Vince Flynn vs. Gerard Butler

Vince Flynn movie causes confluence of two fan bases

When CBS Films optioned the rights to Vince Flynn’s novel Consent to Kill they set in motion what is probably just another day for Hollywood.  But for fans of the author, there was a lot of excitement about his Mitch Rapp character finally coming to the big screen.  As much as most of us rue the outcome of our favorite books when they become movies, we still want desperately to see them made.  You never know, this may be a book whose movie turns out to be another Shawshank Redemption.  We’ve been watching Consent to Kill develop over the months and it’s turned into a fascinating peek into how a book goes from page to screen.  The ongoing casting debate on various message boards across the internet provides another angle on the pressures of turning popular source material into a film.  We’re a little obsessed with the whole process, to be honest.

Mitch who?

That’s Mitch Rapp, of course.  The tough as nails main character in Consent to Kill as well as  a number of other Flynn novels.  He’s the main draw for a lot of fans, kicking ass and taking names.  Once the development of the film project was announced immediate speculation began as to who would be cast in the lead role.  It was that speculation that led us to where we are today – no cast has been announced but there have been enough rumors that Gerard Butler has become a front-runner in the minds of both Flynn and Butler fans.

What if?

So what happens if someone besides Butler is cast?  Which fan base is bigger and more the driving force behind interest in the movie?  Right now some people are saying that if Butler is not Mitch Rapp, they won’t see the movie.  Some people are only interested in the movie because of the speculation that Butler will play the lead.  Others are straight up Flynn fans who will see the movie no matter who is cast.  It makes me wonder about other books that have been made into movies.  Would Twilight fans have boycotted the movie had Henry Cavill (an English actor originally considered for the role) been cast as Edward Cullen?  What if Robin Williams had been cast to play Jack Torrence in The Shining (yes, he was considered)?  How about if Tom Hanks (who was originally offered the role) played Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams?

Does casting director know best?

The best movies are those that make us say, “I can’t imagine anyone else playing that character”.  Someone, somewhere did exactly that – imagined perhaps dozens of people playing the character and managed to choose just the right one.  So as we speculate as to whether Butler will play the role of Mitch Rapp in Vince Flynn’s Consent to Kill, there’s a casting director somewhere pulling his or her hair out, trying to manage schedules, please directors, writers, authors and fans in an attempt to create that magical connection between character and actor that turns both into icons.  Good luck, casting director, whoever you are, for skepticism will abound and internet chatter will call for heads on platters if Mitch Rapp is not played by Gerard Butler.  Then again, if internet pressure had been around back in 1984 we may well have seen Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones.  Maybe we should be hoping that whoever is casting Consent to Kill is immune to the rumor mill. Other posts about the Vince Flynn movie Consent to Kill: George mentions the movie as part of a Hollywood Stock Exchange post. Sue talks about the casting debate. George gives everyone an update on the movie’s progress.

Related posts

Comments

  • Wattpuppy

    December 24, 2010 at 12:54 am
    Reply

    I personally wish mr. Flynn had the courage to choose an actor for the Rapp role who is not so well known to us. An actor with great skill but someone who is truly mysterious. This would add so much […] Read MoreI personally wish mr. Flynn had the courage to choose an actor for the Rapp role who is not so well known to us. An actor with great skill but someone who is truly mysterious. This would add so much to what he can bring to the role as we would have very little to compare with his characterization. Read Less

  • Topknat

    October 21, 2010 at 1:22 am
    Reply

    is this all we have to choose from? Butler, Ferrell, Fox, Pitt. None can fill the shoes. keep looking.

    • Anonymous
      to Topknat

      October 21, 2010 at 2:59 am
      Reply

      Well, Butler seems to be the front-runner, but there hasn't been any official news yet. When there is we'll let you know!

  • Anonymous

    September 15, 2010 at 4:00 pm
    Reply

    Several people have commented that they will not see the film if Butler is not cast. Others will see it no matter what. No doubt there are other who would see it because of another actor who might […] Read MoreSeveral people have commented that they will not see the film if Butler is not cast. Others will see it no matter what. No doubt there are other who would see it because of another actor who might be cast. My point is only that it's an insteresting conundrum for a casting director being pulled in many directions at once, and the outcome is never a certainty. Some roles that went to actors not originally planned went on to become phenomenal successes, other went with the first choice actor and bombed. Who's to say what creates the perfect storm? I'm just fascinated by the entire scenario and process. Read Less

  • michele

    September 14, 2010 at 1:54 pm
    Reply

    Why are you making what I see as a non-fan controversy over the casting of Mr. Butler in the film ? As a fan, I think Butler would be a good choice to play Mitch Rapp but I would […] Read MoreWhy are you making what I see as a non-fan controversy over the casting of Mr. Butler in the film ? As a fan, I think Butler would be a good choice to play Mitch Rapp but I would never boycott any film just because he is not cast in it. I have seen films I normally wouldn't have checked out because Mr. Butler was the star, but I have done the same for Tom Hanks films. In the end a lot of factors come into play in casting for a film and an actor's availability can be the biggest game changer. This project has been on the books for a while without a firm commitment so we don't really know it Mr. Butler is still available to do the role. Butler is very busy right now, he just completed filming Shakespeare's "Coriolanus" with Ralph Fiennes and is presently filming the biopic "Machine Gun Preacher" with director Marc Forster in South Africa so we do not know what projects are in his in-box right now and if this film is still one of them. Read Less

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get Netflix Dates emailed free to you every week