I had a request to start a blog where you could weigh in on thoughts about a movie based on The Merchant of Death and to discuss casting. This isn’t to say that a movie is imminent. It isn’t. But I’m working with some folks to develop one now, so you never know. (Just don’t hold your breath!)
So, here’s the blog. Have fun.
MissBookworm says:
a Pendragon movie would be amazing. I also think that a movie would be really good circulation for the book, even if they ruin the movie in the process. Frankly, as much as it pains me to acknowledge, film has a wider reach and greater imact on people than literature nowadays, (*sighs*)
Point is, a movie would really help these books to get more popular. I honestly think that a movie would be one of the best things to happen to these books since these books happened.
I am MissBookworm and I approve this message
Hobey ho!
Jen says:
I agree with MissBookworm. I think a movie would be fantastic and would help attract more people to the books!
Hobey ho!
GOCLORAL says:
Me and my friend who also read the books would say that at radom times during class. It was halarius!(one of my earlier posts`)
I`m all for the “Why can`t we be friends” theme song. And that the whole”Heres what really happened”
Also that the book would get great publicity from the movie.
MissBookworm says:
I just went through a bunch of old comments and looked at all the suggestions on google. I have now compiled my own cast for the movies. I still stand behind my belief that unknown actors would be good, I think these would work too.
First of all, I think that Sterling Beaumon should play Bobby. He looks a lot like what I envisioned him as.
Mark should be played by Zach Mills.
Annasophia Robb would make a good Courtney.
Uncle Press should be played by Hugh Laurie.
Loor should be Shanica Knowles
Osa should be Caroline Chikezie
Saint Dane could definately be Mark Strong.
I couldn’t find any suggestions for Alder that I really agreed with. And even though we’re talking about a movie for the Merchant of Death, I have to say that I think Morgan Freeman should be Gunny. It just seems like a perfect fit.
I would also like to say why I chose these people. Firstly, for Bobby, Mark and Courtney, they’re all aroung the right age, and they LOOK the right age. I’ve been scrolling through the comments and people have been recomending these people that are almost twenty. It makes me want to scream “THEY’RE FOURTEEN IN THE FIRST BOOK PEOPLE!”
As weird as this sounds, I had the exact opposite problem with all the Press suggestions. Everyone I looked at looked way too young for what I imagined. Then I found Hugh Laurie and it worked.
I choose Mark Strong as Saint Dane because I found this one picture and the word I immeadiately though of was ‘intimidating’.
I think that the actresses I chose for Loor and Osa would do a good job, because throuout the books, there are refreneces to how beautiful they are, but I can easily imagine those girls looking pretty deadly if you gave them a stave and a few lessons.
I would also like to mention that in the first book when Bobby is watching Loor at the river, he says, and I quote because I have the book right here, “If I made a sound, she’d turn and see me watching her and probably pick up her stick and start playing Bobby the pinata boy.” Well, I have to say that I’ve envisioned the scene that never was a thousand times, and when I envision it now, I can totally see Sterling Beaumon getting his butt handed to him and begging for mercy while Shanica Knowles is beating him with her stave.
I love that envisionment so much. It’s just so beautiful.
Hobey ho, let’s go!
MissBookworm says:
I just looked at this website called thependragonmovie.com
D. J., I have one thing to tell you.
LOOK AT IT! THERE ARE GOOD IDEAS THERE!
I am helping the person there. They say that you and your ‘producer buddy’ should look at it. We need a movie. We need it.
We need it.
We need it.
*Disappears ominously*
P.S. Hobey ho
Jimmyyyyy96 says:
@MissBookworm
Annasohpia Robb is NOT 14. She was like a couple years ago! Just saying……
Anne says:
Hobey ho!
I agree with everyone here that a movie would be just amazing! I hope everything works out and a movie can be made!!
Jimmyyyyy96 says:
I think that unknown people should play most of the last Travelers and have everyone else be played by famous people like Hugh Laurie for Uncle Press, Morgan Freeman for Gunny, and Halle Berry for Osa. I want to audition to be Mark Dimond, Bobby Pendragon, Alder, and Siry. However, if Merchant of Death DOES become a movie, the flumes and Traveler’s rings glowing had better have some really good special effects and not be suckish. I especially can’t wait to see Cloral, Lifelight, Eelong, and the Quillan Games if they make the Pendragon book series movies!!!!! 😀
Anne says:
Quillan Games would be so awesome, getting to see all the violent games come to life! I’d really look forward to seeing that movie, as well as Lost City of Faar, and getting to see Cloral.
GOCLORAL says:
I can`t wait to see
Denduron
Cloral
First Earth
Veelox(before and after)
Eelong
Zadda
Quilan
Ibara(before and after the war)
Third Earth
…Is that all the territories?
Damn I wish there were more books!
GOCLORAL says:
@ missbookworm
I went on Google and thought your choices were perfect!I totaly agree.I actually knew who you are talking about know! (I say for the 3rd time)I didn`t know @ first `cause I`m stupid!(;
DannyTheTraveler says:
I have started reading the books as a way to stay out of trouble, and because of the books back with merchant of death i fell in love with reading and story telling. to be a part of a movie for the books would be a dream come true, or even just to support a movies for the books. i say yes to the movies, and email me if u need casting i would absolutely love to help in any way possible, and i’m 21 years old
GOCLORAL says:
@ DannyTheTraveler
I`m with you Danny.Post the details and I`ll be there faster than you can say “PENDRAGON RULZ!!!!!!″
Marlana says:
So. I think Uncle Press could be nicholas Cage. he would be awesome.
GOCLORAL says:
I think Hugh Laurie and Nicholas Cage are good canidates
Daddyjp223 says:
I would love to see this series turn into a movie. Give more life to the world of the travelers and I have been looking into it and I feel that the fans taking on the task of creating a script is an amazing idea. I do not know who would be good at playing the characters, the only thing I am worried about is when a director feels they know better than anyone else on how a movie whould be potrayed. I loved all the series D.J has put out(Are you afraid of the Dark? and Flght 21 Down). This movie has a better chance than any other movie to come out and make a killing if they take the ideas that the fans have made. D.J MacHale if you read this please do not repeat Harry Potter and Twilight and ruin the books.
GOCLORAL says:
@ Daddyjp223
I TOTALY agree with you. It would also be cool to have the fans write the script.It would be freakin awsome
ILikePie says:
i like acting…a lot… just so ya know. 🙂 haha
GOCLORAL says:
AAAAH! Just pulled an all nighter! I watched T.V, played on the computer, but mainly reread ” Pendragon Book 9: Raven Rise”… I still haven`t finished it and I`ve been reading for about 3 day`s.
Mozartghost says:
Like I’ve said before, the opening thing of the Merchant of Death (Bobby and Kortny smooching) would look pretty bad compared to the rest of the movie, so that would be something to consider…modifying.
Marina says:
Yeah, I agree with Mozartghost. For Pendragon fans, we know it’s just a small part of the whole story but for people who haven’t read Pendragon, it might get them off to the wrong start.
GOCLORAL says:
I think there should be absolutly no pieces missing in the movie `cause it`s so good!
Hallaman10 says:
@GOCLORAL
hey I know this is a bit late but you kinda had abit to much in your argument I was just kidding around 🙂
Mozartghost says:
@Marina
Yeah it almost discouraged me from reading the books when I first started, but the rest was epic.
And if we somehow absolutely HAVE to keep that scene, it might work better as a flashback, like once people already know something about the characters.
I’m still for cutting it, though.
Marina says:
@Mozartghost
Actually, now that you say that, I think a flashback would be better. Because that part of thier relationship is kind of important through the books but it’s weird for the beginning. I think that flashback idea is great.
GOCLORAL says:
@ Hallaman10
What do you mean abit to much?… Sorry I know this a little late.
Philip719 says:
PLEASE do not cast Nicholas Cage as Uncle Press- or as any characters in the films- the films will bomb if he is a part of them. The general public thinks Nicholas Cage is a laughing stock.
I agree with Anna Sophia Robb as Courtney although she looks a bit young IMO. I would go for Elle Fanning IF I had to go for a well-known actress. She’s slowly becoming a big name and her critically acclaimed turn in “Super 8” makes her a bankable child star.
For Bobby and Mark I’d say go for some relatively unknowns or newcomers. Like the main trio in the Harry Potter series, they will come into their own nicely without the distraction of “celebrity status”.
I think with the technology employed by Avatar, these films could change the face of science fiction/fantasy films aimed at young adults. “Percy Jackson”, “Twilight”, “Transformers”, etc. are all such lackluster films and the upcoming generation deserves a film franchise that delivers.
A final word: Do not cut the books up too much- it will piss off fans. Everyone I speak to about this agrees- if a movie is actually GOOD, it’s okay if it’s pushing 3 hours in runtime.
Laurie says:
I agree with Philip719. Technology has come a long way with films, Avatar especially, and if done right, these films could be groundbreaking. Cloral would be gorgeous on screen, as well as Eelong and Ibara.
I’m really hoping a movie will get made. I have no doubt it has all the potential to become the next big science fiction/fantasy film franchise.
Hobey ho, let’s go!
Drew says:
I’m really into the whole pendragon movie thing. I think I might make a good Mark Dimond in 4 years, and my friends think I’d make a good actor. My brother looks like a younger (a bit) good bobby to me. he’s 12 at the moment.
Drew says:
I can’t wait wait for the movie (hoping there will be one)
Hobey Ho!
Jordan says:
seriously this series of books would be so much better than anything they have came out with PERIOD!
GOCLORAL says:
@ Laurie
I totally agree with you! All of the teritories would be gorgeus on sceen! I would want to see the snowy fields of Denduron, and the underwater teritory, Cloral.
I want to see how beautiful the earth will be in the future.The tropical paridice Ibara, and the desert city of Xhaxhu.
Veelox before the destruction and what earth looked like in 1937.I honestly with the right special effects, the movies would really come to life!
Lost Traveler says:
Hobey ho!
Pendragon would be awesome on the big screen! Imagine what could be done with these amazing books! And I agree with Philip and Laurie about technology. The territories of Halla can no doubt be brought to life!
If this goes through, then I can’t wait to see The Merchant of Death! 😀
eelong rulz says:
IT’S NEARLY TWO WEEKS, TRY TO MAKE THIS 400, SO IT’S 200 PER WEEK!!!
Twig says:
This is really exciting! If this goes through and a movie is made, a lot of fans are going to be happy! I know I will be.
Keep your fingers crossed, mates!
GOCLORAL says:
Okay just saw fast five(BTW totally awsome!) and saw THE perfect canidate for Uncle Press.His name is Paul Walker and he seemed PERFECT !!!!!!!
eelong rulz says:
I totally agree on having Paul Walker as Uncle Press… he just needs a long, brown coat that sways in the wind…
Drea says:
Yeah, I think Paul Walker could make a great Press.
Hobey ho!
Kyle says:
how bout randall park for Alder. DJ seems to maybe have just a touch of oriental about denduron. i think he’d be a good fit
Kyle says:
sean penn would be a good saint dane too… or anthony hopkins
Isabelle says:
Ever since I read the first book I have been in love with this series!! It’s great to hear that you may make a movie! 🙂 that’s great news! I would love to be apart of making these movies! I am 14 years now.
Flume_Rider says:
I think that having Pendragon: The Merchant of Death as a movie would be freaking amazing!!!!! I have a few actors in mind to play the parts.Though most of the picks you guys gave were great dont get me wrong, but should think outside the box with the characters
These are who I think should play at least the main characters
Bobby- Logan Lerman
Mark- Daryl Sabara
Courtney- Sofia Vassilieva
Press- Nicholas Cage
Saint Daine- Ralph Fiennes
Osa- Zoe Saldana
Loor- Shanica Knowles
Alder-Sean Astin
I know most people want all american actors in this with the exception of Hugh Laurie but remember the territories arnt earth and arnt american except First, Second and Third Earth of course. But anyways, These are my choice if I had to choose so hopefully yall will like them….
eelong rulz says:
I think that maybe we should have “unknowns” as the main characters, sort of like Harry Potter!!
Morpheus says:
This topic was discussed a lot in the old Pendragon forums. Those are gone now, but we had everything planned out on there. It was a lot of fun.
Marina says:
OMG! Sorry, this doesn’t really have anything to do with a Pendragon movie but I just finished The Black! I didn’t think I would like the Morpheus Road series but I really do. Especially the second book. Anyway, sorry. That was off topic. Just had to get that out there… 🙂
Gi-Gi says:
I have been waiting for a Pendragon film ever since I started reading the books! I would absolutely love it if a film was made. Books mean alot to me and have helped me out when things looked bad. I can remember reading my mother Pendragon books when she was sick in the hospital. I was a little sad when I got there and my mom (even though she tried to hide it) was in pain. Reading those books helped both of us escape from Second Earth troubles. I aspire to be a published author one day, and these books among many others inspire me to keep writing.
Julia says:
@Marina, I’m glad you liked it! I know I loved it. And I’m with you, I enjoyed the second book better also.
Jill says:
I’ll be so thrilled if this movie gets made! I’ve always thought a movie would be a great idea!
And so we go!
Ross says:
I always find movies of books interesting, but recently they have been dissapointing (HP6, Eragon, City of Ember, Series of Unfortunate Events ect.) Whatever you do, Don’t release a movie that isn’t true to the books.
Marina says:
@Ross
Did you see the last Harry Potter? I thought that stayed pretty true to the books. It was awesome. It’s come such a long way since the first movie. It’s way darker now but I loved the movie!