Cussler want's Jackman as Dirk Pitt (1 Viewer)

[Trace Downing]

Crusader Entertainment is in pre-production on Sahara right now. Dirk has yet to be cast, but Crusader is leaning toward George Clooney, but The author himself want's Hugh Jackman in the role of Dirk Pitt. He also like's Selma Hyack (sp?).
His reasoning is that he want's a relative unknown in the role... "No one knew Sean Connery before he played Bond."
No release date has been set...but here's some schtuff.
Sahara- Crusader Entertainment
Paramount- Distributer
Budget- roughly $70-80 million
The production company has only optioned Sahara. They hope to make at least a trilogy franchise with Shock Wave, Inca Gold, Atlantis Found, Treasure, or Cyclops as possible adaptations.
Clive Cussler want's to see how good the movie is before he releases the rights to any others. He was really soured on Lord Lew Grades abysmal adaptation of Raise the Titanic!, and has been since very wary of Hollywood.
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[Joel Mack]

I like Hugh, but he doesn't strike me as old enough to be Pitt...
Clooney would be a good choice, IMHO.
Who plays Al, Rudi, and Sandecker?
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[Paul J Anderson]

when i heard that Cussler had sold the rights to Sahara i was kinda hoping the role would go to Jackman. he has the right build and look. he may be a little younger than Dirk, but makeup can fix that and if the series does well, he can grow into the character. very excited about this. i have no earthly idea for who to cast as Al.

 

[RobertR]

From what I saw of Jackman in X-Men, I like the choice. Cussler should be sure his eyes show as opaline green.
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[Kimmo Jaskari]

I wonder why so many people are unable to spell Salma Hayek's name right? You'd think a woman that stunning would be memorable enough.

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/Kimmo

 

[RobertR]

You'd think a woman that stunning would be memorable enough.

Yes, but why would a man's brain be focused on her name?
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[Trace Downing]

Hayek...thank you. Who looks at her name anyway?
The Crusader website gave no confirmed actors for any of the principal characters. I guess it's still very early in production.
I like Jackman, think he could do it. However, everytime I read a Pitt book I think of Dylan McDermott (The Practice). He's got green eyes, has a good range of humor-intensity. Clooney, no, but he could suprise me.
Here's who I think would be good...
Sandecker- Gary Oldman
Gunn-Steve Zahn
Giordino- Remember from 21 Jump Street, Richard Greiko? What's he been up to?
Big actors for the evil guys-Connery, Ford, Hoffman, Gandolfini, Montalbahn
They don't have to mirror Pitt's age as of Valhalla Rising (I'm in the middle of it, don't spoil). Remember he was in his late 20s when Mediterrainian Caper was out. So they could go in any age in-between. It's a movie series.

 

[DaveF]

Cool! I got started on Clive Cussler mooching my dad's books as a kid. As an adult...I still mooch my dad's books
Dirk Pitt has a "scruffy" aspect to him, and an interesting blend of dark cynicism and love of life. I haven't seen Clooney convey the love of life aspect in his roles; Dylan McDermott isn't scruffy enough. Hugh Jackman -- he might work.
Al Giordino -- that's tough. Need a short, heavy, strong, Italian guy, who can go from "let's party" to "let's rumble" in an instant.
Sandecker -- I'd go with James Earl Jones (even if he isn't black in the books; or is he? I forget). Or the bald guy on the TV show JAG. Actually, the main actor on JAG could be a decent Dirk Pitt.
Regardless, I hope they do a good job with the movie. This could be a killer franchise!

 

[Darren Lewis]

This is really good news. I've been a big Cliver Cussler fan for a long time and always pick up the latest hardback (Haven't read Valhalla Rising yet so please use spoilers if you talk about it).
I can only hope that they do a better job than Raise The Titanic. The book is vastly superior.

Sandecker -- I'd go with James Earl Jones (even if he isn't black in the books; or is he? I forget).

I think James Earl Jones is a good choice, even though Sandecker was a white guy with a ginger beard in the books.
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[Trace Downing]

Don't you think that JEJ would add some unnecessary comparisons to The Jack Ryan films?
What would he look like with a van dyke beard?

 

[DaveF]

Don't you think that JEJ would add some unnecessary comparisons to The Jack Ryan films?

That's probably part of what made me think of him for the part. I haven't read any Cussler or Clancy for a year or more, so I may be confusing the characters a bit.
But I remember Sandecker being a pretty intense guy, tempered by affection for Pitt. JEJ just seemed to fit.
I can't think of any other actors off-hand that seem right. Good thing I'm not in charge of casting

 

[Joel Mack]

When I envision Sandecker, I always see Rip Torn...
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[Trace Downing]

Darren;
Read it now. In the last 3 pages, something MAJOR happens. This is a book not to skip. The next book will have you scrambling to find VR, by that time, it'll only be in paperback. Why can't they re-issue these in at least trade paperback? Stephen King gets a new hardbound series every time I turn around!

No spoiler. But it was painfully obvious that he wrote this before Sep 11th. He didn't appear to edit anything out though. So that's good.
As far as my totem scale....Very good. Not the best, but up there. My opinion, from best to not so best, of what I've read. (*)= must reads.
Sahara*
Treasure*
Flood Tide*
Atlantis Found*
Dragon*
Valhalla Rising*
Inca Gold*
Raise The Titanic!
Night Probe
Cyclops
Shock Wave
Of course, Clive's books are like pizza. If it's good, it's real good. If it's bad, it's still good.
[Edited last by Trace Downing on November 14, 2001 at 12:39 AM]

 

[Trace Downing]

Oh' one more thing. I'm just a motor-mouth today.
I hope they try and include a 5-10 minute historical set-up for the film's eventual discoveries.
Imagine, a timeline where the rebels kidnap Pres. Lincoln and shove him in the confederate sub, bound for Africa. Then cut to the Amelia Erhart lookalike crashing over the Saharan dunes...then the opening credits roll.
Like the Bond set-ups or the scrolling text in Star Wars, This could give these movies a signature feel to them.
Destroying all those classic cars will get expensive. They better bank on 80 million.

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[DaveF]

I hope they try and include a 5-10 minute historical set-up for the film's eventual discoveries.

How could they not? I love the beginning of the books, where you get a hint of some askew history. That would be great as the opener for the movie!

 

[Henry Gale]

Matthew McConaughey will be Dirk Pitt

 

[Henry Gale]

Eva Rojas Penelope Cruz

Sandecker William H. Macy

Al Giordino Steve Zahn

March 25 2005