With the recent news that the creator owned comic, Powers, by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Oeming has been green lit for a TV Series by FX, it’s only natural to begin the speculation around casting. In fact, I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone else post their thoughts around the casting. But I guess we’ve all been too caught up in the very public comments by Battlestar Galactica alumni Katee Sackhoff and her desire to land the role of Deena Pilgrim.
But not at iFanboy! No! In fact the entire iFanboy staff has been in hot debate about who would round out the cast of the upcoming TV Series. All day at iFanboy HQ we debated the various roles and who would be a good fit. After we purged any mention of Jon Hamm or Nathan Fillion from the discussion, we were able to drill down to, what I believe to be, a very reasonable and quality bit of fantasy casting. We assumed that the new TV series would be starting where the comic series began, with the Who Killed Retro Girl storyline. We identified the main cast members and took it from there. Let’s see who we thin would make the ideal Powers cast:
Christian Walker/Diamond – Michael Trucco
You probably remember him best as Anders on Battlestar Galactica. Starbuck’s husband and, eventually, one of the final five Cylons. It’s easy to say that Walker needs to be cast by a Jon Hamm type, with the bold chin and broad shoulders, but Trucco has the potential to bring a realistic Walker to life. He’s tall, and while his shoulders may not be as comically broad as Walker’s are in the comic, I could easily see Trucco donning the Diamond costume as well as managing a dynamic presence as Walker, the cop.
Deena Pilgrim – Brea Grant
Sure, all the attention as been on Katee Sackhoff and her hopes to land the role of Deena Pilgrim, but personally I don’t think she’s the right fit for the role. Brea Grant, who’s best known as the speedster on Heroes and as a comic book writer for IDW Publishing, would be be perfect as the fiesty Deena Pilgrim. The story picks up as she’s assigned as Walker’s new partner and Grant has the right amount of energy to bring to the role. Plus she already looks great with short, blonde hair.
Retro Girl – Kristen Bell
Powers kicks off just as Retro Girl is murdered, so the casting of this role should go to a name that could bring some weight to the role, but also have the ability to be have an emotional resonance during the flashback sequences. Kristen Bell has all the charms and looks that one would expect from the poor murder victim of Retro Girl. The blonde hair, the innocent smile, and the memories that go along with that, which is exactly what the former Veronica Mars star brings to the table.
Zora – Yvonne Strahovski
For the super heroine Zora, you obviously need a strong, blonde character who can bring an air of confidence and the hint of being able to kick some ass and Yvonne Strahovski, best known from her role on Chuck, brings that to the table. Fitting not only the physical requirements for Zora, Strahovski brings the intangibles to the mysterious heroine as well.
Triphammer – Harvey Keitel
When I think of Triphammer, I think of one thing: grizzly. You need an actor who can really get across a sense of experience and a real veteran “hero” to the role of the Iron Man-esque Triphammer. If you don’t think Harvey Keitel is grizzly than you need a history lesson. Very few actors bring the level of realism and intensity that Keitel brings to the screen. Give him a pony tail and the proper facial hair and you can have a very chilling voice in the drama of this first storyline.
Johnny Royalle – James Marsters
It’s very easy to typecast James Marsters in his role of Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and part of that is because Marsters is just that good of an actor. He becomes the roles he plays with a level of immersion that is very rare amongst TV actors. Have him grow his hair out a bit and he can easily become the perfect Johnny Royalle and lead viewers astray as they wonder, who killed Retro Girl?
Captain Cross – Christopher Meloni
Christopher Meloni is no stranger to the police procedural drama after years on the Law and Order franchise. While Captain Cross is a bit balder and fatter in the comics than Meloni, as Meloni gets older he would bring a sense of authority to the show and allow a bit of Hollywood-ification to the original character. Meloni would be a perfect foil to Walker and Pilgrim as the police captain who demand results.
Detective Kutter – Mike Romo
Now, any reader of Powers knows that Detective Kutter is the frustration foil to Walker. Obnoxious, interferring and kind of a dick, you need a charismatic actor who can bring that confidence and swagger to the table, but also provide a character that viewers can be sympathetic with. Look no further than iFanboy’s own Mike Romo. Romo is already an actor in LA, having appeared in many heart wrenching commercials. This would be an interesting turn for Romo, but give him a soul patch and I’m confident he’d fit right into the role
So there you have it. The Powers cast as presented by iFanboy. Be honest, these are some pretty good casting choices, and ones hat would be completely doable as FX starts production on the show. Will we end up being correct? Probably not, but it sure will be fun to watch along and if we do get any of these right, well, there will be much celebrating.
What do you think? Do you think we’re nuts for not supporting Sackoff? Can you not let go of the dream of Nathan Fillion? Leave your casting decisions in the comments below!
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Here’s the thing: Sam Anders was my favorite character on Battlestar Galactica and I think Michael Trucco is extremely attractive. That said, did you see him on Castle? He really can’t act. Assuming that Christian Walker is required to do anything but wear a sleeveless T-shirt, get sweaty, and look slightly confused at all times, I just don’t see it.
Not that I have any constructive suggestions (though I like the Sackhoff idea, why not?)
MIKE!!!!! Yes!
I like a lot of these. Especially Marsters as Royalle. Nice choice.
Gotta disagree with Trucco as Walker. That guy has all the depth and color of an ashtray.
My mom watches The Mentalist, and ever since I first saw Owain Yeoman, I’ve thought he’d make an awesome Walker. I mean, look at this guy. He’s got the chin, he’s got the height, and even his name looks like Oeming. C’mon!
Wow, Ron, you’re picks looks perfect and spot on! I hope they indeed get cast in the roles.
I would choose someone else as Walker but Brea Grant and Kristen Bell in the same show? Me likey.
@WheelHands Couldn’t agree more about Yeoman. He looks like he just stepped off from one of Oeming’s pages. I watch Mentalist myself occasionally and I think he does a good job. He is british and as far as I can tell – not being american or british – does okey american accent.
And I’d watch Marsters read a phonebook.
The ONLY one I agree with is the last one.
The only one I have a major problem with is the first. Aside from being a fantastically unconvincing actor, the guy just looks like an abercrombie model after a few too many drinks at the trendiest bar in town and thus, I feel an urge to smash his face in with a shovel. Everyone else, fine!
What about Matthew Fox for Walker?
@s1lentslayer: Walker doesn’t weep enough for that to be a good fit.
Patrick Warburton for Walker, all the way, man.
@warmachine15 You know, I’ve never seen Warburton do drama, but for some reason I was thinking an actor with a comedy background would be an interesting choice for Walker. I think when you have a character who is basically stoic, actors with a background in comedy can often convey subtleties in character in a way that somebody who’s basically just a good looking statue (sorry Trucco) doesn’t, necessarily. So I like the thought there if I don’t know enough about that particular actor.
@ohcaroline I enjoyed Trucco in Castle.
Overall I like Ron’s casting choices. I wouldn’t mind seeing Kristen Bell as Deena instead of Retro Girl. Now that she seems to only make Rom coms I would like to see her in something I would like to watch on a regular basis.
Owain Yeoman is Walker. Hopefully he isn’t contracted out of the running.
@jmstump He was really not good.
Kristen Bell. Le sigh.
ANDERS IS A CYCLON?!?! *cries*
Sticking with BSG alums… Tahmoh Penikett for Walker.
@WonderAli the statute of limitations on spoilers for BSG expired literally a year ago 😉
@s1lentslayer I like it but he’s probably too old now… going to be 45 this year. That said he could pull off the superhero thing.
@WonderAli You see, it was absolutely essential to the article to spoil that. How could anyone have recognized that it was him by ONLY seeing his picture, name, character name, and one important character descriptor?
/cryingaswell
/tryingtoforget
/thankssomuchronrichards
you forgot to cast conor killpatrick as the Simon’s
I agree with pretty much every one of these choices except Walker. My problem, though, is that I can’t think of anyone else to suggest for the role, although maybe Helo or Chief from Battlestar?
watching yvonne strahovski end up like zora did may kill me
I have nothing original to add, but I want to add my voice to the Owain Yoeman for Walker brigade. Things he has over Truco: He has shoulders. He can act. He has gravitas. He makes facial expressions. He is British. He has played a cop convincingly before. He deserves to play the lead on a show.
I’d like to see Brea Grant in just about anything, and I’m not even being a little dirty. Yvonne Strahovski already has a job. Let’s not put a fork in Chuck just yet.
All that said, why can’t Mike Romo be Walker?
@timbalzer Vader is Luke’s father. *sorry*
Think Sheen would be available as Wolfe/Haemon?
You picked the wrong BSG actor! Tahmoh Penikett would be a good walker.
Also… party foul Ron. That second sentence for Trucco has nothing to do with anything than desribing a spoiler. Old spolier? Sure. But it adds not a thing to content of the article.
So did nobody watch Dollhouse either? Tahmoh Penikett = also not a very good actor.
Trucco would make a good Walker if they kept the show in the caveman era but give him some lines and it would be all downhill.
I think the ratings for Dollhouse indicate nobody did indeed watch the show. 😉 I do think Walker is a bit of a bland character, especially in the early arcs of the book, contrasted against the super-spiraling personality of Pilgrim. So I can kind of see going for “glorified set dressing.” I’ve had a hard time pinning down who I’d like to see play Walker. From the first time I saw Katee Sachoff with the pixie cut in BSG, I had wanted to see her tackle Pilgrim. The fact that there’s many similarities between Starbuck and Deena Pilgrim would be a bit like type casting though.
Deena Pilgrim should played by Emilie DeRavin
brendon routh as walker.
he has a weird pop culture history as a superhero, he looks the part because walker was based on superman, he isn’t doing anything else. and let me act like a bad ass as he ages and becomes more grizzled
I haven’t read the comic, but I’d watch the hell out of anything with that cast.
haha–thanks for the support, guys! I actually shared this article with my manager and agents and casting has NOT started yet, but once they do, I am definitely gonna try to get on this…why not, right?
Funnily enough, I did my undergrad work with Michael Trucco and acted with him in I don’t know how many plays, one-acts, showcases, acting scenes…we actually played across from each other in Glengarry Glen Ross and had a blast with it (he played the Jack Lemmon character, I played Kevin Spacey’s). Just from personal experience, I really think he would just inhabit Walker and do a really fine job…I hope he gets a chance to audition for it!
thanks so much for your support guys!
-mike
Is this going to be live action or animated?