If you have noticed recently in the film industry, a lot of prequels are being made. Whether it be more explanation for a certain character that was needed or not, it’s up for debate. The point is that if there’s a story that needs to be told, it will be done.
This particular prequel, which is in development, is a precursor to a 10 Oscar-nominated 2003 film entitled Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Not a lot of people know this, but the said movie was adapted from Captain Jack Aubrey–Dr. Stephen Maturin book series. The plan was initially to make a franchise out of those books by retelling Aubrey(played by Russell Crowe) and Maturin’s(played by Paul Bettany) epic adventures in the Napoleonic Wars. Sadly it wasn’t very successful at the box office.
With talks of this new installment, it makes one wonder how the casting will be done. Since this film will be a prequel, unfortunately, they can’t bring back the original cast to reprise their roles. Well… they could, but they would have to either do some deaging CGI like in 2019’s The Irishman, and 2017’s Logan, or embrace the inexpensive Deepfake technology by using youthful footages of these A-list actors from their older movies. Not saying that they should, just opening up some options that the filmmakers should consider if they want to shoot a low-budget movie and still make a big profit in the upcoming box office.
Anyway, it is said that the prequel will explore how Aubrey and Maturin first meet. Let’s just hope it won’t be like the prequel to a well quoted 90s film Dumb and Dumber, where the dynamic duo meets for the first time in yet another 2003 film Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd.
Now the question is who should play the younger versions of these classic characters?
Russell Crowe was 39, and Paul Bettany was 32 upon the film’s release, so we’ll be looking for someone who LOOKS like they’re in their mid 220s. I say looks, because some actors can look younger than their actual age.
Actors Who Could Play Jack Aubrey
Benjamin McKenzie
Josh Hutcherson
Taron Egerton
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Actors Who Could Play Stephen Maturin
Simon Woods
Adam Brody
Tom Holland
Asa Butterfield
Will Poulter
Bill Skarsgård
What do you think? Does this movie have potential with these recasting choices? Let me know in the comments below!
No, no, no. We don’t just want actors who vaguely resemble the original actors. We want canonical book characters. Jack must be tall, broad-shouldered, powerful but a bit overweight, blond, blue-eyed and and jolly. Stephen should be small, spare, dark, with startlingly pale eyes, capable of both coldly putting down all insults with devastating dry wit and a deadly accurate sword/pistol/dildo, and of wearing a wool knitted onesie, waving a narwhal horn, and falling into the water from anything that floats. Plus, ideally, he should wear a wig. And this time may we please have a big powerful boxing champion for Barrett Bonden, instead of a hobbit?
David Bamber IS Stephen Maturin- and a brilliant actor