Galt's Gulch
15

ASP3: This is John Galt

Posted by sdesapio 11 years, 6 months ago to Entertainment
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Ideally, the actor playing John Galt in Atlas Shrugged Part 3 will appear to have jumped right off of the pages of Atlas Shrugged. However, in our quest to find the perfect John Galt, some tough choices may have to be made. That's where you come in.

If you had to choose, which would you consider the number one priority in casting John Galt?

A. As long as the actor looks and acts like John Galt, I don't care what his personal beliefs are.
B. The actor needs to possess a deep understanding of, and passion for, Ayn Rand's ideas first and foremost.

Leave your answer in the comments below.

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  • Posted by TeronGorefiend 11 years, 6 months ago
    Hi...I am right now not sure how old is John Galt in Atlas (I am now on page 729 and though I can read in english fine, it´s not my mother tongue...but about the actors, Benedict Cumberbatch with different haircut could work, Christian Bale or I can Imagine Michael C. Hall...And about A and B...more B than A, because I have to believe him he is not just reading the script
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  • Posted by Bobthefirst 11 years, 6 months ago
    Without a doubt... B!

    I'm not sure how much weight you are giving the answers to these questions, but it is a huge turn off when an actor does a job ONLY for the money. Rand's work was about the refusal to compromise principles... why, then, would we choose an actor who is compromising their values to play a part with which they disagree? There ARE Libertarian actors out there... ask Clint Eastwood or Drew Carey for a recommendation!
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  • Posted by gblaze47 11 years, 6 months ago
    B. The actor needs to possess a deep understanding of, and passion for, Ayn Rand's ideas first and foremost.

    He has to show the emotion of what he believes in!

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  • Posted by Sneferu 11 years, 6 months ago
    Talent is the most important consideration. As for looks, someone who looks like Mark Wahlberg or Christian Bale or Montgomery Clift would be excellent.
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  • Posted by RKinRoanoke 11 years, 6 months ago
    A couple of younger guys that would do a good job as they can play "everyman" as well as "intellectual" are Channing Tatum and Joseph-Gordon Levitt. Don't know either gents philosophy, but as others have said, reading the book can lead to an epiphany.
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  • Posted by ecam 11 years, 6 months ago
    "B" would be nice, but, since you're trying to reach the "Eddie Willers" types, I would say a younger version of Harrison Ford just might do the trick.
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    • Posted by phowland 11 years, 6 months ago
      Atlas Shrugged doesn't "reach" anyone who will be taken in by a pretty face; it confuses and frightens them (and Eddie Willers was not that shallow). Casting a person based purely on his looks would destroy this movie. B isn't just the preferred option...its the only one.
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      • Posted by ecam 11 years, 6 months ago
        If you remember, Eddie Willers was left pounding on the locomotive yelling "...why!..." at the end of the book. No he was not "shallow", but he still didn't get it. A "pretty face" as you call it, never hurts, and Harrison Ford is one of the few actors that can play the President and look the part.
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  • Posted by jbreck247 11 years, 6 months ago
    I believe A. and B. are mutually exclusive choices if the actor is liberal/progressive. In order to act like John Galt, you must believe in the philosophy/values. A liberal thinking actor would not be able to make the audience believe if he does not also believe. The values are too deep rooted to fake. Not even the most accomplished liberal could pull it off convincingly and that would ruin the movie and the message.
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  • Posted by Pabjornedax 11 years, 6 months ago
    B to a point! Understanding where Ayn is coming from is the key. If I were an actor, it would be me but alas I am not an actor! John Galt will have to be a lot to a lot of people. I hope who ever is picked is up to the task!
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  • Posted by SteveBang 11 years, 6 months ago
    Maybe is should be the dumbest liberal in Hollywood, like Sean Penn. Force him to read Atlas Shrugged and see if he gets even a little less stupid.
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  • Posted by sunnydaysandrain 11 years, 6 months ago
    I lean toward A. Honestly, for the sake of a movie, the actor's chemistry and compatibility with the actress portraying Dagny would be my top priority. In understanding and embracing the Dagny/John Galt dynamic, the actor will be understanding and embracing the key concepts of Rand's work. Dagny and John's relationship is the ideal of objectivism in the interpersonal space. Show me an actor who can handle that, and I'll stand behind him as John Galt.
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    • Posted by sunnydaysandrain 11 years, 6 months ago
      And respectfully, I think that every actor suggested by name so far in this thread is a little old for the role. Young, blond, full of quiet strength and confidence. I expect and would honestly prefer a no-name to any young Hollywood actor that comes to mind.
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  • Posted by newtlove 11 years, 6 months ago
    Since he will be interviewed by many folks: B. The actor needs to possess a deep understanding of, and passion for, Ayn Rand's ideas first and foremost. He also needs to be young like Dagney.
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  • Posted by mgconsult 11 years, 6 months ago
    A good actor can actually use methods/strategies to reset their mind to "believe" what they are saying. The key is being able to convince others that you believe and communicate the reasons that you believe. The choice should be someone who can convincingly communicate our beliefs. That may only be possible coming from someone who honestly does believe.
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  • Posted by ccandd96 11 years, 6 months ago
    Of A or B choices, obviously B, but make it clear that this man, while insanely intelligent (and wanting to keep what's rightfully his), he also has to be PERSONABLE (albeit to those who understand the concept of his morality) - I mean, oftentimes you see a character that seems harsh because they seem so sternly rigid in their beliefs, I want it to be seen that he actually is very comfortable and personable with people.
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