Laurie R. King Virtual Book Club discussion

Can't resist thinking about what a great series of mini-series could be created with Mary and Sherlock's adventures. With a nod for any previous posts on this subject (I'm new to the group), I would enjoy hearing member suggestions for actors we'd love to see as Mary and Sherlock ... and supporting cast, too.

what a fun idea! I'll have to think about that.

Cynthia wrote: "what a fun idea! I'll have to think about that."

Me, too! Still pondering ...

I've long thought Jeremy Irons would be the perfect Holmes. Russell is much, much harder to cast.

Lenore wrote: "I've long thought Jeremy Irons would be the perfect Holmes. Russell is much, much harder to cast."

Excellent choice!

Hi! I'm a long time lurker but had to jump in. I like Evanna Lynch (Luna from Harry Potter) as Mary. She has that interesting and smart look to her.

Wow, I love it! She'd be amazing in this role.

Erin wrote: "Hi! I'm a long time lurker but had to jump in. I like Evanna Lynch (Luna from Harry Potter) as Mary. She has that interesting and smart look to her."

Oh! Now that you've mentioned her, Saoirse Ronan totally comes to mind too. And she is a seriously amazing actress too.

Another excellent suggestion :)

Mary Russell - Hillary Swank (unconventional beauty, can play any age between 19 and 49, but I'm not sure if she is tall enough.

Sherlock Holmes (in this series) - Alan Rickman (sardonic, intelligent looking) or Jeremy Irons

Mycroft Holmes - Stephen Fry or Brian Blessed

I would like to see Cate Blanchett or Hillary Swenk as Mary. Jeremy Irons as Holmes would be fascinating. But I think Alan Rickman may be too well known as Snape for movie goers to see Holmes.

Is there really going to be a movie or a BBC series or is this just fun speculation??

This is just for fun :) I really like the idea of Alan Rickman for Sherlock and Stephen Fry for Mycroft. Haven't seen Brian Blessed in a role for a while, but have always liked his acting, too.

Laura wrote: "I would like to see Cate Blanchett or Hillary Swenk as Mary. Jeremy Irons as Holmes would be fascinating. But I think Alan Rickman may be too well known as Snape for movie goers to see Holmes...."

Don't mean to be argumentative, but Cate Blanchett, Hilary Swank, and Brian Blessed, as fabulous as they are, are all WAY too old to do these roles.

Lenore -- I like your honest assessment! Made me curious, so I checked: Alan Rickman is now 68, Jeremy Irons is 65, Brian Blessed is 75.

I've done some thinking and searching, came up with these casting calls for Sherlock:
Jason Isaacs, age 50
Hugh Laurie, age 54
Daniel Day-Lewis, age 56
Ralph Fiennes, age 50

Mary Russell needs to be believable as a teen and young woman, age 21, for the all-important process and chemistry of falling in love with a Sherlock in his 50s. So far, I'm liking:
Saoirse Ronan, age 20
Evanna Lynch, age 22
Emma Stone, age 25
Anna Sophia Robb, age 20
Gemma Arterton, age 28

Anyone else? This is rather fun!

Daniel Day-Lewis is always marvelous, as is Ralph Fiennes (and Alan Rickman). Laurie at one point mentioned Patrick Stewart (64) as her ideal Holmes; he would also be very good. Don't forget that makeup can easily take off ten years.

I agree that Russell is harder, not least because she has to be fifteen in Beekeeper's Apprentice. How about Emma Watson?

I VOLUNTEER TO BY MARY!!!

Bridgette wrote: "I VOLUNTEER TO BY MARY!!!"

:-D

I would, too, only I look more like Mary's granny, at this point. ;-)

I agree on Daniel Day-Lewis would be lovely for Holmes but I think that Mary should be an American. What about Jennifer Lawrence?

Not objecting to Jennifer Lawrence, but with a British mother and having spent a lot of time in England before coming to live there, Russell might well have a British accent, which would only grow from the age of 15. Jenny Sterlin, who reads the audiobooks (fabulously, I might add), has a British accent. So the chosen actress would not really need to be an American, IMHO.

Excellent idea. I didn't even think about Jennie Sterling

Sterling, I mean. What about the age issue?

A nifty Stewart/King connection.......a few years ago I went out for breakfast in my very, very small town. Facing me at an adjoining table was Patrick Stewart, reading and enjoying his meal. I tried to appear nonchalant, ordered and began reading as well. As he left, he stopped by my table and said he was glad to see someone else who reads while dining alone. Tucked under his arm was a Laurie King book. I managed a nod and a smile. When I later called for the check, the server told me Stewart had picked up the tab
"for his fellow reader".

Oh, wow! What a great story!!

Carolyn wrote: "Sterling, I mean. What about the age issue?"

Alas, not the right age. But (OT) here's an interesting profile of her: http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/narr...

Oh, with that suggested list of Holmes actors, I'd be very happy to play Mary myself. I'll just shave 20 years and 50 pounds (riiight). Jason Isaacs, yum.

Carol, that's an incredible story. How cool that it was even an LRK book. I don't think I could have remained nonchalant. I'd have done something incredibly inappropriate and immature. Too much of a Next Generation fan to remain in my seat.

Carol wrote: "A nifty Stewart/King connection.......a few years ago I went out for breakfast in my very, very small town. Facing me at an adjoining table was Patrick Stewart, reading and enjoying his meal. I t..."

aaw, that's wonderful :)

Erin wrote: "Oh, with that suggested list of Holmes actors, I'd be very happy to play Mary myself. I'll just shave 20 years and 50 pounds (riiight). Jason Isaacs, yum.

Carol, that's an incredible story. How..."

Erin, since I consider Patrick Stewart one of the sexiest men on the planet, it was probably best that I didn't say anything - it most likely been a cliche or embarrassingly inappropriate. Also the other folks there, though certainly aware, we're giving him his privacy (but quite the buzz when he left).

C.P. wrote: "Daniel Day-Lewis is always marvelous, as is Ralph Fiennes (and Alan Rickman). Laurie at one point mentioned Patrick Stewart (64) as her ideal Holmes; he would also be very good. Don't forget that m..."

Love, love, love Sir Patrick :) I'd also thought of Emma Watson; she's certainly got the acting credentials and looks.
I'm just struggling with the notion of chemistry between the two leads ...

Carolyn wrote: "I agree on Daniel Day-Lewis would be lovely for Holmes but I think that Mary should be an American. What about Jennifer Lawrence?"

Now, that's interesting chemistry ;) I do like Jennifer Lawrence's acting chops.

Carol wrote: "A nifty Stewart/King connection.......a few years ago I went out for breakfast in my very, very small town. Facing me at an adjoining table was Patrick Stewart, reading and enjoying his meal. I t..."

Sigh .........

Lenore wrote: "Not objecting to Jennifer Lawrence, but with a British mother and having spent a lot of time in England before coming to live there, Russell might well have a British accent, which would only grow ..."

Agreeing :) I've got three Americans on my list now.

I loved Evanna Lynch as Luna in Harry Potter. I think she probably has the acting ability but is she tall enough? They'd have a problem with Mary's height.
Jeremy Irons gets my vote for Holmes.

Margaret wrote: "I loved Evanna Lynch as Luna in Harry Potter. I think she probably has the acting ability but is she tall enough? They'd have a problem with Mary's height.
Jeremy Irons gets my vote for Holmes."

Ah, excellent observation. Worth at least one Sherlock point! Hadn't thought of height, then on a whim looked up Bonnie Wright, who never did have enough lines in her role as Ginny Weasley ... she's a respectable 5'10"

Of course, it's all just fun and fancy, this thread -- in my heart, I prefer the Mary and Sherlock I've imagined through reading King's books.

Given that movie magic and camera perspective made Robbie Coltrane look about 10 feet tall in HP, I think they could work around height for Mary ;-)

Erin wrote: "Given that movie magic and camera perspective made Robbie Coltrane look about 10 feet tall in HP, I think they could work around height for Mary ;-)"

Funny :)

hmm how about A. Rickman and E. Blunt?

Ermalinda wrote: "hmm how about A. Rickman and E. Blunt?"

Both fine actors! Alan Rickman's name pops up often.

C.P. wrote: I would, too, only I look more like Mary's granny, at this point. ;-)


You could be Mary when she's older and writing her books to send to LRK!

I could go for that! :-)

Claire Danes, although she's only 5 feet 5 1/2 inches tall, she's an American actress with the range and fearlessness and intelligence and vulnerability required to embody Mary Russell.

Danes -- great suggestion. I'm a fan of her work, too.

So I just saw a reference to a new Holmes movie out next year (Mr. Holmes) starring Ian McKellen. Ian McKellen! I don't think he'd ever occurred to me as a possible Holmes, but he actually rather looks the part.

Thanks for the heads-up on the new movie. I'll enjoy watching this actor take on the role.

Do a search at Wikipedia using "Mr. Holmes" for more info.