Flixmentallo21 Presents: "Robotech"--The Live-Action Film Series

What would all of you say is your first anime experience? For many children of the 1980's--and those of the 90's who watched Cartoon Network's Toonami block--that first taste of Japanese animation came in the form of the 1985 Harmony Gold/Tatsunoko Production Co. co-production Robotech.



The series tells the story of three generations of humanity who fight back against three different alien invasions using reverse-engineered alien technology, dubbed 'Robotechnology', resulting in advances such as transforming mecha (such as the series' signature transforming jet fighters, or Veritechs). All of these wars are fought over not only the tech, but also their fuel source, the mysterious form of energy known as Protoculture.



Now then, let's get to the meat of this fancast--the cast and crew! (All biographic info courtesy of Wikipedia, the Robotech Saga wiki, and robotech.com.)



Producer: Film producers prepare and then supervise the making of a film before presenting the product to a financing entity or a film distributor. They might be employed by a film studio or be independent, yet either way they helm the creative people as well as the accounting personnel.

Steven Spielberg [Notable Works:.....Who DOESN'T know the movies this guy's made?]: Spielberg has given us some of the most treasured films ever to grace the silver screen, and for a movie series of this scale, he'd be ideal to be a part of the action.


Composer: A film score (also sometimes called film music, background music, or incidental music) is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score forms part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects, and comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental or choral pieces called cues which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to enhance the dramatic narrative and the emotional impact of the scene in question.

Brian Tyler [Notable Works: Fast Five, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Hawaii Five-O, Transfomers: Prime]: His take on the classic theme to Hawaii Five-O proves his capability of giving fresh takes on iconic music. Imagine what he could do if he took on Scott Glasgow's version of Ulpio Minucci's iconic Robotech theme music:


Director: Directors are responsible for overseeing creative aspects of a film under the overall control of the film producer. They often develop the vision for a film and carry out the vision, deciding how the film should look, in other words they make their vision come to life. They are responsible for turning the script into a sequence of shots. They also direct what tone it should have and what an audience should gain from the cinematic experience. Film directors are responsible for deciding camera angles, lens effects and lighting with the help of the cinematographer and set design with the production designer. They will often take part in hiring the cast and key crew members. They coordinate the actors' moves, or blocking and also may be involved in the writing, financing and editing of a film.

J.J. Abrams [Notable Works: Lost, Fringe, Star Trek (2009), Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013), Star Wars: Episode VII (2015, forthcoming)]: With his take on Star Trek, Abrams proved he could breathe life into the classics, and he's going to do the same with the newest Star Wars installment. Robotech would be another sci-fi saga worthy of his talents.


Lt. Rick Hunter: He begins the series as a naive and headstrong civilian pilot, having flown for his father "Pops" Hunter's world-class flying circus. Yet by the end of the series, he matures into a well-respected, experienced, and visionary military commander. Rick originally shares his father's pacifist view of war, until the alien race known as the Zentraedi attack the Earth. Rick then spends the series struggling to reconcile his personal feelings with the realities of war, and the need to confront the incredible alien threat.

Garrett Hedlund [Age: 29, Notable Works: Friday Night Lights, Four Brothers, Eragon, Tron: Legacy, On the Road]: Hedlund was cast in the film adaptation of another celebrated anime, Akira, before production of that film was cancelled. I figured that if a Robotech film was made, this would be a decent second chance for Hedlund to star in such a picture. His portrayal of Sam Flynn in Tron: Legacy is what I was thinking of when casting him as Rick.


Lt. Commander Roy Fokker: Roy was the chief test pilot in the VF-1 development program, and as a potential symbol for the nascent United Earth Government (renamed from the U.N. Government in Macross), was the target of a number of assassination attempts by the Anti-Unification movement, including at least two ambushes during his flight tests of the YF-1 (known as two separate vehicles in Macross, the VF-X and the VF-X-1). He survived both attempts on his life, including the crash of his prototype Valkyrie while testing the Guardian (known as GERWALK in Macross) configuration.

Aaron Eckhart [Age: 46, Notable Works: Erin Brockovich (2000), Thank You for Smoking (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), Battle: Los Angeles (2011)]: That last film is one of the factors that led to me casting him as Rick's big brother-figure, as it also deals with humanity struggling against and alien invasion. I'd also like to think he'd have good chemistry with another one of the cast members to come...


Linn Minmei: Minmei is the love interest of the main character Rick Hunter and becomes an idol singer and movie star on board the spacecraft SDF-1. Her songs, which cause confusion amongst alien Zentraedi soldiers, play a critical role in the First Robotech War against Dolza's Grand fleet.

Chloe Bennet [Age: 22, Notable Works: Nashville, Agents of SHIELD]: What led me to casting her as Minmei was the fact that she started out as a popular singing star in both China and the U.S., and with all the drama she endured in AOS's first season, she'd be perfectly capable of portraying Minmei's struggle with fame.


Lt. Commander Lisa Hayes: Born in 1985 and the only daughter of Admiral Donald Hayes, Lisa is the first officer of the Super Dimensional Fortress One, serving under Captain Henry J. Gloval, and with fellow bridge officers Claudia Grant (her best friend and confidant), Kim Young, Sammy Porter, and Vanessa Leeds (the latter three sometimes referred to as "The Bridge Bunnies"). Lisa Hayes is the third character featured in the show's love triangle between Rick Hunter and Lynn Minmay. Lisa is depicted as the near polar-opposite of Minmei. Rather than being flighty, emotional, and somewhat self-centered, Lisa is mature, no-nonsense, and a strong individual. However, at the same time, Lisa is secretly very insecure, and her tough exterior seems little more than a front to protect herself emotionally. It is also suggested that Lisa does not have a lot of romantic experience with men.

Anna Kendrick [Age: 28, Notable Works: Up in the Air (2009), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), Pitch Perfect and End of Watch (both 2012)]: Kendrick's one of a wave of really promising young actors, and I think that with a character like Lisa she'd get the chance to show her skills with portraying a very dramatic character arc. (Also, kind of a coincidence that both she and the character in question were both born in 1985....)


Lt. Commander Claudia Grant: Born in 1983, Claudia is distinguished by her blue eyes and short dark brown hair. In 1999, following the crash of the SDF-1, Claudia joins the military and quickly rises in the ranks of the newly formed United Earth Forces (UEF). After initially being posted to an air base in Wyoming, where she first meets a then young Lt. Roy Fokker, she is later posted to Macross Island to oversee the rebuilding and refitting of the SDF-1. Claudia become a bridge officer on the SDF-1 with the rank of lieutenant commander and was third in command after Captain Henry J. Gloval and Lt. Cmdr. Lisa Hayes when the SDF-1 was launched in February 2009, just as the arrival of Zentraedi forces in Earth's solar system marks the start of the First Robotech War. As the SDF-1’s Chief Communications Officer, Claudia is tasked with coordinating communications for the 15,000 crew members aboard the massive battle fortress. Despite the challenge, which is made worse by the constant attacks by the Zentraedi, Claudia successfully coordinates communications with various departments that keeps operations running smoothly throughout the immense ship throughout the First Robotech War. Unlike Lisa's no-nonsense, by-the-book attitude, Claudia maintains a relaxed and confident manner which enables her to develop strong friendships with the bridge officers Vanessa Leeds, Sammie Porter and Kim Young who regard her as a big sister. She also develops a strong relationship with Captain Gloval, whom she regards as almost a father-figure. Although it is not stated in the television series, Claudia has a strong relationship with her younger brother Vince Grant, who serves as an engineer aboard the SDF-1 during the war. Claudia and Lisa, despite their different attitudes, also become good friends.

Kerry Washington [Age: 37, Notable Works: Ray (2004), The Last King of Scotland (2006), Scandal]: She's got enough range that playing Claudia would be a piece of cake for her, I believe she's talented enough for that.


Captain (later Admiral) Henry Gloval: Although the Robotech television series reveals little about Gloval prior to the launch of the SDF-1 in February 2009, Wildstorm's Robotech comic series From the Stars provides considerable detail about Gloval's life and successes in the late 1990s and following the crash-landing of the SDF-1 in 1999. Details of Henry J. Gloval's personal life have never been revealed, although he never makes any mention of a wife, children or family and is depicted as being dedicated to his job and duties above all else. During the Global War which raged on Earth in the late 1990s, American forces moved to stabilize an out-of-control political and military situation in the Asian Pacific. The Russian Navy was ordered to deter American forces, which pitted Gloval against former allies he had worked with during the hopeful days following the end of the Cold War. It was while leading an American carrier task force on a chase across the Pacific Ocean that Gloval was caught up in the most important event in human history up until that point - the crash landing of an enormous alien battle fortress, later named the SDF-1 in July 1999. After surviving the initial shockwave, Gloval and the crew of his Oscar-class nuclear submarine, the Minsk, were the first humans to arrive on the crash scene and were responsible in securing the site before an international team of scientific experts could arrive to examine the wreckage. Knowing that his own government would not be able to control the site, Gloval defied orders and allowed an international team of experts to investigate the wreckage. This precedent helped to broker an international ceasefire, and eventually helped lead to the formation of the United Earth Government. Gloval became a leading figure among Earth's military, and his unblemished reputation allowed him to reach consensus among fellow military officers around the world. Among his key supporters was Donald Hayes, who had been both ally and adversary in the past. Hayes' daughter, Lisa Hayes, would become Gloval's first officer on the SDF-1.

Gabriel Byrne [Age: 64, Notable Works: Miller's Crossing (1990), In the Name of the Father (1993, as producer), The Usual Suspects (1995), The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), In Treatment (2008-2010)]: After seeing some of Miller's Crossing a few months ago, I knew Byrne would work as Gloval much better than my original choice of Tony Shaloub. The man's an accomplished screen and stage actor, so playing Gloval as the father figure of the SDF-1's bridge crew should pose no problem.


Vanessa Leeds, Sammy Porter, and Kim Young: Vanessa, Kim, and Sammy were attractive girls who managed the various functions of the SDF-1 Macross' bridge under Captain (later Admiral) Gloval. The three were prone to gossip and often compared notes on the ongoing romantic woes of their friend and leader, Lisa Hayes; Vanessa, the most mature and outspoken of the girls, even directly tried to help Lisa with her romantic troubles on more than one occasion. Sammy, on the other hand, eventually served at Lisa's station in her absence, although she needed to adjust to the post. Casting these three proved to be a bit of a head-scratcher to me, not only due to their portrayals probably catching the eye of those who follow the Bechdel test. Eventually, I've settled on casting the following: Kayley Cuoco as Vanessa, Emma Stone as Kim, and Dakota Fanning as Sammy.


Maximillian "Max" Sterling: His unassuming personality belies his deadly prowess as the SDF-1’s most renowned Veritech pilot. Max is preternaturally talented with near-perfect fighting judgment. He is widely recognized to be the most dangerous Veritech combat pilot in the entire Robotech universe.

Aaron Johnson [Age: 24, Notable Works: Nowhere Boy (2009), the Kick-Ass films, Godzilla (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015, forthcoming)] It took me a while to figure out why I wanted to cast Johnson as Max, and in the end I felt it would give him the chance to play someone with a bit of a unique character arc like Max's. He played a capable soldier in the Godzilla remake, let's see if he can play an ace fighter pilot.


Ben Dixon: Ben, along with his best friend Max Sterling, become rookie wingmates under the command of newly promoted Lieutenant Rick Hunter, forming the Vermillion Squadron with Roy Fokker watching over them. While Max is quiet and shy, husky Ben is jovial, gregarious and fashions himself (or rather overrates himself) as a ladies man. He and Roy are fellow jokesters and often team up to tease Rick over the romantic circle he's involved in with Lynn Minmei and Lisa Hayes. Under the watchful eye of Roy, Ben, Max, and Rick became a tight-knit group during the early days of the war with the Zentraedi. Out of the three, Ben seems to require the most repairs to his plane after a battle. Sadly, Ben's phenomenal luck runs out when, during a malfunction of the SDF-1's omnidirectional barrier system, the barrier explodes and Ben is caught in the blast. Following the recent loss of Roy Fokker, Ben's death comes as another painful blow to Rick, Max, and Lisa.

Nate Torrence [Age: 36, Notable Works: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Get Smart (2008), Hello Ladies (on HBO)]: Torrence perfectly fits the bill for a character like Ben, and as a second option, I would have gone with Jonah Hill as well.


Dr. Emil Lang: Dr. Lang was Earth's chief Robotechnician and has been with Earth Robotechnology development since it was first developed from the crashed SDF-1. It was through his efforts that the SDF-1 was built from the crashed alien ship. He also helped in development of the Veritech fighter. Among his other innovations were the pinpoint barrier system, omni-directional barrier, Cyclone Armor, and the Shadow Fighter.

James Woods [Age: 67, Notable Works: Once Upon a Time in America (1984), Casino (1995), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), Hercules (1997), Shark (2006-08)]: Woods is a very talented actor, capable of playing intelligent characters with the utmost of ease, which made him a perfect candidate for playing Lang.


Linn Kyle: Kyle is Minmei's third cousin, and an avowed pacifist. Despite asserting to be an anti-war activist, Kyle was very warlike, who often opted to argue with others rather than resorting to alternative peaceful solutions. Instead of trying to advocate peace and help calm them down, engaged in combat and displays his prowess in martial arts. When Rick and Minmei return to the SDF-1, Kyle and Minmei star in the first movie filmed in space. Kyle, who is attracted to Minmei despite the fact that she is a distant relative, attempts to kiss her, but she pushes him away. Unfortunately, Rick witnesses this and decides that any romance they once had is over. Kyle later becomes Minmei's manager and an alcoholic obsessed with money.

John Cho [Age: 42, Notable Works: the Harold and Kumar films, Better Luck Tomorrow, Yellow, Star Trek (2009), Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013), Sleepy Hollow]: While many of you normally associate him with his more comedic outings, I think Cho might be able to effectively show off his dramatic chops with a character like Kyle.


Dolza: Dolza is the supreme commander of all Zentraedi forces in the galaxy, commanding his fleet of over 4.8 million capital ships from his massive mobile planetoid homebase. Dolza is the second oldest Zentraedi (only Exedore is older) and is the largest of his race, standing 17.5 meters (57.4 feet) tall, although in the Jack McKinney Robotech novels, Dolza is described as being over 24.4 meters (80 feet) tall. Dolza is ordered by the Robotech Masters to find and recover the lost spaceship that had crashed on Earth in 1999. The ship, stolen by the disciples of Zor, contains a vital component, a protoculture matrix, which the Masters desperately need to ensure the survival of their civilization.

Christopher Judge [Age: 49, Notable Works: Stargate SG-1, X-Men: Evolution]: Judge's work on Stargate SG-1 in particular is what inspired my casting him as Dolza, coupled with his really deep and distinctive voice.


Breetai: Second in command of all Zentraedi forces, after Supreme Commander Dolza himself. Breetai was one of the original creations of the Robotech Masters, and has lived for over 500,000 years. Breetai has shown himself to be a true military genius time and time again, securing his well-established position. Breetai's full name was given as Breetai Tul during the Jack McKinney novelizations and Eternity Comic's adaptations. Robotech.com states that Breetai stands 13.54 metres (44.4 feet) tall and weighs 16,750 kg (36,930 lbs), although in the Jack McKinney Robotech novels, Breetai's height exceeds 18.3 metres (60 feet). Breetai is the second largest Zentraedi after Dolza himself (although Breetai is eventually micronized to human form in Robotech II: The Sentinels). The right half of Breetai's scalp and nearly half his face were severely burned in a battle with the Invid many years earlier. To cover his injuries, Breetai wears a metal alloy prosthesis on the right side of his face with a glittering crystal lens in place of his right eye.

Ray Stevenson [Age: 50, Notable Works: King Arthur (2004), Rome (2005-07), Punisher: War Zone (2008), Kill the Irishman (2011)]: Stevenson has the presence and gravitas fit for a character like Breetai, and as War Zone showed us, he can definitely be intimidating in-character.


Exedore: Exedore is a Zentraedi who serves as adviser to Fleet Commander Breetai during their search for Robotech Master Zor's missing battle fortress (later known as the SDF-1). Although still a giant by Micronian standards, he is almost a dwarf when compared to even the average Zentraedi. Exedore is the keeper of Zentraedi law, lore and history as given to him by the Robotech Masters. It is he that reminds Breetai that one of their directives is to stay away from Micronian civilizations for fear of cultural contamination. Nonetheless, because the Earth humans have come in possession of SDF-1, Exedore has the hapless job of trying to out-think them which proves a difficult task considering the Terrans' inexperience in space warfare makes them nearly unpredictable.

Peter Dinklage [Age: 45, Notable Works: The Station Agent (2003, Death at a Funeral (2007), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), Game of Thrones (2011-Present), X-Men: Days of Future Past]: Dinklage was the first actor on my mind when it came to casting Exedore, mostly based on his portrayal of Bolivar Trask in DOFP.



Miriya Parina-Sterling: Miriya is the self-styled "finest combat pilot in all the Zentraedi forces." She is distinguished by her slim figure, green eyes and her long green hair. Miriya enters the First Robotech War as Commander Azonia's first officer and the leader of the Quadrono Battalion. Miriya is a female warlord and is considered the greatest warrior of all the Zentraedi. She is a fearsome warrior who pilots the Zentraedi Power Armor and she considered herself to be unbeatable in combat. When the Zentraedi attack the SDF-1 in 2009, Miriya leads several raids against the human forces; including one in which ace pilot Roy Fokker is killed. Miriya enjoys combat and takes great pride in the fact that she has never once failed to defeat a foe in combat. upon a challenge from Khyron that there was a "Micronian" [human] ace aboard the SDF-1 that even she could not best, who happens to be Max Sterling, though Khyron was actually referring to Rick Hunter. Intrigued, Miriya takes it upon herself to engage him in combat but finds herself frustrated as she cannot defeat him, a situation which she had never faced before nor did she think was possible. Determined to maintain her reputation, Miriya decides to be micronized to human form so she can infiltrate the SDF-1 to find the pilot and kill him. During the micronization process, Miriya's height is reduced from 8.55 metres (28 feet) to 1.78 metres (5.8 feet) and her weight is reduced from 6,250 kilograms (13,779 pounds) to 53 kilograms (117 pounds). After infiltrating the SDF-1, Miriya explores Macross City and marvels at human culture. At a video game arcade (which Miriya believes is a combat training facility), she again finds herself unbeatable at a combat simulation game until she is challenged to a duel by Max Sterling, who is the incredibly skilled pilot whom Miriya had dueled against in real combat. Max, who is attracted to Miriya, challenges her to a video game in the hope of getting to know her better. After a short game, Max defeats her, and Miriya concludes (correctly) that Max must be the ace pilot whom she faced in real combat. Miriya is furious that she has been beaten again but as she storms off, Max asks her out on a date. Miriya, still determined to defeat him, accepts, although she secretly plots to kill him. Max, after consulting with his friend Rick Hunter about what he should wear, arrives at the park where he awaits Miriya's arrival. Hiding in the bushes, Miriya draws a knife and runs toward Max who, proclaiming, in English, a Zentraedi war cry: "Maximillian, prepare for your doom!" and throws the knife at him. Despite the surprise, Max is able to dodge Miriya's first attack and the knife buries itself in a tree. Miriya reveals that she is a Zentraedi warrior and that her mission is revenge against him, prompting Max to say "There goes our first date." Drawing a second knife, she continues to swing and thrust the knife at Max. Max manages to pull the first knife out of the tree and after a short fight; Max manages to disarm her and points the knife at her face while proudly proclaiming "I guess I win again." Beaten for a third time, Miriya becomes emotionally despondent and her anger and hatred give way to sadness. She falls to her knees, and asks Max to kill her. Crying, Miriya believes she cannot live with the shame of being defeated and that her only option now to die by his hand. Yet despite everything that has just occurred, Max says that he could never harm her because she is so beautiful. Max and Miriya look into each other's eyes and Miriya realizes that the feelings she holds toward Max are not of hate but of love. The two, after seemingly floating in air towards each other, passionately kiss. Max wipes a tear from Miriya's cheek and, although he admits it sounds crazy, asks her to marry him. Miriya, with no idea what marriage is, accepts his proposal. She later becomes the mother of their two daughters, Dana and Maia.

Alice Eve [Age: 32, Notable Works: Starter for 10 (2006), Crossing Over (2009), She's Out of My League (2010), The Raven (2012), Star Trek: Into Darkness]: Eve is a very, very beautiful actress, and with Miriya's character arc, she could really expand her range and dabble a bit more in sci-fi. And just picture her with all that green....


Rico, Konda, and Bron: These three are Zentraedi spies sent to study Micronian culture aboard the SDF-1, where they become so fascinated by it that they defect to the RDF, the first of many defectors. *In all honesty, I have no idea who I would cast as these three, that I leave up to your imaginations.*


Khyron: Sometimes known as Khyron Kravshera or Lord Khyron, he was a brilliant but often insubordinate and mentally unstable Zentraedi commander during the First Robotech War. Khyron earned the nickname Khyron the Backstabber because of his habit of attacking his own men when angered or drunk. Khyron's Botoru Battalion was summoned to the Solar system by Commander Breetai, against the advice of Exedore, to assist in the capture of the SDF-1 Macross. While his unorthodox tactics kept the RDF off balance, he was often rebuked by both Commanders Breetai and Azonia for risking undue damage to the fortress. On one occasion, Breetai was forced to use the nebulizer in order to forcibly recall Khyron from an unauthorized attack while Azonia had to threaten him with being fired upon himself to force him to disengage from another attack. When Breetai's forces joined the SDF-1 in battle against Dolza's Grand Fleet, Khyron showed his self-serving nature by deserting.

Tom Felton [Age: 26, Notable Works: the Harry Potter film series, Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), The Apparition (2012)]: In 2010 and '11, Felton won the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, based on his Draco Malfoy portrayals. I figured that would be enough of a qualifier for portraying this near-Shakespearean villain in Khyron.


Azonia: The highest-ranking female in the Zentraedi fleet, Azonia is the commander of the female Zentraedi pilots. She is a skilled, respected, and powerful warrior. It would seem that her unusual relationship with Khyron is as confusing to her as it would be to fellow Zentraedi---if it were openly known. In her own her way, Azonia is as arrogant as her lover…a trait too common among the Zentraedi warlords during the various battles for the SDF-1. Azonia was placed in command of the mission to retrieve the SDF-1, after Dolza relieves Breetai from duty.

Antje Traue [Age: 33, Notable Works: Pandorum (2009), 5 Days of War (2011), Man of Steel (2013)]: Traue's take on Faora in MOS is what mainly drew me to the idea of casting her as Azonia, which I think would work out fine in the end.



Lt. Commander Dana Sterling: Dana is the daughter of Max Sterling and Miriya Parina Sterling, heroes of the First Robotech War, and the sister of Maia Sterling. Dana's mother, Miriya, is a former Zentraedi warrior who, after being micronized in order to infiltrate the SDF-1 and kill Max, who fell in love with her, the two were quickly married. Dana was born in New Macross City in October 2012 in the aftermath of the First Robotech War which saw most of the Earth's surface reduced to ashes. Dana is the first child born from a Human/Zentraedi union and is considered, like her parents' marriage, a symbol of, and a hope for, peace between the two races. At a young age, Dana would follow in her parent's footsteps and take leading role in the defense of Earth from alien forces that seek its destruction. Dana also struggles to prove that her promotion was not given to her simply because her parents are war heroes. In addition, the fact that Dana is half-Zentraedi is not held in high regard by many humans who still harbor grudges due to the Zentraedi holocaust that decimated the planet 18 years ago. Dana clashes with Marie Crystal, a squadron leader within the Tactical Armored Space Corps and Nova Satori, an officer in the military police. Gregarious and outgoing, Dana proves to be a brilliant tactical leader during the Second Robotech War against the Robotech Masters but she is troubled, because she is half alien, over the fact that the enemy she is killing could be her own relatives (even though it is soon established that the forces of the Masters are not Zentraedi).

Jennifer Lawrence [Age: 23, Notable Works: Winter's Bone (2010), X-Men: First Class (2011), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), American Hustle (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), 'The Hunger Games' films]: Lawrence was the first actress to come to mind when casting Dana, and with the roll she's been on in the last few years, I think she'd do well playing the character.


Pvt. Bowie Grant: Bowie Grant is the gentle, introspective son of Vince Grant and Jean Grant and nephew of the late Claudia Grant. He is a sensitive, soft-spoken youth, who has yet to find his place in the world. Like his childhood friend, Dana Sterling, his parents left him in the custody of his god-father, General Emerson, while they joined the forces of the SDF-3 on their sojourn to the stars. Bowie and Dana are like brother and sister. When Dana entered the service, Bowie tagged along and eventually became her aid in the 15th squadron. Bowie is a skilled fighter, although he has no love for war or even physical sport. His true interest is in music. Bowie is a gifted piano player and a fair singer. With this in mind, it seems no wonder that he finds himself attracted to the alien, Musica. A mutual attraction that causes both Bowie and Musica to desert their posts in an attempt to avoid the insanity of war.

Michael B. Jordan [Age: 27, Notable Works: The Wire, Friday Night Lights, Fruitvale Station, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox]: For Jordan, I thought it would be an interesting role to play in the form of a musically-inclined pacifist of a soldier. Bowie's character arc is one that I think he'd jump at the challenge of.



Cpl. Louis "Louie" Nichols: Louie Nichols was a hovertank pilot in the 15th Alpha Tactical Armored Corps during the Second Robotech War, serving under Dana Sterling. A scientist even then, he developed the 'Pupil Pistol'm an advanced targeting and firing system. Nichols later became the science officer on the Icarus under Vince Grant.

Anton Yelchin [Age: 25, Notable Works: Alpha Dog, Star Trek (2009), Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013), Fright Night (2011)]: Yelchin's Chekhov gave me the idea for casting him as Louie, and I'd thought he'd nail the part of the 15th Squadron's resident genius quite capably. He would return to the role for the fourth Robotech film.


Sgt. Angelo Dante: Angelo "Angie" Dante was a rustic, down to earth character who comes from the old school where might usually means right.

Sam Witwer [Age: 36, Notable Works: Battlestar Galactica (2003 series), Smallville, Being Human, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (voice role), Star Wars: The Clone Wars (voice role)]: Witwer is what I would call my wild card choice--last I checked, he hasn't usually played tough-guy kind of characters before. Don a New Yorker accent, combine that with his Galactica experience, and you'd have a good portrayal of the 15th Squadron's resident blue-collar strongman.



Pvt. (formerly 1st Lt.) Sean Phillips: Formerly a First Lieutenant, Sean Phillips was demoted to the rank of Private Second Class because of his wolfish advances to a female superior officer (and a general's daughter). He is with the 15th Alpha Tactical Armored Corps (ATAC) squadron and expert pilot of the Spartas veritech tank. He also has a love/hate relationship with Marie Crystal.

Dave Franco [Age: 29, Notable Works: 21 Jump Street (2012), Now You See Me (2013), Neighbors (2014), Scrubs (season 9)]: The role of the 15th Squadron's resident playboy was definitely tailor-made for Franco, and this decision took me a while to figure out.


1st Lt. Marie Crystal: Her rivalry with Dana can be viewed as a subtle game of "cat and mouse". Marie proved to be a competent leader and fighter. She lead the returning forces from the ALUCE-1 base and saved the relief fleet from certain destruction, becoming a hero of Earth. She was injured in an attack by the Robotech Masters and was saved by Sean Phillips. In the beginning of the series, Marie appears to be colder and less personable than Dana. But as the story progresses, she is revealed to be even more of a romantic than Dana. Her military training eventually conflicts with her passionate emotions, and she is forced to choose between her duty to the Southern Cross, and her friendship with the 15th Squad. She slowly develops feelings for Sean Phillips, and they later become romantically involved.

Jaimie Alexander [Age: 30, Notable Works: Kyle XY, Thor (2011), Savannah (2012), The Last Stand (2013), Thor: The Dark World (2013)]: She's an actress I definitely wanted to cast as Marie, as this would be her first crack in a military-type role AND I felt she'd be able to nail Marie's characterization.


1st Lt. Nova Satori: Nova is the youngest military police officer in the Global Military Police (GMP). She is also the highest ranking female officer, and is the personal aide to Colonel Alan Fredricks. Nova takes her duties very seriously and allows for no compromises regarding protocol and regulations. Her rivalry with 15th ATAC leader Lieutenant Dana Sterling can be viewed as a subtle game of "cat and mouse" or as a "fencing match". In the beginning of the series, Nova appears to be colder and less personable than TASC officer Marie Crystal. But as the story progresses, she is revealed to be even more of a romantic than Dana. Initially, Nova repeatedly tries to root out possible traitors and spies from within Earth's military. But her interrogations of Zor Prime cause her to lose focus while reviewing several personnel files and negatively impact the record of TASC pilot Dennis Brown. When she apologizes to him, he surprisingly thanks her for helping him stay on Earth to keep an eye on an overzealous military leadership. The two later become romantically involved. As the series progresses, Nova becomes frustrated at continually being outfoxed by Dana and the 15th ATAC squad. She tries to arrest Zor, lock up Bowie Grant, and capture Musica as a prisoner of war. However none of her plans come to fruition. Eventually, Nova's military training conflicts with her sense of justice, and she is forced to choose between her duty to the Southern Cross and her friendship with the 15th Squad. Realizing that the war has become one of survival and freedom from an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, Nova switches sides and joins the 15th in their mission to stop the Robotech Masters.

Rose Byrne [Age: 34, Notable Works: Damages (2007-2012), Insidious (2010), X-Men: First Class (2011), Bridesmaids (2011)]: Nova was another character I had a bit of a hard time casting, until I thought of Byrne and her take on Moira McTaggart in First Class, which then solidified my casting decision.



Major General Rolf Emerson: Major General Rolf Emerson was Chief of Staff to the Supreme Commander of the United Earth Forces. Emerson, and his wife Laura, were made godparents to Dana Sterling and Bowie Grant who were left under his care while their parents joined the Robotech Expeditionary Force. Gentle and compassionate, Emerson often sued for peaceful negotiations over the militaristic solutions that Leonard proposed. Emerson was known for his excellent tactical skills in battle, especially in contrast to Anatole Leonard's often rash and aggressive "throw everything we have at them" tactics. The two men often clashed over their philosophies but it was obvious that they deeply respected each other.

Clancy Brown [Age: 55, Notable Works: Highlander (1986), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), the DC Animated Universe (as the voice of Lex Luthor), Starship Troopers (1998)]: Originally I wanted Jeff Bridges for the role, but then upon further thought, I felt that Brown would make a very good live-action Emerson, and have a pretty good sparring-partner dynamic with our next character...


Supreme Commander Anatole Leonard: He serves as the supreme commander of the Army of the Southern Cross and thus of all Earth defense forces following the departure of the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) from Earth in December 2022. Technically answerable to a relatively weak United Earth Government and subject to a degree of oversight from the autonomous Global Military Police (GMP), Leonard's authority and decisions are rarely questioned. Leonard retains command of the Southern Cross until the last moments of the Second Robotech War, when he is killed along with most of the General Staff during the final attack on Monument City.

Vincent D'Onofrio [Age: 55, Notable Works: Full Metal Jacket (1986), Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Ed Wood (1994), Daredevil (forthcoming)]: In looking at another person's vision for a Robotech film series, he used Michael Chiklis for the role of Leonard, so I wanted to go a different route, and D'Onofrio was at the top of my list. He's not called the 'human chameleon' for nothing as an actor, which is why he'd be a perfect fit for Anatole Leonard; plus, he'd be a great sparring partner for Clancy Brown's Rolf Emerson.


The Robotech Masters: The Robotech Masters are a species of humanoids who mostly appear as triumvirates, native to Tirol, a moon of the planet Fantoma. According to the Jack McKinney novelizations (which are not considered canon by some), a Tirolian scientist named Zor discovered the Invid homeworld, and the mysterious Flower of Life. This discovery led to the development of Protoculture, a source of tremendous power and unique qualities. Their imperial machinations lead them to turn their cloned Zentraedi miners into a formidable military force, used to steal the Flower of Life from the Invid, defoliate Optera and conquer the Local Group of star systems. The Robotech Elders were the governing triumvirate of the Robotech civilization during the Second Robotech War. Their power over both military and civilian matters was absolute. Sir

Christopher Lee [Age: 92, Notable Works: Hammer Studios' horror films, The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, the final two Star Wars prequels]: Lee is a legendary actor who got his start in villainous roles, and for playing the Masters, think something along the lines of Saruman x3 in space.


Zor Prime: The original Zor would be mentioned again in the twenty-ninth episode of the series, titled "The Robotech Masters", while the following episode, "Viva Miriya", introduces the concept of the Masters cloning him. The aliens hope that the memory of how to create a Protoculture Matrix and save their race from extinction survives in Zor's genetic material, and so create a clone from his tissue, dubbed "Zor Prime". Zor Prime has none of the original Zor's memories, and is instead appointed warlord of the Robotech Masters' invasion force when they initiate the Second Robotech War against Earth in an attempt to reclaim the Protoculture Matrix in the SDF-1. Seeking to plant a spy among the ranks of their human opponents (and, per McKinney's Metal Fire novelization, hoping that exposure to human emotion will reawaken Zor's memories within him), the Robotech Masters wipe Zor's mind and allow him to be captured. The human military, hoping that the amnesiac Zor Prime will be able to provide them with intelligence, place him with the 15th Armored Tactical Assault Corps division, where he meets commanding officer Dana Sterling. When the Masters attempt to "reactivate" him in episode fifty-four, the failed attempt to collect and then wipe his recollections partially unlocks the memories of the original Zor within him. Once his memories are fully restored after a series of revealing events which include revisiting the site of the SDF-1 where the lost Protoculture Matrix lies, Zor dedicates himself to revenge against the Robotech Masters, sacrificing his own life in episode sixty, "Catastrophe", to crash their flagship into the remains of the SDF-1 in hopes of destroying the Matrix within. Unfortunately, Zor's sacrifice is in vain, as the explosion scatters the contents of the Matrix–now matured into the Flower of Life–across the Earth, drawing the attention of the Invid to the planet and beginning the Third Robotech War.

Alex Pettyfer [Age: 24, Notable Works: Stormbreaker (2006), I Am Number Four (2011), Magic Mike (2012), The Butler (2013), Endless Love (2014)]: I can see why that aforementioned fancaster used Pettyfer for Zor Prime--the guy's got experience with the whole 'stranger in a strange land' approach to portraying aliens, thanks to I Am Number Four. Throw in the amnesiac factor, and Pettyfer would make a pretty good Zor Prime.


Musica: Musica was one of the muses of the Robotech Masters. Their music was used to keep the clones complacent and obedient. Musica was the mistress of the Cosmic Harp. Octavia, in yellow, played a dulcimer-like instrument and Allegra, in the pink, played a stringed instrument resembling a Cello. Much to the dismay of her sisters, Musica rebelled against her people's way of life after meeting Bowie Grant and experiencing emotions for the first time. Her confusion grew after she refused the arranged pairing with Karno. She later fled with the 15th squad after she betrayed her people and freed the ATAC members. Musica helped Zor Prime regain his memories. She mourned the death of her sister, Octavia, while she and the remnants of the 15th tried to lead her people to safety in the final main battle of the war.

Emilia Clarke [Age: 27, Notable Works: Game of Thrones, Breakfast at Tiffany's (2013, on Broadway), Dom Hemingway (2013)]: Clarke's work on GOT is the main source of inspiration for casting her as Musica (and by extension, Octavia and Allegra). Think about it--instead of taming dragons, here you find her taming alien warlords. On the plus side, I think she'd have good chemistry with Michael B. Jordan's Bowie Grant.





Lt. Commander Scott Bernard: He is a young man, who is somewhat reluctant but a leader at best. He is a skilled pilot and was set to marry the woman he loved Marlene Rush. However, Marlene is killed in the battle with the Invid. Scott has a holographic medallion she gave him as a token of her love and he uses it to give him strength to continue the fight against the Invid. Scott Bernard was born in 2023 in outer space, less than a year after the Robotech Expeditionary Force, led by the SDF-3, left Earth to find the Robotech Masters' Homeworld in hopes of preventing another war on Earth. One of the first children born during the mission, Scott was part of the new generation of Earth's defenders.

Charlie Hunnam [Age: 34, Notable Works: Queer as Folk (1999), Undeclared (2001), Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim (2013)]: It was his role and portrayal in that last film that really inspired my casting Hunnam as Scott, since both characters reluctantly enter battle with a great loss hanging over their heads. Hunnam would reprise the role for the fourth Robotech film.


Randolf "Rand" O'Keefe: A young and impressionable freedom fighter, Rand is a self-taught survivor. He has managed to live off the land on his own and still avoid capture and slavery by the Invid. When he joins Scott Bernard, Rand begins a voyage of self-discovery. He becomes young Annie's protector. An orphan of the invasion himself, he understands Annie's situation from firsthand experience. Under Scott Bernard's guidance, Rand becomes an excellent combat soldier. When he falls in love with Rook Bartley, his commitment to her is total. His outgoing and affectionate nature is a perfect foil to Rook's independent nature.

Logan Lerman [Age: 22, Notable Works: The Butterfly Effect (2004), Hoot (2006), 3:10 to Yuma (2007), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), the Percy Jackson films]: Took me a while to figure out someone to play Rand, but in the end, I determined Lerman was reliable enough for playing the young scavenger-turned-resistance fighter.


Rook Bartley: As a young teenager, Rook was a member of the Blue Angels biker gang along with her boyfriend, Romy, and other juveniles. When Romy decided to break up the Blue Angels because of pressure from a rival gang, the Red Snakes, Rook tried to take on the Snakes alone and was beaten and left for dead. Because of this, Rook ran away from home, leaving her mother and sister behind. She later joined a band of freedom fighters led by Mars Division Lieutenant Scott Bernard. It was later revealed that Rook was the half-Zentraedi daughter of Kyle Bartley and the Zentraedi warrior Vala Norri. Rook is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, taking on several thugs at one time. She is also an expert Cyclone Rider using VR-038 Bartley ("'38 Lite") cyclone. In the middle of the series Rook acquires a Red VFA-6Z Alpha Fighter & rides a VR-052 Battler Cyclone. Over the course of the series she begins to develop feelings for Rand, but initially denies it.

Amber Heard [Age: 28, Notable Works: Friday Night Lights (2004), Never Back Down and Pineapple Express (both 2008), The Rum Diary (2011)]: Also took me a while to figure out Rook's actress, but Heard definitely stood out to me as being capable of portraying a character like her.


Annie "Mint" LaBelle: Annie was born in Panama, Central America. She is a free-spirited, talkative orphan looking to live life to its fullest. She is obsessed with finding herself a boyfriend, although has little luck with her outgoing ways. While not the most skilled of the freedom fighters, Annie provides the spirit and energy for the group. She is always willing to lend a hand, regardless of whether she actually can do the task. She is willing to take on the Invid single-handed, if that is what is required. (*I'd downplay the whole 'boyfriend-hunting' aspect, it could annoy audiences after a while.*)

Ariel Winter [Age: 16, Notable Works: 'DC Showcase: Green Arrow', Modern Family, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Parts 1 and 2)]: Winter's portrayal of Carrie Kelley is what led to me casting her as Annie, a character for which she'd definitely have the spunk for.


Jim "Lunk" Austin: Jim Austin, more affectionately known as Lunk, is a biomaintenance engineer that returned from the expeditionary forces to fight off the Robotech Masters. While supporting a ground unit, he arrives in time to see his best friend (the only survivor of the unit) being hotly pursued by Invid. Jim loses his nerve and flees the scene leaving his friend to certain death. Jim is ashamed of his desertion and hides his past and assumes the nickname of Lunk. When a local gang of bikers find out about his past, they begin terrorizing him and his friends. One day, while chasing Lunk and a friend, they cause him to crash. Lunk escapes, but his friend is not so lucky. While Lunk is about to run away again, Scott and Rook are ready and willing to go after the gang and rescue his friend. This reawakens Lunk's sense of duty, and he leads Scott to an old Alpha fighter he had been maintaining for years, just in case. Lunk later attempts to complete his best friend's last request of returning a book to his father. When they reach the village where his friend's father lived, they find that the locals killed him when he tried to teach them that they could not fight the invid. As the series progresses Lunk slowly regains his self-esteem while he helps the group out and maintains their fighting mecha in optimal combat condition.

Chiwetel Ejiofor [Age: 36, Notable Works: Dirty Pretty Things (2002), Serenity (2005), Children of Men (2006), 12 Years a Slave (2013)]: Now, some of you may raise a few eyebrows over whether or not I miscast Ejiofor or changed Lunk's ethnicity for no reason, but hear me out--other than Serenity, when was the last time Ejiofor starred in a sci-fi film? Given his body of work and his talent (honed in his days as a theater actor), I believe he'd do justice to the character of Lunk. (Also, Lunk was hard to cast for this thing, so cut me some slack.)


Lt. Lance "Lancer" Belmont, aka "Yellow Dancer": Lt. Lance Belmont was a pilot that was a part of the first attack wing that attempted to liberate the Earth from the Invid launched by the 10th Mars Division of the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) in 2038. He flew a non-transformable SA-8 Vampire but crash landed during the attack. The rest of the division was destroyed by the Invid forces. He was rescued by a young woman named Carla. To save Lancer from the townspeople who were assisting the Invid, Carla Morales disguised Lancer as a woman. Lancer took the name Yellow Dancer and passed himself off as a female singer, a role he originally created to avoid capture by the Invid. It was not until 2042 when Lt. Scott Bernard (of the 21st Mars Division), Rand and Annie arrived in the small town that "Yellow Dancer" was performing at that Lancer revealed that not only was she a he, but that he was a military trained special operative. Lancer would stay with the group until the battle of Reflex Point. He fell in love with Sera, Princess of the Invid, and she with him. It was this relationship that largely led to Sera abandoning the genocidal tactics of her brother Corg and to her eventual break with the Regis. The handsome youth is quick to make light of his peculiar situation. He's a good friend to have in times of trouble, a thoughtful advisor and a courageous, talented fighter. It's his ability to see beyond the obvious that helps bring about the tentative peace between the Invid and the humans at the end of the Third Robotech war.

Jared Leto [Age: 42, Notable Works: Urban Legend (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), Dallas Buyer's Club (2013)] Oy vey....For the longest time, I had no clue who I'd cast as Lancer in a live-action Robotech adaptation. That is, until seeing Leto win an Oscar for Dallas Buyer's Club last year. His role in that movie really gave me the inspiration for casting him as a character known to disguise himself as a female singer, and with Leto's background as a musician, it adds a bit more authenticity to the role.


"Marlene"/Ariel: Ariel is the first of the Invid that had transmutated into humanoid form in April 2043. She was a simulagent sent to spy on Scott Bernard's group of freedom fighters, but she appeared to suffer amnesia when she was recovered by Scott's resistance group. In fact, Ariel was akin to a newly born human being due to the transmutation into human form and so her past life as an invid has been irrelevant, but now she has free will to live independently from the hive in this form, and this initially frightens her. The group took her in their company and Scott named her Marlene, after his fiance who was killed by the Invid. During their quest to the Reflex Point, Marlene becomes an integral part of the group as they fight the Invid. Initially, Marlene believes herself to be a human suffering from amnesia that can sense when the Invid are near. During the journey to Reflex Point she develops feelings towards Scott. They both fall in love with each other until an encounter with the Invid on the outskirts of Reflex Point when the two young lovers discover that she is in fact an Invid. Scott questions his feelings for her throughout the final two episodes of the series until he realizes (thanks to Rand and Rook), in the end, that he is in love with Marlene/Ariel.

Olivia Wilde [Age: 30, Notable Works: The O.C., The Black Donnellys, House, Tron: Legacy (2010), Cowboys and Aliens (2011), Her and Drinking Buddies (both 2013)]: Wilde's portrayal of Quorra in the aforementioned Tron: Legacy is what mostly gave me the idea to cast her as Ariel, and given the arc she goes through, it might be an interesting challenge for the lovely Ms. Wilde. She would reprise the role for the fourth Robotech film, and early in The New Generation film--with some slight digital alteration--she'd portray the human version of Marlene. In borrowing an element of the McKinney novels, it would be stated that Marlene's DNA was used as a template for Ariel's humanoid form.


Col. Jonathan Wolfe: Leader of a squadron dubbed The Wolf Pack, they were successful in annihilating many of the enemies encountered by Admiral Hunter's Robotech Defenders. Then the Wolf Pack was sent to Earth, to do battle with the Robotech Masters. During the Third Robotech War, Wolf was sent down to Earth to try and save the planet. They were ambushed and the operation failed. He began to lose faith after the death of his wife and son, and started to dislike war and fighting alike. During the year 2044, Scott Bernard and his group met Jonathan Wolfe in a well protected city in South America. Scott, always wanting to meet his hero, volunteers to help him assault a Invid Protoculture Farm, where Wolfe left his men and Scott to die at the hands of the Invid. Later, Wolfe convinced Rand to join him to find Scott, only for Rand to discover that Wolfe was making deals with the Invid. After Rook found Scott alive, Rand tried to explain Scott about Wolfe`s betrayal. After Rook, Rand and Scott were ambushed by invid soldiers, Wolfe took the Alpha and helped kill the Invid. During the attack, though, he was mortally wounded. On his deathbed, he admitted to Scott about his betrayal and died recalling his wife and son.

Timothy Hutton [Age: 53, Notable Works: Ordinary People (1980), Taps (1981), The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001-02), Leverage (2008-12)]: Hutton's role on Leverage was the main inspiration for casting him as Wolfe, as both characters experienced the deaths of their wives and sons and have them hanging over their heads.


Dusty Ayres: A serial killer who hunts down and murders army personnel in cold blood, he was experimented on by the Invid, explaining his prosthetic attachments. The men he's been after were all his friends, who he felt left him to die at the Invid's hands and wants revenge. He sacrifices himself to save Scott and company, but not before killing the remaining men on his hit list.

Aaron Paul [Age: 34, Notable Works: Breaking Bad, Need for Speed (2014)]: Though not having seen Breaking Bad, from what I've heard, Paul's performance on the show (and that in Need for Speed) could help in portraying someone like Dusty.


Lt. Sue Graham: Lieutenant Sue Graham was member of the 36th Squadron Intelligence Department of Jupiter Section. With an extensive background as a video journalist, her responsibilities included record keeping of Admiral Hunter’s expeditionary force archives. With Mars Division's disastrously unsuccessful attempts at liberating the Earth from Invid domination, Sue embarked on a reconnaissance mission to gather clues about this mysterious alien race. Sue Graham's final mission brought her back to Earth to document the viability of new technology used by Shadow Fighters to become invisible to Invid sensors. She died after discovering that the Invid could transform themselves into Humanoid beings. In her final moments, Scott asked her if all she had recorded had been worth her death, to which that it was.

Demi Moore [Age: 51, Notable Works: Blame it On Rio (1984), St. Elmo's Fire (1985), About Last Night...(1986), Ghost (1990), A Few Good Men (1992), Indecent Proposal (1993), Disclosure (1994), Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)]: While having not seen a lot of Moore's work, I know her role in A Few Good Men helped inspire this casting. (That, and she kind of looks like Graham in real life.)


The Invid Regess: Originally, the Regess served as the guiding intelligence of the primitive Invid that lived on Optera. During this time, they lived a peaceful existence in complete symbiosis with the Flower of Life. At some point, the Tzuptum system was visited by Tirolians that consisted of the scientist Zor who was looking for new sources of energy for his people. Upon meeting the Invid, he became fascinated by them and their union with the Flower of Life. At night, he was telepathically called onto the surface by the Regess who believed him to be someone else who had visited her people long ago. Taking on a Humanoid form to please Zor, she entered into a telepathic communion with him where she shared her knowledge of the Flower of Life whilst she in turn learnt of Zor's knowledge of Tirolian society. Afterwards, Zor departed the planet though the Regess remembered him fondly and her entire people engaged in evolution with the slug-like Invid becoming bipedal in imitation of the Tirolians. In addition, the power of the Regess was split as a second male entity emerged that resembled a larger more evolved Invid who became known as the Regent. Their new existence continued with the Regent stating that Zor was not the person who had visited them in the distant past though the Regess disagreed. Optera would once again be visited by Zor and a delighted Regess awaited him but was horrified to see him arrive with an army of Zentraedi. Since their last contact, Zor had become a servant of the Robotech Masters who ordered the defoliation of Optera of all its supply of the Flower of Life. Witnessing her children harmed and the Flower of Life stolen, she and the Regent ushered their children into the Invid Hive. Angered at this betrayal, she telepathically assaulted Zor who stopped the harvest and left only a small quantity of the Flower of Life on a ruined Optera. This chain of events once again led to a rapid evolution within the Invid who transformed from a peaceful species into a war-like one that sought vengeance for those that had wronged them. The Regent would begin the campaign of conquest of the Robotech Masters empire in the Local Group with more worlds being gradually conquered. Zor would be killed in an Invid assault and the Protoculture Matrix would be lost onboard the SDF-1 that was sent to a far off world. Eventually, the Regent began his campaign against Tirol which the Robotech Masters had now abandoned in order to retrieve Zor's Battle-fortress. By this point, the Regess had grown increasingly disgusted with her husband the Regent who had become fixated on conquest and war where as she desired to evolve into a more enlightened being. As such, she looked at him scornfully when he initiated the assault on Tirol as a wasted effort and instead she travelled to Praxis to begin her Genesis Pit experiments where she studied the Praxians to find a more evolved form for her race. These experiments critically damaged the environment of Praxis leading to its destruction. At this time, Humans of the Robotech Expeditionary Force had arrived on Tirol and waged a campaign of liberation alongside their Sentinels allies. The Regess later departed for Haydon IV to find the location of the Protoculture Matrix where she was assisted by Vowad and interfaced with the Awareness. Her experience led her to learn that the mysterious Haydon had influenced the worlds of the Local Group and that a digital version of Zor was recorded who warned the Regess that only madness awaited her if she dwelled further on the matter. She eventually met with Haydon himself in the Awareness who told her to find the Protoculture Matrix as part of some prophesised event. In the aftermath, the Regess remained on the Haydonite homeworld until the Regent sent her a gift; a Tirolian called Rem who was an ally of the REF. This individual resembled Zor and was intended as an insult. However, Rem was in fact a clone of Zor and the Regess decided to probe his mind. Her findings led her to take half her race and depart from the known worlds which left the Regent in his continued war against the REF as well as the Sentinels. Eventually, the Regent perished in the struggle which left the Regess as the only ruler of the Invid race. The blooming of the Flower of Life on Earth was detected by the Invid Sensor Nebula and the Regess took her entire race to the planet where she easily conquered the weakened Human defenders. This chain of events instigated the Third Robotech War where the Regess created Reflex Point as her primary hive whilst her children harvested the planet of the Flower of Life. Despite defeating the United Earth Government, bands of resistance forces still existed around the Earth though initially these did not trouble her forces to any great degree. Furthermore, the Earth Reclamation Force was constantly defeated by the sheer ruthless Invid that now defended the planet. During this time, the Regess conducted her experiments in evolution through the use of the Genesis Pit in order to find a more enlightened form of her race. This led her to determine that the Human form was in fact the most ideal for this task and she began transforming some of her children into his evolved body. Among the first included the Princesses Ariel and Sera along with the Prince Corg. Eventually, events culminated in the Battle for Reflex Point where the Human resistance fighters gathered for a final assault in conjunction with the Earth Reclamation Force. In this time, Ariel attempted to appeal to her mother to end the bloodshed by leaving the planet. Initially, the Regess refused as Earth was the only known source for Protoculture and the Flower of Life. However, upon seeing Shadow technology amongst the Human forces, she concluded that her enemy had allied with the Children of the Shadow. In addition, she believed that the Earth had fallen under the malignant spirit of the Robotech Masters with bloodshed bringing only more bloodshed. Thus, she decided to consume all the Protoculture on the planet and head for a new world that was calling to her. The Regess at first asked her daughter Ariel to accompany her but she refused and the queen-mother of the Invid warned her that her fate would be forever tied to the Humans when the Children of the Shadow fell on them. Afterwards, she transformed herself and her children into energy that destroyed the Neutron-S missiles headed for Earth and departed for parts unknown.

Tilda Swinton [Age: 53, Notable Works: Michael Clayton (2007), Burn After Reading (2008), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), Snowpiercer (2014)]: This was another casting choice inspired by another fancast (over on deviantart), AND was also inspired by Robert Garlen's casting of her as the Borg Queen for his Star Trek: The Next Generation reboot trilogy. She definitely would be a great fit for the Regess.



Corg: Corg was one of four known Invid Simulagents created in humanoid form by the Invid Regess. The human form was determined through Invid genetic experimentation in the Genesis Pits to be the most fit vessel on Earth. As the Crown Prince of the Invid Race, he and his sister Sera, shared command of Invid Legions, and they were both given Invid Commander mecha to fly in battle. With Sera, he pursued Lieutenant Scott Bernard’s freedom fighters in many battles. Being now in a humanoid form, he was also exposed to human emotions. While his two other Invid Sisters, Ariel and Sera, felt love and compassion, he was filled with anger and hatred. He nearly laid waste to New York City after deciding to commit genocide of the humans inhabiting the battered city. He was a skilled pilot, despite failing to defeat Scott Bernard's band of rebels. He participated in the defense of Reflex Point from the Robotech Expeditionary Force where he killed many human pilots. His hatred got the best of him and he was killed in battle by Lieutenant Commander Bernard in the assault of Reflex Point.

Stephen Amell [Age: 33, Notable Works: Dante's Cove, Hung, 90210, Arrow]: When looking at those stills of Amell as Oliver Queen, you can really see a bit of cruelty in his eyes, which I thought matched the depictions of Corg in the original series. I think Amell could really nail Corg's ruthlessness and anger to a 'T'.


Sera: Sera was one of four Invid Simulagents created in humanoid form by the Invid Regess. As the Crown Princess of the Invid Race, she and her brother Corg, shared command of Invid Legions, and they were both given Invid Commander mecha to fly in battle. With Corg, she fought Lieutenant Scott Bernard's freedom fighters. Being now in a humanoid form, she was also exposed to human emotions. Like her sister Ariel, she fell in love with one of the human resistance fighters named Lancer (aka Lance Belmont). Together, they convinced the Invid Regess that further war would bring the destruction of both races, ultimately siding with the humans. Thus, when the Invid Regess and the rest of the Invid transcended their corporeal forms and left the earth, both Sera and Ariel were left behind.

Olivia Thirlby [Age: 27, Notable Works: Juno (2007), The Darkest Hour (2011), Dredd (2012)]: Aside from Dredd, we really haven't seen her dabble in the sci-fi genre, and this might be an interesting character for her in that it's not the usual kind of alien roles one would expect.



Admiral Rick Hunter: In the events prior to the Shadow Chronicles, Rick and Lisa, still happily married, are expecting their first child. Lisa is an Admiral of the fleet while Rick is a Major General. The comic begins with Rick and Lisa facing the betrayal of the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) by T.R. Edwards, as he defects to the side of the Invid Regent. As the SDF-3 pursues Edward's ship, the Invid Regent's supercarrier defolds nearby. The SDF-3 launches an attack but the Regent's supercarrier is able to fire first, causing extensive damage and severely injuring Lisa. Later, Rick meets with his close friends, Vince Grant and his wife, Dr. Jean Grant, to ask about Lisa. Rick is happy when he is told that Lisa will survive and he states he is looking forward to her resigning her commission after she found out she was pregnant with their first child. However, it is then that Jean Grant, with a sad look on her face, says: "Rick... She lost the baby." Rick is overwhelmed and collapses in shock and sadness. Rick orders the REF to prepare for a full-scale assault against the Invid forces on Earth. Rick now looks and acts considerably different from the young man in the first Robotech saga. With Lisa facing a long recovery, Rick is promoted to Admiral of the REF. One year later, the REF has rebuilt and Rick oversees the christening of the newly refitted battlecrusier Tokogawa, which is to be commanded by Vince Grant on a mission to Optera to find and stop Edwards. However, the tragedy one year earlier has taken its toll on Rick and Lisa. Rick's once black hair has turned gray and his face has aged considerably in appearance. Lisa remains in a wheelchair with braces on her legs. Both are still struggling with the death of their unborn child but manage to find the strength to carry on in their mission to stop Edwards and free Earth from the Invid. Rick, with the help of Vince Grant, is eventually able to track down and stop Edwards while seizing from him valuable technology that the REF can utilize to help free Earth from the Invid. However, Rick thinks little of Edwards' warning that a new threat is about to emerge. Rick orders all available REF forces to assemble at Moon base ALUCE to prepare for one final assault on Earth to dislodge the Invid with the use of the new shadow technology obtained from the Haydonites. Reluctantly, Rick authorizes the use of the newly acquired Neutron-S missiles if the REF's assault against the Invid on Earth is unsuccessful. The Neutron-S missiles are a devastating new superweapon developed with the assistance of the Haydonites, a highly advanced cybernetic race which also opposes the Invid. This decision is difficult for Rick, since although the missiles are more than powerful enough to destroy the Invid's central hive at Reflex Point, they will also wipe out most (or possibly all) life on Earth. Rick's decision is criticized by some of his officers who believe that the Neutron-S missiles should simply be used immediately; Like Rick, they are well aware that an attack against the Invid forces on Earth, even if successful, will likely result in very heavy losses to the REF. However, Rick refuses this request and orders that the missiles only be used as a last resort. Before the SDF-3 joins the attack, Rick asks Max Sterling to join him on the SDF-3 and appoints his daughter, Maia Sterling, to lead Skull Squadron in his place. Lisa, now fully recovered, also joins Rick on the bridge of the SDF-3. General Reinhardt, aboard the newly completed SDF-4 Izumo is placed command of the REF fleet assembling at Moon Base ALUCE - Rick orders the SDF-3 to the Omicron Sector to oversee the test firing of a Neutron-S missile before it joins the rest of the fleet for the attack. However, the test goes horribly wrong as the true power of the missiles become apparent. The detonation of the missile creates a black hole. Despite being more than 800 million kilometres (500 million miles) from the detonation, the SDF-3 sustains heavy damage and everyone, except the android Janice Em, is killed on board the science vessel Deukalion. Vince Grant, captain of the battlecruiser Icarus, is dispatched to rescue the SDF-3 and Admiral Hunter. Because of hostile jamming by unknown forces (later revealed to be the Haydonites), Captain Grant is forced to leave the SDF-3 behind, as Rick orders him to return immediately to the battle raging against the Invid near Earth to warn the REF that the Neutron-S missiles cannot be used on Earth under any circumstances. The SDF-3 is last seen adrift in space, being slowly pulled towards the newly created black hole. At the end of the movie, it is stated that the SDF-3 may not have been destroyed as initially thought. The Ark Angel, now under the command of Vince Grant is ordered by General Reinhardt to begin a search mission to try and reach the SDF-3 before the Haydonites do.


Kurt Russell [Age: 63, Notable Works: Escape from New York (1981), Silkwood (1984), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Stargate (1994), Miracle (2004)]: To play the older Rick, I knew I needed a veteran actor of distinct quality to play the part, and that's what led me to Russell. I cite his performance in Miracle as one inspiration, and of course his experience playing a military type in Stargate helped.



Lt. General Gunther Reinhardt: Lieutenant General Gunther Reinhardt was the supreme commander of the Earth Reclamation Force and is also the acting supreme commander of the Robotech Expeditionary Force during the absence of Admiral Rick Hunter.

Denis Leary [Age: 56, Notable Works: Rescue Me, The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)]: Originally I wanted to use Richard Gere, but then after remembering Leary's George Stacy from ASM, I felt that he'd be capable of pulling off Reinhardt. Leary would play Reinhardt earlier in the final part of Robotech III: The New Generation, where we first see the assault on Reflex Point.


Cpt. Vince Grant: Vince is the brother of Claudia Grant, a bridge officer on the SDF-1. In October 2012, Vince's wife, Dr. Jean Grant, give birth to a son, who they name Bowie Grant. Born at nearly the same time as Dana Sterling, Bowie and Dana would become good friends and would later serve together in the 15th ATAC Squadron of the elite Army of the Southern Cross. Claudia dies at her post in January 2014 in the battle of New Macross City. Subsequently, Vince became very good friends with Rick Hunter, who also lost numerous friends in the battle. In December 2022, Vince and Jean leave earth about the SDF-1, the flagship of the newly created Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF). Unfortunately, due to health reasons, Bowie was unable to come with them and, like Dana, was left under the care of their godfather, General Rolf Emerson. Bowie was initially devastated at being left behind, and both Vince and Jean hoped the mission would be over quickly. However, the challenges soon faced by the REF would keep it away from earth for the rest of Bowie's childhood. Vince and Jean continue to have prominent roles throughout the REF's 22-year mission. During Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles, Vince has become a captain within the REF and remains a close and trusted friend of Rick Hunter. Following the attack against the SDF-3 by the renegade forces of T. R. Edwards and the Invid Regent's supercarrier, Vince and Jean are forced to tell Rick that his wife, Lisa Hayes has suffered a miscarriage, causing Rick to collapse in shock and sadness. In early 2044, Vince takes command of the newly completed Tokogawa, a heavy cruiser built for the purpose of tracking down and stopping Edwards. Although the Tokogawa is lost in a subsequent battle with Edwards' forces, Vince and Rick are eventually able to track down and stop Edwards' plan to seize control of the remaining forces of the Invid Regent for his own use. However, like Rick, Vince thinks little of Edwards' warning that a new threat is about to emerge that will threaten the REF, Earth, and even the Invid.

Denzel Washington [Age: 59, Notable Works: Glory (1989), Training Day (2001), among many other critically-acclaimed films]: Denzel is one of the best actors in recent Hollywood history, and he would have the gravitas and skill to pull off the role of Vince Grant with ease.


Dr. Jean Grant: Dr. Jean Grant is a lieutenant commander in the Expeditionary Medical Corps and the chief physician of the Icarus. She is also the wife of Vince Grant and the mother of Bowie Grant.

Angela Bassett [Age: 55, Notable Works: What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), The Score (2001), Malcolm X (1992), among other acclaimed films]: I picked Bassett based on her turn as Amanda Waller in the much-maligned Green Lantern film, and also noticed that it would reunite her with her Malcom X co-star in Denzel Washington--pure coincidence, I swear. Bassett is certainly talented enough to play someone like Jean Grant.



Lt. Commander Maia Sterling: Lieutenant Commander Maia Sterling is a daughter of Max Sterling and Miriya Sterling, and is Dana Sterling's younger sister. Like her sister, Dana, she is half human and half Zentraedi. She has short, pink hair, and appears to have adopted the color for use on her equipment. Unlike Dana, who was born on Earth, Maia was born in space during the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) mission to find the Robotech Masters' homeworld of Tirol. Before the Battle of Reflex Point, Maia, like the other young members of the REF who were born in space, have never seen Earth. Maia is strict like her mother and yet witty like her father, and like her parents, marks her fighter with her own personal colors - in this case, a combination of the standard blue paint scheme, and her own personal pink. Her personal flight suit uses a similar color scheme.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead [Age: 29, Notable Works: Death Proof, Live Free or Die Hard (2007), Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010), Smashed (2012)]: The genesis of this fancast actually came from when I first saw Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, and I started thinking who could play Maia in a live-action take--that's when Winstead struck me as a possibility. She's been known for branching out into multiple genres, and this would prove an interesting challenge for an actress of her caliber.


Lt. Marcus Rush: Marcus Rush is the younger brother of Marlene Rush. Like his sister, Marcus was born in deep space during the 22 year mission of the Robotech Expeditionary Force (REF) and has only seen Earth from space. Marcus carries a strong hatred of the Invid with him, stemming from the fact that his sister, Marlene, was killed during the failed assault by the 21st Mars Division against the Invid on Earth in 2042. After his sister's death, Marcus becomes a veritech fighter pilot to help continue the REF's mission to stop the Invid and free Earth from its occupation.

Josh Hutcherson [Age: 21, Notable Works: Zathura (2009), Journey to the Center of the Earth (2009), the Hunger Games films]: Hutcherson, based on some of his past character portrayals, seemed like the best option I could go with when casting Marcus, who was yet another head-scratcher for me when it came to casting characters here. Marcus's character arc could definitely be something different for Hutcherson to get into.


Lt. Alex Romero: Romero was a Wolf Squadron Veritech fighter pilot and the wingman of Marcus Rush. As the unofficial comic relief of the squadron, Alex is a suave and socially gifted individual with a knack for showboating. He is also Marcus’ best friend and moral support. He is killed during the start of the Fourth Robotech War when the Haydonites attack the main fleet of the REF.

Andrew Garfield [Age: 30, Notable Works: The Social Network (2010), The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and ASM2 (2014), Death of A Salesman (on Broadway)]: Garfield I think kind of resembles a real-life Alex Romero, and it'd be pretty interesting to see him try out being the funny guy to Josh Hutcherson's straight man.



Commander Daryl Taylor: Daryl Taylor was a human member of the Robotech Expeditionary Force and leader of the Wolf Squadron. He led the Wolf Squadron for the Battle of Reflex Point and was also given a Beta Fighter. During the battle Taylor destroyed numerous Invid, however once the tide of battle started to turn due to the Invid's far superior numbers, he was engaged in close combat with an Invid where he was impaled when another Invid stabbed his fighter. The Invid then fired at point blank range on Taylor's fighter, destroying it and killing him.

Mark Harmon [Age: 62, Notable Works: NCIS, among other notable film and television roles]: For what's essentially a cameo that drives some of the plot forward, I thought that Harmon would give off a good amount of presence as Taylor. I also cast him for a couple of oddball reasons--one being that Taylor was played by another Mark (Hamill, believe it or not), and the other being that someone here cast Harmon as a fighter pilot version of the Green Lantern Alan Scott (who also bit the dust in that fancast).


Janice Em: Janice's name is an acronym for Junctioned Articifial Neuro-Integrated Cybernetic Entity M1. Janice Em debuts at the beginning of the first "act" of the Sentinels storyline, covered by Jack McKinney's first novel, The Devil's Hand, and Eternity Comics' The Sentinels: Book I comic book. Introduced simply as the niece of Dr. Emil Lang, she is the new singing partner of starlet Lynn-Minmei, and together, they perform at the wedding of Rick Hunter and Lisa Hayes. Soon after, Minmei convinces Janice to pilot a shuttle to the SDF-3 so she can say goodbye to her friends before they depart on their diplomatic mission to the planet Tirol, but their ship is caught up in the space fold when the SDF-3 teleports away. Brought on board the SDF-3 to recover, Janice's true robotic nature is revealed to the audience when her creator, Dr. Lang, downloads her recent memories to analyze her unexpected actions. Lang had installed her as Minmei's partner so that she could travel the world as a pop star, talking to the right people in the corridors of power, feeding the suspicious Lang information about the untrustworthy government while he was off-planet. Janice played a large role in the rebooted Robotech universe of the 21st century. WildStorm Comics' mini-series, Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles, served as an alternate ending to the Sentinels storyline, in which Janice helps Dr. Lang and the Haydonites unravel the mysteries of the cloaking "Shadow Technology" used by T.R. Edwards in his flight to Optera. Using the revelations gained from these studies, Lang begins constructing a new body incorporating Haydonite technology for Janice while she departs to join the final battle against Edwards. This conflict plays out as in Rubicon, with Janice disguising herself as Minmei to hurl Edwards into the Genesis Pit, but the Waltrips [authors of the later Sentinels comics] effected an alternate ending they had planned for their original adaptation, in which Edwards emerges from the pit as a mutated horror. Janice, too, survives the plunge, and clings to Edwards's back, serving as a homing beacon for the SDF-3 to target its synchro-cannons upon. Moments before the blast is fired, obliterating Edwards, Janice transfers her mind into the new body Lang had created for her. At the conclusion of Prelude, Janice participates in a test of the Hadyonites' dangerous Neutron-S Missiles, which badly damages the SDF-3 and its sister ship, the Deukalion. Janice survives the blast, and is recovered from the Deukaleon in the Shadow Chronicles feature itself. A strange romance seeming to bloom between Janice and her recoverer, Dr. Louie Nichols, and she serves as his assistant in analyzing Haydonite technology. Soon, however, it is discovered that the Haydonites actually seek to destroy all users of Protoculture, and Vince Grant has Janice imprisoned on the belief that she is a traitor, given the Haydonite technology in her systems. The Haydonites soon arrive to take custody of Janice, but when she refuses to aid them, they attempt to destroy her. Realizing his mistake, Vince saves Janice and welcomes her back into the REF.

Elena Satine [Age: 25, Notable Works: A lot of minor stuff, but for most of us here, most recently was her appearance on Agents of SHIELD]: Satine has what may be the best look for a real-life version of Janice. If I were to picture her portrayal, it would be something along the lines of Star Trek: The Next Generation's Data, except svelter and with more estrogen (and a lovelier singing voice). Something tells me Satine could pull that off.



The Awareness: he Awareness is the name of a mysterious entity that is worshipped by the Haydonites and guides their civilization. In the aftermath of the Third Robotech War, the Awareness was somewhat surprised that the Invid had survived. However, it informed its followers that their goals were unchanged and that all races that made use of Protoculture had to be eliminated as they posed a threat to the Haydonites dominion. Thus, it gave instructions to the Haydonites to betray the Robotech Expeditionary Force and eliminate the humans which culminated in the Battle for Space Station Liberty.

Laurence Fishburne [Age: 52, Notable Works: Apocalypse Now (1979), Boyz in the Hood (1991), What's Love Got to Do With It (1993), the Matrix trilogy, Man of Steel (2013)]: My main inspiration for casting Fishburne as HAL 9000 on steroid was his turn in said Matrix trilogy, where the irony is he'd be voicing the very thing Morpheus was fighting against. He's got a very distinct voice for something like that, something we saw in his portrayal of the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).



The Haydonites: The Haydonites are a highly advanced cybernetic race that appears in Robotech and made their first appearance in the comic Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles. They are also seen the subsequent movie, Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles. To the Invid, they are known as the Children of the Shadow.

Benedict Cumberbatch [Age: 37, Notable Works: Atonement (2007), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and War Horse (both 2011), the Hobbit trilogy, Sherlock, Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013), The Fifth Estate (2013)]: Cumberbatch also has a very distinctive voice, one that would be perfect for the Haydonite sub-commander pictured here. (Others would be voiced by Frank Oz, Corey Burton, Hugo Weaving, Isaac Singleton Jr., and Anthony Daniels.) He'd also be voicing the one that has the most action in the film, since he tries to bring Janice back to his masters, only to be defeated by Vince and Scott Bernard.