Here is my new fan casting for the upcoming Marvel/Netflix series Daredevil. In this case, I decided to go for a younger group of actors to fill the roles of Matt, Karen, and Foggy. Additionally some of my casting choices may not share the same physical traits of their characters. Bad decision? Maybe, but judge for yourselves!
Hayden Christensen as Daredevil: Still in his early 30s, I think Christensen has still got a lot to offer, and his best years still ahead of him. We know from Star Wars that he can play the angry, torn, crumbling hero and so I think he’s a perfect fit for Matt. Beyond that he has some very solid performances under his belt such as Shattered Glass, Jumper, and Vanishing on 7th Street. Physically, he definitely has the Murdock look, and could really look convincingly menacing in the red tights and horns.
Christina Ricci as Karen Page: By far one of my favourite actresses, Ricci has proven to herself to be one of the most versatile performers in Hollywood. Her awesome work in Black Snake Moan definitely sold me on the idea of her as the Born Again-era Karen, but as she has shown in films like Sleepy Hollow, she can also be the sweet, innocent heroine. Furthermore, as a globally known star, Ricci is sure to pull in the audiences.
Zach Gilford as Foggy: I don’t think Foggy has to be the chubby, bow-tie wearing pal of Daredevil we’ve come to love in the comics. I know actors like Sean Astin are the popular choice, but I think a young actor like Gilford, who always carries with him a sense of sincerity whenever he’s on screen could fit the bill just as well. He may be unknown to some, but those of you who were fans of Friday Night Lights will know how great of an actor he really is. If we do see the classic love triangle story, I can totally see Gilford as the unlucky but resilient Foggy Nelson.
Rob Lowe as Ben Urich: Again, Lowe’s chiselled face might not be the first to come to mind when you think of Urich. However, he is a great actor with a number of super-charged performances in his catalogue. Specifically, it was his political roles in Brothers & Sisters, Knife Fight, and Killing Kennedy that made me think he could pull of the role of Ben Urich - the fight against the system, the strong ethics, the internal struggle to do what’s right for everyone – all character traits that Lowe would be familiar with to jump into our favourite reporter’s shoes.
Iddo Goldberg as Bullseye: After seeing him, perform in BBC’s Peaky Blinders and TNT’s Mob City I feel that Goldberg is THE perfect choice for Bullseye. I seriously urge you guys to check him out if you’re not familiar with him. He can definitely do creepy and sadistic, without making it look like a lot of effort. Plus he’s pretty much spot on in the looks department. It’s important that Bullseye is his own character rather than some extension of the Kingpin which seemed to be the case in the movie and I’m sure Goldberg could do the job right.
Matthew Fox as Wilson Fisk: Fat with muscle or bald? No, but he could really tower over Christensen once the two battle it out. While I wasn’t a huge fan of Lost, I was a big watcher of Party of Five where Fox really anchored the show. His performances are powerful to say the least, and I think he really is one of the best actors working today. I think he can bring a sense of authenticity to the role of the Kingpin while still making it fun.