What If: Horus Heresy movie chain/HBO series

[Thirdfox]

If this was done in CGI, i vote for Peter Cullen as the voice of the Emperor of Mankind.

[Wrath of Terra]

A few things;

 

Every time this topic comes up there's always the Chuck Norris as Emperor joke. It's painfully unfunny at this stage. Actually, it was never funny.

 

Second, everyone who's suggesting Michael Clark Duncan for roles; you know the poor guy died recently, yeah? He's not exactly in a position to audition.

 

And every time this topic comes up there's people suggesting Brad Pitt as Sanguinius because of his role in Troy. This baffles me. He was hands down the worst actor in what was a terrible film. People need more imagination - it's almost as bad as when momentum builds for Hugh Jackman as Russ purely because he played Wolverine :)

 

I agree with people who say the show would need to be done with CG ala Beowulf. That way we could have elderly, and most cases superior, actors running round in power armour smashing stuff.

 

I'd recommend Peter O'Toole as Malcador. Plenty of gravitas there.

 

Christopher Lee was born to play Mortarion - he's tall, thin and even looks gaunt.

 

Christopher Walken as Curze.

 

Neeson and Bean strike me as good matches for Dorn and Guilliman, though I'll be damned if I can guess who would be who.

 

Whoever said Idris Elba as Vulkan earlier in the thread is on to something there.

 

Ray Fiennes as the Lion - he can do brooding bitterness.

 

Kevin McKidd as Ferrus Manus (especially if he's channeling Lucius Vorenus in season 2 of Rome - temper and intensity).

 

Ray Stevenson as Perturabo.

 

Michael Fassbender as Sanguinius.

 

Brendan Gleeson is too good to leave out but I don't know who he'd fit beyond Russ and he wouldn't be a great Russ. Probably have him as a remembrancer.

[Wrath of Terra]

Lena Headey as M'shen!

[HellHunter]

I can never decide on the primarchs, but I ALWAYS picture the wrestler Batista as Abbadon.

[Thirdfox]

Kate Beckinsale always looks good in tight leather so i'd pick her to be M'Shen.

[sponsra]

Also, in one of the older threads, somebody suggested Ed Harris as Dorn and Harrison Ford as Guilliman. Pretty good.... First funny, and then good... And wouldn´t Eric Stoltz be a good Sanguinius?

[EPK]

A few things;

 

Every time this topic comes up there's always the Chuck Norris as Emperor joke. It's painfully unfunny at this stage. Actually, it was never funny.

 

Second, everyone who's suggesting Michael Clark Duncan for roles; you know the poor guy died recently, yeah? He's not exactly in a position to audition.

 

And every time this topic comes up there's people suggesting Brad Pitt as Sanguinius because of his role in Troy. This baffles me. He was hands down the worst actor in what was a terrible film. People need more imagination - it's almost as bad as when momentum builds for Hugh Jackman as Russ purely because he played Wolverine ;)

 

Too bad saying all this will not stop it from happening again. People will make the choices they make, sometimes just based on ONE character that an actor played (not the actor's assumed acting ability or something of that nature) and Chuck Norris will make his way into jokes until the end of the world. That's the breaks. This isn't even going to happen and if it did, they certainly couldn't pay the salaries of all these heavy hitters.

 

Also, Michael Clark died like 6 days before you posted - people probably don't even realize it yet - I didn't know (or maybe it just went in one ear and out the other when I first hear) until I read your post. But it really doesn't matter, who said the actor/actress had to be alive? I want Clint Eastwood as Malcador, he's dead.... oh wait, he's not.

 

In short, I don't think it's worth being so critical for something of this nature... but of course, you are as free to say what you want as much as others are free to suggest that the entire 40K universe is contained in one hair in Chuck Norris's beard.

[MooFreaky]

Joaquin Phoenix was born to play Curze.

Not only does he have the repertoire to play such a role, he is kinda bat:cuss crazy in real life too.

 

Alternatively, Christian Bale would be great in such a role.

 

Peeps like Christoper Walken are hilarious, but really can't act enough to pull off such a good role without making it a campy series.

[fission]

On the french fan website I have imagine the same thing with pictures to illustrate them (I won't do it here -but I will gave title of movie to gave you an idea )

I would prefer not too much known actor to play the role

 

Emperor : Benno Fürmann (Ring of the Nibelungs)

 

Lion el'Jonson : Karl urban ( Pathfinder and the Chronicles of Riddick)

Rogal Dorn : kevin durand (Legion )

Sanguinius :Matthew McConaughey (contact )

Vulkan : it was Michael Clarke Duncan but he's dead (RIP ) , so Dwayne Johnson (the Rock) (Welcome to the jungle )

Ferrus Manus : ron Perlman ( Drive , Blade 2 )

Leman Russ : Tyler Mane ( Troy , X-Men )

Corvus Corax : Oded Fehr ( The Mummy )

Jagathai Khan : Ken Watanabe ( The Last Samurai )

Roboute Guilliman : Thierry Neuvic (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - without the moustache - it's a french actor )

 

Horus Lupercal : Vladimir Kulich ( the 13th warrior )

Fulgrim : Peter Facinelli ( Supernova )

Angron : Ken Shamrock (ultimate fighting champion ) seriously I have no idea of actor who can play the role

Perturabo : tcheky karyo ( Kiss of the Dragon , The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc)

Night Haunter : Mads Mikkelsen (King Arthur , Valhalla rising )

Mortarion : Pascal Greggory ( The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc)

Lorgar : jason isaacs ( The Patriot , Black Hawk Down )

Magnus :Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa ( Pearl Harbor , the Art of war )

Alpharius / Omégon : kim coates ( Black Hawk Down , Open Range )

[Laer]

Rogal Dorn = Daniel Craig

http://www.topnews.in/light/files/Daniel-Craig001.jpg

 

Horus = Russell Crowe

http://www.tailgate365.com/wp-content/uplo...adiator_008.jpg

 

Jaghatai Khan = Tadanobu Asano

http://i2.listal.com/image/3657120/298full.jpg

 

Sanguinius = Alexander Skarsgard

http://truebloodnet.com/wp-content/uploads...ic-Northman.jpg

 

Fulgrim = Jonathan Rhys Meyers

http://www.cinemablend.com/images/news_img...eyers_20524.jpg

[Inquisitor Engel]

Laer - For Primarchs those are certainly some of the best. I'd always given Saul Tarvitz to Daniel Craig though, even with short hair. (The best crew-cut EVER!)

[A D-B]

It would cost billions, have no viewers, and be forever referred to as: "The show that was as gay as Top Gun; where were all the women, anyway?"

[Rune Priest Ridcully]

Just get everyone from Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones and work from there :D

The one who plays Cersei would be a perfect Fulgrim :) Even call it a "A game of legions.2 Perhaps get the guy who played Vetinari in the latest Diskworld adaptation for Malchador?

For some reason I can see Ewan McGregor as either Gullieman, Dorn or possibly even a horus.

Patrick Stewart as either the Emperor or Malchador would also be good.

[Artein]

It would cost billions, have no viewers, and be forever referred to as: "The show that was as gay as Top Gun; where were all the women, anyway?"

Euphrati Keeler

Mersadie Oliton

Petronella Vivar

Serena D'Angelus

Bequa Kynska

Rukhsana Saiid

Koriel Zeth

Dalia Cythera

Kallista Eris

Camille Shivani

Iota

Jenniker Solam

Koyne

Cyrene Valantion

 

 

Just tu name a few.... And I'm not even touching the latest books.

 

 

Ooooh.... that was a joke, right? :D

[A D-B]

Ooooh.... that was a joke, right? :D

 

Nope. All those main characters you mentioned! All that screen time they get! All their vital and important roles! All the story-changing decisions they make!

 

See? I can do stupid sarcasm, too. The difference is, I'm right. If you think Game of Thrones doesn't have such widespread appeal in massive part to its female characters and the romance/sex, then you're hopelessly lost in a world of thrilling delusion. As an HBO series, no, the Heresy would need to be written verrrry differently. In fact, it would need to be written in the exact way that we're not allowed to write it.

[Billuriye]

This is impossible. Not even Roboute Guilliman could pull this stuff off with his logistics.

[sponsra]

It would cost billions, have no viewers, and be forever referred to as: "The show that was as gay as Top Gun; where were all the women, anyway?"

 

That´s why this is a forum thread and not a film.

 

And also: Matthew McConaughey -lol

[Phoros]

This is impossible. Not even Roboute Guilliman could pull this stuff off with his logistics.

*gasp* Heresy! Guilliman's logistics will overcome all!

For the greater Logistics!

[A D-B]

It would cost billions, have no viewers, and be forever referred to as: "The show that was as gay as Top Gun; where were all the women, anyway?"

 

That´s why this is a forum thread and not a film.

 

 

It's a forum thread discussing how it would work as a film or a TV series. That's the whole, entire, absolute premise.

[CyderPirate]

Maybe Eddie Murphy could play all the characters? That always works so well!

And rather than steering mankind towards a slow, self destructive decline, Horus (played by Eddie Murphy) could learn some kind of a moral lesson via some whacky antics, like setting his two brothers (both played by Eddie Murphy, one a nerd - Magnus - and one a jock -Russ) on each other, and pranking his evil step-dad (the Emperor, also played by Eddie Murphy).

[Blood Angel Scout]

If there was ever to be a 40K TV series, as ADB alluded to, the lack of romance/sex plot devices within the HH series means that it wouldn't be adapted in its current form due to the "Top Gun" syndrome. However, there is still a way it could be done though the following theory is only unravelling in my mind at the moment so still a very rough concept and other resultant possibilites are cropping up as I type it out:

 

Currently in the HH series, the only novels that could/would be adapted for TV are Nemesis and The Outcast Dead due to it's principle characters essentially being humans, who can develop/manipulate relationships that the ordinary non-40K aware viewer (N40KV)can relate to, without having to go into the differentiation of Astartes to "normal" peoples. (Post/Trans Human push from BL is probably the only retcon that will never stick with me after nearly 20 years!)

 

So from these two novels, what could be used as a foundation?

We have the mission parameters of the assassins- take out the rebel leader>

Who's the leader and what is he rebelling against, giving us the ability to show the two sides of the "family feud">

What Earth has become 28,000 years later, the way, the why and how the Imperium works> another recognition factor for the N40KV to relate to i.e. political/personal controling, scheming, plotting etc that successful "cult" shows have (Boardwalk Empire, Deadwood, Game Of Thrones, Oz, The Sopranos, The Wire to name a few).

 

From this basis, the series could follow Malacador as a centralised character especially as he begins to formulate the beginning of the Inquisition for several reasons:

 

He is a human for N40KV to relate to,

Has to have had interactions with everyone of the primarchs in his past, allowing for his scenes with them to be shown as live action i.e. ordering the hit after speaking with Dorn, or "memories" Lorgar striking him down on Monarchia or Ullanor/Nikea

From the short "Blood Games", we know Horus has spies and then there is the Alpha Legion...insert AL meme here...so "Cold War" type set up Spy vs Spy across the galaxy while the traitors roll on to Terra

His inevitable demise takes place at the final moments of the Heresy, so the final battles can be shown, including inside the webway for example

 

But if it was to follow the creation of the Inquistion, it would give the show the potential to introduce the "continuity" character, a link to the Scouring period to show how the primarchs met their fates, the rebuilding of the Imperium which could lead on to another series being made in modern 40K setting-Eisenhorn/Ravenor, Gaunt/Ciaphas Cain or Kai Jericho (if that's right?)Shira Calpurnia Enforcer (don't think that sp is correct either but you'll know what I'm meaning-plus fem lead roles would be a plus from TV POV) series.

 

Other reasons to consider this would be that the primarchs can still be potrayed by "big" or "iconic" actors though more in a cameo-esque form while giving the production studio to incorporate their "own" actors in lead roles so lower budget that ideas in some posts would need, you would see the results of all the key HH events take place and the aftermath.

 

Thoughts or the contract to make this happen are welcome folks

[Phoros]

Maybe the initial trilogy could be adapted to focus more on the Remembrancers, although that still wouldn't work too well...

[Blood Angel Scout]

Maybe the initial trilogy could be adapted to focus more on the Remembrancers, although that still wouldn't work too well...

 

Right lines as to what I've been thinking about, that the human element would have to be the clear focal point to draw in the mass public, even though the fanbase would prefer it to be a straight adaptation to screen.

 

I would intend on incorporating them through Malcaldor as he was heavily involved with the creation of Rembrancer fleets and would lead to the plot development. In fact, this could be one of the introductory episodes, utilising the story from Age of Darkness as it introduces the primarchs through Dorn listening to the account of Horus's actions, the concept of the Marines in general represented by Garro (plus a lead into the events that occured prior to Isstvan, can be expanded upon by the accounts of the "other" rembrancers) an allusion to the ideal/promise of the Great Crusade and workings of the Imperium etc

[Rune Priest Ridcully]

Perhaps a series centered on Vulkan ad his travels/adventures/experiences after Isstvann? We don't know what happened to him so there is the potential for him to have an Odyssey style journey back to Nocturne/terra? As the most human of the primarchs, he would be more relatable then the others.

[Blood Angel Scout]

Perhaps a series centered on Vulkan ad his travels/adventures/experiences after Isstvann? We don't know what happened to him so there is the potential for him to have an Odyssey style journey back to Nocturne/terra? As the most human of the primarchs, he would be more relatable then the others.

 

True, he would be more relatable than the other primarchs and with the mystery about his survival, also leaves scope for story development. However, for the same reason, we know he isn't at Calth, Tallarn, Signus Prime or even Terra for the climax to the series and even if he is more relatable than the other primarchs, still a primarch so in terms of the N40KV, they're still Superman but without the Clark Kent persona, no Lois Lane to fall/fight for. Sure it could be argued that he fights for the Emp/Imp and that would be his cause but, it wouldn't be enough for a TV studio to expand upon.

 

Even if not Malacador, it has to be someone in a centralised role, not too far removed from today's people i.e. a psyker or navigator or even a tech-priest will be acceptable to draw in viewers, due to the nature of the setting, these will still be seen as human compared to Astartes, Eldar, Orks etc