Do we need a Myst movie?

Casting suggestions from a theatre major with WAY too much free reign on projects. Of course, like all Myst addicts, I would prefer that Rand Miller play Atrus, and that everyone from the games reprise thier roles. I have read in articles that Rand Miller hates acting (please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong) so I have decided to put him out of contetion (and boy did that leave me stewing over who to cast as Atrus!) Cloud- I like the idea of a pre-quel movie, perhaps for them what are not Myst addicts like us. Then we might go into the movies of the games and or novels. As for directors, I’m pulled in three different directions. My first inclination is Tim Burton, just because he seems to have mastered the slightly dream like genre, and his movies (in my oppinion) are some of the best I’ve seen in a while. (Big Fish, Charlie, and Corpse Bride looks good too.) My second inclination would be Steven Spielberg because...well...because he’s Steven Spielberg and good heavens he makes good movies! My third thought, actually, is Kevin Smith, just as long as he swears up, down, sideways, and across, that Jay and Silent Bob will not make an appearance. My other thought on directors runs like this: If you include a prequel, Myst, Riven, Exile, Revelation, Uru, End of Ages, plus the books, thats TEN movies! (I would seriously question if Uru Prime is movie worthy however, it looked pretty bad, so we’ll say nine. Disagree with me if you like.) STILL, even if you remove Uru, its nine movies! What I might be inclined to suggest is that the Mystish Powers That Be, invite nine different directors (well, maybe four or five) to work on the series. Just like with the Harry Potter movies, I’d be missing my family after directing two or three movies in a row too. As for designers, I’d leave that up to the director/producer, except for the fact that I think it should look as much like the games as possible. For the soundtrack, I would suggest first the music from the games, with perhaps some additions to the soundtrack for the movie: “The Stranger’s Theme” or something like that. Artists I would suggest for that song: Danny Elfman, Shakira, Kitaro, and Benoit Jutras (Think Cirque du Soleil, those of you who have seen Cirque shows know what genre of music I mean, and those of you who haven’t, should go see it.)

Enough of my ranting and concept-izing. If I go much further with it, I’ll be sending a letter to Rand Miller suggesting I start directing the series tomorrow! Hmm.....

MYST: THE STORY BEGINS
The Stranger-(See #1 Below)
Atrus Johnathan Frakes
Achenar Liam Neeson
Sirrus Julian Firth
RIVEN: THE SEQUEL TO MYST
The Stranger (See #1 Below)
Atrus Johnathan Frakes
Gehn John Keston/Michael Culver (See Note #1.5)
Young Gehn (See #2) Elijah Wood
Keta/Liera (See #2) Emmy Rossum
Cho Vincente Ramos
Nelah Adrienne Wilkinson
Catherine Julie Dreyfus
Moiety Prisoner Graham Greene
Moeity Scout Deep Roy
Village Guard Deep Roy
Gehn’s Scribe Terrence Hardiman
Jungle Girl Much like Baby Yeesha, just raid a kindergarten
Stranger’s Father (See #2) Tim Robbins
Stranger’s Mother (See #2) Susan Sarandon
MYST III: EXILE
The Stranger (See #1 Below)
Atrus Johnathan Frakes
Catherine Julie Dreyfus
Saavedro Brad Dourif (Of course!)
Baby Yeesha Dude, I don’t know, pick a baby with brown hair!
MYST IV: REVELATION
The Stranger (See #1 Below)
Atrus Johnathan Frakes
Young Yeesha Juliette Gosselin/Dakota Fanning (see #3 below)
Sirrus Julian Firth
Achenar Liam Neeson
Anya Lucy Liu
Moiri/Raeane Vivica A. Fox
Zanika Whoopi Goldberg
Caradell Maggie Smith
Yannin Aishwarya Rai (sp?)

Note #1- My feeling on the Stranger is that his/her (I tend to think of the character as female, but thats probably just because I’m a girl) experience is unique to each gamer, and each gamer has different reactions to situations. So I’d probably never have the Stranger be seen face on or even identified with a name, except “The Stranger.” Even in the credits. I’d probably only have him/her seen from a distance or just a shoulder, a foot, or when turning, a lock of hair. Does that make sense?

Note #1.5- Is John Keston still alive? As the oldest character I have seen to date, and no information readily available, can anyone clue me in? If so he stays, if not, Michael Culver is in as a backup.

Note #2- Riven, in my opinion, would need the most “work” to turn into a movie because some of the puzzles were SO hard and SO nitpicky. So I was thinking of adding flashbacks (and they might continue into Exile) of the Stranger’s family (voiceovers only), as well as when she/he reads Gehn’s journal, she/he might have a flashback or an “imagine” fo what Gehn was, before he became the monster we all know and love. I mean, these two movies (the whole series really) are all about family, so by the time Riven/Exile rolls around, would the Strange be missing his/her family yet? And does he/she ever get back to them? Think about it.

Note #3- Here’s my thoughts on Yeesha. Juliette Gosselin, regardless of how old she actually is, to me, looks older than the ten years old Yeesha supposedly is. On the other hand she is an amazing actress and her portrayal of Yeesha was one of my three favorite performances in the series (the others being Saavedro and Gehn) to date. If the director chooses to make Yeesha look on the young side, I would cast Dakota Fanning. If not, I would, of course, cast Juliette Gosselin. Its a toss up, and would depend on what the director went with.

Love, peace, and Theatre always, Feel free to pick my oppinions to peices, I'm just posting my ideas that I came up with for a casting project as a theatre major. Other oppinions?

M