Yes, by some miracle I have returned from the dead (or rather from life).
For those who need some background info, Hetalia is a... strange little comedy series that follows the humanoid personifications of various countries around the world. Initially, it focused on World War II, but branched out, pretty much abandoning the "Axis Powers" part of the title. Every character, called Nations, is generally fueled by certain stereotypes of whatever country they represent (Italy in particular, as the "heta" part is short for the Japanese word "hetare" meaning useless, as Italy didn't do that much in WWII). Sometimes offensive, occasionally touching, and almost always funny, Hetalia gained a large fandom, mostly for the cosplay potential, unique premise, and the Yaoi overtones. (But please, don't let the crazies of the fandom turn you off.)
Now, I honestly doubt a live action version of this would ever come to be. This is really just more of something I did for fun, and as a response to some casting calls I've seen around Youtube and DeviantArt, which are fun to look at sometimes, but the huge majority of the picks can be questionable (John Barrowman as Germany?). So here's my vision would play out.
Without further ado, here is my cast for a live action Hetalia.
North Italy/Italia Veneziano (Feliciano Vargas): Logan Lerman
Just to clarify, there are two personifications of Italy in the series. The major one is the Northern half of the country, representing the culture of Venice (the city built over water). Anyway, as for the choice, I'll admit, it's hard trying to find cute, young Italian actors, but Lerman seemed to be quite a fave among the Hetalia Livejournal group. And I can see it. Visually, he works, and has the innocent, wide-eyed look.
Germany (Ludwig): Johann Urb
A perfect fit looks wise, and has the European origins to back this choice up.
Japan (Kiku Honda): Kanata Hongo
Keep in mind, Japan is drawn to be quite short in stature. Kanata Hongo, despite looking much younger, was born in 1990. Age requirements fit, plus he is a full-blooded Japanese actor who has had esperience with live action anime adaptations (Prince of Tennis).
US of America (Alfred F. Jones): Garrett Hedlund or Chris Evans
America deserves a way better actor than some useless and talentless pretty boy, and moreover, an actual American actor. I have two top guys for the part, Sam Flynn and Captain America himself.
Garrett has the tall, imposing stature, as well as the pretty-boyish features, plus his previous performances ring of a lighthearted sort of guy who rarely takes things seriously but does have some hidden depths.
Chris Evans should be somewhat obvious. At first I was a little wary of going with this since it felt like typecasting, but America is a far more comedic and lighthearted character, and Chris already demonstrated a very strong comedic timing. Just seeing him on the set of The Avengers wearing a brown bomber jacket and parted hair has already drawn all kinds of comparisons on Tumblr and DeviantArt. Just look up "hetalia captain america" to see what I mean.
England (Arthur Kirkland): Neil Jackson
Personally, I see England being kinda older and more mature, but still not quite above it all. Neil Jackson possesses the blond hair and green eyes, and I can really see him play off well with both of my America choices.
France (Francis Bonnefoy): Andy Gillet
French, handsome as hell, can pull off facial hair, and has some good credentials under his belt. I can't think of anyone better for this than this man here.
Russia (Ivan Braginski): Kivanc Tatlitug
Russia is one of the hardest characters to cast. While he is very tall and imposing, he's also very childishly cruel and sometimes insensitive (but not truly mean spirited). I decided to go out on a limb and cast Kivanc Tatlitug as Russia. I'll admit that I haven't seen him act, but going by looks alone, he does have a Eurasian look that could serve itself well to Russia and a good stature to him.
China (Yao Wong): Takeshi Kaneshiro
Like England, I visualize China being older (he's listed as 4000 years old!) and a little more level headed. Takeshi Kaneshiro is both very handsome and still youthful looking, talented and can pull off many martial arts. Plus he's also part Chinese.
Hungary (Elisabeth Hedervary): Anna Kendrick
I wrestled between her and Emily Blunt. But in the end, youthfulness kinda won out on this. Hungary is younger, more boisterous and a petite powerhouse. Anna Kendrick is very talented, gorgeous and down-to-earth. And she would make a great love interest to my Austria choice below.
Austria (Roderich Edelstein): Cillian Murphy
I think it's pretty obvious by now that I'm a Cillian Murphy fangirl huh? XP
In all seriousness, Austria is another nation I visualize being older and more mature, with a stern disposition (think Captain Von Trapp from The Sound of Music). And Cillian can pull all that off, plus the more compassionate aspect of the character's personality. It helps that he's pretty much the spitting image too.
Prussia (Gilbert Beilschmidt): Ian Somerhalder
His arrogant and in-your-face performance in The Vampire Diaries rings Prussia like crazy. Looks wise, just dye his hair and we should be good.
Switzerland (Vasch Zwingli): Mitch Hewer
Blond, European, and a great actor from what I've seen of him in the British version of Skins.
Lichtenstein: Chloe Moretz
Small in stature, huge in talent, I'll admit she is kinda overused, but Chloe is a dead ringer for the tiny country and does look like she could be Mitch Hewer's little sister.
Spain (Antonio Fernandez Carriedo): Gaspard Ulliel
Okay, okay, he's actually French, but Gaspard Ulliel is a dead ringer for Spain, with a great resume and talent to back it up.
South Italy/Italia Romano (Lovino Vargas): Aaron Johnson
This Italy is the southern half of the country, representing the culture of Rome and Naples. Anyway, Aaron does look like he could be related to Logan Lerman (as long as he keeps his hair straight), and can play a brash, hotheaded a-hole that's clearly way more bark than bite.
Monaco: Imogen Poots
Eh, this was purely looks based, since I've only seen one comic with Monaco around. But Imogen is European and blond, with the right kind of height (being just as small as Lichtenstein).
Belgium: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Yeah, honestly, I didn't really want to go this route, but Rosie has many of the characteristics and the sunny gracefulness of Belgium, complete with naturally curly hair and can pull off a more tomboyish look (for whenever Belgium goes into her military mode).
Netherlands: Nikolaj Coster Waldeau
Needed a big European guy with good acting cred under his belt, and this guy popped up.
Estonia (Eduard Von Bock): Jessie Eisenberg
I made this choice based almost entirely from his performance in The Social Network as a haughty and arrogant genius who can deconstruct a bully with a few clever words and money. Of course, Jessie also possesses a good comedic wit, an integral thing needed for Hetalia.
Latvia (Raivis Galante): Field Cate
Also known as Young Ned in Pushing Daisies, Field is utterly adorable and can really make you cry for him, as Latvia is a favorite target for Russia's bullying antics.
Lithuania (Toris Lorinaitis): Anton Yelchin
Born in Eastern Europe. Talented. Adorable as can be. Skinny, yet inwardly strong. Can really make you sorry for him with just a simple look. Anton Yelchin pretty much is Lithuania.
Poland (Felicks Lukasiewicz): Jamie Campbell Bower
When casting Poland I tried to think of an actor that was quirky enough to pull off the character as well as play off well with Anton Yelchin, and this kid popped up.
Belarus (Natalia Arlovskaya): Amanda Seyfried
I see Belarus as a contrasting beauty - looks harmless and cute, but is scary (she even intimidates Russia). Plus Bela's insanity and stalkerish tendencies are played for comedy, and Seyfried is great at comedy (see Mean Girls).
Ukraine (Yekaterina "Katyusha" Braginskaya): Abbie Cornish
This is another hard role to cast. Ukraine is a woman with... large tracts of land, but of course, top heavy women are more often than not sexualized in Hollywood, and Ukraine is a much more sympathetic character with a more "cute" kind of personality. I decided to take a little risk with Abbie Cornish, who possesses the body, and the big sister vibe that could lend itself well to the part.
Finland (Timo Vainamoinen): Stark Sands
A talented unknown who can definitely play off very well with my Sweden choice below.
Sweden (Berwald Oxensteirna): Alexander Skarsgard
Let me tell ya, seeing one fancast after another casting wimpy looking pretty boys for Sweden truly astounds me. While Sweden is a warm and nice guy underneath his tough exterior, he does need an actor that can pull off both aspects, as well as be physically imposing. Skarsgard not only has the nationality and the height down pat, but his performances in True Blood and Generation Kill are pretty much blueprints for how Sweden is depicted in show.
Denmark: Chris Hemsworth
This is admittedly drawing from his performance as Thor, but Hemsworth does have the height and the boisterous attitude needed for the character.
Iceland: Tom Felton
Pale, pulls off platinum blond, and pretty damn talented. Tom Felton would be a shoe in for Iceland.
Norway: Bradley James
I'll admit, Bradley James is also my secondary choice for England, but generally, I chose him for Norway because of his younger appearance.
Canada (Matthew Williams): John Robinson
Canada and America are supposed to look alike (twins almost), and Robinson does bear a good resemblance to both of my America choices. Plus he's a pretty talented actor, so I don't doubt he can pull off the sensitive, quieter North American brother, while also being able to bring the more aggressive "hockey rage" out too.
Seychelles: Katerina Graham
Another Vampire Diaries cast member, but Graham is still young and pretty with the right complexion for the small African island personification.
Australia: Ryan Kwanten
Australian. Muscular. Strong voice. Can pull off a lovable jerk/goofball like whoa. It's no contest really.
Sealand (Peter Kirkland): Chandler Canterbury
An adorable child actor who is super talented, pulling off Sealand should be a breeze for this kid.
Cuba: Adam Rodriguez
Being of Cuban descent and having the right build for it, plus being pretty talented, Adam should be a shoe in for Cuba, right?
South Korea (Im Yon-Soo): Lee Min-Ho
Okay, I doubt any Korean actors would want to touch this, seeing as how the series sparked a bit of a controversy in the Republic of Korea. But as per wishful thinking, seeing Lee Min-Ho in the Korean version of "Boys Before Flowers" just got me really seeing him as Im Yon-Soo. Being very tall and handsome also helps his case.
Taiwan: Liu Yi-Fei
Beautiful, bi-lingual, talented. She can pull this off no problem.
Hong Kong: Kim Jaejoong
Okay, he's actually Korean, but he's got the looks and has been getting into acting. And Hong Kong is a fairly stoic character, but with a bit of a jokester streak to him. Shouldn't be too hard to pull off.
Vietnam: Maggie Q
Well, she is at least of Vietnamese descent, and going by the few snippets I've seen of Vietnam in the comics, she comes across as a very mature, "team mom" kind of character. Maggie can pull that off fairly well from what I've personally picked up on from Nikita.
Thailand: John Cho
Possesses an awesome comedic timing, looks just like the character, and well, I just can't help but enjoy him. But I do accept other suggestions.
Greece (Herakles Karpouzis): Jason Behr
Handsome with a full head of hair, a kickin' bod, and a nice chill attitude. I can really see Jason Behr
Turkey (Sadiq Adnan): Joe Manganiello
A total show stealer in True Blood and a solidly built man of imposing stature, Joe can definitely pull off the former Ottoman Empire's determination and strengths.
Bulgaria: Sam Witwer
Admittedly, Bulgaria is kinda hard to cast, but I went with Sam Witwer because of his pale complexion and dark hair, plus Bulgaria's characterized as having a bit of a mean temper, and Witwer can pull that off no problem.
Egypt (Gupta Muhammad Hassan): Ahmed Ezz
Well, I wanted to go for an actual Egyptian actor, so there you go. Plus going by the pictures that I've seen of him, he can pull off a petty stoic but intense sort of personality.
Ancient Rome: Gerard Butler
Come on, do you really need an explanation for this one? Ancient Rome is supposed to be much older (referred to as a grandfather by the Italian brothers) and a pretty over-the-top ham from the small appearances he makes. Plus many fan girls from Youtube and DeviantArt seemed to love this choice as well.
Germania: Sean Bean
I’ll admit, I did initially use Orlando Bloom (since so many people liked to joke that Germania looked like Legolas), but it was more for a humorous gag purpose than anything else. In more serious terms I decided to go for Sean Bean, since he and Butler are pretty close in age, and he could convincingly play a barbaric warrior.
Sound off! Like, don't like? What works, what doesn't?