NAPOLEON. who would you cast?
I would personally choose Gael Garcia Bernal. I think he has a bit of a manic look to him and provides great intensity. This is from my viewing him in Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Motorcycle Diaries, Babel, The Science of Sleep, and Even the Rain.
Giovanni Ribisi
Jack Black.
Whooping Goldberg. Seriously.
I deleted my own comment
Paul Giamatti
vincent cassel
Daniel Auteil
Jonah Hill….perfect height ?
I second Daniel Auteil even though I find it difficult to look at him.
He was the first person I thought about when I read the thread title. He’s French, plus he just looks Napoleonesque.
Auteil is a familiar face in French cinema. He’d give the movie commercial legs in his native France and elsewhere.
Gerard Depardieu is just way too big and bulky to play the role.
This has all come too late for Danny de Vito in platforms
Wait a minute, did you say…
Keep in mind that Napoleon really isn’t as short as people would have you believe. He was about 5’6-5’7 which was average height for his time
You did? Hmmm…
This gives me an idea…
5’6’ to 5’7"…
Military hero…
Hmmm…
Looks like there is only one man for the job.
SYLVESTER STALLONE!
Ricky Gervaise or perhaps Stephen Merchant.
Justin Biber
We’re all being very silly here, aren’t we.
I’d put a bunch of names on roulette wheel and spin it.
Whooping Goldberg would be good,
but better would be Tilda Swinton based on her work in Orlando.
Napoleon really isn’t as short as people would have you believe. He was about 5’6-5’7
Interesting, you learn something new every day. “Pieds de roi” is different from feet.
Eh, maybe we ought to stick with this guy…he’s got a proven track record.
Daniel Auteuil will be the best, he’s short and his face can totally fit the Nap’s squared head. Plus make up and characterization, parfait!
Christian Clavier?
Clavier has a funny face that you see him and makes you laugh.
Warwick Davis.
Willem Defoe maybe. I’m not sure. According to the painting by David of him at Jena he has been given attractive features, but in real life, he was not as photogenic, based on some of the other sketches that were done at the time when he was alive.
Danny diVito would be great as he’s a fat midget too.
Gotta be Daniel Auteuil.
Tom Cruise, and I’m being serious. Has the height, charisma and other qualities needed, plus is the only actor mentioned here with enough clout to truly get the project off the ground. I think he’d do a good job, too. And Auteuil would be ok, but the OP asked for English language film – the name Auteuil means almost zero to most English-speaking audiences.
If we were being serious about this question, I’d go for an unknown actor. (Unknown in film anyway.) It would be very important to believe they are Bonaparte and not merely one of these celebrities pretending at acting to be standing in the wardrobe.
Gotta be this guy
To be more serious though – I suspect Kubrick admired Napoleon and saw some parallels with himself – misunderstood genius, dark brooding look etc. The actor should bear some resemblance to Kubrick himself IMHO.
Notso Dumas
Just learned that my dad sent me the massive collection, Stanley Kubrick’s Napoleon. I’m very excited as Kubrick is one of my favorite American directors (along w/ Scorsese and Malick)
Now, who would you cast as Napoleon in a modern day ENGLISH-langugage epic on the man?
(Keep in mind that Napoleon really isn’t as short as people would have you believe. He was about 5’6-5’7 which was average height for his time)