If there were a movie . . .

So I am sucked into The Fiery Cross at the moment. Not my favorite one thus far . . . seems more of an endless series of unrelated events. But anyway -- I find I've read about these characters for so many thousand's of pages and seen them all in my mind's eye so many times -- some of them I have actors/actresses in my mind.

For instance, I always picture Claire as Ann Archer (the wife in Fatal Attraction) and Roger as the guy who plays Desmond on the TV show Lost. Does anyone else do that?

So two questions -- One --who would you cast for the leading roles?

Two -- Which is your favorite book? (I vote for Drums of Autumn -- I lile all the traveling thru the stones stuff)

(probably should be two separate threads, but Oh well)

I've always thought Laura Prepon (Donna from That 70's Show) would make a great Brianna. Tall, red hair, strong bone structure...perfect!

I don't have any of the other characters, but for Black Jack/Frank, I think Jason Isaacs (The Patriot, Harry Potter) would be perfect.

Oh - I think the girl from the 70's show is the perfect Bree.

Alana -- Is Isaacs the guy who plays Lucious Malfoy? If so -- that is really strange because that is exactly how I see Frank/Black Jack.

The only Jamie I can come up with is maybe Steven Segal -- but he'd have to dye his hair.

I've been thinking about this too! I've pictured Russell Crowe as Jamie and Ewan McGregor as Roger (he's already got the Scottish accent going!)

#3 That is who i always pictured too! He would be the perfect Frank/Jack.

And Laura Prepon is a great idea for Bree, that is the one i could never come up with.

#5 I also pictured Ewan McGregor for Roger.

As for Jamie, I would pick Gerard Butler. He would be perfect. he was in Timeline, Tomb Raider, and most recently 300. His hair isn't the right color, but other than that...

AmandaB18~ I just posted a video then saw this post. I think Gerard is perfect and in this vid his hair looks right too. I think Rachel Weisz is a very stunning woman, perfect for Claire.

CJ - you're so right about Rachel Weisz for Claire. she would be great. I wonder what kind of chemistry Rachel and Gerard would have? I'm thinking it would be pretty good:-)

I think that Gerard Butler and Angelina Jolie would be great for Jamie and Claire.

People here have been mentioning a movie or a TV series on hbo. But I can't find anything about online, also if you guys go to youtube, you can see videos from the Outlander movies that apparently haven't been made yet. How is this possible, can anyone answer me this.

Gerard Butler would be perfect for the role of older Jamie, but he is too old for Outlander. I can't see Angelina Jolie playing anything in the story at all. I'd like the main characters to be unknowns...true Scots all of them, except Claire of course. I think it would give a genuine feel for the movie. I also would hate to see them butcher the books to fit into a 2 hour time slot. I'd love to see an HBO series like the Tudors. I want to see it all.

#10...those are parts of other movies like Braveheart, that people have added to music. Just to give us a feel for what Jamie and Claire should be like. Some of them are really good.

I don't know a single person who does not think Isaacs would make a GREAT Black Jack Randall!!

I've read talk before about Butler as Jamie, but it just doesn't work for me. I can, however, see him as Dougal, Jamie's uncle.

Also, I never thought of Rachel Weisz as Claire (always liked Kate Winslet), but now that I think of it she WOULD be good.

Other characters...

Roger Wakefield ~ Matthew Macfadyen
Geillis Duncan ~ Kiera Knightley
Jenny Murray ~ Natalie Portman
Brian Fraser ~ Jeremy Northam
Lord John Grey ~ James McAvoy
Simon Lord Lovat, the Old Fox ~ Sean Connery!!! Reality though...Anthony Hopkins or Jeffrey Rush
Colum MacKenzie ~ Clive Owen
Laoghaire ~ Gabrielle Anwar

Whoever plays Brianna can play Jamie's mother, Ellen, in flashbacks just like Binoche played mother/daughter in Wuthering Heights.

Soooooo many characters....couldn't name actors for all of them!!! But what do you think so far???

BTW...my mom likes Karl Urban (Lord of the Rings) for Jamie. I can't think of anyone myself.

*cough*

I happen to specialize in making icons at LiveJournal based on who I think would be good if Outlander were ever made in a movie. I use Gerry Butler for a lot of them, but I cast many others too. If you care to take a look, you can go to my Outlander icon journal at:

Outlandish Icons

My alter egos over there are julielu and crymeariver_. Browse around, I've made over 100 Outlander icons over the past few years. Here's a sample of a few I've made into colorbar banners:



and



*and yes, I agree, Jason Isaacs is the one and only Frank/Black Jack Randall

While I generally do not care to try and pick out real live humans to match my ideas for the characters in books, I do not think anyone could top Jason Isaacs as Black Jack, IMHO.

As for Jamie, the group Celtic Thunder has a 14 year old young man who I could see growing into the part (if only he had red hair). His name is Damian McGinty, and if you want to take a look, you can see several of the groups videos out on YouTube. You cannot mistake Damian as he is the youngest member of the group.

I love Celtic Thunder and Damien is a wonderful singer but not what I see when I 'see' Jamie. I haven't quite put my finger on who would be a good Jamie but I agree with Jason Isaacs as Jack Randell.

The reason I suggested Damien is because of the eyes. His seem to have the "cat" like quality that Gabaldon mentions for Jamie's eyes. I really do not see anyone (other than the made up version in my head) as Jamie, which is one of the reasons I do not generally go with real people for book characters. If they ever do a movie of Outlander, I will probably completely disagree with the casting!

Very true, alcottacre. I didn't think of his eyes, only the whole package but his eyes do have that quality.

Hi, I have just joined the group. I am obsessed with all things jamie! Have read the series about 6 times! I just love those icons kt. I went to the outlandish icons site - love it- but had trouble locating all of the ones you show above of jamie. I love Gerry Butler as Jamie, he's got the body and the accent, he's gorgeous and a great actor, but most of all I think he can pull off all the different facets of Jamie - the fierceness, the tenderness, the humour, the warmth and the sexiness! And that's really what makes jamie jamie, not the straightness of his nose or the slant of his eyes (though we love that too!) Gerry has enough presence to be Jamie.

#19 lilijazz - thanks, I'm glad you like them! I had to make some of my Outlander posts closed, unfortunately, so that's why you weren't able to see them all, but if you join crymeariver_ you'll have access.

thanks for responding kt! Could u tell how desperate i was? Have joined live journal, and added crymeariver so now, hopefully i can go see yr art! Cheers.

#21 - lilijazz - I made it easier for you. You joined the wrong group, so I joined you first so you'll know which group to add - enjoy!

I would absolutely LOVE to see Outlander made into an HBO series. I think it is the only way it has a chance of being done properly. As for casting, I can't really see anyone really famous cast in the lead roles. I think a a group of unknowns, or lesser known, is the best. Though I do agree with Rachel Weisz for Claire. And yes, Jason Isaacs is Black Jack Randall. (Or Rufus Sewell? Maybe? He's just got that handsome but crazy look about him...) The only actor I can think of for Jamie is Kevin McKidd. I've seen him a couple of things, and I'm mostly going off looks here. Though I think he's too old for young Jamie.... Anyways, I think of this often, and couldn't resist putting in my two cents. Mostly I just want to see my favorite series acted out before my eyes...sigh... :)

So many great suggestions here. Here's my take:

Claire: Rachel Weisz would make a phenomenal Claire. Can't think of anyone better suited at the moment.

Jamie: So difficult to assign any actor to Jamie because he is just too perfect - but I think Chase Crawford or possibly Tom Welling would do the part well. A bulkier Chase would steam up the screen, and I think he's around 6'. I'm trying to envision someone who could pull off red hair like Jamie and that's difficult to do. A friend of mine thinks Sawyer from Lost would be suitable. Definitely needs to be a gloriously well-built, tall man, w/ blue eyes, who can wear a short beard and also longer locks. Also, I picture Jamie as young and buff. Not an easy choice.

Black Jack/Randall: I like Isaacs for the part as well. Someone mentioned Rufus Sewell - another great choice, but the actor will need to slightly resemble Frank, so that would be a tough one.

Dougal: I like the idea of Gerard Butler, or Eric Bana. I can't envision Butler as Jamie in any way. He's just not hunky enough for me and w/ red hair? Just not seeing it. Butler as Dougal - YES!

Bree: I envision Emmy Rossum, or Emma Roberts but I'm not sure if the height would be an issue.

Roger: Jake Gyllenhall, Hayden Christensen, or Tom Welling. A tall, slender guy who could pull off dark hair and green eyes.

I haven't given the others much thought. :) I hope a movie, or series of movies, emerge. Someone also mentioned the possibility of HBO taking the reigns - so long as they stick to the actual books rather than write new material or take it too far off-track, this would be a great option. I, personally, think HBO butchered Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series - but I still tune in. :)

Isaacs is a brilliant choice as Black Jack/Frank Randall. I love it. He is who I pictured without even realizing it! Now, I can't imagine anyone else playing the part.

For me, the older Jamie looks like Kevin McKidd, from Grey's - he has red hair and is actually Scottish. I think that the accent is major. I can't picture anyone faking an accent to be Jamie because his Scottish-ness is so apart of him. I think #23 mentioned McKidd, too.
But young Jamie may be an impossible casting. I hope that a young Scotsman comes out of the woodwork and can fulfill the role. That'll probably be for most of the characters, if Outlander is ever actually filmed (let's all not hold our breath for it, though).

The Outlander saga needs to be an HBO or Showtime series. There's just too much to even imagine making any of the books into a 2 hour movie. I wouldn't mind too much if HBO made changes to better suit the general public, as they did with Harris' series (unlike #24). As long as the basic needs of the books are met - the general storyline is kept, the feel of the novel, the history. I mean you have to remember that most of the novel takes place in the narrator's head, so changes will be made to round out Outlander.

I vote for Kevin McKidd as well. He is now my ideal Jamie. Besides, he's yummy. As for the rest of them, nobody really jumps out at me as being right.

Anne Archer would have been great, for Claire, but I think she's a bit old for that younger part now.

I kind of like the idea of Laura Prepon for Bree. I can see that--not necessarily in love with it, but it's a visual I can live with.

Check out Michael Fassbender as a candidate for Jamie. See HUNGER (the film) clips on Youtube if you don't know his work. He can go from young to old I think and has the acting chops to play it.

I have a strange suggestion - Joe Manganiello from True Blood (Alcide) as Jamie. Yes, the coloring is all wrong, and he's probably not the right age, but the eyes, nose and mouth all look like Jamie to me. Long straight nose, wide expressive mouth, broad shoulders, very tall...





I completely disagree with everyone who thinks Gerard Butler would be a good Jamie. He just doesn't do it for me. Ever since watching True Blood, I'm now picturing Alcide's face while reading Outlander...

ETA: blesaint - you might be onto something with Michael Fassbender. He would need to bulk up to be Jamie, but his coloring and age look pretty good. :)

#28 - Oh, I do love me some Alcide. He'd need blue contacts, though. (In addition to the dye-job.)

What about Gabriel Aubry? He's a little young, but oh so yummy.

There is to be a miniseries onStarz and Scottish actor Sam heughan
Has been cast as Jamie.