Christian Bale sounds pretty good.
Although I'd much rather prefer an actor who we've known to have followed the Rand philosophy in life. Aamir Khan has been known to have been a perfectionist. He doesn't care if the movie will take two years, he just has to make it right. He doesn't care about the critics, changes appearances like Depp. hink he is pretty perfect for the role.
However, Hrithik Roshan has been called a greek god too many times. Cannot be ignored.

Clint Eastwood is John Galt!

(B) I feel as though the actor that is to play the part of John Galt, should in fact have his believes. Otherwise, why make the movie at all. After all, he is John Galt! Long Live The "John Galts" of The World!!!! I am JOHN GALT!!

Anyone but Alec Baldwin :)
I liked Paul Johansson from AS Part 1.

B I have always been disappoints by Gary Cooper's performance in "fountainhead". But according to Ayn Rand, he must be beautiful.

Overall I agree with many of the comments as to quality of actors in the two previous movies. What I think is being overlooked here is the time frame that main characters disappeared, not just overnight, and why they were "abducted". Therefore, it is realistic that Galt has chosen to use these constructive, rugged individual, determined and brilliant minds for a purpose. Their accomplishments happened over a period of years so Galt could very likely be an older visonary with specific goal that was planted early on as he observed the bureaucratic destruction of individulism and unfolded his plan over the years.

A great professional actor can play any part. And if he isn't a "true believer," he may become one by playing the part.

It has to be the actor MICHAEL MUHNEY who plays Adam Newman on The Young And The Restless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BqS3ozR...

I'm leaning towards A now after reading most of the comments. Talent does matter, and any actor worth his salt can make people believe he's John Galt. No one older - please. Gary Sinise? Tom Selleck? AARP members. They are from an age standpoint, NOT John Galt material.

A good actor - no matter his politics - can do a great job. Tom Hanks won Best Actor two years in a row - one playing a gay man dying of AIDS (Philadelphia) and the next year playing a man with mental challenges (Forrest Gump). That is true excellence in the craft.

Every actor is required to do a lot of homework before tackling a part. So they should read the book. There are young, hungry actors much more in keeping with the John Galt persona who would do an outstanding job. Politics do not a good actor make. Not necessarily, that is.

So what's wrong with Sweeney continuing as John Galt? Is there even a reason for this poll?

As the used to say in Kung Fu "Young Grasshopper chose wisely:" As someone who has cast people for parts I can only offer this advice. They must be convincing. They only have to play the part for 8 weeks and very possibly , they will never play that part again. I also would shy away from "big name" it will only break the bank and possibly become "their Burdon". The last thing you need is an actor with another shaky soap box. John Galt is a fabulas character, so selling it will all the easier.

Fred Dalton Thompson

My recommendation is Jim Caviezel

Regards those existign actors who may lean right I noticed Vince Vaughn wearing a 'Dont tread on me' T Shirt in The Dilemma ... and he said something uncomplimentary about the ACA (Obamacare) .... probably don't want a comedic actor though ...

Denis Leary would be phenomenal.

ME!

What about the mysterious guy we've already seen? Or Aaron Eckhart(sp?)? Please choose someone who looks like JG is described in the book! I can't handle another whole movie with a major character as physically mismatched as Ms Mathis was to Dagny.

Christopher Meloni from Law and Order, SVU. Tad over 50 but can show strength and stamina to lead the rebellion.

I would prefer an actor that embodies Ayn Rands' philosophy and demeanor of the strength of the John Galt character portrayed in AS.

B. It should be a non discovered talented actor to go along with the great cast from part I. Part II had better better overall quaility but the acting went downhill.

Henry Cavill, if he was not so young, would do a gorgeous Galt. (Hey, we girls like to have some eye candy too!) I think Jon Hamm (of Mad Men, a series I never watched) would be a great choice. I don't know why, but I always thought of Galt with dark hair. (I don't recall if Mrs. Rand ever described him in detail...)

A. However, that being said, the actor must display the ability to understand Rand's ideas and project that image - regardless of his beliefs. Also, an extremist, outspoken, Liberal actor will certainly alienate a large block of your almost-guaranteed audience of freedom-loving Rand followers - so you should not go there.

That being said, my vote is Jim Caviezel. He has displayed an ability to play multiple styles of personalities in difficult roles. His eyes always seem to portray a deep intelligence (lucky him), his personality one of cool-headedness that can take the leadership role in any situation. These are just a few observations. He has sufficient name recognition to draw interest from otherwise disinterested parties. And not in the least - my wife swoons over him in almost anything that he appears on. (I even secretly swoon over his presence in "Person of Interest" - but I will deny writing this post if anyone tells my wife - ;) ) Despite that his physical prowess isn't necessarily like some other actors, he well makes up for that with his stature, good looks, and incredibly cool voice. Bring back Esai Morales as Francisco d'Anconia - he is a great match for Caviezel (it just seems that they both would have been close friends and classmates). Ragnar needs to have a hidden energy seeking to explode but under great control; Benedict Cumberbatch would be great here - he displayed such in the recent Star Trek movie as Kahn.

Jim Caviezel - he's John Galt. Now let's see if he's game for it.

I see Aiden Quinn as a possibility

A. Provisionally........If the actor is too much of a lib whacadoodle I will have a hard time believing, or stomaching him.

I would choose A. But I have a hard time believing someone could be a good enough actor to do it justice without B.

With regard to his appearance - I felt that Galt was described with such affection that he must have been (or been near to) Rand's ideal man, which is an incredibly huge concept in Objectivism. For that reason I think he should fit the book's description as closely as humanly possible. I think Brad Pitt could do it flawlessly.

B.