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

[The Lizard]

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.

 

[The Phantom]

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]

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.

Told ya.

 

[dpm07]

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]

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?

 

[The Phantom]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[The Phantom]

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.

 

[The Lizard]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

bump

 

[Chopsticks]

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>

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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]

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

 

[Hudson]

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

 

[samblade16]

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]

i'd love this movie

 

[kattibrie]

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]

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