Monday, April 7, 2014

If Game of Thrones were produced by Judd Apatow...

According to the multiverse theory, there are an infinite amount of dimensions existing simultaneously. There is a dimension in which Al Gore won the presidential election and, thus, never went back in time to create the internet. There is a dimension in which the Buffalo Bills won Super Bowl XXVI but still lost Super Bowls XXV, XXVII and XXVIII. There is a dimension in which every new movie is a remake of A Beautiful Mind, each time with one added factual inaccuracy.

One of my favorite dimensions is the one in which comedy kingpin Judd Apatow was chosen to produce HBO's Game of Thrones. The Long Island native is known for writing, directing and / or producing many of the decade’s biggest comedy hits, including Anchorman, 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Girls.

The following list depicts the actors cast in the show’s key roles, as well as my reactions to each choice.

Part One: Starks and Friends!

Ned Stark: Seth Rogen

Who better than Apatow’s golden boy to be the face of Game of Throne’s flagship family? Sure, he’s a little young for the part, but that’s nothing a bit of CGI can’t clean up. Keep in mind that almost all of Apatow's regulars are in the 25-45 range, so age inconsistencies are just something viewers have to deal with.

Rogen and Evan Goldberg have also been tabbed to write many of the episodes.

Catelyn Stark: Kristen Wiig

Another strong choice. Wiig’s malleable face can depict a wide range of emotions. She’ll need to tap into all of them, from "disappointed" to "miserable," to accurately depict Catelyn. Plus, Rogen and Wiig already have experience playing a couple, as they portrayed the young George and Lucille Bluth on Season Four or Arrested Development.

Robb Stark: James Franco

Franco has a talent for acting relatable while simultaneously coming off as superior to everyone around him, which fits Robb Stark to a T. Sure, he’s older than the guy playing his father, but that’s why technology was invented.

Jon Snow: Michael Cera

Whiney? Awkward around women? This is the role Cera was born to play.

Sansa Stark: Emma Stone

The actress portraying Sansa needs to be elegant and graceful while also possessing a silent strength. Stone is one of the most likable actors out there, which might make it hard for us to disapprove of Sansa in those early episodes when she's, like, so all about Joffrey.

Bran Stark: Jay Baruchel

He always seems to play the runt of the group. It is a bit odd to cast the gangly, 6'2 Baruchel as an adolescent, but I think the problem of him towering over his siblings will quickly worked itself out.

Arya Stark: Maude Apatow

Typical Apatow, shoehorning his daughters into his projects. At least this casting is relatively age appropriate, and the elder Apatow daughter showed some acting chops in This is 40.

Rickon Stark: Iris Apatow

Should have seen that one coming.

Ygritte: Aubrey Plaza

Plaza’s characters are almost always cold and mocking, and I can just imagine her signature eye-roll before she launches into the character's catchphrase.

Theon Greyjoy: Martin Starr

Theon is arrogant on the outside, wormy on the inside, and deep down all he seeks is approval. No one is better than Starr at playing the sarcastic jerk who just wants to be loved.

Samwell Tarly: Rebel Wilson

Jonah Hill would have been a perfect fit for Sam if he hadn't lost all that pesky weight (and with Cera's John Snow, that would have also meant a Superbad reunion at The Wall!) Wilson has a knack for physical comedy; she can fall down as good as anyone this side of Kevin James, and falling down is 50% of the role.

Hodor: Will Ferrell

Ferrell would have a field day finding new ways to convey different emotions through the repetition of the same word over and over and hodor.

That's it for today! I'll be back soon with the rest of Apatow's casting decisions, but first, I must traverse the multiverse in search of a dimension in which George R.R. Martin actually finished writing the series.

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