First off, let me say that I really got excited by Carnahan’s sizzle reel and would still love for him to direct a reboot. I’ve also always disliked the idea of a weekly TV show because I’ve always felt the DD story belongs on the big screen. However, considering the story elements I want to see in a DD adaptation, I now think TV is a great platform for the character.
So here is my fan-cast for a mini-series. The show would consist of approx. eight, hour-long episodes, and an original story, combining elements from the stories by Stan Lee, Miller/Janson, Miller/Romita Jr., and Nocenti/Romita Jr. This would be a highly adult-themed bleak crime drama, similar to the tone of Southland.
JOSH HARTNETT as Matt Murdock: We would see DD still in early stages, with the costume, but still tracking his father’s killers by looking for The Fixer’s superior. This would lead him to the king of the underworld, Eric Slaughter, who is on the verge of a gang war with the upcoming Wilson Fisk.
Hartnett has been my first choice for DD since day one. His ability to play a very cold, distant, mysterious protagonist is ideal. He can show tons of emotion without saying or doing too much, just like Matt. There is no one better for the role.
SHAWN HATOSY as Foggy Nelson: Foggy is the one person Matt can faithfully lean on. However, the tensions between the two would soon rise when the new secretary Karen Page comes into the mix.
Hatosy is one of my favourite actors, who can play serious, goofy, and sinister all at the same time. His roles in Southland, and Dexter S5, are proof of this. Foggy needs to be a bag of emotions as he sees Matt and his friend as his rival for Karen’s heart
MELISSA GEORGE as Karen Page: The new secretary to the offices of Nelson and Murdock. While she is pursued by a very determined Foggy, she would secretly long for Murdock. However, his sudden disappearances and cancellations to leap over rooftops would cause her to believe that he’s not interested.
I really like George as an actress, and her ability to play powerful female characters without making them too masculine. Karen needs to be vulnerable, and at the same time strong, as her heart is rocked back and forth between Matt and Foggy. Another plus is that the actress worked convincingly well with Hartnett on 30 Days of Night.
TREAT WILLIAMS as Eric Slaughter: Slaughter is the ageing king of the underworld, though despite this, he still carries certain principles. He holds certain distaste for the selling of children, a quality that his younger rival, Wilson Fisk, does not share. Furthermore, one of his underlings, The Fixer, has made him a target for Daredevil.
Treat Williams is one of the greatest actors of all time, and how he isn’t put right up there with the likes of Pacino or Eastwood is beyond me. He can play the sympathetic protagonist, just as great as a murderous psychopath. Slaughter needs to be a very bad dude, but his choice not to sell children into labour, prostitution, and child porn, should make the audience like him a little more. I urge you guys to watch Prince of the City, especially you Nolan fans, as he recently described Williams’ role as a “revelation”.
VAL KILMER as Wilson Fisk: The evil crime boss and challenger to Eric Slaughter’s throne. Fisk would be the lowest type of guy you can get, who decides to cash in on the domestic and foreign demand for child prostitution. When Slaughter condemns him for pursuing such a goal, Fisk begins an underworld war that spreads throughout Hell’s Kitchen, thus catching the attention of DD.
Maybe an odd choice for Fisk, but Kilmer has both the talent and in part, the look. His soft, often quiet voice is ideal for the Kingpin, whose well-spoken, calm, monologues contrast with his disgustingly muscular body. Like Hartnett, Kilmer has become one of those actors still giving incredible performances, but away from the spotlight, and so moving from the movies to a TV mini-series would give him some more exposure.
KYLE CHANDLER as Ben Urich: Urich would be the only friend Daredevil has, which puts him in very life threatening situations. However, he does not know the hero’s identity yet, nor is he trying to find out. All Urich wants is “the scoop”, so much so that it jeopardises his marriage/home life.
Another great film and TV actor, Chandler would bring the same intensity to the role, the same way Miller did when he wrote the character in Born Again. The actor’s phenomenal performance as Coach Taylor in Friday Night Lights even mirrors the work-versus-family issue that Urich experiences. I would love to see some great dialogue scenes between Chandler and Hartnett.
NOAH EMMERICH as Bushwacker: A much more realistic take on Carl Burbank would still see him as a priest, just days after several parishioners die on his watch. Therefore, his faith in God would still be somewhat strong. Because of this, he would try to “save” the man who leaps over rooftops dressed as a devil. However, he would soon turn into a gun wielding (not attached to his arm of course) serial killer, who eventually pops up on the DD radar.
Emmerich is one of the greatest supporting actors in film today, with scene-stealing performances in Little Children and Pride & Glory. He has a the physical appearance of a villain capable of challenging the hero and would fit right into a world of crime.
JASON PATRIC as Jack Murdock: We would also see Jack appear in front of Matt today, similar to the way Harry comes to Dexter. However, there would be no actual conversation, but more of him just imparting words of wisdom to his son, who finds it hard to listen to the things his father says.
The reason I think he’d be ideal for the role is because he seems to carry a sense of sincerity around with him and Jack Murdock needs to be that caring father who means well but just can’t seem to get things right.
DIANNE WIEST as Sister Maggie: Maggie would be a nun, who knows the priest Carl Burbank well, and of his conversations with Daredevil. She would often arrive in time to contradict whatever Burbank has said to Matt to persuade him to stop being DD, and urge him to continue being the hero. The revelation of their real relationship would not come into play until the very end.
Weist is one of the greatest screen mother figures, who varies in terms of character. Her portrayal as mothers in Lost Boys (with Patric lol), Edward Scissorhands, and A Guide to Recognising Your Saints are all very caring, yet completely different and real.
So there you have my (hopefully) realistic take on Daredevil for a mini-series. The only aspect I’m probably missing is the Law part, which I can’t seem to incorporate yet. Anyway, let me know what you think about my first fan-cast :). Thanks for reading.