05:51 PM

Huh, I've always been interested in these books. Are they good? :confused:

Silvermoth

05-05-2008, 05:58 PM

I'ld like to see Guy Pearce as Drizzt...

http://www.thecinemasource.com/moviesdb/images/guy_pearce_7.jpg

RASFAN017

05-21-2008, 08:34 AM

Ewan Mcgregor was like thirtreen years older than Scarlett Johansson in The Island, and still it worked fine. I'll be honest that I haven't seen much of Bledel's work, but I was looking for someone who has to be young, because she was really young in Icewind Dale, and Drizzt was probably in his mid to late twenties. Same goes for Wulfgar, he was amazingly young.

i would like to point out that Drizzt may look twenty, but is actually about 50 or 60 years old when he first meets Cattie-Brie and co.
i may be horribly incorrect, i'll have to read again.

and i've been drawing out a storyboard for DET, sadly i haven't gotten past page three. The first two pages are a summary of the Prelude in the cavern.
my girlfriend said i did a very good job on the backgrounds and such, but i'm complete crap at drawing characters (she should know; she's a very good artist with an ego that's larger than her talent at drawing xD)
but alas...
words are very difficult to form into images at times, especially non-tangible things like ideas and such.

RASFAN017

05-21-2008, 08:43 AM

Huh, I've always been interested in these books. Are they good? :confused:

Simply UH-MAY-ZING!
i've read all the way up to one of his lastest novels, The Two Swords, save for the cleric quintet.
they're damn sweet, read them all ASAP.
i think there are 20 books so far...
i've read like 17 of them :)

Mabus

06-27-2008, 10:13 AM

I'm not sure yet about the others, but I've always thought Richard O'Brien would make the perfect Jarlaxle. His role as the leader of the thieve's guild in Dungeons & Dragons was played perfectly for Jarlaxle's roll, IMO (sadly the D&D movies themselves were horrendous). Here's a clip of his acting (the bald guy with the showy earrings, for those who don't know him). Picture him in a large-brimmed hat with a great plume protruding from it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syi4VWb_QFc

This is how I've always pictured Jarlaxle.

And Wulfgar was alo a young barbarian. So he'd have to be played by someone with a large muscular body, but with a young face.

Jar_Sqwuid

11-29-2008, 07:41 PM

Much as I hate to bring up old threads this one interested me. It was actually yesterday I was thinking about the same thing.

If only we could turn back time lol. I would have had the perfect actor for Jarlaxle. And if anyone knows who Yul Brynner is then they'd know.

I'm in film school right now... one day after I graduate I want to make a series of movies based off of these books. More specifically the Sellsword series with Jarlaxle. Ohhhh I would do anything to bring Yul back to life xD

I mean, just look http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k294/Chump_04/YulBrynner_smaller.jpg That's him from the movie "The King and I."

But anyways... I'll look into these actors and keep tabs. Maybe one day guys^^

OsGom

11-29-2008, 08:40 PM

I think live action is not the way to go to bring Drizzt & the Forgotten Realms to the big screen. Elves, dwarves, hobgoblins, dragons and demons? You would be looking at an LOTR type budget.

It should be filmed in Motion Capture CGI and then you only need to worry about voice casting. I think that option would be best to capture the wonder and fantasy of the D&D world.

I would consider beginning with the Dark Elf saga and Drizzt's origin. But I think Icewind Dale trilogy could work as well.

Jar_Sqwuid

11-29-2008, 11:29 PM

Yeah I was thinking that too. But it'll still cost a great pile of money. After buying the licenses alone plus the people to help me with it would be upwards of $1000 dollars if I'm very very very fortunate. Not to mention studio costs and the like.

Plus, I'm tired of living with the idea that they're fictional. I want to make them living creatures. <3

If I'm able mind you.

Edit: But if I can't bring live action to the quality I would like, and I have really high standards, then I'm dropping it for CGI. But I'd still need a team of people.

And as far as starting somewhere, I was wanting to focus around Entreri and Jarlaxle. But I imagine it would be confusing =/ So the Dark Elf Trilogy it is <3

Dugath

11-30-2008, 02:39 PM

In my mind a movie based on Drizzt is very do-able. Especially after seeing Hellboy2 ,now I am not a big fan of that movie but I loved some of the creatues and especially the Elf prince, how he looked and how he fought, first thing that came to my mind was Drizzt and how they could easily do a movie about him now. Make up and cgi have come far enough I am sure a believable world could be made.

As for casting I wont get into names but

Drizzt, why not the guy who played the Elf prince in HB2.. I mean he was kick ass in that role.

Wulfgar you need someone who is tall and very well built, not super huge, but big yet somewhat lean. Someone like Nathan Jones (but someone who can act..)

Cattiebrie, someone who is also in shape, not some skinny, model type girl, someone who looks battle trained. She after all Grew up with dwarves.

Jar_Sqwuid

11-30-2008, 06:03 PM

Oh yes, anything is do-able with the right budget. But it's the budget that's the problem. I'll probably have to latch on to a huge company if I wanted to do it.

Only problem with that is they tend to butt in and tell you what they want done. Directors are the true artists in a movie but producers are their limits. So we'll see...

And the elf does seem really awesome... He might play a good Drizzt but it looks like he specializes in spear fighting. He used swords and he was very good, but it wasn't as flashy as when he was using his spear. We need someone really fluid I would think. But we could use him if we choreographed it really well.

You don't neeeeed someone tall... we just need well built.... tall would help, but through clever and not difficult editing we can make him taller. Apple boxes <3 So just someone well built with a good face for the part.

Hmmm... as for her I dunno who would be fit for the part. *Looks back a few pages* It seems Alexis Bledel was considered good for the part, I don't know the actress well though. And we could rough her up a bit for the part for sure.

That-Guy

12-01-2008, 03:37 PM

In my mind a movie based on Drizzt is very do-able. Especially after seeing Hellboy2 ,now I am not a big fan of that movie but I loved some of the creatues and especially the Elf prince, how he looked and how he fought, first thing that came to my mind was Drizzt and how they could easily do a movie about him now. Make up and cgi have come far enough I am sure a believable world could be made.

As for casting I wont get into names but

Drizzt, why not the guy who played the Elf prince in HB2.. I mean he was kick ass in that role.

I saw Hellboy 2 this weekend and I am in full agreement with you. Luke Goss was one of the best parts of Hellboy 2 and like you said, I pretty much jumped out of my seat and screamed "DRIZZT!!!" when I saw him in action. I supposed anyone would look like Drizzt with that make-up on, but the it was all enhanced by his performance. He played a great elf villain... I'm sure he could make a great elf hero as well.

Thundarr

12-09-2008, 11:54 PM

FORGOTTEN REALMS PRESENTS...
A DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ADVENTURE...
SOJOURN OF A DARK ELF
Based on the novel Sojourn by New York Times Best Selling Author R.A. Salvatore.

SCREEN WRITER: Joss Whedon, with colaberative efforts by R.A. Salvadore and John Milius. I pick Joss Whedon because he did such a great job writing the TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel. Also, he knows what it's like to have someone else mess with your vision for your movie. That's what happenned with the movie version of Buffy. He wrote the script and sold it to Warner Brothers. They hired a director who said "I think this should be a teen comedy". It was filmed that way and it sucked. Then he got the chance to do it right with the TV show by both writing and directing it and it turned into a world wide phenominon. So if he were to collaberate with R.A. Salvadore on the script for Sojourn,the two of them would make sure that the director won't take any 'Creative License" with the story. I listed R.A Salvadore for the obvious reason that he'd want to make sure that any big screen adaptation of his greatest work stayed true to the original story as much as possible (and when you're as big and muscular as Bob Salvadore, when you tell people to write something a certyain way, they listen). And I added John Milius to the collaberation because of the awsome job he did on Conan The Barbarian. He had written several other excellent movies as well (Apocolypse Now, Dirty Harry: Sudden Impact, etc) but Conan was the only sword & sorcery themed movie he'd ever done.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: E. Gary Gygax's widow, because he created the Dungeons & Dragons game. Ed Greenwood, because he created The Forgotten Realms campaign setting. R.A. Salvadore, because he created the character of Drizzt Do'Urden. And (in order of preference) either Jerry Bruckheimer because of the awsome job he did on The Pirates Of The Carribean Trilogy, Stephen Spielberg because of the awsome job he did on the Jurassic Park Trilogy as well as The Indiana Jones Quartet, or George Lucas because of the awsome job he did on Star Wars Episodes IV-VI and the mount of money he blew on those pieces of crap called Star Wars Episodes I-III. Dino De Laurentis (spelling?) because of the awsome job he did on Conan The Barbarian and adequate job on Conan The Destroyer (he should have hired better writers though).

DIRECTOR (IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE): Peter Jackson because of his awsome work with The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy. Ron Howard because of his awsome work on Willow. Or Rob Riener because of his awsome work on The Princess Bride.

CAST (IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE)

DRIZZT DO'URDEN: First, Orlando Bloom. He did such a good job as Legolas in LOTR and as Will Turner in POTC that he's a natural choice. Also he's a big enough name to almost garantee a good box office gross. He has the perfect build, facial features, and the look to play an elf. Second, James Marsters. He did an excellent job playing Spike on TV's Buffy The Vampire Slayer. He's not as widely known as Orlando Bloom, but the Sci-Fi/Fantasy geeks (which would be the movie's target demographic) would recognize the name and want to go see the film. He also has all the same desirable physical attributes to play an elf. Final choice is Marc Dacascos (Only The Strong, Double Dragon, Brotherhood Of The Wolf, TV's The Crow: Stairway To Heaven, host of TV's Iron Chef America). Like the other two, he has all the physical attributes making him a perfect person to play an elf (height, build, facial features, etc). Unlike the other two, he actually is an expert in the martial arts (specifically the Brazillian art of capoera). He might not be as well known as Orlando Bloom, but he's at least as well known as James Marsters.

RODDY McGRISSLE: Randal "Tex" Cobb (Blind Fury, Highlander: The Series). He's big, burly, has a gruff voice, and plays an excellent villain. If I had to choose a second runner up, I'd say the guy who played Ogre in Revenge Of The Nerds and Jackson in Bloodsport.

DOVE FALCONHAND: Either Jessica Alba or Jessica Biel. They both have the perfect look to play the famed female ranger. And since it's a relatively minor role, there's very little chance of either of them screwing up the entire movie. And both their names are big enough to almost garantee a good boxoffice gross.

MONTOLIO "MOOSHIE" DEBROOCHIE: The only actor I'd ever really seen as being perfect for this role is Donald Sutherland. Although I suppose Sir Ian McEllan might make a good Mooshie, I think he's be better as Elminster or Vangerdhast in another Forgotten Realms movie.

BRUENOR BATTLEHAMMER: First choice is Gimli's scale double from the LOTR Trilogy, Bret Beatty. He's 4'9", is a classically trained actor, a licensed stuntman, and a blackbelt in karate. Second choice is Lee Arenberg (Elwood from the first D&D Movie). I didn't like how Elwood was written, but when Lee was dressed up as Elwood I said to myself "That's Bruenor!" Third choice is WWE Superstar, Hornswoggle. I don't know how good of an actor he'll be (as Hornswaggle's character never speaks), but he's highly athletic and only stands 4'6". Stick him in armour, a one horned helmet, and a red beard and wig and you've got Bruenor.

CATTI-BRIE: This would have to be a relatively unknown red haired girl between the ages of 10 and 12, as that's how old Cattibrie was when she and Drizzt first met. Unfortunately I can't think of any actresses who are well known and fit that description.

Then if this movie is successful they can do The Chrystal Shard, Streams Of Silver, The Halflings Gem, The Legasy, etc, etc, etc, etc....

Mr. Wooden Alligator

12-10-2008, 12:14 AM

Why not start with Homeland? It has incest and demon sex. Giant lizards and lots of killing. Basically, why jump in on the third in a series? The first kinda established what drow society was like.

That-Guy

12-10-2008, 02:55 AM

Yeah, I'd love to see The Dark Elf Trilogy on the big screen more than any other part of the series. I love the concept of the Drow city... with a good budget, that could look phenomenal on the big screen.

Mr. Wooden Alligator

12-10-2008, 02:06 PM

I was watching Underworld, and that guy that played the half-vampire half-werewolf would make a good Drizzt. The scene towards the end when he is in a transformed state somewhere between human and werewolf really reminded me of Drizzt. It wasn't his facial features, but rather his skin color and hair. That light purplish-violet-into-black is how I envison Drizzzt as appearing. I would not want Orlando Bloom or Luke Goss in the role since they already have their own elvish characters. Bloom moreso because now I'm apt to see Bloom and completely forget about whatever character he is playing. Its just like, "Oh look, Orlando Bloom is hoping around on that oliphaunt thingy."

That-Guy, or anyone here, how are the comics? I saw a graphic novel adaption of The Legend of Drizzt: Homeland on Amazon and am thinking about picking it up...Homeland is the only book in the series I have read yet, and I am planning on a reread to see if I don't like it better the second time around.

I feel that for this movie we need someone who will add their own touch of stylization rather than trying to copy the sweeping shots Jackson favors. That dead city in Hellboy 2 where the Golden Army was being stored would be a good model for Menzoberranzan, I think. Just darken some of the buildings to that dark purple and dim the lighting. It would be great if some of the more monstrous creatures such as the bugbears were done with muppetry like some of the monsters in The Dark Crystal. That's some stylization I'd like to see employed.

That-Guy

12-10-2008, 03:41 PM

The comics are okay. They gloss over some things and they don't get anywhere close to fleshing out the characters as much as the novels do, but the art is pretty good and gives you a clearer picture of some of the bizarre creatures and settings.

Thundarr

12-10-2008, 05:43 PM

Why not start with Homeland? It has incest and demon sex. Giant lizards and lots of killing. Basically, why jump in on the third in a series? The first kinda established what drow society was like.

Because of film making logistics you have to often make certain sacrifices when translating a novel or comic book to the big screen. Why not start with Homeland? Several reasons.

1) Both Homeland and Exile take place almost completely in the lightless Underdark. Denezens of The Underdark see everything in the infrared spectrum. It would be very difficult, time consuming, and costly to present this on screen in post production. Not impossible, mind you, but difficult, time consuming, and costly.

2) Most of your average movie goers have niether played D&D nor ever read any of the Drizzt Do'Urden novels. As such, they would likely find the scenes done in "infravision" confusing and possibly hard on the eyes. As about 90% of those first two stories take place in infravision, that's not a reaction you want from your audience.

3) With proper writing and directing, making the first two books into movies would be unnecessary. A well written and filmed prologue explaining Drizzt's life up to the beginning of Sojourn (like the one at the beginning of The Fellowship Of The Ring), in addition to a well written and directed scene of Drizzt telling his life story to Mooshie, makes up for the lack of the first two thirds of the trilogy and provides the uninitiated with the background information they need.

4) You don't have to start a story at the beginning for a movie to be successful. Anybody remember a little film called Star Wars? It began in the middle with Episode IV, and went on to become one of the most successful films of all time. The Drizzt franchise began with The Chrystal Shard, and went on to become one of the most successful fantasy stories of all time. Starting the series with Sojourn won't hurt the chances of success, but would very likely increase those chances.

5) Starting the movies the same way the books were started, with The Chrystal Shard, is also a bad idea. The uninitiated will have no idea why Drizzt is so feared and dispised by so many, even though he's clearly undeserving of such scorn. They may mistakenly believe Drizzt is meant as some sort of social commentary about racism and intolerance or something. Starting with Sojourn relieves this confusion, without adding any more.

6) You can always go back and make the prequels. Hell, The Dark Elf Trilogy itself is a prequel.

Mr. Wooden Alligator

12-10-2008, 09:10 PM

That-Guy

12-11-2008, 01:22 AM

My reasons for wanting to see Homeland and Exile made into films is because I find them to be the strongest stories in the series. The stories and characters are focused and the setting is absolutely fascinating. The infrared scenes don't have to play a huge part in the story; remember, the drow city is lit by faerie fire, so most of the film would be lit well enough that it shouldn't be a problem, at least in Homeland. Sojourn is pretty good but the middle of it always felt a little convoluted to me... I think it would be a bad idea to start with this book.

The Crystal Shard always felt a little too Tolkien-derivative to me, but it would probably still work well as a film. Streams of Silver is kind of a weak story overall... it's a fun read, but really, the only thing that I find particularly great about it is the introduction of Entreri. The Halfling's Gem is a favorite though.

OsGom

12-11-2008, 06:15 AM

Because of film making logistics you have to often make certain sacrifices when translating a novel or comic book to the big screen. Why not start with Homeland? Several reasons.

1) Both Homeland and Exile take place almost completely in the lightless Underdark. Denezens of The Underdark see everything in the infrared spectrum. It would be very difficult, time consuming, and costly to present this on screen in post production. Not impossible, mind you, but difficult, time consuming, and costly.

Your logic is flawed my friend. Infravision under the game rules description it was described as seeing in total darkness just as one would outdoors on a clear night under a bright full moon. This attribute was present in many demi-human races that lived above ground - such as the Elves (non Drow).

I lean toward filming in motion capture CGI thus eliminating the need to cast actors who "look like" their characters.

Which by the way I find supremely stupid. Because Scott Speedman played a dark skinned monster in Underworld he is the best choice for Drizzt? Or the guy who played the elf prince in Hellboy II is the best choice because he knows martial arts and has already played an elf? Because Peter jackson directed a fantasy masterpiece then he should be the director?

Get some vision and imagination people! I don't want Drizzt's story be an LOTR ripoff and I don't want a person with limited talent to play one of the greatest characters in Fantasy literature.

I want to see something no one has ever seen before. When I see Menzoberranzan drenched in Faerie Fire I want my mind blown like when I first saw the Balrog in the Mines of Moria on film for the first time.

I want to see Drizzt given life and rendered the way he is written. I do not want to see Orlando Bloom in black face. Drizzt, in my mind, is not nearly as effeminate as Legolas.

I want to see magic wielded liberally flowing across the screen in huge fireballs, magnificent bolts and horrific transformations.

I want to see Mindflayers, Hook Horrors, Displacer Beasts, Aboleth and all the dreaded species of the Underdark.

If you think all this can be done justice in a live action film then I have to disagree.

Motion capture CGI IMO is the only way to go. Not the cast and director of LOTR does Life & Times of Drizzt.

Alien Anal

12-11-2008, 07:38 AM

do we really need another movie like this right now
all the characters backgrounds and stories are so typical and cliche

OsGom

12-11-2008, 09:01 AM

do we really need another movie like this right now
all the characters backgrounds and stories are so typical and cliche

Oh you're so right! Let's watch Hollywood remake Romancing the Stone, Friday the 13th or Gilligan's Island. Hey maybe the makers of Epic Movie can crank out another cinema gem. I mean really Hollywood is so over flowing with original ideas right now. What are we thinking?!

I mean a fantasy about a being who rebels against his entire soceity and struggles to find his own path in an alien world. How many times have we seen that before? Very cliche!

Do me a favor pal, don't post unless you have an interest in making a meaningful contribution to the conversation.

That-Guy

12-11-2008, 10:24 AM

Your logic is flawed my friend. Infravision under the game rules description it was described as seeing in total darkness just as one would outdoors on a clear night under a bright full moon. This attribute was present in many demi-human races that lived above ground - such as the Elves (non Drow).

I lean toward filming in motion capture CGI thus eliminating the need to cast actors who "look like" their characters.

Which by the way I find supremely stupid. Because Scott Speedman played a dark skinned monster in Underworld he is the best choice for Drizzt? Or the guy who played the elf prince in Hellboy II is the best choice because he knows martial arts and has already played an elf? Because Peter jackson directed a fantasy masterpiece then he should be the director?

Get some vision and imagination people! I don't want Drizzt's story be an LOTR ripoff and I don't want a person with limited talent to play one of the greatest characters in Fantasy literature.

I want to see something no one has ever seen before. When I see Menzoberranzan drenched in Faerie Fire I want my mind blown like when I first saw the Balrog in the Mines of Moria on film for the first time.

I want to see Drizzt given life and rendered the way he is written. I do not want to see Orlando Bloom in black face. Drizzt, in my mind, is not nearly as effeminate as Legolas.

I want to see magic wielded liberally flowing across the screen in huge fireballs, magnificent bolts and horrific transformations.

I want to see Mindflayers, Hook Horrors, Displacer Beasts, Aboleth and all the dreaded species of the Underdark.

If you think all this can be done justice in a live action film then I have to disagree.

Motion capture CGI IMO is the only way to go. Not the cast and director of LOTR does Life & Times of Drizzt.

You may be right about this. My only problem with going all CG is that I don't know that CG has evolved to the point where audiences in general are able to really establish a connection with human CG characters. Something like WALL-E is different because it's a robot... it doesn't matter if its CG or animatronic. But a person is something we see everyday; a CG person could leave the audience feeling cold. And its important that we really feel for these characters; particularly Drizzt. One of the things that really makes up for Salvatore occasional shortcomings as a storyteller is the fact that he writes great characters. Great actors can really bring these characters to life. But CG characters? I'm not sure.

Oh, and I know that my suggestion for Luke Goss was obvious typecasting, BTW, but I thought his acting was up to par along with his martial arts skills and appearance in Hellboy 2, so imagining him as Drizzt felt pretty logical to me.

OsGom

12-11-2008, 10:40 AM

My only problem with going all CG is that I don't know that CG has evolved to the point where audiences in general are able to really establish a connection with human CG characters.
I would have to disagree Guy. I think Gollum in LOTR demonstrates what motion capture CGI is capable of conveying as far as depth of character. And Gollum was a hell of a lot more alien than Drizzt. In addition, that was quite some time ago. Beowulf was not the greatest movie but I think the characters were depicted well. I would almost prefer a more stylized approach as opposed to the ultra-realism of Beowulf. Something with a more artistic edge.

Oh, and I know that my suggestion for Luke Goss was obvious typecasting, BTW, but I thought his acting was up to par along with his martial arts skills and appearance in Hellboy 2, so imagining him as Drizzt felt pretty logical to me.

No worries my friend. I just see this as an unhealthy fanboy trend and need to rave about it every so often.

That-Guy

12-11-2008, 12:37 PM

I would have to disagree Guy. I think Gollum in LOTR demonstrates what motion capture CGI is capable of conveying as far as depth of character. And Gollum was a hell of a lot more alien than Drizzt. In addition, that was quite some time ago. Beowulf was not the greatest movie but I think the characters were depicted well. I would almost prefer a more stylized approach as opposed to the ultra-realism of Beowulf. Something with a more artistic edge.

No worries my friend. I just see this as an unhealthy fanboy trend and need to rave about it every so often.

While Gollum is a good example for either argument, because while audiences where able to sympathize with him, and Serkis's performance made him so lifelike it was amazing, he is still not a "human" character and a character like Gollum really couldn't have been done any other way and still be effective. If they had some little guy running around with makeup on, it wouldn't have had the same effect. Drizzt on the other hand, looks much more human (despite the skin and the ears) and more importantly, he is surrounded by humans once he reaches the surface. When I saw Beowulf, I found myself laughing at the CG characters when they tried to emote. Was that because they were CG, or because I found it to be a bad movie overall? I'm not sure.

Thundarr

12-11-2008, 03:50 PM

Recall how Batman Begins handled the fear gas effects toward the end. We got shots of Batman as he normally appears gliding over the Narrows, and we got shots of him as the bat-demon with glowing eyes, from the perspective of those affected by the fear gas.

I think this would be a suitable method for demonstrating the Undark denizen's infravision: some shots in infravision then a regular shot of all the action. This would simply be done from Zak's POV during the raid on House DeVir with some shots from the DeVir troops' POV as they march past and around a camoflauged Zak. This should be enough to establish how the Underdark peoples see. Like you said, it would be costly. This is how I would handle that aspect of the movie.

Plus this is the first Drizzt book I've read, and it struck me as being very cinematic at points, especially the beginning attack on House DeVir.

There are many ways in which to demonstrate infravision to the audience.

1) Digitally recolour all the characters so that they are seen as though they were in infrared (kind of like the alien POV shots in the Predator movies, but more detailed).

2) Do the whole movie in black & white, and digitally make all the characters eyes glow red (except for Drizzt's, who's eyes will glow purple).

3) All the sets, clothes, wigs, make-up, etc, are made of ultaviolet reflective material. Then all the scenes are lit with black-lights, causing a glowing effect. Then use different clothes, make-up, and sets, to film scenes done in normal light.

4) Film the whole thing using actual infrared or thermal imaging technology.

#1 is most like the books, and if you want to maintain as much elements of the book as possible is probably the best to use. It's also the most time consuming and costly. #2 is easier to do and less stressful on the viewers eyes. It's also most likely cheaper than #1. But certain things, like Zak's invisibility during the attack on House Devir, would make less sense. He'd have to be made translucent or something. #3 is probably the most cost effective way of doing things, except you'd need at least two of everything (one ultraviolet, one regular), but it might not look as good. #4 is most realistic looking, but those types of cameras are extremely expensive and are use almost exclusively by law enforcement and the military. I doubt they'd let them go cheap.

One other thing I had forgotten to mention about why I wanted to start with the 3rd book in the series. One of Drizzt's biggest obsticles in Sojourn is the language barrier preventing him from communicating with his human neighbors. They glossed over this part of the story in the comics, which I feel takes away from the story somewhat. Point is, in order to maintain this aspect of the third book, the first two films would have to be done entirely in the drow language. Not only would you have the confusing infravision to deal with, but also a nonexistant language with English subtitles. Better to start with the third book.

Thundarr

12-11-2008, 03:55 PM

Marra

12-11-2008, 05:43 PM

....ok very new to this so please don't laugh! With exception of the last 4 books I have read all of Drizzt's adventures...I agree with you guys that Luke Goss, Prince Nuada of HB2 is perfect!! Another contender is Taimak...The Last Dragon, you know "Bruce" Leroy Green & Shonuff!! For Jaraxle, Adoni Maropis or Johnny Depp, both can do the clever, nonchalant attitude. In any case, lots of body paint & make up. Peter Jackson would have to direct the whole thing, he really understands fantasy, hero, villains...etc...ok, that's my 2 cents....thanx!

Marra

12-11-2008, 05:48 PM

....ok very new to this so please don't laugh! With exception of the last 4 books I have read all of Drizzt's adventures...I agree with you guys that Luke Goss, Prince Nuada of HB2 is perfect!! Another contender is Taimak...The Last Dragon, you know "Bruce" Leroy Green & Shonuff!! For Jaraxle, Adoni Maropis, he was the bald cop in The Gristle or Johnny Depp, both can do the clever, nonchalant attitude. In any case, lots of body paint & make up. Peter Jackson would have to direct the whole thing, he really understands fantasy, hero, villains...etc...ok, that's my 2 cents....thanx!

Thundarr

12-11-2008, 07:07 PM

Drizzt Do'Urden: Jim Caviezel
http://www.eskimo.com/~toates/malick/trl/jim/jimrs.jpg

Not bad. I'd go with someone who has higher cheekbones and narrower chin. Christian Bale, Orlando Bloom, or James Marsters for example.

Cattie-brie: Alexis Bledel
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/sv/thumb/9/9b/300px-Alexis_Bledel.jpg

Excellent choice!

Wulfgar: Brandon Routh
http://blog.622design.com/weblog/images/mdf736045.jpg

I have to disagree on this one. Wulfgar is 7' tall and as strong as a hill giant. Brandon Routh is neither tall enough nor buff enough to play this role. Maybe Artemis Entreri, but not Wulfgar. While he may be a little too old to play an 18 year old Wulfgar, I'd say Tyler Mane is a better choice. Or just go with a relatively unknown actor who physically fits the bill.

Brueonor Battlehammer: Bob Hoskins
http://www.nndb.com/people/429/000024357/bhoskins2.jpg

Good choice if you're planning on using blue screens and camera tricks to make him look 4'6". Using an actual dwarf is cheaper and easier though. I'd go with Brett Beatty, John Rhyse Davies' scale double in the LOTR trilogy.

Regis Burrfoot: Peter MacNicol (Probably too old, so I'll consider him a filler, but I have someone else in mind, just can't figure out his name.)
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/tv.yahoo.com/images/he/photo/tv_pix/fox/ally_mcbeal_cast_photos/peter_macnicol/allymcbeal2.jpg

I don't know who that is, and you don't have a picture of him. Again, I'd go with an actual little person rather than use blue screens and camera tricks. In that case, gotta be Warwick Davis. Oh, and Regis doesn't have a last name. I think you're confusing Regis with Tasslehoff Burrfoot from the Dragon Lance novels (which would also make a great live action movie, but that's a topic for another thread).

Artemis Entreri: Leonardo DiCaprio
http://www.goldenbeaus.com/l_dicaprio/leo_dicaprio_front.jpg
Oh, HELL NO! No f**kin' way is Leonardo Decapitated going to play Artemis Entreri. I will hunt down and kill the person who casts him in that role! Ray Parks would be an infinately better choice. Or Thomas Jane. Or whichever known actor who didn't get the part of Drizzt, like the ones I mentioned above.

Thundarr

12-11-2008, 07:37 PM

Ewan Mcgregor was like thirtreen years older than Scarlett Johansson in The Island, and still it worked fine. I'll be honest that I haven't seen much of Bledel's work, but I was looking for someone who has to be young, because she was really young in Icewind Dale, and Drizzt was probably in his mid to late twenties. Same goes for Wulfgar, he was amazingly young.

Wulfgar was 13 when the barbarians attacked Ten Towns and he was rescued by Bruenor. Cattbrie is the same age as Wulfgar in the novels. You're way off on Drizzt's age though. He may be roughly the drow equivilant of a 20 year old in The Chrystal Shard, but he's much older than that. I believe he was 40 when he left Menzoberrenzan (it's been awhile ince I've read Homeland), he spent ten years living on his own in the wilds of The Underdark, another year living with Mooshie, and then seven wandering The Realms trying to find his place. Since Cattibrie was 11 in Sojourn and she and Wulfgar are the same age, we can conclude that he lived in Icewind Dale for 2 years before the beginning of the first book. That would make him 65 by the time Cattibrie is 18. Drow are considered adults at about age 85, surface elves reach adulthood by 95 (if I'm remembering my Player's Handbook correctly).

Thundarr

12-11-2008, 07:58 PM

I've read the Drizzt books for years and JUDE LAW would be a HORRIBLE candidate for the role of Drizzt. He doesn't embody the element of Drizzt. A good candidate in my opinion (which doesn't compare to Drizzt's creator in the least I'm sure) would be Scott Speedman, he played the half werewolf, half vampire in the Underworld movies. He's got the look, the body, the fighting moves, the tenacity, and the kindness of what Drizzt would be like as a human.

:grin: By all means, as long as they don't cast a weenie to play the role of Drizzt, and as long as they stick to the book for a screenplay, then I pray that they make a Drizzt movie one day.

I had started a very similar thread on another site, and someone wrote on there that he met Bob Salvatore at a book signing for The Orc King. When asked who he'd like to see play Drizzt in a film adaptation of his books, he replied "Vin Diesel". I kid you not!

OsGom

12-12-2008, 12:00 PM

First of all I was referring to the way infravision was described in the novels. Matron Malice was described as her face turning white as she went into a rage. And are you referring to 2nd Edition infravision, or 3rd Edition Dark Vision? Because those are two different things. And in 3rd Ed, surface elves don't have Dark Vision, they have Low Light Vision, which is totally different.

Darkvision was introduced in the 3.0 edition of the game to replace both Ultravision and Infravision, which had become seen by some designers of the game as too logically inconsistent to continue using as-is.

So really the idea that Drow see in the Infrared spectrum doesn't exist anymore.

Regardless, unless it was filmed in the first person it's a moot point. As long as their eyes glow I think the audience will get the gist that they see in the dark somehow. It's been a while since I've read the Homeland series but Drow vision isn't really a part that stands out in my mind.

I think all you people who want live action and to cast actors like Bale, Dicapprio and McGreggor are HIGH.

If you are realistically thinking about adapting this series. Casting top tier actors and incorporating the level of effects required to really capture the audience just isn't financially feasible. Better to spend the money on effects and story. Get capable unknowns for the motion capture characters and hire a director with edge and vision.

Thundarr

12-12-2008, 05:40 PM

Darkvision was introduced in the 3.0 edition of the game to replace both Ultravision and Infravision, which had become seen by some designers of the game as too logically inconsistent to continue using as-is.

So really the idea that Drow see in the Infrared spectrum doesn't exist anymore.

Regardless, unless it was filmed in the first person it's a moot point. As long as their eyes glow I think the audience will get the gist that they see in the dark somehow. It's been a while since I've read the Homeland series but Drow vision isn't really a part that stands out in my mind.

R.A. Salvatore never converted his writing to 3rd edition terminology though. When Drizzt is seeing in the dark, Bob still refers to it as infravision. He's not changing the story to fit the new game rules, and Lizards Of The Coast be damned. And if you'd ever seen the size of the man, you wouldn't want to argue with him. Seriously, he looks like he could play Conan The Barbarian.

Anyway, Drow vision is a very important part of the first two books. In the prologue Bob makes reference to how to Dinin's heat sensing eyes, the lightless Underdark is far from colourless. He also makes a point of explaining that Dinin doesn't take a direct path on his lizard mount to his destination because footprints leave a residual heat train that those with infravision can follow. Then there's the part where Zaknafein has a spell cast upon him to cool his body to the same temperature as the air around him, making him virtually invisible in the infrared spectrum. Or the part when Zaknafien stacks coins on Drizzt's thumbs so he can toss them up in the air and catch them, and he keeps his hands on the coins as he speaks encouragement to Drizzt to warm them so that they're easier to see. And these are just examples off the top of my head. There are plenty more, like the fact that hook horror shells are the same temperature as the stone, making them difficult to see in infravision, etc, etc, etc.

OsGom

12-12-2008, 10:18 PM

R.A. Salvatore never converted his writing to 3rd edition terminology though. When Drizzt is seeing in the dark, Bob still refers to it as infravision. He's not changing the story to fit the new game rules, and Lizards Of The Coast be damned. And if you'd ever seen the size of the man, you wouldn't want to argue with him. Seriously, he looks like he could play Conan The Barbarian.

Anyway, Drow vision is a very important part of the first two books. In the prologue Bob makes reference to how to Dinin's heat sensing eyes, the lightless Underdark is far from colourless. He also makes a point of explaining that Dinin doesn't take a direct path on his lizard mount to his destination because footprints leave a residual heat train that those with infravision can follow. Then there's the part where Zaknafein has a spell cast upon him to cool his body to the same temperature as the air around him, making him virtually invisible in the infrared spectrum. Or the part when Zaknafien stacks coins on Drizzt's thumbs so he can toss them up in the air and catch them, and he keeps his hands on the coins as he speaks encouragement to Drizzt to warm them so that they're easier to see. And these are just examples off the top of my head. There are plenty more, like the fact that hook horror shells are the same temperature as the stone, making them difficult to see in infravision, etc, etc, etc.

I understand what you're saying. And it's possible I am wrong and infravision is still used but I have read all the Drizzt books and the War of the Spiderqueen series etc etc. I did not notice any mention of infravision, heat signatures or temperature variances in any recent literature. I remember it from the Homeland series but don't recall it having much impact since.

However, I just don't think this is pivotal to the story. You and i might eat this level of detail up but it wont appeal to a broader audience. Keep it simple, Drow live underground and have adapted to seeing in the lightless environment. They can discern shapes (as in normal, daylight vision) but only in shades of grey. No need to make them more alien (ala Predator) then they are already.

Think about it. The creators of D&D removed it because it wasn't logical. Let's say you take the time to establish infravision. That's baggage Drizzt has to carry around with him throughout any future films. Your creating questions that would take up valuable story time to answer. There is way too much story to waste time on such an insignificant (albiet cool) detail. You do a few seconds of first person in the opening scene and you establish Drow can see in the dark. Done.

Wildfire

12-13-2008, 09:55 PM

My apologies for coming into the conversation so late but in my quest to read any info on any possibility of a Drizzt movie I saw this and had to read it.

Wow, there’s a lot that’s been discussed so far!

Anyway, I figured I’d offer my 2 cents.

As far as fantasy movies being made it seems to be the cool thing to do. Finally the genre is being taken seriously thanks to LotR and Harry Potter (though I credit LotR more than HP). I’m not sure who I would pick as actors for any given part but some good ones have been mentioned so far. I don’t think they have to be African-American actors but if they are, that works too. The advent of CGI can do pretty much anything as far as making a movie look at it should.

If they do make a movie(s) I hope they start with The Dark Elf Trilogy and have the guts, as Peter Jackson did with LotR, to film the whole thing at once. The complexity of Drizzt warrants it I think. If not The Dark Elf Trilogy then there really is no other choice other than Icewind Dale.

It’s the right time for this movie. People finally know what a Hobbit/Halfling is, they’re not afraid of “Satan’s Game” D&D (most you probably remember those years, eh?...silly), and they really need something like this in our bizarre real life times to escape. Did I mention that the books are NYT Bestsellers? My hope beyond hope is that Wizards of the Coast have absolutely nothing to do with it…at all…nada…zip…zilch.

On to other things.

Cliche. There was a comment calling these characters cliché and repeated and such. Anyone would be hard pressed to make an original anything. Great themes and characters endure repetition and retellings simply because they hit us in profound ways…these characters and stories do at least that.

Infravision. It’s a complete non-issue. Why? How many movies are made that are filmed in the first person? Not too many methinks. The majority are done in third person where we get to see what is happening as an uninvolved participant. Don’t mention the vision and people won’t think about it (ie. Don’t remind the teacher she forgot to give homework).

The Menzoberranzan setting is dark…illumination wise. For sake of filming it could be lightened a little bit. I’ve seen lots of movies that have night scenes and if you look in the background there is this spot/flood light beyond the horizon that is there for the sole purpose of night filming. It realistically has no logic or place in the scene (don’t try and convince me with the “Moon excuse”) yet we suspend disbelief or don’t even acknowledge it at all because we’re focused on the action (kind of like slight of hand magic tricks). I’m by no means a film smith so I might be off base in saying that something like that could be done.

I’m sure we’ve all endured many b-rated, camp style fantasy movies and tv shows. Thankfully, fantasy movies are contenders in the film arena. I hope to see Drizzt there before long.

Thundarr

12-15-2008, 11:34 PM

I understand what you're saying. And it's possible I am wrong and infravision is still used but I have read all the Drizzt books and the War of the Spiderqueen series etc etc. I did not notice any mention of infravision, heat signatures or temperature variances in any recent literature. I remember it from the Homeland series but don't recall it having much impact since.

It's mentioned less in later works, mostly because Drizzt doesn't need it that much while living Above. The War Of The Spider Queen series was written mostly by writers other than Salvatore. They've all bowed to the wishes of Lizards Of The Coast and refer to it as "Dark Vision" or "Drow Vision". Bob still refuses to do this however, to keep his newer novels consistant with his earlier ones.

However, I just don't think this is pivotal to the story. You and i might eat this level of detail up but it wont appeal to a broader audience. Keep it simple, Drow live underground and have adapted to seeing in the lightless environment. They can discern shapes (as in normal, daylight vision) but only in shades of grey. No need to make them more alien (ala Predator) then they are already.

This is why I suggested starting with Sojourn in the first place. There are only a couple of scenes where Drizzt uses his infravision. Like when Drizzt and Kellindel meet each other face to face, and it's dark enough for them both to be viewing each other in infravision. Or when Mooshie dies and Drizzt watches his body gradually cool. These can be done in first person POV shots, establishing how many demihumans and humanoids see in the dark. Then when they go back and make the prequels, all the infravision scenes will make perfect sense.

Think about it. The creators of D&D removed it because it wasn't logical. Let's say you take the time to establish infravision. That's baggage Drizzt has to carry around with him throughout any future films. Your creating questions that would take up valuable story time to answer. There is way too much story to waste time on such an insignificant (albiet cool) detail. You do a few seconds of first person in the opening scene and you establish Drow can see in the dark. Done.

First of all, Lizards Of The Coast didn't create D&D... They ruined it. They put TSR out of business with that idiotic Magic The Gathering card game of theirs, and then bought the company because "they were fans of D&D". Now they've turned D&D into a tabletop version of World Of Warcraft. Secondly, infravision wasn't complicated or illogical. In the context of the game it only meant that you could see in the dark without any light source. If DMs tried to add more detail to make it more like in the Dark Elf novels and it becomes more complicated, that's the fault of the DM and not the system. Third, Dark Vision is what's illogical. Drow don't see light reflecting off of objects because there is no light. They don't see heat signatures. So what the hell are they seeing when they are seeing in total darkness?

So start with Sojourn, continue with The Icewind Dale Trilogy and The Legasy Of The Drow. After Siege Of Darkness, go back and make Homeland and Exile. By this time everyone will be used to Drizzt's infravision from the rare occasions he gets to use it, and seeing an entire movie like that will be less disconserting. Then simply continue on with Passage To Dawn. Perhaps Homeland and Exile can be made at the same time as Sojourn, but not be released until after Siege Of Darkness. Or maybe release Sojourn first, then Homeland and Exile, then start in on The Icewind Dale Trilogy. Not only does this answer the "Infravision Question" to the uninitiated, but it also adds the human quality to the movie that some others have mentioned on this thread.

Thundarr

12-15-2008, 11:51 PM

I think all you people who want live action and to cast actors like Bale, Dicapprio and McGreggor are HIGH.

If you are realistically thinking about adapting this series. Casting top tier actors and incorporating the level of effects required to really capture the audience just isn't financially feasible. Better to spend the money on effects and story. Get capable unknowns for the motion capture characters and hire a director with edge and vision.

First of all, I never touch the Halfling Leaf. It just doesn't affect me, so why bother spending money on it?

Secondly, I believe the point of this thread was to list who we think should play what if they ever made a Drizzt movie. While I agree that having an entire cast of A-List actors would practically wipe out the films budget and finding good unknown actors to fit the bill, as they're unknown how am I supposed to list them? And if you go back and read my list of selections again, you'll find that except for a few main characters most of the people I had listed are relatively unknown. Both Orlando Bloom and Christian Bale would make a great Drizzt. But if you can't get/afford them, James Marsters is just as good, but not nearly as well known. I'd hardly call Lee Arenberg an "A-Lister", and most people don't even know who Brett Beatty is. Randal "Tex" Cobb gets plenty of work but is hardly an "A-Lister" either. About the only other A-List actors I had listed were Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel as possible Dove Falconhands and Donald Sutherland as Mooshie. Again, these are all just suggestions, doesn't mean they'll actually be cast.

And finally, while on a certain level I agree with the idea of doing these movies in motion capture animation (like Beowulf and Polar Express), casting the movie becomes a moot point. Just hire Rich Little and get him to do ALL the voices. I think the idea was to cast a live action adaptation.

OsGom

12-16-2008, 11:39 AM

And finally, while on a certain level I agree with the idea of doing these movies in motion capture animation (like Beowulf and Polar Express), casting the movie becomes a moot point. Just hire Rich Little and get him to do ALL the voices. I think the idea was to cast a live action adaptation.

Touche' sir. I believe you are correct there.

Thundarr

12-19-2008, 02:06 PM

I'd been thinking about the whole "shooting in infravision" debate, and I've had some ideas. First, I'd like to end the whole "infravision vs dark vision" debate. It belongs on another thread on a different website (penandpapergames.com or vancouvergamingguild.com for example).

Second, I've thought of how it could be done so as not be too confusing to the casual viewer but still maintain the integrity of the novels (and not piss off Bob). As I had mentioned before, film the entire thing in black and white and digitally make all the characters eyes glow red, ad faerie fire to the buildings in the background, and make Drizzt's eyes glow purple. Then insert POV shots intermittenly throughout the movie, especially in key scenes where the difference between infravision and normal vision are very important. Like Dinin looking around at the beginning of the film to make sure no one followed him to his meeting with Faceless. And Zaknafein having the cooling spell cast on him to make him virtually invisible in the infrared spectrum. And Dinin signalling to Nalfein that it's time to attack House Devir. And the coin trick when Zaknafein was trying to convince Malice that Drizzt should become a fighter. And Drizzt's attempt to rescue the drow child from the hook horrors. These can all have POV shots interjected into them to show people how the drow see without light.

Now the only problem is writing all the dialogue in the drow tongue and hoping the casual viewer doesn't become fed up with it.

Thundarr

12-19-2008, 02:21 PM

I don't understand why anyone would think that a dark elf would have to be played by an black actor. People of African descent aren't really "black" of course - they're brown. Dark elves would have to be true black or purple-skinned in a movie, so the actors would have to wear full makeup no matter what.

A non-black actor wearing dark elf makeup isn't the same thing as wearing racist blackface makeup.

I agree with you 110%. Any actor of any racial persuasion would have to wear full body black makeup, so casting an actor based on his race is pointless. Also, not to seem racist or anything, but many African-Americans are physically very unsuited for playing elves. Their lips are typically too full, their noses are typically too flat, and their faces are typicall too rounded. And the darker their skin, the more pronounced these traits tend to be. And these are all very unelvish looking physical features.

That being said, I think Halle Berry would make an excellent Matron Malice. Maya Do'Urden should be played by Lisa Bonet or Beyonce Knowles. And Vierna Do'Urden should be played by Kiera Knightly. I'm not sure who should play Briza Do'Urden. Maybe Joanie "Chyna Doll" Laurer or the actress who played Atalanta on Hercules: The Legendary Journies. Zaknafein should be played by Al Leong.

Thundarr

01-15-2009, 04:15 PM

THE FORGOTTEN REALMS PRESENTS...
A DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ADVENTURE...
THE CHRYSTAL SHARD
Based on the novel The Chrystal Shard by New York Times Best Selling Author R.A. Salvadore

The roles of Drizzt, Bruenor, Cassius, and most other returning characters from the first movie will be played by the same actors as the first movie. New characters and actors are listed below...

REGIS: My first choice for Regis is Warwick Davis. He's an excellent actor, he looks the part, he loves fantasy stories, and he's very well known. My second choice is Vern "Mini Me" Troyer. He's more of a comedic actor than Warwick, but he's more well known by the younger audience members. If I have to make a third choice, I'd have to say the guy who played Kramers friend Mickey on Seinfeld. He'd have to shave the beard and mustache, but he's a pretty good actor.

YOUNG CATTI-BRIE: Possibly an unknown. For a known actress I would say Dakota Fanning. Or possibly Lindsay Lohan's little sister, Ali Lohan. It's a small role so exactly who plays it doesn't really matter.

CATTI-BRIE: This actress will be playing the role throughout the entire franchise. My first choice is Lindsay Lohan. If she can stay out of jail/rehab long enough and stay clean & sober, she'd be great in the role. She's young enough to still play an 18 or 19 year old, her natural hair colour is red, and she has the sexy curves that are perfect for the role. She'll just need to spend some serious time in the gym to tone up her arms, legs, and stomach. She looks too soft to be someone who spent her entire life living with the very industrial dwarves. My second choice is Michelle Trachenburg (Dawn from TV's Buffy The Vampire Slayer). Like Lindsay, she has the youth, the beauty, and the curves required for the role. She'll need to dye her hair red, but other than that she's perfect.

YOUNG WULFGAR: If this film is made soon enough, the perfect person to play Wulfgar as a boy is "Little Hercules" Richard Sandrak. He was only seven years old when I first read about him back in 2000. That would make him about 14 now. Just the right age to play the youngster who breaks his pole over Bruenor's head during the barbarian assault on Ten Towns. If they don't make the movie soon enough, and the role of Young Wulfgar is given to someone else, if he's tall enough he might be right for the role of the fully grown Wulfgar. I don't have a second pick for this role.

WULFGAR: This is the Wulfgar who recieves the warhammer Aegis Fang and will be with the group for the next four movies at least. If it takes five or six years to get Sojourn made, and if he's tall enough, then Richard Sandrak should play Wulfgar. The only other actor I can think of who would make a good Wulfgar is Tyler Mane (Sabretooth from The X-Men and Michael Myers from Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween). He's the right size, has the right build, has the right colour hair, has some big movies under his belt as an actor. My only concern is he may be too old to play Wulfgar as a 19 or 20 year old barbarian. He'd be perfect to take over the role in Passage To Dawn should the Drizzt movies ever get made and the franchise actually goes that far. If neither Richard Sandrak nor Tyler Mane can take the role, I'd have to go with a complete unknown.

AKAR KESSEL: I don't really know of any actors who would be perfect for this role, but I can think of a few who might do a good job. James Vanderbeek (Dawson's Creek, Varsity Blues) is a fair actor. I've never seen him in any villainous roles, but I think he could pull it off. Scott Caan (Varsity Blues, Ready To Rumble, Gone In 60 Seconds) is also a fair actor. Much like James Vanderbeek, I've never seen him play any villainous roles. But if he's anywhere near as good as his dad at being a villain, he'd be great. Or maybe Joshua Jackson (Dawson's Creek, The Skulls, The Mighty Ducks I-III, Urban Legend). Again he's never really played a villain, but some of his past roles were real creaps. Point is it should be someone relatively well known, young enough to be relevant, but old enough to look too old to be a wizard's apprentice.

KING HEAFSTAAG: I've only got one choice for this character. Mark "The Undertaker" Calloway. He's the perfect size, has the right hair colour, is the right age. And it's not a huge role so he doesn't have to worry about a lot of lines to memorize.

KING BEORG: Another role with only one choice. Terry "Hulk" Hogan. He's the right size, has the right hair colour (what's left of it), and is the right age. He's also had plenty of movie and television experience (No Holds Barred, Rocky III, Suburban Commando, Santa With Muscles, Thunder In Paradise, Mr. Nanny). Bad acting isn't much of a consideration because the character dies early in the story anyways.

ARTEMIS ENTRERI: This character is very minor in this movie, but as it's the first third of a trilogy it's important that he's properly cast, especially since he's going to be prominantly featured in the next four or five films (Streams Of Silver, The Halflings Gem, The Legasy, and Starless Night) First choice is Colin Farrel. He has the look and the build to play Artemis Entreri. He's also an A List actor who's name will help draw an audience and he did an excellent job as Bullseye in Dare Devil. Second choice is Christian Bale. He's a very good actor. He did an excellent job as a villain in American Psycho as well as in Shaft. He's very physically fit. And he's another A Lister. My third choice is Ray Parks, who is the guy who played Darth Maul in The Franchise Menace and Toad in The X Men . He's really well known among Sci-Fi geeks, he's a blackbelt in ninjitsu, and he has the perfect look for the role. Also, as he's no "A Lister", he'd be cheaper to hire. Finally, I would give the role to whichever actor didn't get the role as Drizzt. If for example, Orlando Bloom were cast as Drizzt, I'd probably give the role of Artemis Entreri to James Marsters. Marc Dacascos I would likely recast as Jarlaxl in The Legasy.

That-Guy

01-16-2009, 02:56 PM

Thundarr

01-20-2009, 05:30 PM

Thundarr, I love the fact that due to your efforts, this thread has officially become the "Thread that Wouldn't Die," but I have to say... I HATE most of your casting choices. The only ones that I like are Warwick Davis (but he's been in so many fantasy movies I think it's time to find a new little person actor) and maybe Bale or Farell. But Lindsay Lohan? The Undertaker? Um... Hulk Hogan? Were you being serious?

1) Lindsay Lohan is a highly underrated actress. Before her success went to her head she was making some decent movies. I really enjoyed the remakes of The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday. I also thought Mean Girls was alot of fun. Then she started making movies just for the sake of making enough money to pay her coke dealers and everything went to crap. She has the right look, and if she can keep her head in the game she could do a great job. The movie could be the comeback role she's been looking for. Besides, the actress should be in her early twenties and should have red (or at least reddish) hair. Dye jobs and wigs just look fake.

2) How many near 7' tall red haired actors can you think of? Marc doesn't need to do much besides agree to the aliance between the barbarian tribes of The Dale and then die in a duel with Wulfgar. It's an important character, but a pretty small role that's hard to screw up. If you can come up with a better suggestion I'd love to hear it.

3) Again, how many 6'7" blonde haired actors do you know who are old enough to play a barbarian king? This role is just as important as King Heafstagg's but even smaller and harder to screw up. All he has to do is forge the aliance between the barbarian tribes of The Dale and then die in the attack on Ten Towns. The Hulkster might not be the greatest actor, but he has the right look and the role is simple enough that even he couldn't screw it up. Besides, I've been a Hulkamaniac most of my life and I'd like to see him in the role. But if you have a better suggestion, I'm all ears.

4) Warwick Davis might have been in alot of fantasy movies, but most of them have him in so much prosthetic makeup you can't even recognize him (Lepricaun 1-4, Return Of The Jedi, the Harry Potter movies, etc). I think it would be nice to have him in one where the only prosthetics are the hairy hobbit feet, so we can see his face.

Jarlaxle

08-26-2009, 01:33 PM

Thundarr

08-27-2009, 03:45 AM

sorry to interrupt you guys, but I think that Luke Goss would make an excellent Drizzt. Luke is the prince from hellboy 2. Hes not a big actor, hes good with a blade, and he has the body build and the eligancy of a drow. Luke Goss is the perfect person to play the part.

Just rewatched Hellboy II recently. You're right, he would make a pretty good Drizzt. Or maybe another key drow character, like Dinin or Jarlaxle.

That-Guy

08-27-2009, 10:50 AM

Thundarr

08-27-2009, 03:56 PM

Yeah, I remember watching Hellboy 2 and I practically jumped out of my seat and screamed Drizzt.

Question for you guys. Would you rather see films that follow the Drizzt books faithfully, or do you think it would be more interesting to see a new story that encompasses the whole of the Forgotten Realms universe, with Drizzt as a major player?

I ask because, while I love Salvatore's books, I'm not sure that they would translate as well to film as one would hope. I think that Homeland and Exile could work as films, but Sojourn probably wouldn't. The Icewind Dale trilogy also would have problems... chiefly because I think that people would accuse the first two parts of the story as being LOTR and Hobbit rip-offs. The Legacy of the Drow series has a lot of potential, but that would have to be made WAY down the line.

So I'm wondering if the best way to go is to go the route of superhero films and have a new story that features Drizzt but isn't specifically based on any of the books. His origin could still be kept intact, but the actual adventure would be new and feature some of the other major players in the Forgotten Realms. I think what would be needed is a story that is on a grand scale... most of the Drizzt books feature more isolated conflicts. And while I don't necessarily feel that a Drizzt or FR movie needs "top" Lord of the Rings, I think that if they don't make it ambitious, critics and audiences would just write it off as a cheap LOTR wannabe without giving it a chance.

I have to disagree with you on the Drizzt Do'Urden novels not translating well to film. I think they'd translate to film better than JRR Tolkien's LOTR did. Bob Salvatore writes very detailed action scenes, which a stunt/fight choreographer could easily develope into an action scene for film.

As for the similarities between the Drizzt novels and the Hobbit and LOTR novels, it's true that many people would probably view them as Salvatore ripping off Tolkien. But those people are idiots. People who have read the novels and read up on Bob Salvatore would know that those similarities are done as a tribute to those books, as an homage, and there is a difference. They'll probably learn that after they rent the movie on DVD and watch it with feature length commentary.

Also, of the entire Dark Elf Trilogy, Sojourn translates easiest to film, not Homeland and Exile. Those ones are more difficult due to the number of elaborite sets that would have to be built. The entire script would have to be performed in the Drow tongue. Trying to come up with a way to establish drow infravision to the uninitated audience (like I wrote earlier, intercut POV shots of characters looking around in infravision, shoot the rest of the movie in black & white making the characters eyes glow red or purple through CGI, and have the screen suddenly go white whenever a candle is lit, etc). Sojourn takes place mostly in the wilderness, which means minimal sets need to be built, they just need to find some good shooting locations.

That-Guy

08-27-2009, 05:00 PM

You make good points, and you might be right. However, you do have to acknowledge that the general public isn't going to realize that Salvatore is making a homage to Tolkien, and even if they do, it's not really going to matter. People are going to be thinking, "I've seen this before, and I liked it better the first time." And while I've read his books, I personally feel they got better once he moved away from the Tolkien influence. Homage or not, I really found the first two books in Icewind Dale to be somewhat run-of-the-mill, but the series really picked up in The Halfling's Gem.

As for Sojourn translating better than Homeland and Exile... yes, it's true that it would be easier to film, from a technical standpoint. I meant in terms of story... Homeland follows a more conventional narrative, as does Exile. Sojourn is more of an introspective story that might play well in a book, but I could see audiences getting bored with it. Also, can you imagine how amazing the visuals could look in a movie set in the Underdark? It wouldn't be easy... but a talented director could make it work. And audiences would be thinking "WOW! This is something I've never seen before."

The Drow language thing is something that they could probably just do away with in favor of a "common tongue." Whenever the Drow need to speak something only they can understand, they could just use their sign language.

Thundarr

08-27-2009, 05:56 PM

You make good points, and you might be right. However, you do have to acknowledge that the general public isn't going to realize that Salvatore is making an homage to Tolkien, and even if they do, it's not really going to matter. People are going to be thinking, "I've seen this before, and I liked it better the first time." And while I've read his books, I personally feel they got better once he moved away from the Tolkien influence. Homage or not, I really found the first two books in Icewind Dale to be somewhat run-of-the-mill, but the series really picked up in The Halfling's Gem.

As for Sojourn translating better than Homeland and Exile... yes, it's true that it would be easier to film, from a technical standpoint. I meant in terms of story... Homeland follows a more conventional narrative, as does Exile. Sojourn is more of an introspective story that might play well in a book, but I could see audiences getting bored with it. Also, can you imagine how amazing the visuals could look in a movie set in the Underdark? It wouldn't be easy... but a talented director could make it work. And audiences would be thinking "WOW! This is something I've never seen before."

The Drow language thing is something that they could probably just do away with in favor of a "common tongue." Whenever the Drow need to speak something only they can understand, they could just use their sign language.

You too make some good points. I would like to say that while I do enjoy reading LOTR, I found Tolkien's style to be over written. While the first two books in The Icewind Dale Trilogy have some very obvious influences from LOTR (the goblin horde attacking Ten Towns, the corrupting influence of The Crystal Shard, the fight with the Balor, the body count competition between Wulfgar and Drizzt, etc) I think it was much better written. Very discriptive while at the same time being very well paced, rather than two whole pages being used to discribe an uneventful walk across an open field.

As for the language thing, having everyone speaking "common" as their native tongue regardless of race is a copout. They did that in the comics and it took something away from the story. In Sojourn, one of Drizzt's biggest trials in the beginning is his inability to communicate with his human neighbors due to the language barrier. This is another reason the franchise should start with Sojourn rather than Homeland or Crystal Shard. The problem is established and then overcome. We learn of Drizzt's history through the narrative (flashbacks, his talks with Mooshie, etc). And the story isn't as cerebral as you may think. Nearly half of it would be one long chase scene. Plus there would be some pretty spectacular battles throughout. Drizzt's assault on the barghest welps. The stone giants ambush of Dove Falconhand's hunting party. The orcs assault on Mooshie's grove. McGrissle's fight with Drizzt in Icewind Dale, and later with Bruenor. Audiences have more patience for a good story than you give them credit for, as long as it is a good story (unlike The Franchise Menace.

In order to keep people from crying "Rip off" when they see the Drizzt movies, they should promote the hell out of them. Have interviews on ET and Access Hollywood. Write blogs on the internet. Keep the public informed. Have "making of" specials shown on TV even before the first movie hits theatres. Tell everyone that they're staying as true to their source material as possible, then have Salvatore talking about his inspiration for the source material. Take away the ignorance of John Q Public and their ignorance will no longer be a deciding factor in the films success. I will agree with you on one thing though. With the right set design, CGI, and wardrobe, Homeland and Exile would be visually stunning.

Jarlaxle

08-28-2009, 10:39 AM

Thundarr

08-28-2009, 09:24 PM

It is all about the directer. Now if they have peter jackson direct it, it will probably be a little like LOTR. But if you have someone like Michel Bay or someone that likes more fighting scenes and special effects, then it wouldn't be anything like LOTR. Now they should start from the very beginning when drizzt was born and explain where he came from and how his life was with his family. How he struggled to find his place in the underdark. Make a very dark atmosphere and have very dark characters.

P.S. Liam Neeson for drizzts dad would be SWEET!

Liam Neeson as Zaknafein Do'Urden? Now why the hell didn't I think of that? He's an excellent actor, he's very good at playing older mentor type characters, and he had to learn swordsmanship for his roles in Rob Roy, The Franchise Menace, and Batman Begins. Very good choice, I likee.

O_o

08-30-2009, 03:56 AM

I was wondering (I did't read the whole forum) if someone mentioned Karl Urban as Entreri? I know that Hugh Jackman is a good actor (in my opinion), but Entreri... Should look younger. It was said that he is about 40, but looks like man even half his age, at the most 30.
And still both Jackman and Urban are quite tall...

Thundarr

08-30-2009, 04:53 PM

That-Guy

08-31-2009, 10:54 AM

You too make some good points. I would like to say that while I do enjoy reading LOTR, I found Tolkien's style to be over written. While the first two books in The Icewind Dale Trilogy have some very obvious influences from LOTR (the goblin horde attacking Ten Towns, the corrupting influence of The Crystal Shard, the fight with the Balor, the body count competition between Wulfgar and Drizzt, etc) I think it was much better written. Very discriptive while at the same time being very well paced, rather than two whole pages being used to discribe an uneventful walk across an open field.

As for the language thing, having everyone speaking "common" as their native tongue regardless of race is a copout. They did that in the comics and it took something away from the story. In Sojourn, one of Drizzt's biggest trials in the beginning is his inability to communicate with his human neighbors due to the language barrier. This is another reason the franchise should start with Sojourn rather than Homeland or Crystal Shard. The problem is established and then overcome. We learn of Drizzt's history through the narrative (flashbacks, his talks with Mooshie, etc). And the story isn't as cerebral as you may think. Nearly half of it would be one long chase scene. Plus there would be some pretty spectacular battles throughout. Drizzt's assault on the barghest welps. The stone giants ambush of Dove Falconhand's hunting party. The orcs assault on Mooshie's grove. McGrissle's fight with Drizzt in Icewind Dale, and later with Bruenor. Audiences have more patience for a good story than you give them credit for, as long as it is a good story (unlike The Franchise Menace.

In order to keep people from crying "Rip off" when they see the Drizzt movies, they should promote the hell out of them. Have interviews on ET and Access Hollywood. Write blogs on the internet. Keep the public informed. Have "making of" specials shown on TV even before the first movie hits theatres. Tell everyone that they're staying as true to their source material as possible, then have Salvatore talking about his inspiration for the source material. Take away the ignorance of John Q Public and their ignorance will no longer be a deciding factor in the films success. I will agree with you on one thing though. With the right set design, CGI, and wardrobe, Homeland and Exile would be visually stunning.

I don't know, I've debated long and hard over Tolkien's style versus Salvatore's style... I think that both have their strong and weak points. Tolkien does describe certain things in too much detail (landscapes, appearances) while not providing nearly enough detail to things that the reader REALLY wants to know more about (the battles). On the other hand, I think that the overall story is far superior to anything that Salvatore has crafted and (with the exception of the Hobbit) LOTR never becomes severely cheesy or silly.

Salvatore is a lot better at moving the story faster without completely avoid any description (Hello, C.S. Lewis) and does write fight sequences really well, but I think that he goes overboard at times with the swordfight stuff. It is interesting, but unless the reader has actual experience in swordfighting I think that a lot of that can be lost on them. I think that he does a good job of fleshing out the characters... probably better than Tolkien... but in terms of story, often it feels like there isn't much there. If he didn't craft such interesting characters, some of the stories were fairly average. But my biggest gripe about Salvatore is how he periodically doesn't take his own work seriously. The Harpells were f**king stupid. Silverymoon felt a bit too goofy and silly. And he actually named a dwarf Dagnabit (which I'm guessing he later regretted since the character is referred to as Dagna in later books).

Anyway, I don't want to trash the guy... I do love his work. And perhaps you're right... Sojourn might be a great place to start the story, as long as it includes flashbacks to Homeland and Exile.

The Franchise Menace... that's great. :hehe:

Jarlaxle

08-31-2009, 11:25 AM

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:cR4CzuaRp80zjM:http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/60/90/jessica_biel1ALT_300_400.0.0.0x0.300x400.jpeg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/60/90/jessica_biel1ALT_300_400.0.0.0x0.300x400.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://www.theinsider.com/photos/735934_I_love_Jessica_Biel&usg=__bJj-68oVosPmgVTlngYBZYXHliE=&h=400&w=300&sz=37&hl=en&start=38&um=1&tbnid=cR4CzuaRp80zjM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djessica%2Bbiel%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den% 26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1)
Jessica Biel as Cattibrie:wow:

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:LDHO_UZKfnzb-M:http://thefaust.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/brandon-routh2.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thefaust.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/brandon-routh2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thefaust.wordpress.com/2008/05/&usg=__jHoaqgk-PxhcNAH3IFJURnAZh4M=&h=1000&w=802&sz=63&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=LDHO_UZKfnzb-M:&tbnh=149&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrandon%2Brouth%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1)
Brandon Routh as Wulfgar

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:N2HnanUVdxbTCM:http://thewholegardenwillbow.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/matthew_mcconaughey_200907.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thewholegardenwillbow.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/matthew_mcconaughey_200907.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thewholegardenwillbow.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/indiana-jones-by-another-name/&usg=__zAt7_ysAeRkh0JxdCuQhGOCtjTU=&h=500&w=389&sz=19&hl=en&start=21&um=1&tbnid=N2HnanUVdxbTCM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmatthew%2Bmcconaughey%26ndsp%3D20%26h l%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1)
Mathew McConaughey as Artimis

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:dnSPnNAqMr0afM:http://static12.photo.sina.com.cn/orignal/4d01ee9aae9cb09b7b79b (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://static12.photo.sina.com.cn/orignal/4d01ee9aae9cb09b7b79b&imgrefurl=http://www.sidereel.com/Luke_Goss&usg=__SgosSQIu6PgZ0WpCuFbUVS6hsUM=&h=563&w=450&sz=43&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=dnSPnNAqMr0afM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3DLuke%2Bgoss%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1)
Luke Goss as Drizzt

As for Bruenor and Regis, Im totally lost. I dont have any idea who could play those two.

That-Guy

08-31-2009, 11:34 AM

Biel as Catti-brie might work. She's hot, a decent actress and is also very athletic. Goss as Drizzt is spot-on. Not sure about the other two though. I don't think Routh would look right as a blond. He's certainly big enough though. McConaughey though... yeah, I'm going to have to with "no" on that one. He'd have to drop the Southern drawl, first of all... has he ever done that? I've seen him play a few evil or psycho characters but I can't see him pulling off the soullessness you'd need for Entreri.

Daniel Craig, if he were willing to darken his hair, would be the perfect Entreri if he was a little younger.

Jarlaxle

09-03-2009, 04:02 PM

Fair enough, McConaughey would play a better jarlaxle than he would a artimis. Give him a shave and tell to act like he knows everything, I think he would do a good job.

Thundarr

09-03-2009, 06:52 PM

And he actually named a dwarf Dagnabit (which I'm guessing he later regretted since the character is referred to as Dagna in later books).

Anyway, I don't want to trash the guy... I do love his work. And perhaps you're right... Sojourn might be a great place to start the story, as long as it includes flashbacks to Homeland and Exile.

The Franchise Menace... that's great. :hehe:

Actually, Dagnabit is Dagna's son. He died during the defense of the town of Shallows in The Thousand Orcs. And I've said from the beginning that scenes from Homeland and Exile would be written into the Sojourn script to get the casual movie goer caught up on what happened to Drizzt prior to the movie.

Thundarr

09-03-2009, 07:04 PM

GhostPoet

09-04-2009, 03:21 PM

Dominic Purcell would be the ultimate Wulfgar. Come on now.

Thundarr

09-04-2009, 03:53 PM

Dominic Purcell would be the ultimate Wulfgar. Come on now.

Could you post a picture of him? I don't recognise the Name Purcell, so I don't know how good he'd be for the role. If Tyler Mane were younger, he'd be great. Maybe playing Wulfgar in Passage To Dawn and later books. Earlier books like from The Crystal Shard to The Legasy, they need someone in his late teens to mid twenties, who's about the same size.

GhostPoet

09-04-2009, 04:12 PM

http://images.askmen.com/galleries/men/dominic-purcell/pictures/dominic-purcell-picture-1.jpg

That-Guy

09-04-2009, 04:27 PM

I think Purcell is too old now... Wulfgar needs to look like he's in his early 20's.

That-Guy

09-04-2009, 04:29 PM

Also, unrelated... but I just found out that apparently Nicolas Cage was in consideration to play Aragorn back when they were getting ready to do The Lord of the Rings. I can't imagine how horrible that would have been.

Thundarr

09-04-2009, 10:14 PM

I think Purcell is too old now... Wulfgar needs to look like he's in his early 20's.

I concur. He might be good for playing Wulfgar in The Thousand Orcs, but you need someone who can at least pass for his late teens/early twenties for The Icewind Dale Trilogy and The Legasy.

Jarlaxle

09-08-2009, 11:00 AM

http://queen-of-outer-space.com/bh25t.jpg (http://queen-of-outer-space.com/bh25.jpg)
Brendan Gleeson as Bruenor

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:i_QTj6ipUZ1gTM:http://campuskitchens.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/jessica-biel.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://campuskitchens.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/jessica-biel.jpg&imgrefurl=http://campuskitchens.org/blog/page/2/&usg=__b6JTLmjckJ7CUcIybxj8N7Xjdbk=&h=400&w=300&sz=51&hl=en&start=15&um=1&tbnid=i_QTj6ipUZ1gTM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djessica%2Bbiel%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1)
Jessica Biel as Cattibre

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:dnSPnNAqMr0afM:http://www.brettahart.com/dimages/054339.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.brettahart.com/dimages/054339.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bonedryfilm.com/blog.php&usg=__j_pIJV_nb1XbPn3jhWUa4kaAfnA=&h=563&w=450&sz=43&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=dnSPnNAqMr0afM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3DLuke%2Bgoss%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1)

Luke Goss as Drizzt

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:QEx_UQECayBUPM:http://ddflowers.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/james-caviezel.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ddflowers.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/james-caviezel.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ddflowers.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/jim-caviezel-to-the-church/&usg=__B9D_XIk06JtoraIj6oTz3cFTnz4=&h=882&w=656&sz=46&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=QEx_UQECayBUPM:&tbnh=146&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3DJames%2BCaviezel%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3De n%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1)

James Caviezel as Artimis

http://www.google.com/images?q=tbn:JYtxZ90K0dxZOM::i184.photobucket.com/albums/x8/rlcmp/Nathanpi2.jpg&h=94&w=141&usg=__I88Zu4zLyQseTLwXEkaNtKAyEAM= (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x8/rlcmp/Nathanpi2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://celebrityonmovie.blogspot.com/2009/02/nathan-jones-in-troy.html&h=600&w=900&sz=128&tbnid=JYtxZ90K0dxZOM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnathan%2Bjones&hl=en&usg=__5tjEhcN9zwjore2m4X0ah3BeAA0=&ei=bWumSvqrLZGgsgO5uonPBQ&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image)

Nathan Jones as Wulfgar

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:hPMoHEsGZHaCnM:http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/photos/2006/09/TIFF_06_liam-neeson_01.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/photos/2006/09/TIFF_06_liam-neeson_01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/09/14/&usg=__K53jJuHmydfoyuBtBQg4_eAgQJU=&h=500&w=750&sz=116&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=hPMoHEsGZHaCnM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=141&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dliam%2Bneeson%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um %3D1)

Liam Neeson as Zaknafein

This will be my last time on here, this is the last casting list for you guys. I dont think it can get any better than this. If there is ever a movie about drizzt made, it should start from the begining when he was born and end the movie when he is leaving the cave with Quen. Explain how he was going to die if it wasn't for his brother being murdered in that war the day he was born. Going through his training with Zak and how he dealt with his mother. Drizzt (luke Goss) could even narrorate some of his inter turmoil. Anyway, good luck with the casting and I really hope this movie is going to be made.
God Speed;
Jarlaxle http://forums.superherohype.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

Thundarr

09-08-2009, 07:56 PM

http://queen-of-outer-space.com/bh25t.jpg (http://queen-of-outer-space.com/bh25.jpg)
Brendan Gleeson as Bruenor

Only if they do the same greenscreen technique that they used in LOTR for Gimli and the hobbits. This guy is HUGE. He would make a great King Heafstaag though.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:i_QTj6ipUZ1gTM:http://campuskitchens.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/jessica-biel.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://campuskitchens.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/jessica-biel.jpg&imgrefurl=http://campuskitchens.org/blog/page/2/&usg=__b6JTLmjckJ7CUcIybxj8N7Xjdbk=&h=400&w=300&sz=51&hl=en&start=15&um=1&tbnid=i_QTj6ipUZ1gTM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djessica%2Bbiel%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1)
Jessica Biel as Cattibre

I thought you wanted to start with the Dark Elf Trilogy. Cattibrie was only 10 or 11 when she met Drizzt. She'd be great for The Crystal Shard though.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:dnSPnNAqMr0afM:http://www.brettahart.com/dimages/054339.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.brettahart.com/dimages/054339.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bonedryfilm.com/blog.php&usg=__j_pIJV_nb1XbPn3jhWUa4kaAfnA=&h=563&w=450&sz=43&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=dnSPnNAqMr0afM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3DLuke%2Bgoss%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1)

Luke Goss as Drizzt

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:QEx_UQECayBUPM:http://ddflowers.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/james-caviezel.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ddflowers.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/james-caviezel.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ddflowers.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/jim-caviezel-to-the-church/&usg=__B9D_XIk06JtoraIj6oTz3cFTnz4=&h=882&w=656&sz=46&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=QEx_UQECayBUPM:&tbnh=146&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3DJames%2BCaviezel%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3De n%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1)

James Caviezel as Artimis

Those ones I agree with.

http://www.google.com/images?q=tbn:JYtxZ90K0dxZOM::i184.photobucket.com/albums/x8/rlcmp/Nathanpi2.jpg&h=94&w=141&usg=__I88Zu4zLyQseTLwXEkaNtKAyEAM= (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x8/rlcmp/Nathanpi2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://celebrityonmovie.blogspot.com/2009/02/nathan-jones-in-troy.html&h=600&w=900&sz=128&tbnid=JYtxZ90K0dxZOM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnathan%2Bjones&hl=en&usg=__5tjEhcN9zwjore2m4X0ah3BeAA0=&ei=bWumSvqrLZGgsgO5uonPBQ&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image)

Nathan Jones as Wulfgar

He's got the right build, but I don't know if he's tall enough. Also you want someone younger to play Wulfgar in The Icewind Dale Trilogy and The Legasy. You can recast him for Passage To Dawn, The Silent Blade, etc.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:hPMoHEsGZHaCnM:http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/photos/2006/09/TIFF_06_liam-neeson_01.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/photos/2006/09/TIFF_06_liam-neeson_01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/06/09/14/&usg=__K53jJuHmydfoyuBtBQg4_eAgQJU=&h=500&w=750&sz=116&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=hPMoHEsGZHaCnM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=141&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dliam%2Bneeson%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um %3D1)

Liam Neeson as Zaknafein

I totally agree.

This will be my last time on here, this is the last casting list for you guys. I dont think it can get any better than this. If there is ever a movie about drizzt made, it should start from the begining when he was born and end the movie when he is leaving the cave with Quen. Explain how he was going to die if it wasn't for his brother being murdered in that war the day he was born. Going through his training with Zak and how he dealt with his mother. Drizzt (luke Goss) could even narrorate some of his inter turmoil. Anyway, good luck with the casting and I really hope this movie is going to be made.
God Speed;
Jarlaxle http://forums.superherohype.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

I like your other casting suggestions.