Forward: This Cast is an attempt to mix the three known holders of the Shadow Moniker and mix them together to create the definitive take. Using the mainstay from the American Pulps and heavily mixing it with elements from the radio show and the British Pulps, I have put together a take that I feel is a great representation of all the different versions of the shadow to create a reasonably new, exciting, yet reliably faithful take. We Borrow: Kent Allard's Name {The Shadow's Real Name in the American Pulps, Lamont Cranston's Wealth and Mystic Powers{An Alias in the Pulps and real name in the radio show} and John Harveston's Motivation{British Pulp Shadow, who's life was ruined when his business partner Simon Gregory Embezzled money in John's Name}. Mixing it all together to create something to properly honor the Shadow. I had to add elements of truth, much like 20th Century Fox's role as distributor seeing as they're the ones who has the distribution rights for the character. I added Ghost House Pictures due to the fact that Sam Raimi and his company owns the character's film rights. Darkwoods was added to settle with my additional producers. All in all, I am pleased to have what I would consider one of my most hard worked, thought out, and entertaining fan casts... THE SHADOW!
Executive Producer: An executive producer (EP) enables and backs up the making of a commercial entertainment product. He or she is concerned with management accounting and possibly with associated legal issues (like copyrights or royalties). An EP also contributes to the film's budget, and does not work on set.
Sam Raimi [Notable Works (As A Producer): The Evil Dead (1982), Evil Dead (2013), Rise: Blood Hunter]: While Sam isn't currently inline to produce the new Shadow film, he is an admitted fan of the character and had even gone as far as to buy the film rights for the character, holding a deal with 20th Century Fox to Distribute. Having him as producer brings Ghost House Pictures in the mix helping secure the financial backing.
Executive Producer: An executive producer (EP) enables and backs up the making of a commercial entertainment product. He or she is concerned with management accounting and possibly with associated legal issues (like copyrights or royalties). An EP also contributes to the film's budget, and does not work on set.
Robert G. Tapert [Notable Works: The Evil Dead (1982), Evil Dead (2013), The Possession]: Rob pretty much produces, or co-produces, whatever Sam Raimi does or throws his own money towards. Together they went in and created Hercules and Xena among many, many other popular T.V. Shows. Another good backer for the Shadow.
Executive Producer: An executive producer (EP) enables and backs up the making of a commercial entertainment product. He or she is concerned with management accounting and possibly with associated legal issues (like copyrights or royalties). An EP also contributes to the film's budget, and does not work on set.
Gale Ann Hurd [Notable Works: The Walking Dead (T.V. Series), The Punisher (2004), Terminator]: Her name is attached to some of Hollywood's biggest Blockbusters, and some cult favorites. She's done this long enough to know a few things and her money is as good as anyone's when it comes to securing the film being made and staying active.
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.
Michael E. Uslan [Notable Works: The Dark Knight Trilogy, Batman (1989), The Spirit]: Hollywood could probably call this guy "Batman's Accountant" and that would literally sum up 90% of his filmography. He's been through it all from the Days of Burton, the travesty of Schumacher, and the Legendary Era of Nolan. Now he ushers in the Reign of Snyder. While also being attached to the Shadow it feels like he is a capable producer.
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:
Frank Darabont [Notable Works (As A Producer): The Green Mile, The Majestic, Collateral]: Frank Produces a lot of movies he writes and directs, so putting him on this list as Producer is a must for me. He's fantastic at his craft and is the guy to get the Shadow rolling.
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.
David Newman [Notable Works: The Spirit, Anastasia, Serenity] & Thomas Newman [Notable Works: Skyfall, American Beauty, Road to Perdition]: The two brothers are some of the most talented composers in all of hollywood. While they've worked on films that are not successful their music has certainly made an impression. The Spirit may not be a successful film, putting it very nicely, it had a dynamic and moving score. Skyfall's score grew deep into the bones of the characters and put their soul in a musical format. In all honesty they both would cover all aspects of the Shadow that I've wanted to see and hear.
Director: A film director is a person who directs the making of a film. Generally, a film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, and visualizes the script while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of that vision
Frank Darabont [Notable Works (As A Director): The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Majestic]: A fantastic director who's already well established with the 1930's setting, he's familiar with dealing with the most bizarre situations. Overall he's perfectly familiar with the themes the character deals with. He's an intelligent director who really grasps the arch of a character's soul on film and takes shots with the an actor's choice and really lets it play off. If anyone could capture the visual soul searching journey the Shadow has embarked.
Screenplay: A screenplay or script is a written work by screenwriters for a film, video game or television program. These screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated. A play for television is also known as a teleplay.
Frank Darabont {As Maxwell Grant} [Notable Works (As A Screenwriter): The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Mist]: First, the name Maxwell Grant was the Name Walter B. Gibson and many other writers used when they worked on the Shadow Pulps, so in short this is in one way an homage to the pulps. Frank Darabont as the screenwriter is necessary if I have him as Director. He's got a great sense of character and does amazingly well to separate the characters and to give them each motivation and their own soul for a performer to really enhance.
Costume Designer: A costume designer is a person who designs costumes for a film or stage production. The role of the costume designer is to create the characters and balance the scenes with texture and color, etc.The costume designer works alongside the director, scenic, lighting designer, sound designer, and other creative personnel. The costume designer may also collaborate with hair stylist, wig master, or makeup artist. In European theatre, the role is different, as the theatre designer usually designs both costume and scenic elements.
Albert Wolsky [Notable Works: Road to Perdition, The Pelican Brief, Galaxy Quest]: His work with Road to Perdition and Galaxy Quest really hit home with me, because of their complete and utter un-relatedness he was able to really capture the spirit of two different worlds. He's definitely the right man to design the characters from the Shadow!
Production Designer: a production designer or P.D is the person responsible for the overall look of a filmed event such as films, TV programs, video games, music videos or adverts. Production designers have one of the key creative roles in the creation of motion pictures and television. Working directly with the director and producer, they must select the settings and style to visually tell the story.
Dennis Gassner [Notable Works: Skyfall, Road to Perdition, Oh Brother Where Art Thou]: A wonderful Production designer, his work has done an amazing job setting period piece films. His work has really done well to set up a great setting while also being able to set up large and fantastic and wonderful sets. If anyone could recreate 1930's New York while creating a fantastic and breathtaking Sanctum for the Shadow, it's more then likely Dennis Gassner.
Editor: Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. The term film editing is derived from the traditional process of working with film, but now it increasingly involves the use of digital technology.
Jill Bilcock [Notable Works: Moulin Rouge, Road To Perdition, Romeo + Juliet]: She's sharp with angles and does a fantastic job editing films. She's fantastic at her job, she does wonderful when intercutting themes of action, death, romance, and redemption. She's probably the perfect person for the job.
Cinematographer: A cinematographer (usually credited with the title director of photography, or DP) is the chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film and responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image. The study and practice of this field is referred to as cinematography.
Bill Pope [Notable Works: The Matrix Trilogy, Spider-Man Trilogy, The Spirit]: Bill is no stranger to the comic book realm having worked with Sam (Raimi) on the Spider-Man Trilogy, as well as his work on the Art deco styled The Spirit. Personally I find his work absolutely fantastic.
Kent Allard/The Shadow: An American Spy and world renowned Aviator who joined the Allies in the Great War, Teamed with Lamont the two became fast friends and became a great duo. Aboard the Black Eagle the team was unstoppable. But When they were shot down and Lamont's death, Kent was taken in and trained to become a force of nature to battle the demons of the world. He masks himself as the Shadow, moving deeper into the darkness of crime that wraps around New York City. Using the power to cloud men's minds he hides out as his believed-to-be-late friend Lamont Cranston, using the resources he becomes The Shadow!
Benedict Cumberbatch [Height: 6' 0", Age: 37, Notable Works: Sherlock, Star Trek Into Darkness, War Horse]: A fantastic actor, on his way to becoming a true legend. He has shown immense talent in a lot of villain roles and one particularly heroic role, of course I refer to the BBC Masterpiece "Sherlock." Quite often he's cast as villains but instead I feel he deserves more heroic roles, Case in point he's perfect for the Shadow, he's got a fantastic Deep Voice, he's young enough to do Action, and he's got the talent to really transcend the idea of the Shadow into a being of the night.
Lamont Cranston:Wealthy Entrepreneur Drafted into World War 1 and the dearest Friend of Kent Allard. Caught in the middle of an Investigation of Embezzlement from Business Partner Simon Gregory. He dies in the War but not before making Kent Promise to save his company from Gregory and his Criminal Organization! In the 3rd film he returns using the Powers of the Shadow to destroy Kent Allard. Possessed to Do so by Shiwan Khan. It would reveal his legacy as Ying Ko, the murderous opium baron of Asia, who only answered to Shiwan Khan! The Final Confrontation frees Lamont from Shiwan's Control and allows him to resume his life, while being an active Agent of his friend The Shadow!
Zachary Quinto [Height: 6' 2", Age: 36, Notable Works: Heroes, Star Trek Into Darkness, Margin Call]: Zach is a great actor. He has just lacked the role to really bring out his villainous side, sure he did fantastic as Sylar but they didn't really give him the opportunity to be what he could be as a bad guy. No doubt with a proper Shadow film he would do fantastic to become a redeemable villain.
Margo Lane: Lamont's private secretary, suspicious of her bosses behavior since his return from the war {unaware that it is really Kent clouding her mind} she attempts to help her boss save the company and stop the underhand dealings and embezzlement. She later becomes a loyal servant and assistant to the Shadow, Learning the Shadow uses the Alias of Lamont, still questioning whether or not it is the Real Lamont.
Carey Mulligan [Height: 5' 7", Age: 28, Notable Works: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, The Great Gatsby, Drive]: She's beautiful and wonderful. I think she did wonderful as Daisy in The Great Gatsby, and she could play a perfect and very interesting Margo Lane.
Cliff Marsland: Cliff Marsland is one of The Shadow's most trusted agent. They met during the battle of Verdun in WWI.
Walton Goggins [Height: 5' 10", Age: 42, Notable Works: The Shield, Justified, Django Unchained]: Walton fits the role quite well, pretty much down to the description. He's done some really good work in the past and he'd fit this role just as well as he fits the others.
Moe Shrevnitz: Moe "Shrevvy" Shrevnitz is a cab driver from the Bronx who once ran his own taxi service. When some thugs intended to kill him and take his taxicab, The Shadow saved him. He was later asked to join The Shadow's network of agents. He accepted, and became the "personal cab driver" for the organization. His specialty is transportation. He is perhaps the shrewdest of the hackers who guided taxicabs through the tangled traffic of New York City. He is often discreetly shuttling The Shadow's agents around town, participating in several car chases and picking up suspects by any means possible. He's tough and resourceful, and he knows how to keep his mouth shut.
Jeffrey DeMunn [Height: 5' 9", Age: 66, Notable Works: The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Majestic]: I find Jeff to be an immensely talented actor. This is a role that often centers some comic relief but it's also a human role so I believe Jeff would be the right man for a Darabont directed take on the character.
Inspector Joe Cardona: Inspector Joe Cardona is a good, honest cop who works for the New York City police force. He began his career as a Detective, but was later promoted as a higher ranked Acting Inspector. Though they work independently from one another, he and The Shadow are unspoken allies. Any knowledge that Cardona learns during an investigation, is received as tip-offs from The Shadow. In fact, The Shadow, when disguised as "Fritz the janitor," often mops around Cardona's desk glancing at evidence or overhearing conversations.
Gabriel Macht [Height: 6' 0", Age: 41, Notable Works: The Recruit, The Spirit, Suits]: If it weren't for suits, many would not have even really heard of Macht. He's a decent actor, he's rarely given the credit he deserves and hell I find his performance in the Spirit decent, it's not about the materiel but the actor delivering the lines. He'd really do fantastic for the role.
Clyde Burke: Clyde Burke is an ex-crime reporter who lost his job when another newspaper company bought out his employer's. The Shadow hired him to conduct a clipping bureau and relay information to him. Soon after, he was offered a job with the New York Classic. While employed there, he continues being an agent for The Shadow.
William Sadler [Height: 5' 8", Age: 63, Notable Works: The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, Iron Man 3]: Will, like Jeff, is a Darabont regular. He's a great actor who's got a bit of a cult fame. He did fantastic in Iron Man 3 and would just as well playing an aged news hound assisting with New York's costumed hero.
Commissioner Wainwright Barth: New York City Police Commissioner, Uncle to Lamont Cranston {through his Mother} and Disbelieves in the Shadow.
Michael Chiklis [Height: 5' 7", Age: 50, Notable Works: The Shield, The Fantastic Four Du-ology, Parker]: Mike is really the first person I really thought of when casting this role. He's fantastic as an actor, did wonderful in Fantastic Four, and even better in The Shield. He'd really do this role well.
Marpa Tulku: Marpa Tulku, a great master of China’s most secret arts.
Sir Ben Kingsley [Height: 5' 8", Age: 69, Notable Works: Ghandi, Iron Man 3, Shutter Island]: His performance as Ghandi is considered legendary. And if he played such an enlightened person as Ghani he could certainly take the role of Tulku and make him an Iconic role.
Simon Gregory/Benedict Stark/Mr. Remorse: A KGB Spy who defected to America and changed his identity to become a high profiling business banker, Working at Cranston World Wide, embezzling money to wipe out the American/Italian mob of the era and become a new Mafia Kingpin with a hostel take over of Cranston's assets to launder and control the New York Underworld.
Joel Edgerton [Height: 5' 11", Age: 39, Notable Works: The Great Gatsby, Warrior, The Thing]: Joel is one of my favorite actors of the recent generation of actors. He's played heroes before and I think it's a chance for him to play a villain. He's got the edge to really play a business savvy villain like Stark. Giving him an elaborate back story would really give him a chance to enhance his character breath life into it.
Dr. Rodil Mocquino: He possessed a strange hypnotic power over men, which caused them do his bidding like zombies. Once under his spell, his victims were not truly the walking dead, but rather under his complete control -- mindless. When Dr. Mocquino first came to New York, he formed a cult of faithful followers, worshipers of voodoo rites, through whom he sought wealth. In this version he is a follower of the all powerful Shiwan Khan. Sent to prepare New York for Shiwan's Arrival.
Javier Bardem [Height: 6' 0", Age: 44, Notable Works: No Country For Old Men, Skyfall, Biutiful]: His portrayal of Silva in Skyfall really kind of opened up the flood gates for me. I really want to see him do something that is beyond a normal villain. He is something more or even evolutionary in a villain. This could really show him as being a true Super villain.
Shiwan Khan: Shiwan Khan was a would-be world conquer and archenemy of The Shadow. He was the last living descendant of Genghis Khan. As a youth, he traveled to Lhasa, Tibet and studied with the monks. After learning their mystic ways, he used his knowledge to help the people of Mongolia, but he began to feel a lust for power and later tried to rule the world as a new Khan. He operated from the lost underground city of Xanadu, beneath the Sinkiang. He had access to the treasures of Kublai Khan and was trained by the Tibetan monks to use telepathic powers. He could also appear invisible to most people by staying completely still and suspending his "action of thought."
Robin Shou [Height: 6' 0", Age; 50, Notable Works: Mortal Kombat, Death Race, Mortal Enemies]: Robin is an actor who've I've always wanted to see play a villain, he's still my number one choice for Sin Tzu. I felt that after Death Race he seemed not only to enjoy being evil. It would be wonderful to see him take a character like Shiwan and really spin something fresh, being the character has rarely been adapted only enhances the possibilities and ideas for Robin to Explore as Shiwan.