Lauri says:
I'm going for Harrison Ford (70) or Patrick Stewart (72) (who already has the bald thing going on).
Any other sexy seniors we should be keeping in mind?
Any other sexy seniors we should be keeping in mind?
A Participant says:
Wasn't Franklin somewhat portly?
Ford didn't make out so well in COWBOYS VERSUS ALIENS. Stewart can't open a film either.
Ford didn't make out so well in COWBOYS VERSUS ALIENS. Stewart can't open a film either.
Jim says:
Top Reviewer
Jeff Daniels as Ben Franklin
(An actor doesnt have to be 70 to play seventy.)
Charlie Sheen as George Washington.
(Too many jokes not to.)
(An actor doesnt have to be 70 to play seventy.)
Charlie Sheen as George Washington.
(Too many jokes not to.)
Larry Chance says:
I don't understand this push to make Ben Franklin sexy, or different, or younger than who he was.
You can make Ben Franklin younger, even really young, but it won't fit the storyline established in the "Electrocution String."
You can't make Ben Franklin younger, or younger looking and have him still be seventy years old. You can have actors in makeup, but the overall point is that Franklin has to look at least sixty, otherwise it'll throw the look and feel of the movie off.
You also can't deviate too much from what Ben Franklin actually looks like, simply because even if a person doesn't know American History at all, they know Ben Franklin's face as it's on the $100 bill.
Danny Devito would make a funny Ben Franklin, and certainly fits the part in many ways, but he's too short, and he's Danny Devito. It would unbelievable to see him cracking Hessian necks.
I say use an actor that fits the role, even if he's "elderly." Isn't that part of the joke, Ben Franklin, an elderly statesman getting "poon tang," smoking pot, and kicking British ass?
If you stray too far from an old Ben Franklin, you end up with a stage play, or a "Funny or Die" "Drunk History" skit.
Funny or Die already did a Ben Franklin skit with Jack Black four years ago. If you want to see how stunt casting, or an "alternative" to an old Ben Franklin works, just check out the Jack Black version of Ben Franklin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjZR1Rjj_p0
That said, I already know who would be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT to play Ben Franklin.
That actor is Tony award winning actor Michael Cristopher.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0188165/
Don't believe me? Watch this clip from the series "Rubicon."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8aYNi5u8Js
Give him the Ben Franklin mullet, and Ben Franklin glasses and BAM, he IS BEN FRANKLIN, even down to the accent. It think he's around sixty, so he's not "too old" to play the part.
You can make Ben Franklin younger, even really young, but it won't fit the storyline established in the "Electrocution String."
You can't make Ben Franklin younger, or younger looking and have him still be seventy years old. You can have actors in makeup, but the overall point is that Franklin has to look at least sixty, otherwise it'll throw the look and feel of the movie off.
You also can't deviate too much from what Ben Franklin actually looks like, simply because even if a person doesn't know American History at all, they know Ben Franklin's face as it's on the $100 bill.
Danny Devito would make a funny Ben Franklin, and certainly fits the part in many ways, but he's too short, and he's Danny Devito. It would unbelievable to see him cracking Hessian necks.
I say use an actor that fits the role, even if he's "elderly." Isn't that part of the joke, Ben Franklin, an elderly statesman getting "poon tang," smoking pot, and kicking British ass?
If you stray too far from an old Ben Franklin, you end up with a stage play, or a "Funny or Die" "Drunk History" skit.
Funny or Die already did a Ben Franklin skit with Jack Black four years ago. If you want to see how stunt casting, or an "alternative" to an old Ben Franklin works, just check out the Jack Black version of Ben Franklin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjZR1Rjj_p0
That said, I already know who would be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT to play Ben Franklin.
That actor is Tony award winning actor Michael Cristopher.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0188165/
Don't believe me? Watch this clip from the series "Rubicon."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8aYNi5u8Js
Give him the Ben Franklin mullet, and Ben Franklin glasses and BAM, he IS BEN FRANKLIN, even down to the accent. It think he's around sixty, so he's not "too old" to play the part.
Karl Peter Smith says:
'John Leguizamo' would make a GREAT Ben Franklin. Ever seen 'The Pest'? He has an expressive face... and can transcend nationality.
He could be 'The First Ameican'.
He could be 'The First Ameican'.
Jonathan Winters. Funny and old. Yeah, he's 86, but with makeup he can play younger.
A Participant says:
Tough to bond a film with an actor who may drop dead any minute.
See how the Vampire hunting Lincoln film does as that will determine the viability of this one.
See how the Vampire hunting Lincoln film does as that will determine the viability of this one.
John Saleeby says:
Chris Elliot. He's taller than Danny DeVito.
Or we could make it a Musical with Bob from Guided By Voices.
Or we could make it a Musical with Bob from Guided By Voices.
Eric C. Dickson says:
Top Reviewer
Im sorry but that Ben Franklin project is a bad joke. I can't believe it's a serious topic of discussion on AS
Lisa Scott says:
is sean connery too old?
what about michael douglas?
oh wait... denzel washington would be really cool.
what about michael douglas?
oh wait... denzel washington would be really cool.
Tungamirai Mutsau says:
@Lisa - no way, not Denzel ... unless, of course, Morgan Freeman passes.
Tungamirai Mutsau says:
@Lisa - ignore the last suggestion, i'm now going with Tyler Perry. Would really love to see if he's just as "funny" in those old dresses.
David Dorrell says:
Mine needs an actor who can pull off funny. Robin Williams came to mind. He's getting older, and is seriously funny.
Antony says:
I agree with David, that the main actor needs to be a funny man, but one who can play it straight.
To work, I think the whole project would need to be a collaboration between established comedy filmmakers and acting talent. It's such an ecclectic project that it would either be a massive hit, or an unmittigated flop. So you'd probably want the likes of either "current" packages (like Will Ferrel et al) or formerly great-and-could-be-again types like John Landis/Ivan Reitman and Bill Murray.
Personally I'd like to see Steve Martin play Franklin and maybe co-produce this into a Man With Two Brains-style film, or something - tonally - along the lines of one of his other classic movies. Those films in which he played every character as completely straight, oblivious to the silliness of the situations or story.
A lot would be improv'd, I imagine, tons of scenes filmed in order to keep only the best ones (throwing everything at the camera to see what sticks), so a 130-page script would be whittled down to a 90-minute tight film.
But bottom line - the whole project needs to come together with the right talent, both behind and in front of the camera. I know that can be said for many movies, but this NEEDS to be good. You can't just put an A-lister on the poster and sit back and watch the $$$ roll in. This WILL live or die via word of mouth.
In my inexpert opinon, of course.
To work, I think the whole project would need to be a collaboration between established comedy filmmakers and acting talent. It's such an ecclectic project that it would either be a massive hit, or an unmittigated flop. So you'd probably want the likes of either "current" packages (like Will Ferrel et al) or formerly great-and-could-be-again types like John Landis/Ivan Reitman and Bill Murray.
Personally I'd like to see Steve Martin play Franklin and maybe co-produce this into a Man With Two Brains-style film, or something - tonally - along the lines of one of his other classic movies. Those films in which he played every character as completely straight, oblivious to the silliness of the situations or story.
A lot would be improv'd, I imagine, tons of scenes filmed in order to keep only the best ones (throwing everything at the camera to see what sticks), so a 130-page script would be whittled down to a 90-minute tight film.
But bottom line - the whole project needs to come together with the right talent, both behind and in front of the camera. I know that can be said for many movies, but this NEEDS to be good. You can't just put an A-lister on the poster and sit back and watch the $$$ roll in. This WILL live or die via word of mouth.
In my inexpert opinon, of course.
John Saleeby says:
I'll stop joking around long enough to say Bill Murray would have to be the guy. But he stopped joking around, too - DAMN!
David Dorrell says:
I could see Steve Martin in mine, with Hugh Laurie as Washington.
Jamster says:
Alan Rickman - Wensleydale
Rachel Weiss - Betsy
Harvey Keitel - Franklin
Jeff Bridges - Washington
Chris Rock - Samuel
Rachel Weiss - Betsy
Harvey Keitel - Franklin
Jeff Bridges - Washington
Chris Rock - Samuel
Bill says:
I'm thinking that after playing the Trinity Killer on Dexter and doing Dr. Dick Solomon Third Rock combined with the perfect hairline... Lithgow's your man.