"Casting the Flashman HBO miniseries" Topic

As soon as I win the $800 USD million dollar Powerball, I am going to buy a Hollywood production company and do all the Flashman books in an HBO miniseries format.

Anyway, I am wondering who to cast.
It seems to me that we have to have 3 different Flashies. A callow youth (Flashman, Royal Flash, Flashman's Lady…), a middle aged experienced officer (Great Game, Charge, Angel…) and an old fart (Flashman and the Tiger). With his Wild West duo, we may have to split that in Redskins.

So, we would probably need 3 actors.

I have always thought that John Cleese in Silverado WAS Flashman. "My jurisdiction ends HERE!" He would be fine in Tiger.

My choice for the callow youth is Alfie Allen, aka Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones. He reminds me eerily of Malcolm MacDowell, which may or may not be a plus. He is certainly not averse to playing a back stabbing weasel. I guess he could be a little taller, but maybe he can stand on a box.

Middle aged? I leave it open to suggestions.

A young Elspeth could be Taylor Swift, based solely on her being blonde and beautiful and … having many boyfriends. (I think she is the youngest Cougar around, but that was not an issue in Victorian times. ) Americans suck at "foreign accents", so I am not wedded to that idea.
Back to GoT, I think Esme Bianco (Ros) would be fine as an Elspeth in middle age. She has fine … assets.

No one will ever be as perfect as Lord Cardigan as Trevor Howard in The Charge of the Light Brigade.

(I want to find a role for Michael Caine. Dad?)

Any other ideas, particularly as middle aged Flashy?

Uliba Wark is of course Halle Berry.

Anyone interested in playing Lola Montez please contact me through the OFM Talent Agency.

Well, why not Malcolm McDowell as Mr American Flash? Beyonce and Gina Torres could be in there too (Queen Rana-vana-whosits from Flashman's Lady) Zoe Saldana as Lakshmi? Would be fun to do one of those Rat-Pack style movies that "everybody" has a cameo in. Could be lots of fun!
Maybe digital technology could help Trevor Howard reprise the role?
Rob.

IMO you‘d have a hard time casting one of today‘s callow, scrawney, metrosexual underwear model actors as Flash who is unmistakably a man.

Any other ideas, particularly as middle aged Flashy?

When in doubt, think "Gary Oldman."

Though you need to get that miniseries done quickly, or Oldman becomes the old Flashman. (According to IMDB, Oldman is 55.)

Never happen. Way too politically incorrect and "colonial." The only one who might be able to get away with it is Quentin Tarantino

Who or exactly what is Flashman? I never heard of it before.

Go to Amazon.com and search for Flashman.
Start with book 1.

It is a series of novels about a Victorian soldier who rose to the top in spite of, or maybe because of his cowardice, lying and lechery.
Great comic novels, and very historically accurate. They are "autobiographical", in nature, in which he [promises to "break the habits of a lifetime, in being completely honest."

If nothing else, Michael Caine could play the very, very old Flashy dictating his memoirs, used as a framing device.

How about Matthew McConneahey as the middle-aged Flashman? Too close to reality? That Pattinson fellow from Twilight as the young Flashman. Christopher Walken as the "senior" Flashman. I'd watch it.

Many years ago, I thought Kevin Kline would have made the perfect Flashy. He still might do for the older version.

For middle-age Flash, amongst the current crop of actors I lean toward Benedict Cumberbatch. Tall, athletic frame, handsome; he looks like he was born to play a cavalryman, or a Guardee.

What about Rik Mayall as the middle-aged Flashman? Try watching him in the Bombadier beer adverts and I rest my case.

Yes! Rik Mayall, would be perfect.

For middle-aged Flashman, how about Tom Hanks ?

Elspeth is from Paisley, so can we cast an actual Scot? Karen Gillan with dyed hair if you must, but she's from Inverness.

Kelly MacDonald would do, I think. Only people from Paisley will care that she's got a Glasgow accent.

Ken Stott (Balin in The Hobbit or Brian Cox (the other, older one) as her father, I think.

I've just started reading … and the Redskins, and I think Alex Kingston might work well as Susie Willinck.

Oh, and between Flashman and … and the Mountain of Light, there's got to be room for Indira Varma somewhere.

You see, I disagree about this never being made. The perfect vehicle for those historical revisionists that want to blame all of the third world problems on the British/Western World. The stories could be changed somewhat to easily show how the third world was exploited and this being the main cause of current and recent problems in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

I have not read the Flashman series yet but have read enough threads on TMP to get a great idea about what they are all about. I think I shall peruse the vast local library collections and start to further reduce my ignorance of the not so great man :-)

The Baldwin brothers…they all look alike and range the scope of age needed…and are all able to pull off the "campy" nature needed to be Flashy…

Ancientsgamer, that is the EXACT opposite of GMF's feelings about the Empire.
He would hate it, but cash the check. Well, maybe not, but then his estate might.

It's a pity the entire cast of Charge of the Light Brigade is not available. If any are still alive, they would be 40 years older.

Cary Elwes could look and act the part.

Kellie Pickler as Mrs. Mandeville.

Best to do it all with unknowns. I can't think of too many of todays actors who fit the descriptions. Malcolm McDowell was probably the worst casting for harry Flashman possible! Flashman is supposed to be 6'2" darkhaired, burly. None of these can be said of Macdowell. On the other hand Oliver Reed could havve played Flashman or Bismarck! I'm afriad all the best Flashman types are dead!

Saw this recently on another site asking the same question…

"Wait a minute? You need someone to play a character who's a shallow coward with superficial charm, no sense of loyalty to anyone or anything other than himself, no interest in anything other than saving his own skin, and who has somehow risen in public life despite the fact that he's a gutless little who has hid behind privilege his entire life?

Does he have to be a professional actor with an Equity card?

If not…how about David Cameron."

The real challenge is imagining the actor with a proper set of whiskers. If age/death is no obstacle, Errol Flynn, Oliver Reed or Daniel Day Lewis (think Gangs of New York) would fit the bill.

And didn't Ollie Reed actually play Bismark in "Royal Flash" and got thumped by the late, great 'our 'Enry' Cooper playing a cameo role as John Gully?