Rereading the book at the moment, and as always astonished by fowles's insights. Regardless, i was thinking about a movie version as i read the passage when Conchis makes his first appearance. Tony Hopkins would be perfect. Jude Law is too old - Urfe is 26. I'd say Orlando Bloom, if he could act, or a younger Brit like Luke Mably or Ben Wishaw. I'm sure Hollywood would prob cast Tobey Maguire, or horribly miscast Ewan McGregor as they seem so fond of doing. However, I agree - a closer, condensed understanding of the book's central theme, layered into a tightly structured story, would make a great, frightening mystery film.
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il_postino_
19 years ago
The ideal cast in a remake of The Magus...
Conchis = 3 actors come to mind, Al Pacino, Donald Sutherland or John Malcovich??
Nicholas = Matthieu Kassovitz (from Amelie) - although i imagine he would have to perfect his english accent.
Alison = Julie Delpy (from Before Sunrise/Sunset)- again, with a bit of linguistic training.
Julie/June = Scarlett Johansson.
C'est Parfait!
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monty-57
18 years ago
I agree with wildsheep that Ben Kingsley would be the best choice as Conchis. His mixed ethnic background fits the Greek-English Conchis perfectly.
None of the other actors mentioned in this thread fit for any other roles. They're just too idiosyncratic in all the wrong directions.
Jude Law IS too pretty to play Urfe. I think Paul Bettany would be the best all-around choice. He has the right intellectual gravitas, the right "Englishness" about him and could very well play a selfish, self-absorbed failed poet and young pedagogue. Just watch Bettany in GANGSTER NUMBER ONE - not a four-star film, but Bettany is quite compelling and persuasive in a way that would make one think that he'd be an ideal Urfe.
I think that the female roles would be more difficult to cast. Gwyneth Paltrow might make for an interesting Alison, if she could pull off a serviceable Australian accent and wouldn't mind playing another character that works as a stewardess after VIEW FROM THE TOP. She has a down-to-Earth quality about her that I think would be an asset in the role.
I haven't seen the 1967 version, and I don't have high hopes for it. Some things, like this film, remain obscure for a very good reason. However, they seem to have assembled damn near the best cast they could at the time. It'd be interesting to see Anthony Quinn as Conchis, a conceit on his turn as Zorba the Greek. Michael Caine just might be an O.K. Urfe - I would term this choice "worthy but iffy," if there can be such a thing.
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18 years ago
[deleted]
monty-57
18 years ago
It doesn't matter what his de facto ethnicity is. What matters is that part of the mix is British; therefore, he would have the proper diction and background knowledge and experiences for the character "built-in."
He would also be extremely believable as a Greek, as he has a chameleon-like quality that makes him capable of playing someone of virtually any Mediterranean or Middle Eastern ethnicity. One prime example of both of the latter is his work in HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG as the Iranian immigrant.
I believe that the above factors, along with his highly sentient acting ability, he could excel in this role as he has in others. I found his work as Behrani in HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG every bit as compelling as his portrayal of Ghandi. He really seems to be uniformly brilliant in every film he's in, even in B-movies, where I've seen him rise above the material. Given the material of THE MAGUS, which approaches the sublime, I think that there's a real opportunity for synergy here...
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the_geek_with_no_name
18 years ago
i'm totally with you on ben kingsley for conchis. also, i can see paul bettany as urfe, more so than some of the other actors (law, bloom) people have suggested. kestie morassi for alison though, imo.
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palmen83
18 years ago
yes! a dark tanned, short, beared ben is perfect! i imagine him somehow a bit similar to the first murdered old man in "da vinci code", dont remember his name... or like ben
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aj-mckay
18 years ago
If you want a good intelligent actor that's slightly bookish i'd go for Cillian Murphy any time for Urfe. I thought about Ben Kingsley as well but Anthony Hopkins is also a good suggestion. For the heart breaking eye candy, i'm not sure yet, Rachel Weisz certainly has the brains and the looks but maybe an unknown would be a preferable call.
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The_Dying_Flutchman
18 years ago
This magnificent book will never be remade. It would do best as an English tv series where they could give it the time it needs to tell at least part of its story. I have read and reread it many times and have studied it deeply and it is my favorite novel of the many I have read. The labyrinth exists in us all and all of us must follow its path to understand who we are.
Nothing exists more beautifully than nothing.
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donquixote1981
18 years ago
I could see Clive Owen as being a good Urfe. Ben Kingsley would be great as Conchis.
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DavidKing11
18 years ago
Urfe is 26. its kind of the point of the book that he's young, and has to grow up, accept himself. craggy clive owen is just too old and craggy.
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slinkoff
18 years ago
Without a doubt Ben Kingsly is perfect for Conchis. I think Hopkins would play it too "nice", Conchis is small but still dominating, forthright and ambiguously sinister, that's Kingsly - house of sand and fog/sexy beast.
Bettany is a great choice for Nicholas as well. It needs someone who comes across as confident, self-assured, thinks they know themselves and are in control but who is actually none of those things. Jude Law could probably do that but I don't rate him and doubt I would enjoy seeing him play the role. Bloom certainly couldn't carry it. All of these actors though (except Bloom) are too old and to be honest I can't think of any young actors that could carry it off. Perhaps it would be better being cast by someone sympathetic to the character who chooses a promising young actor, maybe from a stage background, that we've never heard of.
Maybe on the back of Lost's success there'll be a remake...
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InvasionofPALs
18 years ago
Just for the record, THE MAGUS (1968) was released on PAL-vhs in Australia in 1983 on CBS/Fox Video. I've got a copy of it. I don't think it was released on video anywhere else, however. Definitely not here in the U.S. Probably not in the UK, either.
For those curious folks who have a way to play PAL videotapes THE MAGUS pops up on E-bay once in a while. I do mean the original Fox release only and not any of the various bootlegs that are out there and up for sale.
-CG
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a-gr
18 years ago
actually it is available via eMule.
so it is not very difficult to get it :)
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