Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Russell Crowe, Jon Hamm,

A. As long as the actor looks and acts like John Galt, I don't care what his personal beliefs are.

Read more at http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts/5b...

The actor needs to share point of view. I have seen many movies where an actors personal/hollywood beliefs greatly effect the way they portray a part.

B. I think the actor needs to understand Rand's ideas. After fll isn't that what method acting is?

Nathan Fillion would be AWESOME!

Ryan Gosling or Daniel Craig. It needs an actor that can disappear into the role.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

I have liked Mark Wahlburg (sp?) in a couple of his films (Shooter) whose character seems to possess some of the AS traits, so, perhaps, someone like him? Th actor who played John Clark in "Sum of All Fears" would be a good one since he sort of blends in. I think he played the bad guy in one of the X-Men films too. I agree with some of the other posters; make who ever you choose read the book and then quiz them on it....

I don't think it's necessary to already possess a deep understanding of Ayn Rand's ideas, but whoever is chosen should be in line with the principles. Generally speaking, there are plenty of people who've never heard of Ayn Rand, but have the same basic ideals of individualism. Yes, acting is acting and a good actor can inhabit and embody any role and any belief...but it just wouldn't be right or honest casting someone who doesn't believe the same things as Galt, at least in most respects. Jim Caviezel's name has come up quite a bit...and for good reason. Would definitely agree with that.

If you cannot find a great-looking, talented unknown, please do not use any of the local celebs always in the news! My choice is B and the I would recommend only three...Jim Caviezel, Hugh Jackman & Daniel Day Lewis.

Unfortunately Jon Voight is in his seventies also but would really reflect the very meaning of John Galt.

I agree with statement B. Just as long as he's not an outspoken liberal. Too bad Clint Eastwood is to old to do the part and has retired from acting. How about Tom Selleck. He would be perfect if he's available. He fits that mold but would more than likely want too much money and wouldn't want to take on any new projects outside his TV show.

Here are some GREAT choices;

Gary Sinise
Joseph-Gordon Levitt
Daniel Craig
Simon Baker
George Clooney
Salman Khan
Robert Downey Jr
Matt Damon
Ralph Fiennes

A. Remember it is acting. B. is icing on the cake. The producers need to sell a movie people will pay to see. Good acting is priority 1. Taylor Shilling played a fine Dagney. I am told she is liberal.

I think you should consider Eric Dane to play John Galt.

Go with Simon Baker, then make sure he understands the text. Use Rand's dialogue not cheap diluted tripe.

B, obviously. Someone like Clint Eastwood.

He needs to have read the book and understand it. Although this book brings a strong political message, it is also a mystery and a romance. I know people who are not into politics at all who loved it for those things. I read it in college and a lot of it went over my head but still loved it. Now decades later, I "get it". That said, he needs to be of course a really good actor but he is the hero of a romance - be sure he is good looking. If you attract viewers for the romance and the people story, the message will rub off.

The actor must at least understand where Ayn Rand was coming from. How else can he understand where John Galt is coming from?

Now I'll say one thing at the outset: the actor need not answer to the physical description that Ayn Rand gave in the novel. Ayn Rand saw her ideal man as a classic Nordic type. That's why all the Triumvirs of Atlantis were blond and blue-eyed. (Even Francisco, who I gather had pure Old World blood and was *not* a typical "Latin.")

But whoever portrays John Galt must "carry" the story. He didn't have to "carry" the story in Part I or Part 2. Dagny Taggart and Henry Rearden carried the story then. This story is about Dagny Taggart and John Galt, and everyone needs to know it.

My biggest problem is this: I don't think we have any real acting talent in Hollywood today. Might as well pick a complete unknown.

All I can do is name the one actor who could have played John Galt best of all, had Atlas come out "in his time":

Clark Gable.

Jerry Doyle. Libertarian-minded, got the looks of Bruce Willis, but the counterculture bravado that came through really well in his role on Babylon 5 (itself something of a libertarian storyline in the end).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Doyle...

A great, well-trained, good-looking actor. a la Richard Armitage, James McAvoy, Nathan Fillion, etc.

John Voigt

Jim Caviezel. Watch his demeanor in his role on the "Person of Interest" television series. He is very much like John Galt -- intelligent and strong. He is also very good-looking and is the kind of actor who would read "Atlas Shrugged" without being told to do so.

Gary Sinese or Kelsey Grammer or Neil Boortz

I'd say "A". The actor does not have to be known but he has to be able to do a good job and look the part.

But please bring back the actors who portrayed Dagny and Rearden from part 1, and any other original characters you can get from part one. The first film was much better, the actors were better, the cinematography was better and the VFX were better. I really WANTED to like part 2 but I have to say I was verey disappointed. The only parts that were good was Rearden's trial and when Rearden chews out that fellow (who also happens to have my last name!) in his office.

The CGI FX in Part 2 were absolutely wretched. Find an FX company that knows how to work with a combination of miniatures and CG compositing for a much better effect. I recommend someone like Steve Begg. Just because it's new technology doesn't mean it produces good effects. The good VFX artist knows what to use and when.