MovieChat Forums > Paddington (2015) Discussion > So who would you cast?

So who would you cast?

posted 12 years ago by jschillig
8 replies | jump to latest

I'm an American who's loved the Paddington stories since catching the FilmFair shorts on Nickelodeon's Pinwheel as a kid. I've hoped to see a Paddington movie for ages (even now that I'm an adult) and hope that they'll raid the wide pool of talented British actors to cast this.

My possible picks...

Voice of Paddington: This is a bit tricky since this will be the heart of the whole picture...finding someone who has an adult voice but can convey childlike innocence. The wrong voice can scuttle the whole thing--witness the short-lived Hanna Barbera take on Paddington in the late eighties, which used a very high-pitched, grating voice for Paddington. (The later cel-animated series had a better voice.)

So I'm thinking maybe David Tennant? It would be nice to see him get more big-screen post-Doctor Who exposure.

The Browns: Mainly the parents. I'd pick Colin Firth for Mr. Brown, maybe (might be a bit too old). If that's the case, Helena Bonham Carter is an old hand at playing Colin Firth's wife. :-)

Mrs. Bird: A little hard to think of a grandmotherly British lady right now...maybe Fionnula Flanagan?

Mr. Curry: Either John Cleese (in full Basil Fawlty mode) or Hugh Laurie.

Mr. Gruber: David McCallum (if NCIS can spare him), Patrick Stewart, or Christopher Lee. Or maybe Ben Kingsley?

It would be nice to see Stephen Fry (given his well-publicized love for the Paddington stories) have some part in this, but I'm not sure his voice is the best for Paddington, so maybe a supporting role for him. Maybe that explorer that the synopsis talks about?

So what do you think?

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] osmundbullock 11 years ago

Well, you were right about Colin Firth being in it, but in a different role...he's Paddington's voice!

Mr Gruber turns out to be Jim Broadbent, which is no surprise: it is not widely known, but there is actually a British law that states that Jim Broadbent MUST be in every film set, produced or shot in the UK. I'm getting just a leetle bit bored with him, I have to confess. He really only has one performance [author takes cover to avoid incoming fire from JB fans] - it's a very good one and I admire it, but I've seen it an awful lot of times...maybe they could let someone else have a go, now? There's an awful lot of really good English character actors out there who never get a look in, courtesy of blinkered and unimaginative producers and casting directors.

[–] jschillig 11 years ago

I've heard the upcoming Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi, is going to be Mr. Curry! If it can't be Laurie or Cleese, I'm glad it's him.

[–] hampuslarssn 11 years ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaBG-p80jd0

[–] adamitom 11 years ago

I hope Stephen Fry doesn't turn up in this at all, he's on everything over here in the UK, people act like he's a national treasure or the messiah and it's getting out of hand, it's amazing the other "national treasure" Judy Dench isn't in this

[–] jschillig 11 years ago

Well, the main reason I thought that Stephen ought to show up is his often-expressed love for the Paddington books. (I believe he did a documentary on the history of the character.) So it might've been a nice touch.

Still, I'm looking forward to this--the credentials of the filmmakers and actors appear to be quite good.

[–] adamitom 11 years ago

While I agree he has shown love for the series, it would be great to have Shirley Clarkson do a cameo as she raised Paddington's profile considerably when she created the soft toys which really made Paddington popular

[–] reecetonks 8 years ago

I know this is late. I think the movie and cast are fantastic.

However, these are the cast that I would pick if I was making a live-action Paddington movie.

Voice of Paddington - Benedict Cumberbatch

Mr. Brown - Hugh Grant

Mrs. Brown - Emma Thompson

Mr. Curry - Sean Lock

Mr. Gruber - Anthony Hopkins

Mrs. Bird - Miriam Margolyes

Kid on bike "Where you going?"
Charlie Bright "Somewhere".