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Atlas Shrugged Part 3 Cast: Who is John Galt? _#ASP3

Posted by sdesapio 10 years, 11 months ago to The Gulch: Promotions
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*** BEGIN PRESS RELEASE (Reposted from http://blog.atlasshruggedmovie.com/2014/...) ***

Los Angeles, California - January 23, 2014 - Atlas Distribution Company announced today that “Atlas Shrugged: Who is John Galt?” went into production on Monday, January 20th. The movie’s release is slated for September 2014.

The movie trilogy follows the three-part structure of Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel, “Atlas Shrugged.” The dystopian story takes place in a not-so-distant future with the nation’s economy approaching collapse. While overreaching government regulations persist in strangling the country’s few remaining entrepreneurs, society’s most productive have mysteriously disappeared.

At the helm of Part 3 will be seasoned award-winning Director Jim Manera who will be accompanied by Cinematographer, Gale Tattersall who previously worked as Director of Photography on Hugh Laurie's House M.D. as well as Tom Hanks' From Earth to the Moon.

“It’s very fulfilling for all us to be finishing the trilogy. Atlas Shrugged has impacted so many lives and we’re extremely proud to be bringing the final installment to the screen. The team we’ve assembled is nothing short of stellar. Part 3 is without question going to be the best of the trilogy.” said Producer John Aglialoro.

Atlas Distribution Company also announced today that the much anticipated role of John Galt will go to Kristoffer Polaha, an accomplished actor who, prior to working on Atlas, was profoundly influenced by Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead.” Kris has been in a variety of television shows including Ringer (CW), alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Life Unexpected (CW). He will next be seen in a regular role alongside Rainn Wilson in Fox's new show, Backstrom. His feature credits include a supporting role in Devil's Knot, opposite Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth.

The role of Dagny Taggart, heroine COO of Taggart Transcontinental, will be played by Laura Regan who has appeared in the AMC hit Mad Men as well as the movie Unbreakable with Bruce Willis.

Producer Harmon Kaslow said, “We’ve always known that finding the right actor to play John Galt was going to be a huge challenge, but as soon as Kris walked in the room and said ‘Hello’, we knew we found him. Kris is John Galt. We couldn’t be more pleased. Laura and Kris already have great chemistry together. Atlas fans everywhere are going to be blown away.”

Rounding out the cast of “Atlas Shrugged” heroes are acclaimed actors Joaquim de Almeida as Francisco d’Anconia, Eric Allen Kramer as Ragnar Danneskjöld, and Rob Morrow as Hank Rearden, as well as a host of other veteran actors.

The prior two “Atlas Shrugged” movies are currently available on DVD & Blu-ray, iTunes, or streaming on Netflix and Amazon.

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Official Movie Web Site: http://www.WhoIsJohnGalt.com
Official Atlas Shrugged Forum: http://www.GaltsGulchOnline.com

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About Atlas Distribution Company
Atlas Distribution Company was formed by John Aglialoro to distribute the trilogy adaptation of Ayn Rand’s epic novel, Atlas Shrugged and other motion pictures. For more information, visit http://www.AtlasShruggedMovie.com.

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*** END PRESS RELEASE ***

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Check out some exclusive behind the scenes pics attached. Thanks to Eudaimonia for compiling the IMDB links.

John Galt - Kris Polaha - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1119340
Dagny Taggart - Laura Regan - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716438
Francisco D'Anconia - Joaquim De Almeida - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0021835
Henry (Hank) Rearden - Rob Morrow - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001555
Ragnar Danneskjold - Eric Allen Kramer - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469503
Hugh Akston - Stephen Tobolowski - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0864997
Midas Mulligan - Mark Moses - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0608601
Ellis Wyatt - Lew Temple - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0854702
Cherryl Taggart - Jen Nikolaisen - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0993212
Eddie Willers - Dominic Daniel - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1563320
James Taggart - Greg Germann - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0314524
Head-of-State Thompson - Peter Mackenzie - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0533380
Floyd Ferris - Neal McDonough - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568180
Wesley Mouch - Louis Herthum - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0381043
Cuffy Meigs - Tony Denison - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208
Clem Weatherby - Claude Knowlton - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0461572
Gerald Starnes - Ned Vaugh - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0891224


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  • Posted by Itheliving 10 years, 10 months ago
    Speculation! Speculation! It all makes for gret gossip talking points but the main point is none of you have seen any of these actors in these rolls. You have no idea how they will look when they assume the role or how they will sound and act. They are all professional actors. Wait for the finished product and then make a judgment on the final product. They may all turn out horrible. Or perfect. Or somewhere in between. Speculate away but give the film makers a chance. Lets see how it turns out.
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  • Posted by jonhurwi 10 years, 9 months ago
    First off to recast for every part of the trilogy is completely unprofessional.
    I understand that the recast from the first to the second film was needed seeing as the first film was a complete shocker and upset (yes the first film was so bad that it took me a year and a half to finally watch the second film). Having watched part 2 I was pleased with the cast and actually came to enjoy the film, albeit begrudgingly. To now change the cast again is crazy and if you are going to do it then at least do it right.

    Joaquim is way to old and ugly to play Francisco.
    Jason Beghe did a great job of playing Hank. He had the intensity and strength of will that makes Hank such an awesome character. The new actor doesn't have those same traits.
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  • Posted by thecollective 10 years, 10 months ago
    Call me a geek, but I'm curious to see if they are actually going to include the fisherman's wife from the opening scenes of part 3 of the novel, and who will play the part. It has been said that the brief mention of the fisherman's wife in Atlas Shrugged was Ayn Rand's own way of starring in her novel, the same way that Alfred Hitchcock always played a bit part in his films. If you're unfamiliar with what I'm speaking of, pick up the book in skim the first dozen or so pages of part 3. The description of the character is very obviously a word for word description of Rand.
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  • Posted by eskslo 10 years, 11 months ago
    No cast will ever be perfect as we all have a different vision in our heads from AR. That being said I have watched AS 1 and 2 at least 10 times each. For a variety of reasons AS1 resonates more with me overall. I know AS2 had a higher budget, etc but 1, for all it's flaws still holds together best in my opinion.
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  • Posted by ericschultz 10 years, 11 months ago
    Two good things I just read above about this 3rd, and final part, film of the novel are that the Cinematographer worked on two shows that I really liked, and that "John Galt" will be played by an actor, Kris, who actually read and was influenced by Ayn Rand's work. The Producers say it will be the best yet…but I really wonder if they can beat Part 1, especially the music. I hope so. In any event, I will be at the theater, more than once, to support it!
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  • Posted by slfisher 10 years, 11 months ago
    ROB MORROW is Hank Rearden? LOL

    Greg Germann is a great choice for James Taggert though he seems a little long in the tooth for it.

    It'd be nice if the movies could have at least some of the same cast from one episode to the next.
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  • Posted by $ nickursis 10 years, 11 months ago
    Very interesting casting decisions. Laura Regan does have what I would call a "Dagny" look to her. Although not a primary, Tony Denison will have an interesting time pulling off Cuffy Meigs. He was a character it didn't take very long to dislike, only a few seconds longer that Wesley. Good luck to the cast and crew. This round of AS may be much more successful, now that reality is getting much closer to the story.
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  • Posted by freedomforall 10 years, 11 months ago
    If only the casting people actually understood Rand's principles. Then they might have chosen the best actors for the job in the beginning.
    If only the producers had a clue about making movies, then they would have contracted with the original cast for the entire series, with an exit $$ paid to the actor if the producers absolutely had to replace them.
    These people are complete clowns.
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    • Posted by rlewellen 10 years, 11 months ago
      There was nothing wrong with the first set of actors they were superb. The story requires alot of introduction and build to find John Galt.
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      • Posted by freedomforall 10 years, 11 months ago
        Can't say I'd agree with superb, but certainly they did an admirable job and I doubt I'd have made these comments if those AS1 actors had made AS2 and were making AS3. Definitely the AS1 cast was significantly better (as was virtually everything) when compared to AS2. The clowns blew it by not contracting for that AS1 cast for the series. I don't know the inside details of those contracts, but experienced professionals would not have made those mistakes, and then continued to make the same errors again. While I admire Agliolaro for getting the movie made, the results on-screen have been disappointing.
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        • Posted by rlewellen 10 years, 11 months ago
          The inside story is that when you hire actors for a sequel their salary goes way up.
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          • Posted by freedomforall 10 years, 11 months ago
            Quality results often cost more than mediocre results. The message in Atlas Shrugged deserves to be good quality. After watching AS1 I was inspired and hopeful that the ragged edges would be improved in AS2. AS2 was a great disappointment and based on experience I don't expect much better in AS3. Perhaps the next producers (in 20 years or more) will have deep enough pockets to do a job that Ayn Rand would admire.
            I can heartily recommend the book and the audio book, but not the movies.
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            • Posted by rlewellen 10 years, 11 months ago
              I watched Fountainhead for for the first time recently. Mind you, Ayn Rand was there.for that. I think there is a bit of rigidity in her characters. Economic Freedom pointed out earlier that the main characters except Rearden were two dimensional, that is an issue.
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              • Posted by freedomforall 10 years, 11 months ago
                I agree, there are some challenges to presenting Rand's fiction today (and also in mid 20th century.) However, I can still recommend the Fountainhead (movie). The essential ideas are there albeit somewhat melodramatic. It also was pretty well cast with actors who could bring people into the theatre. I haven't seen We, the Living, have you?
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                • Posted by slfisher 10 years, 11 months ago
                  I have. It was pretty interesting, though of course dated and not the way we'd make a movie now.
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                  • Posted by Maritimus 10 years, 11 months ago
                    The story of "We the Living" is a story that Ayn Rand told and, I believe, described as the closest thing to an autobiography that she will ever write. That story is in her book. Cinema is a different art form and in many ways inferior in story telling. The Italian movie based on her book is only a pale shedow of the original, even as it used much more famous actors than any in Atlas Shrugged movies.
                    I have lived, personally, through almost two decades of an initial communist tyranny. Never ever have I red a better and more vivid description of that reality and its "feel" on your own skin than Rand's novel. No movie screenplay can convey it as well as the original book did and does.
                    My advice: read the book; forget the movie.
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    • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 11 months ago
      I wouldn't be so hard on them. Making a quality movie with some of the aspects in AS is rather challenging. Steel factories, huge span bridges, railroads and trains, those are challenging things to film and make it look larger than life. All in all, I think they've done a credible job of presenting a series of 2 (and hopefully 3) movies that have remained remarkably faithful to the book.
      Would I have done things differently? Perhaps. I've come to look at the cast changes as a means of exemplifying that anyone could be any of these characters.
      The only thing that I will criticize is the change in the "permanent" location sets - Hank's office and plant and the offices of TT should have been kept the same.
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  • Posted by $ Mimi 10 years, 11 months ago
    I’m kind of digging Joaquim de Almedia for Francisco. If you ignore his age...he does have that rare ability to traslate to screen the motor of a man’s mind working in overdrive. Francisco has been playing a double -life with Dagny; Almedia is perfect for this.
    Looking forward to seeing everyone in action.
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  • Posted by Itheliving 10 years, 11 months ago
    And, to make this film and story come full circle, bring back Elia Cmiral to provide a score and let us hear John Galt's Theme once again. Who is John Galt? Elia told us with his music. Let him have a chance to restate it.
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  • Posted by $ winterwind 10 years, 11 months ago
    I wasn't at all impressed with Polaha until I saw the full-face photo. oh, yeah, he'll do. Haven't heard his voice yet, but I might even forgive the "not blonde" choice.

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  • Posted by Cindy 10 years, 11 months ago
    Love the choice for John Galt. Exactly how I have pictured him. :) So glad they didn't go mainstream. The rest of the cast seem great as well, love the choice of Rob Morrow for Hank. Can't wait for the release in September. :)
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  • Posted by stadler178 10 years, 11 months ago
    Okay. Nice to finally hear who the cast is. So, let's see who I've actually seen out of this cast. We've got...Salazar from '24' as d'Anconia. Okay. He was also the voice of Bane in 'Justice League: Doom'. Not the guy I'd think of, but still an accomplished actor.

    As Dagny, the actress who played the young Audrey in 'Unbreakable'. Not exactly memorable, but hey, I'll give her a chance. Maybe it'll work out.

    Then we've got...a guy who was in 'Good Luck Charlie' as THE pirate, Ragnar. I don't know. I kept seeing Chris Hemsworth in my head as this character, crazy as that may sound. No way they could afford him.

    So they got Bob from 'Heroes' as Hugh Akston? Now that's funny. I kept thinking of more of a Christopher Lee or Frank Langella kind of persona. Still, he's a good actor. Actually, it would've been funnier to make him Midas Mulligan, considering his special power on 'Heroes' ;).

    Then you've got M. Bison from 'Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li' as Floyd Ferris. I can see that working. Not that Neal McDonough is known for that movie alone--he's been around a good while--I just can't remember other stuff. He was in a Star Trek movie, too, as I recall, 'First Contact', maybe? Yes. Oh, and I forgot he was in 'Captain America'. A good addition to the cast.

    I think it makes sense that Galt should be a relative unknown. I just hope he has a good, memorable voice. I look forward to seeing/hearing him.

    All in all, I have no idea what to make of the casting because I've never seen quite a few of these actors/actresses. Either that's a good thing or a bad thing. Guess we'll find out in September...
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    • Posted by livesimply 10 years, 11 months ago
      "I think it makes sense that Galt should be a relative unknown. I just hope he has a good, memorable voice. I look forward to seeing/hearing him."
      I agree. And to me, Kris Polaha kinda reminds me of Paul Johannson from AS 1, even though we never SAW him. I'm fine with him, but he's gotta have a real PRESENCE about him.
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  • Posted by ShruginArgentina 10 years, 11 months ago
    I stopped "checking out" the cast after seeing the IMDB photos of the actors who will play John and Dagny.

    I think Ayn would be pleased, at least on the basis of their attractiveness, and I can hardly wait to see the final chapter!
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  • Posted by EconomicFreedom 10 years, 11 months ago
    What's amusing about the three actresses cast as Dagny in this trilogy is that, with only minor differences among them, they all look alike — blonde, frail, wispy, and bit waif-like. Kaslow and Aglialoro must have a "thing" for that.

    I don't see steely strength in any of them.

    Also, if I remember correctly, the character of Cherryl was not a head-turning hottie, but a somewhat plain girl whose head was turned by the attentions (actually, manipulations) of James Taggart.
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    • Posted by rlewellen 10 years, 11 months ago
      Economic Freedom age may play a role there. I don't know your age, but if you have not worked with many women in charge especially attractive ones that might skew the perception that a women can be good looking have brains and be a bit steely.
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      • Posted by EconomicFreedom 10 years, 11 months ago
        >a women can be good looking have brains and be a bit steely.

        I don't know what you're talking about. Regarding the casting for Dagny, I criticized the 3 iterations of almost identical-looking blonde, frail, and wispy women (I also threw in frail). Nothing wrong with being attractive.

        For my money, nothing said "attractive", "ballsy", "steely", and "classy" better than Barbara Stanwyck. Here's Dagny:

        http://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Stanwy...

        The hat might be a bit old-fashioned, but definitely keep that mink stole, honey!

        She had the kind of screen persona that allowed her convincingly to melt in front of a guy that turned her on, as well as to say, "Oh, go eff yourself!" to one who got in her way. There could be fireworks between her and Rearden, and mortar fire between her and her brother James.

        There's a very interesting early movie with Stanwyck playing an ultra-successful and aggressive businesswoman called "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers". She's manipulated at a young age into marrying a wealthy, but weak-willed, scion of a social-climbing family (very ably played by a very young Kirk Douglas — in fact, it might have been his first major role). It's a completely different kind of story from Atlas, but you'll see the sort of range Stanwyck had, especially when playing a successful, powerful woman.

        Luckily, it's free to watch on YouTube. See link:

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38dHmVqJ...
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        • Posted by Hiraghm 10 years, 11 months ago
          "For my money, nothing said "attractive", "ballsy", "steely", and "classy" better than Barbara Stanwyck"

          Ann Francis and Lauren Bacall come to mind, also.

          I watched Stanwyck for years on The Big Valley without liking her much. Then I caught "Stella Dallas" on tv. In the ending scenes she broke my heart. And of course I liked her performance in "Executive Suite".
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b0HloNhm...
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    • Posted by $ Hiraghm 10 years, 11 months ago
      lol... Samantha Mathis is hardly "waif-like", although she was in the Super Mario Brothers movie.

      Cherryl wasn't a head turning hotting in ASp2, either.
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      • -1
        Posted by EconomicFreedom 10 years, 11 months ago
        >lol... Samantha Mathis is hardly "waif-like",

        LOL...yes she is.

        http://www.basedefotos.com/files/images/...

        A bit scrawny, but, hey — whatever floats your boat.

        As for Cherryl:

        Kaslow and Aglialoro cast a hottie this time — pointlessly.
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        • Posted by Hiraghm 10 years, 11 months ago
          LOL... did you see ASP2? The woman was hardly "waif-like". I didn't say she wasn't a small woman.
          But she definitely had meat on her bones.
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        • -3
          Posted by EconomicFreedom 10 years, 11 months ago
          Two actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood might have been perfect for Cherryl:

          CHERRYL 1
          http://imgur.com/j7AgoKJ
          (Teresa Wright. You can see her in solid supporting rolls in Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt" starring Joseph Cotten, as well as in "Mrs. Minniver" starring Greer Garson. Wright was pretty, but not "hot", and always had a kind of naivete about her.)

          CHERRYL 2
          http://imgur.com/AMyzz34
          (Betsy Blair played the plain-looking girlfriend of Ernest Borgnine in the movie version of "Marty" (I think her character was a high-school science teacher))
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  • Posted by EconomicFreedom 10 years, 11 months ago
    >“We’ve always known that finding the right actor to play John Galt was going to be a huge challenge, but as soon as Kris walked in the room and said ‘Hello’, we knew we found him.

    LOL!

    No professional casting agent makes decisions that way.

    Three movies, with three different casts. So much for continuity.
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