Casting Breakdown: Marcus Nispel’s Conan

nispel_conan

Marcus Nispel’s Conan begins shooting in Bulgaria in mid-February, and casting has already begun, as casting breakdowns have been posted at various casting agencies in NY/LA. /Film reader Daniel L send me over the entire breakdown, which you can read below. Want to know more about the characters in Nispel’s Conan? Check it, after the jump.

Hey Peter, not sure if you’ve gotten this tip but I haven’t seen it out there in the movie news sphere. I’m an actor in NYC and I get auditions through multiple websites, one of which is a site called Actor’s Access. Today they put up a full breakdown of the various roles up for grabs in the upcoming film “Conan”, and I thought they looked pretty interesting. I’ve placed the link below, but if you are not able to get to it I also listed the breakdown itself. Thanks for keeping /Film alive and thriving, it’s most certainly the finest movie blog on the ‘net.

Obviously, beware of possible spoilers.

CONAN
Feature Film
SAG

Executive Producers: Trevor Short, Danny Dimbort, Boaz Davidson, Fredrik Malmberg
Producers: Avi Lerner, Joe Gatta, George Furla, Henry Winterstern, John Baldecchi
Production Companies: Millennium Films / Lionsgate / Paradox Entertainment
Director: Marcus Nispel
Writers: Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer, based on the writings of Robert E. Howard
Casting: Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee
Casting Associate: Allison Estrin
Casting Assistant: Rich Delia
Shoots: February 15
Location: Bulgaria

[ CONAN ]
He’s in his 20s to early 30s, Caucasian, powerfully built, broad-shouldered, sun browned skin lined with scars. Piercing blue eyes and square-cut black mane, tall. He is a savage killer that has matured into the refinement his father tried to teach him when he was young. Conan is very smart, almost inhumanly strong, and very cunning. His entire life, from the moment of his birth, has been shaped by violence. Being the last of his tribe and having to watch his father die a cruel death, he is determined avenge his peoples’ slaughter by killing all those who led the attack on the Cimmerians, including the all-powerful Khalar Singh. He is prepared to die in order to accomplish his goal. What Conan did not expect, was to find a reason to live… LEAD

[ TAMARA ]
She is 18 to 24 years old, Caucasian or Middle Eastern, open to all ethnicities; beautiful, studious, correct, a novitiate of a Greek influenced monastery. A master of martial arts, she has been trained to be the Queen’s servant, bodyguard and best friend. She and many other female bodyguards to the queen have been in hiding most of their lives because of the curse of Acheron, which would take the queen’s life to bring almost immortal power to its king. When Khalar Singh, a powerful warlord with ambitions to become the king of Acheron, storms the monastery and captures all of the novitiates, she is separated from Ilira, the one she must protect. With all of her strength and will, Tamara is determined to find and rescue her. She finds herself in league with Conan because of a mutual need to find Khalar Singh. She is not in the least intimidated by Conan’s size or grim demeanor and their alliance eventually blossoms into something that surprises them both… LEAD

[ KHALAR SINGH ]
He’s in his 40s to 50s, Asian or Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Mongol, Turkish, or Persian, open to all ethnicities; commanding in size and manner, a warlord and formidable warrior, brilliant, cruel, weathered and tanned by the many campaigns he has waged and won. He is driven in his quest to find the Queen of Acheron and has been building an empire to do so. His goal is to find the Queen whose blood will bring life to the demonic minions of Acheron while making himself king of this hellish power. With this power, Khalar will protect his legacy against the onslaught of master sorcerer, Thoth-Amon so that his weak son, Fariq may rule after his death. While riding into a Cimmerian village to recruit his old comrade, Corin, his large collection of mercenaries slaughters them to the last soul when Corin refuses to join them. The village’s only survivor was young Conan. When Khalar’s search has finally narrowed to the likely discovery of the queen at a monastery of female monks, he also learns Conan is older and hungry for revenge… LEAD

[ CORIN ]
He’s in his 30s to 40s, Caucasian, powerfully built, intelligent, graceful, master swordsman, skilled blacksmith, de facto leader of Cimmerians and Conan’s father. He resolves to answer the terrible request of his dying wife and cuts Conan out of her so she can see him. He then shoulders the burden of raising Conan, which proves to be daunting given the boy’s savage nature. Corin teaches his son the meaning of the sword: a hot blade must be cooled and tempered. When Khalar finally corners him and tortures him to death, he shows no regret nor pain, hiding his concern for his son’s safety from the eyes of the enemy. SUPPORTING

[ FARIQ ]
He’s in his 20s to early 30s, Asian or Middle Eastern, open to all ethnicities, slight of frame, piercing eyes, cruel, determined to prove to his father that he can rule the world when the time comes. But he has the mentality of a proto-goth rocker, so ruling the world will prove elusive. However, Fariq makes up for his lack of battle skills with his deft understanding of sorcery and evil determination to find the real queen of Acheron. SUPPORTING

[ ILIRA ]
She is 18 to 20 years old, Caucasian or Middle Eastern, beautiful, fun-loving, a novitiate of a Greek influenced monastery. She has been hidden away in a monastery since birth since she is the designated queen of Acheron. When Khalar Singh captures her among all of the other novitiates and start the process of killing them to find out which is the real queen, Ilira maintains her courage under unbelievably cruel circumstances. SUPPORTING

[ UKAFA ]
He’s in his 30s-40, very dark-skinned African or African American, massively framed at six-foot-five, gold-toothed, hardened by a lifetime of war, a leader of Kushite Tribemen from the savannahs of Kush. Ukafa is Khalar Singh’s second in command, jealous that Singh’s son, Fariq, will one day be warlord. He obeys his leader but plots the overthrow of his son. He is a mighty warrior and unbeatable in battle—until he comes face to face with Conan. LEAD

[ REMO ]
He’s in his 30s, any ethnicity, thin, feral, misshapen, a mysterious warrior of dark magic who travels by shadow and surprises men with a quick death. He leads a band of tracking Shadow Scouts under Khalar Singh’s employ. He can be immensely fast and devious, his soul as twisted as his body. SUPPORTING

[ FASSIR ]
He’s in his 50s, Middle Eastern, Asian, Caucasian, SUBMIT ALL ETHNICITIES, strict yet loving, learned and spiritual, an elder monk and leader of the monastery. He’s charged with the care and education of the queen, Ilira. SUPPORTING

[ LUCIUS ]
He’s in his 30s, Caucasian, handsome, proud, haughty, lethal, a leader of a Legion of Aquilonian Mercenaries. While attacking Corin and Conan in close quarters, he is thrown into a fiery forge that disfigures him for life. His self-revulsion twists him to the point that years later he takes great pleasure in torturing prisoners. SUPPORTING

[ ONE-EYED THIEF (ONE-EYED PRISONER) ]
He’s in his 20s to 30s, any ethnicity, wiry, a leader of thieves, who has had the bad luck to fall into Lucius’ grips and is being tortured by him. However, the tables are turned by Conan and this prisoner has his revenge. He later appears at Khor Khala City and offers aide to Conan as a way to pay his debt. SUPPORTING

[ ARTUS ]
He’s in his 30s, tan and swarthy, almost Gypsy-like, handsome, charming, even dashing in a gruff way, a Zamoran pirate and good friend to Conan. They have shared many adventures together and trust each other with their lives. Artus is a master of the high seas with a fast and powerful ship. He shows his mastery in strategy and hand-to-hand combat during a fierce sea battle. SUPPORTING

[ CHEREN ]
He’s in his 30s, any ethnicity, a blind archer with the mystical ability to strike down any enemy with his bow and arrow. He leads a large band of blind archers whose accuracy and cunning lends a powerful presence to Khalar’s army of mercenaries. SUPORTING

[ PICT ]
He’s in his 30s, any ethnicity or dark-complexioned Caucasian (”pict” is Latin for “painted one”) the fourth in the band of Pict Savages. He survives Conan’s onslaught and beings Khalar Singh to where the Cimmerians camp. He is promised the heads of his enemies.

[ YOUNG CONAN ]
Caucasian, tough and wiry, scary violent. At ten, he insists on joining the teenage boys entering their rites into becoming warriors. When four Picts cross his path and kill one of the boys, Conan unleashes a savagery that goes too far for a warrior. His father takes him aside and personally trains him. His father teaches him what makes a good sword but he has still much to learn what makes a good swordsman. When the Cimmerians are attacked by Khalar Singh and his mercenaries, Conan is the only survivor, the last of the Cimmerians. SUPPORTING

[ ISLENE ]
She’s in her 20s, Caucasian, beautiful, courageous, Amazonian built, pregnant with her son, Conan. She is stabbed through the belly by an Aesir Raider. Her dying request to her husband, Corin, is to take the baby from her womb before she dies so that she can see him…

[ YOUNG FARIQ ]
He’s ten years old, Asian or Middle Eastern, submit all ethnicities, Khalar Singh’s son, a sociopath in the making, one who has no qualms killing a wounded man with his own sword.

[ MARAUDER ]
He’s in his 30s to 40s, Caucasian, massively built and brutal, a stone cold killer that takes relish in the killing of the pregnant Islene. His shield bears the emblem of Thoth-Amon. However, his arrogance is his downfall as she, in turn, kills him.

[ YOUNG ARTUS ]
He’s 15 to 16 years old, Caucasian, Cimmerian, a tall muscular kid embarking on the initiation rite to become a warrior. He mocks the smaller Conan much to his regret. While on the trail, he tries to convince Conan to flee after wandering off the path into a dark pass littered with corpses hanging from trees. Young Conan saves him from the Khalar’s raid on Cimmeria. When given a chance to fight for his homeland, Artus flees to save himself.

[ THREE PICT SAVAGES ]
In their late teens, early 20s, SUBMIT ALL ETHNICITIES, large, brutish, bearded, and wild. They are on a hunting party and come across some teenage Cimmerians—heads to add to their collections. What they didn’t count on was the savagery of young Conan.

[ NARRATOR ]
A storyteller’s voice of old, VOICEOVER ONLY

  • AfroVince
    spoilers?
  • I REALLY want to think this is going to be awesome. But the fact that this guy directed the yawnfest Pathfinder and the "War" video for Bone Thugs N Harmony keeps me from getting excited and staying a skeptic. Maybe the Thugs can make a cameo on the soundtrack?
  • goldfarb
    well I'm sure glad there is a narrator...I wouldn't have a chance at figuring out exactly every single plot point from these strange not-obvious-at-all character descriptions...
    and oh look a gold toothed african...
    someones been taking writing tips from Ronald Chevalier

    fucking idiots...
  • Octoberist
    is KHALAR SINGH Conan's arch villain in the books and comics?
  • Vanirman
    The closest thing Conan has to an Arch Enemy is Toth-Amon, who at the very least will be referenced.
  • bear
    No. In the story, it is Thoth Amon who kills his people. And Conan isn't cut out of his momma's womb either.
  • El_Nastro
    In the books NO ONE kills his people.

    REPEAT: In the original stories, NO ONE murders or kills Conan's father, mother, village, people or dog.

    Conan's not Batman. "Revenge" has nothing to do with his character or origin. In fact, of all the stories Robert E. Howard wrote, there was no origin of any kind. Conan's a Cimmerian. He wanders south to the civilized lands and gets in adventures. That's it. He's perfectly psychologically healthy and unscarred.

    Oh, and he was never a slave or a gladiator either.

    This movie's already obviously horrible.
  • Sketch
    Looks like classic stuff there.
  • The Great Cambino
    I HATED Pathfinder. I consider myself to be significantly less cynical than most film nerds, but I really couldn't find anything to like in that turd. The fact that this guy is directing one of my biggest guilty pleasures really bums me out. Robert E. Howard wasn't a great writer, but at least he was an awesome storyteller with an amazing imagination and a passion for his writing. I'd hate to see a crappy movie made from his works (Conan the Destroyer aside) especially after the awesome looking Solomon Kane.
  • Mike Brown
    I'm just closing my eyes and hoping this is good. True, I didn't like "Pathfinder," but it wasn't the directing I didn't like. I think that properties go through good phases and bad phases, and Conan seems to be in good hands right now. And there's some Robert E. Howard momentum out there with Solomon Kane having a movie. So. Again. I'm going to have faith because I really, really love Conan. I was pleased it didn't say "bodybuilder" in the description. The one small crack in my optimism is, why does it always have to be revenge? I like it when Conan is just on a cracking good adventure.
  • kortoso
    This is complete bullshit.

    What is wrong with the original Howard stories? Do these third-rate "talents" think they can come up with something better?

    This life-long REH fan has lost interest and faith in all the responsible parties.
  • lipslikeasukal
    Just wanted to say: That dude's facial hair is approaching Greek mythology proportions. All he needs now is a thunderbolt or a trident.
  • Fir3Wolf
    Lol, I have to agree with you there. Every time I see a pic of this guy his beard is just pure epic. Definitely worthy of the gods themselves hah. Perhaps he should get a part in the remake of Clash of the Titans.
  • Name
    So,um only one character from the true Howard stories then? Silly just silly to waste money on this and not at least take a pass at canon. Did any of these folks read the books? It appears they have not.
  • "Robert E. Howard wasn't a great writer, but at least he was an awesome storyteller with an amazing imagination and a passion for his writing."

    I'm sorry, cambion, is being able to tell a great story, having amazing imagination and passion for the craft somehow not inherent to being a great writer or something? Could a subpar writer be able to tell a good story at all? If Howard could spin a great yarn that's being read a century after his death and still being printed and analysed, then surely that must make him a great writer, no? Don't go to Artie Fenner for critical analysis of REH's work, go to people who actually know something about it. This separation between "good writer" and "good storyteller" is simply splitting hairs, making a distinction which does not exist. A good writer IS a good storyteller, simple as that.

    Octoberist: not only is Khalar Singh not Conan's nemesis (the closest that comes to that description is Thoth-Amon, and even then the two never actually go head to head directly), Singh is a complete invention. Every character in this sheet is. The only actual Howard character is Conan, and even he is warped beyond recognition.

    Disaster all around.
  • David
    This movie could suck hard, but if they had Morgan Freeman as the narrator I'd see it.
  • It was said that "This movie promises to be a complete revamp that stays closer to the original source material by Robert E. Howard", but the fact of the matter is that it is no where near what Robert E. Howard had written. The writers have no idea of who or what Conan is. The same can be said about their knowledge of Robert E. Howard. From what can be read so far about the cast call, this movie will not go to theatres or dvd but straight to SyFy.

    Conan get's to watch his father die. Again. This time it's from torture. Blah. Sack the hell out of Venarium and burn it to the ground!!! That's how Conan's father should die if HE MUST BE INCLUDED. That's how a Cimmerian should see his father go, dying in the bright madness of battle and not in some lame ass torture that is just completely lame. How do I know that it's lame? Because it's lame. Howard himself did not give a tale dedicated to Conan's origin, L. Sprague de Camp stayed away from it, so now let's hire D/O to fix all that. Sheesh.

    Are they really going to cut out baby Conan and hand him to his dying mother? Blind archers? Being the last of his tribe, watch the father die a cruel death blah blah blah. Was cut from his mother's womb by Conan's father so that she (mother) could see him before she died? Ok. Where is Khor Khala City? Thoth-Amon again? Tamara is not in the least intimidated by Conan's size or grim demeanor....not even just a little??

    Ok, so this is the Riddle of Steel part two. Or rebooted. Resheathed. Whatever. Four Picts cross the path of Conan and he unleashes a savagery that goes to far for a warrior? What is he supposed to do, scream and tell them that his dad can kick their dads' asses? C'mon man! Instead of his name being mentioned at the council fires this is going to cause his name to be whispered around the fires that pyscho boy Conan is unfit and should be cast out........will stop there incase thats makes it into the script somehow. 10 year old Conan takes on four Picts and lives? Give that boy a flagon of wine and two women!

    This is NOT Conan folks, this is BeastMaster Part 6.
  • Ricki
    Sounds like crap. They should have stuck to the REH version of Conan, not some stupid re-write of the original movie!
  • bear
    African or African American?????? Didn't know there WAS an America back in the days when Cimmeria, Aquilonia & especially Kush were around! What a bigoted (in a very pc, ivory tower way) that description is!
  • Vladimir
    That is really BAD.

    WHY just do not repeat one of big R.Howard stories, or combine some small stories like some "stories from Conan life" of autor?

    This movie will not be with that plot ALL THE TIME movie.
    It will be just a copy of Beowulf or 300.
    Movie, which everybody will forget in 2-3 years, but not a GREAT movie.

    It is very sad, what people who make this movie, do not understand - MAIN auditory - fans of R.Howard works, not their "new ideas".

    I hope they read comments, and at that point can switch to CLASSICAL plot.
  • Tiegr
    I've just read the leaked movie scenario. Another revenge story...
    Why it is so difficult to make movie from of "People of Black Circle", or "Hour of the Dragon"?
  • Warlock
    The question is why people, who apparently not a writers think they can make story BETTER than original. If something works, and it is proved by time and presence of huge fan base, there is no need to change. There is two chronologies of Joe Marek or Dale Rippke of Robert Howard stories.
    Using small stories like a "chapters" from Conan life will make the movie close to original, more interesting, and more action.
    The success "Lord of the Rings" - repetition original works of autor, but not a new story.
    Marcus Nispel is the only one person, who can make final choise, and on him the responsibility make really good movie, or just another one "Red Sonja".
  • 1. Stop the current production.

    2. Get an REH expert in the same room with the scriptwriters. Have them read the books and instruct them that the Conan stories will serve as the building blocks for the movie, and nothing else.

    3. Use this film as a chance to reinvent the pop cultural idea of Conan.

    Look at Casino Royale. Batman Begins. Pirates of the Carribean. All of these films took dead characters, dead franchises, and dead genres and reinvigorated them by not playing it safe. Even fans of Conan the Barbarian don’t want a rehash of that. We are twenty years older now, and we need something more sophisticated. Bryan Singer learned that the hard way with Superman Returns. This can NOT be a nostalgia project.

    Visit http://www.amrathelion.com/index.php/Nemedian-C... for more information.
  • Richard
    Get Mark Finn involved as a consultant as he's a scholar and voice of Robert E. Howard just like the first Conan movie had Roy Thomas. If you do this the movie will be a success and altruistic to REH. Thank you for listening. A REH Fan for life!
  • The cast has nothing in common with any ideas of Robert E. Howard. Even the main character CONAN is completely wrong.
    This movie will be crap.
  • NappyNotHappy
    This is crap! Someone should B-slap Fred Malmberg upside the head. Thanks for selling Howard's Conan out, AHOLE!
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