MovieChat Forums > The Illusionist (2006) Discussion > Casting of Norton and Biel

Casting of Norton and Biel


I thought they were great - I'm not trying to start an argument - but I thought it was stupid that there was such an age difference between the two of them in adult form.

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"The light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long. And you have burned so very, very brightly.."
From Blade Runner.


"Warden, Warden listen to me be brave and set Geronimo free".

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It was supposed to be Liv Tyler, Biel was a last minute addition to the cast.

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There's an age difference? I couldn't tell--they look the same age to me. Not sure who is older (I haven't looked it up because it didn't stand out).

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[deleted]

Jessica Biel isn't much if an actress imo. I really wish Liv Tyler didn't drop out.

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[deleted]

When you are an adult, age does not matter. It is not like one of them is a minor.

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Yeah but I'm pretty sure they meant that when the characters were kids they seemed around the same age then as adults he is ten or so years older than her.

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The age difference doesn't matter as adults, but when there is 13 years between them (as there is between Norton and Biel) its a stretch for the movie to portray that they were childhood friends of similar ages - too far to suspend disbelief.

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But to anyone not familiar with the actors' actual ages the 13-year difference really isn't that obvious in the adult characters. He has a boyish look, and hers is a womanly beauty, not girlish.

When this first came out in 2006 I looked up their ages because I knew he was older, but I recently watched with my college-aged cousins, who were seeing it for the first time, and they didn't notice the age difference at all.

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