The year is 2025 and a new series of films (four in total if the box office agrees) is announced. It's a big budget adaptation of the recent hit novel The Bright Sword by your boy Lev Grossman. Not sure how to approach the casting, A24 found the most famous book club blog on the internet called "Factual Magic" who had read the source material when it released. They contacted the webmaster and book club leader for his suggestions, which are as follows. (SPOILERS ALL)
COLLUM (OF THE OUT ISLES)
Connor Swindells
The most important part to nail here, Collum needs to be charismatic, naive, funny, and built enough to believably rage mode and beat people up. Adam from Sex Education is near perfect, and even had a small part in the Barbie movie so yeah I think he's ready to lead a billion dollar franchise. He's got those big puppy eyes that could stare up at Camelot in awe but can also look so sad and dejected - like once he actually get's in Camelot. The one issue - he's 27 and that might be too old. Which means...
Kit Connor
The Heartstopper kid might be perfect, especially since he's recently gotten jacked for some reason. As innocent of a face you could ask for, pretty funny, and was born the year I graduated high school. My Collum heart is with Connor, but young Mr.Connor would still be great.
NIMUE
Maise Williams
Jaelynn Thora Brooks
Maise Williams
Since the pairing of Collum and Nimue is pretty central to this whole thing working, the casting splits here. If good ol' boy Connor is cast, an equally aged-up Nimue should conjure and plot right next to him. Arya is small but intense - just look at those eyebrows - and her rolling into the Round Table room at 5'1" bossing around a bunch of 50 year old knights feels right. Nimue is guarded and secretive, confident in her abilities and deeply shaken when she's unable to accomplish something (sorry Arthur). Her small size also would make her Merlin relationship all the more uneven, putting a physical punctuation on their screwed up power dynamic. But if little Kit is our boy...
The girl from Davey & Jonsie's Locker might work. She's American I think, which sucks, but she's super funny in a dry kinda Nimue way with a dramatic look that works both at being confident and vulnerable. Having a darker complexion also would help show her different path from the knights of Camelot (Palomides notwithstanding) and her always being underestimated.
LANCELOT
Our big bad, a legendary man who has always been viewed as a hero. Handsome, charming, ripped, great at weird accents - Daniel Craig can do action, intensity, and comedy. Lancelot is the biggest name in Arthurian legend with perhaps more stories about him than even Arthur himself, it's only fitting the biggest star of the cast is right here, killing everyone.
BEDIVERE
Joel Edgerton
Honestly, I don't know this dude super well BUT no one is arguing with those steely blue eyes. Although Australian he's done his rounds in medieval/fantasy shows/movies, even as Gawain in the 2004 Arthur flop and the creepy king near the second half of The Green Knight. More so than any of that though he really looks like he could brood, especially with one hand.
DINADIN
Sure they're Puerto Rican, but that "otherness" at the Camelot could quickly speak volumes about Dinadin's story - both with his courtly secret AND his roots with the fairy. Ortiz showcased some bomb swordplay in Our Flag Means Death, not to mention the ability to nail some great punchlines. They're a smidge younger than the rest of the Table generation at 32 but Dinadin was always the most youthful of the knights, likely partly why he is the last surviving member.
PALOMIDES
Another actor I don't know a ton about but hear me out: look at him. He was in that Homeland show and some Tom Hanks movie, I feel like he's probably often the token Iraqi dude WHICH SURE THAT'S ALSO THE CASE HERE but come on. Imagine that head on the most stunning suit of armor, always knowing ten times more than everyone else in the room. Absolutely perfect and oddly I couldn't find any Saracen actors.
DAGONET
Mackenzie Crook
Our hapless fool, dolorous when he should be goofy but still frequently funny. Mackenzie: top-tier actor, the absolute most dryly funny out there, naturally scrawnier than the rest of the "true" knights, all around great guy. Dagonet never wants to be a hero but through being a great thief and an even better friend he ends up getting there anyway. And just imagine Mackenzie begrudgingly traveling the countryside with...
CONSTANTINE
What a comedic duo these two would be, accidentally finding themselves in the spotlight of a story they have no business being in. Constantine is also of royal blood, often belittled by his father but still commanding when need be. Merchant, though mostly known for his comedy, can be serious sometimes too. I don't have any examples but I'm sure they exist. He's also 6'7", think about that for a second.
SCIPIO
Look at this Italian work of art! Now picture him yelling at a legion of Roman soldiers. Now picture him confused while sweeping a hovel. Now picture him tatted up with blue Pict symbols while tearing through Saxons. It's all so easy, isn't it?
GUINEVERE
Guinevere in The Bright Sword is first seen as a nun, then as an archer savior, then finally as a queen. That's a range. She is always collected but never arrogant, and if that's not Alma I don't know what is. Parker can give a hardcore monologue, we all know that, and frankly it'd be criminal not to have a Deadwood alum here.
MERLIN
What a creep! But also effectively deceitful - I mean, he tricked both Arthur and, to a much lesser extent, Nimue into trusting him. But when he speaks he sounds reasonable, you have keep sharp to realize what he's saying is cruel and dangerous. Sheen, who has been in a million things, has the added benefit of being a legit good guy - those kinds of people are always the best at being horrible. Being a bearded Welsh dude might be a little on the nose, though, so...
This intense dude from Peacemaker might be a more fun choice. Merlin being a character out of time could be represented here by him being African, and this guy's gravelly voice could be truly chilling when berating our heroes from deep within the earth. But can he grow a sick beard?
MORGAN
Morgan le Fey is maybe the hardest here to cast. Her reputation is evil, her actions heroic, her forms many. Hazlewood I only know from being the rich girl's sister in The Good Place, which isn't exactly an acting tour de force, but she has the look, the poise and style. Can I see her with a shaved head as a barmaid? Nah, but maybe that uncannyness works in Rebecca's favor. I can see her on a glass throne, though, where Morgan fits more naturally.
ARTHUR
A calm Welsh demeanor with a hint of uncertainty? AND he can look like a warrior when Black Arthur needs to get whipped out?
Filming will begin in the spring in Suffolk, comment below with your suggestions - just know it won't matter as casting is final.
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