MovieChat Forums > Grandma's House (2010) Discussion > Whishaw must play Theodore! Fans riot!

Whishaw must play Theodore! Fans riot!

posted 13 years ago by HettyW
8 replies | jump to latest

A campaign has been launched on the Ben Whishaw board to have Mr Whishaw cast in the role of Ben Theodore for the second series of Grandma's House. It has also been suggested that the second series should end with the gay marriage of the characters of Ben Theodore and Simon Amstell.

While conceding that Iwan Rheon did a passably presentable job as Theodore in the first series, the general opinion was that he lacked Ben's sweetness and that no actor in Christendom (apart from Whishaw himself) could be expected to get the Whishaw eyes right. It was universally accepted that the only actor who could hope to successfully parody Ben Whishaw was Ben Whishaw himself.

Here's your opportunity to add your voice to the general clamour. Do we want Ben?

[–] aGuiltySoul 13 years ago

What can I say. I always want Ben, take that for what you will.

"I'd never ask you to trust me. It's the cry of a guilty soul."

[–] HettyW 13 years ago

I'll take it as a YES!

[–] crossword_fiend 13 years ago

They can't just change the actor, it isn't a soap!

[–] HettyW 13 years ago

Spoken like an Iwan Rheon fan! Of course you can change the actor! How many James Bonds have there been? It would create a considerable buzz if the person being parodied were to take over the part. The show deserves a bigger audience and this might be one way to get it.

[–] crossword_fiend 13 years ago

The fact James Bond changes actor is part of the whole franchise. To bring in a new actor to play a minor part in a sitcom will only confuse people. How many people know people know that Whishaw was the inspiration for Theodore? Everyone apart from fans of both him AND the show combined is going to be thinking "who's this character?" or "where's Iwan Rheon?", which will only distract from the show itself.

For the record I am not a particular fan of either actor, I like them both.

[–] HettyW 13 years ago

Before we get too serious, I think I should point out that my original suggestion was facetious.

For anyone who doesn't know what we're talking about, here's the parody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyq4G2yWYO4&feature=related

And here's the real Ben Whishaw: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2kxURKKWDM

You see? The sweetness is completely missing from the Iwan Rheon parody.

[–] crossword_fiend 13 years ago

I have heard of this parody somewhere else before but no idea where from - probably this board!

And ok, I wasn't sure if this was just a message board debate or if you were writing to the BBC about it (it's difficult to tell on IMDB). Either way I wasn't taking it very seriously anyway - light hearted arguments are partly what message boards are for.

Ha, just watched that BW video - I didn't realise it was a full impression!

But I think if Rheon made the character sweeter, the comedy would have been lost with Amstell - Ben would have been much warmer and receptive to Simon rather than letting him make a complete fool of himself.

Also, would Whishaw therefore be playing himself? That doesn't always go well... (Actually, saying that I do think Amstell was overly criticised for his performance - judging by his interviews he is that awkward!)

[–] HettyW 13 years ago

There are other clips which show a much more restrained Ben Whishaw, rather closer to Iwan Rheon's version. Here's one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k32zz2kSbQ4

Assuming for a moment that Whishaw did take over the role of Ben Theodore (which I don't for one moment expect) he wouldn't really be playing himself. He'd be playing a character who closely resembled himself. So you could have the character doing things that Whishaw wouldn't do in real life, like marrying Simon Amstell. It'd be great fun.