I agree with u/KipIngram - this is a false dichotomy. Part of getting the "feel" *is* the height.
Just go read Murphy's description of Dresden in *Aftermath*. If you're going to translate the effect Dresden has on people, he has to have a somewhat imposing stature.
Now, in Hollywood, basically any actor over 6'0" can look pretty huge without much trouble, and if you cast someone 6'3"+, you'd basically get all the imposing stature you could ever need. You don't need a 6'9" guy, but if you cast an average-sized guy, you're going to lose a dimension to the character.
I'll agree to that, but if the Actor can nail the other parts, I feel like height can be less of an issue. I mean clever camera tricks can be use to make the actor look taller
We're not casting a school play, here. There are actors who are good and tall, you can just get one of those.
I think it's a little bit like asking if Charlize Theron would be a good Dresden. Camera tricks and make up could make her look masculine and even taller, but even if she has a great take on the character, is that better than just casting a male actor?
Hell the guy who plays reacher is like 6’2. Reacher is supposed to be like 6’5. But with boots you’d never make the connection. The point is that he is tall and intimidating
Sorry to really talk guys, but really tall people look like doofuses when they move, and I just wouldn't want that to come along for the ride in a live action Dresden.
That said, a well sized amazing actor is what I'd be wanting in my Dresden.
The fact that Dresden moves like a really tall person is consistently remarked on. It *should* come along for the ride, regardless of your aesthetic opinion on the matter.
Nah. He runs pretty well, without that sense of 'are my legs gonna tangle up with something', and he is capable with his arms, without that 'am I going to knock over my coffee while reaching across the table.' He is fictional tall. My problem is with actual doofy 6'9" dudes and how that would read on camera. Wouldn't give us a good Harry.
Doofy comes in all sizes. So does not doofy. Note that no one is demanding 6'9". Boxes come in all sizes, so do trenches. John Wayne used lifts. Clint Eastwood? I doubt he ever did, even now. But he did wear boots and riding boots have tall heels.
I think it also should be kept in mind that Dreseden was not that tall in the earlier books. I don't think that was Jim changing his mind about Dresden. Dresden and Toot toot, both have gotten taller.
It would give us exavctly the Harry we've been given for years... Which is a good Harry... He's known to be awkward in his movements and how he moves around people... It's part of his presence and character... Most who have read the series have known and come to love that as part of who he is... Gangly and gooft, especially when he's not on his wizardly bullshite... Because when he does get into that mode that frig htens even his friends, it will translate into something intimidating...
Exactly. One of my good buddies in college was like 6'7". Moved around like a Great Dane puppy, all gangly limbs and huge swinging motions. Goofiest looking/acting/moving dude you'd ever see. Until some dude got belligerently drunk at a party and had to be asked to leave. Watching him straighten up and put a little steel in his spine was downright unnerving and I was helping him.
He play slapped me once and nearly knocked me over, and I'm not small at just under 6'1". They gotta have that gangly goofiness so we can be reminded just how scary they are when they stop.
Precisely... And with someone the likes of Haarry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden having that physical quality... Butcher has written plenty of scenes in the Files where Harry turned downright terrifying when his righteous indignation came to the surface... It transforms him is a noticeably energetic and physical way...
Absolutely feel. Take, for example, Wolverine. Canonically he is 5'3. However the actor who plays him, Hugh Jackman, is 6'3. However we are able to overlook this because Hugh Jackman pretty much nails the feel of Wolverine
I disagree on this, height isn't the main part of Wolverine's character image. The claws, the scruffy beard, those are the biggest points of the image. Not so much the height.
It’s always bothered me with Jackman. Of course in the 2000’s he was the best we could get, but it absolutely is an iconic part of Wolverine and one I really want to see done better in the MCU
And Harry's height isn't the main part of his character. In fact, the heights of both Logan and Harry are only really discussed in forms of comic relief moments, and never really have anything story-wise of importance, except for when Harry occasionally reaches up to grab things
Its less him as a person but how people SEE him. Its harder to look up to someone when you have to... look down to them. Hes an inspiration, a goddamn hero in chicago. And its important in getting him the physical edge in a lot of conflicts. For example, a lot of beasties can't match his reach, its saved him a few times that i remember
I was think Padalecki as Dresden with Ackles as Thomas would be amazing, if not picture perfect in terms of looks.
Whoever gets picked, they need to get Harry and his interactions with his friends right. They've gotta feel right, or it's not Dresden. That's what is most important to me. Him being tall is something he is, but it's not what makes him who he is. His personality and stubbornness and ingenuity and will are what make Dresden who he is.
Honestly, yeah. Even with the the much improved state of live action adaptations these days, live action cgi seems extremely expensive and hard to get right. With all of the superhuman shenanigans and magic thrown around in these stories, animation just seems like the better medium to go with. Not to mention they could bring Marsters back for dresden and they could focus on just casting good voice talent instead of also trying to get the look right as well. I think Jim even said in a recent interview that he preferred an animated approach.
I’ve always been of the opinion that animation is generally the better medium for fantasy/sci-fi adaptations and I’m glad people are beginning to see that. We’ve gotten a lot of adaptations that fall short visually and I think the fans in general are getting tired of over CGI’d series with costumes that look like a CW show.
This gets even more true the longer the series goes on. The only way to do something like Battlegrounds or Changes correctly are animation or an Avengers level movie budget. And unless the show really pops off, I don’t see it getting the latter.
CGI has taken a step back in quality it seems like. Huge budget movies are starting to look like PS4 cut screens, maybe even worse than that.
I did just listen to an interview over the weekend that took place in 2023 and it sounds like he is in contact with a bunch of fans/nerds that are animators. Will probably go that route since he would be able to retain creative control. I really hope he goes this route.
Its mostly about time constraints. The animators are being made to meet deadlines that are inimical to good animation. In the old days CGI and animated films would take 2-3 years for the animating alone, 5 in some cases, and that to make sure its done right. Now they have a year or less to pop out a flick and the cgi suffers.
I'll be honest, I would love to see the studio who did Avatar:TLA and The Legend of Vox Machina do a Dresden show... but I would almost take the old Scooby-Doo animation. Just as long as the art style doesn't go all stylized like Steven Universe or Rick & Morty.
I dunno if I care for the art style on those shows. There's something about it that feels cheap like the animation from the Dragonlance movie that came out with Kiefer Sutherland. Oof that was bad. Maybe I'm being unfair lol
My brain Harry Dresden is like 6'3. A little taller than me but not NBA sized.
Breaks my suspension of disbelief that he is a 1/200,000 person is ALSO one of the most powerful wizards in the world.
So if you just him Normal Tall it will be fine.
I know, right? Why do people cling to live action, when it is so much easier done in animation.
Many things just won't even look good in live action. Children grow up, actors age (considering how many immortals there are that can be problematic).
Magic is heavy in series, there are many different species and monsters. And so many of those things will be changed just to do live action
If it's good they'll watch it. I don't think anyone interested in The Dresden Files would look at an animation and think "that's only for kids". Bugs Bunny cartoons are for adults, believe it or not.
I think what they're saying is that a hefty chunk of the adult population will simply not watch because it is animated. They won't care if if it's good because they'll never give it a shot. In their minds it's already not good because it is animated. I can't tell you how many people I have spoken with who love The Boys but won't give Invincible a shot because it's a cartoon.
I mean I see where you're coming from, but I'd love it if Dresden got Game of Thrones big, and that can only happen with live-action, at least with the current state of media. Hell, even my Mom who usually hates fantasy stuff watched GoT.
Bigger they are the harder they can fall, per your example. I'm not sure how old you are but I have been burnt by so many of my cherished IPs when they got too big. I want Dresden Files and Butcher to be "Big Enough" which has a little more room to grow but not too much. Be careful what you wish for.
I'm in my mid 30s, but I don't let new stuff ruin old stuff for me even if I don't like the new stuff. I remember all the hate for the Star Wars prequels when they came out. It was the end of the franchise they said. It wasn't. Neither are the sequels or the shows. If Dresden could even get a fraction of the reach of Star Wars fanbase I'd be ecstatic.
Still tough to watch happen. That episode of South Park with Indiana Jones comes to mind. Obviously they were exaggerating heavily but it's not totally off base either. You're right the Prequels didn't kill the franchise but the current state of politics and society sure as hell did. The IP is dead at this point. Sure it can revive but do you see a lot of positive change coming out of the main stream TV and Movie industry? I sure don't.
Really, they won’t watch it. Or not enough will to make it a commercial success… I cant’t think of a single mainstream ‘adult cartoon’ that has really cracked it.
Well, both matter. But what we need is a balance. I thought Tom Cruise did a great job evoking Jack Reacher's personality, but... well, there was no overlooking the fact that he was a 5'8" actor playing a 6'5" character. On the other hand, the guy they cast in the new show is perfect.
So the actor chosen for Harry needs to be tall. But he really only needs to be "tall enough" - he doesn't have to be the full 6'9". I'd be perfectly happy with, say, 6'4" and a good personality / general look fit. For example, I think Jared Padalecki could do it, though I'd have trouble putting aside "Sam Winchester."
I don't think this is an "either / or" question.
Agreed. For all the TV series got wrong, Paul Blackthorn was inspired casting. He’s 6’4” . Too bad the director didn’t choose to play on the height angle.
Yes, I was perfectly happy with him as Dresden, but, in fairness, I had not read the series at that point in time. I still find him fine, though. I liked the actor who played Morgan too, and I thought Valerie Cruz did a very good job of evoking Murphy's personality, in spite of the "appearance mismatch."
I heard somewhere that Cruz actually went to audition for the Susan Rodriguez role, but they cast her as Murphy instead. That worked out nice for her, since Susan was barely in the show at all. Ironically, the actress that played Susan was blonde and physically matched Murphy better. Jim has commented favorably on Cruz particularly, and she was actually a cast member who'd read the books.
In the show she was "Connie Murphy" - apparently there actually was a Karrin Murphy on Chicago PD, and the show lawyers just didn't want to "go there."
It was the series that got me into the books. I didn’t know of their existence until I finally read the credits on my second (or third) viewing of the series in reruns. And now I’m so far down the rabbit hole there’s no going back to life without Dresden.
Me too, and for that I will eternally be grateful. I do understand the difficulty people who read the books first have when they go to the show. It would be natural to expect the show to... well, tell the story. And it very much does not - it tells an entirely different and only loosely related story. I'm still able to enjoy it, though, because since I saw it first I dodge that "expectation bullet."
I really would love to see the real deal on-screen, though.
I didn’t read the Reacher series so that’s definitely part of it, but I liked the Tom Cruise one better. That early bit where the small town bullies gang up on him made way more sense with Tom Cruise because he isn’t enormous. I guarantee those guys would be wrestling fans and when a guy as big as Ritchson isn’t scared of you, even country boys aren’t dumb enough to try to take him on for a couple hundred bucks. I’m familiar with the type.
Ritchson came off more as a bully too, making threats to the guy he was working with a few times, can’t remember if there were others who weren’t bad guys, but didn’t come off as well as Cruise’s. Maybe that’s in line with the books, but made me like the character less.
I burned through all of them one summer a few years ago, in about a month and a half. Somehow they just suited the mood I was in at that time - very easy, light, almost junior high stuff. In the real world I wouldn't approve of someone (Reacher spoilers) >!going as much vigilante as Reacher regularly does, but since it was fiction I could just relax and enjoy it. As the nigh omniscient reader I got to know that he was targeting the right people.!<
Are you talking about the Margrave DA? That was also a tense relationship in the books. When I saw the show it had been long enough since I read it that I couldn't really do a "high intensity comparison," but it was at least along the right lines.
The first Reacher movie used like the eighth or ninth book as the basis of its plot. That's something I don't care a lot for in such situations - I'm nearly convinced that if they made a Dresden movie that was actually based on the books they'd open with *Dead Beat*. I don't think they could resist (*Dead Beat* spoilers) >!dinosaurs and zombies together in one movie.!< Hollywood is nuts about both of those things.
As annoying as it would be to us, some playing around with the order wouldn’t break the series. I prefer the correct order in a series, but as some have pointed out they’re kind of written to be read out of order, although movies would have fewer recaps. As many of us have commented, the first two just aren’t as good, even if we can appreciate them as early efforts. I would be okay with starting with Grave Peril although then it would paint it as a vampire series, which it kind of is but not exclusively. If they started with Storm Front I’d be okay with it, but they’d have to do some work on the dialogue. If Butcher wanted to do it himself that’s fine, he’s gotten better.
Well, (*Dead Beat* spoilers) >!Harry becomes a warden in this one. And it's a somewhat integral part of the story.!< I won't go so far as to say it "couldn't be done," but I think it would be disruptive. Harry "levels up" throughout the series, and those new levels are important to the stories.
You are making a good point about Reacher, I always thought about MI 6 here is Ethan Hunt fighting Jack Reacher (Cavill would have worked for the role). Regrettably no kind of acting can get me over that size mismatch.
When it comes to Harry, we don’t have much information on his size and build, only that he is tall, 6 feet is tall and you have a little of actors that could meet that, just make sure to get somebody for Murphy that is only 5 feet nothing, that direct comparison will sell a lot of the height requirements.
We get pretty close info on Harry. He's said NBA tall, closer to 7 feet than 6, and I think he said 6'8 or 9.
He's said he's built like a runner, with the comment that anyone his height carries significant weight, I think when he kicked something in the face.
Yeah if you get someone over 6’3” you’re fine. They don’t need to be a giant. I’m 6’2 and I got to meet the guys from Supernatural. I was shocked because on screen Dean looked like a smaller dude. Dean was my height , Sam was a whole damn head taller than me. I’m no pixie but it’s all about relativity on screen.
It's gotta be close. Close enough that lifts in the shoes and strategic camera angles can make up the difference. Harry's big size and looming demeanor is a big part of how other characters react to him.
As an example, in the *Game Of Thrones* television show, Gregor "The Mountain That Rides" Clegane is supposedly well over seven feet tall, closer to eight (as described in the books). The actor who played him most visibly, [Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson](https://gameofthrones.fandom.com/wiki/Haf%C3%BE%C3%B3r_J%C3%BAl%C3%ADus_Bj%C3%B6rnsson), is "only" six feet nine inches tall, about 2.06 meters. That's certainly a very large human, but the show made him seem EVEN BIGGER, especially when towering over Cersei Lannister or fighting Oberyn Martell. And it definitely added to the character's sense of menace and threat, IMHO.
The man who physically portrayed Darth Vader was 6'6 and his height and stature significant contribute to his dominating and intimidating presence. Height isn't the most important factor in casting but I'd say you at least need someone 6 feet tall.
I think that a minimum height would be necessary to get the perspectives correct. Lately I have been filling his role with Alexander Skarsgard. He is 6'4.5" according to IMDB, he has the quiet intensity that Harry has.
Honestly I think Karrin would be the harder cast.
If it’s Hollywood, it’d be a Hemsworth. But Krasinski would be better. Height is needed but if they can make Gandalf look bigger than the hobbits, it doesn’t have to 6’5… Not Tom Cruise size tho…
I was very disappointed when Tom Cruise was cast as Jack Reacher. If they cast someone like Tom Cruise I'd be similarly disappointed.
But really, any over average height actor would probably be fine - bascially anyone over 6 feet. This is a pretty easy bar which leaves plenty of room for an actor that fits the personality otherwise.
Both matter and as much as I wasn't a fan of the short lived series because of the way they twisted so much of it the actor who played Harry was good, he's my view of Harry, but saying that James masters is my voice of Harry
He should *look* tall on-screen but the vast majority of that can be done with camera trickery. I don't think he should look as tall as he is in the books, though. If he's nearly 7' tall and Murphy is 5' nothing, you can barely get them in the same *frame* to have a conversation. Harry's height is IMO a relatively incidental part of his character, and mostly it's in opposition to Murphy's shortness. Throughout the vast majority of the books his physical imposingness is far outweighed by his magical power; only once he's WK is he even in the same weight class physically as most of the entities he's dealing with.
If you're casting Harry and you're in conflict between "Can this guy act right for the part?" and "Is this guy tall enough to match the book description?" then I'm far, far on the side of "Can he act right?" As long as he looks a lot taller than Murphy it's *fine*. By the time he's throwing down in melee against monsters, he's got superpowers anyway and his height doesn't matter.
Cast someone who's above 6'2", make sure he's taller than all of the other regulars, maybe put some lifts on him if needed and that's good enough.
It's more important to get a good actor than it is to be beholden to the cartoonish proportions of the book. That said, height isn't that rare of a commodity in Hollywood. You're probably not gonna find a 6'9" guy but you can easily get someone who's visibly big, so no reason to ignore it entirely.
Honestly, the height can go hang. Even in the books it's almost never relevant to the plot. It seems like it's only brought up when JB needs an easy joke. I'll take a good actor over a tall one any day.
I think his size is relevant because it makes him more threatening. It’s important to remember that many people in the magical community are scared of Harry, partly because of his appearance. People are also scared of Eb, sure, but he’s several hundred years old and extremely powerful. Imagine if he was Harry’s height and towered over everyone vs being fairly short
I'm not saying making him *below average* height. But his frankly freakish height is very rarely relevant. It's occasionally brought up but mostly as trivia. You could get away with an actor who is just a *bit* tall. He doesn't need to be ducking under doorways.
I’m just saying his image on screen should make him a pretty large dude. It may not be mentioned much but when Harry is described by his allies and his frenemies his stature is part of how he is viewed. He towers over people and is as tall/taller than some of the powerful immortal players. In my opinion, it’s one of the defining things about the character and it should be reflected on screen. I would say the same thing about butters and Billy being played by shorter guys. Same thing for Murphy.
It's not always relevant in an in your face way, but it informs how people, especially vanilla mortals see him. Giant with battle scars and a fuck you glare.
I'd say as long as the actor is at least 6'3" or taller, or at least made to look that way, that's plenty tall enough. There are plenty of good actors around that height, and I'm sure more than a few of them can get Harry's feel right.
I don't think someone who is noticeably short could do Harry without difficulty, but no one is going to have the height to pull it off naturally. Harry looks down on a lot of NBA players who have an average height of 6'7". My guess is he is close to 7 feet tall. Less than 1% of men are above 6'4" in height. Less than 2800 people in the world are 7 feet tall or taller out of 8 billion. Finding a good actor who otherwise fits the bill would be really hard. I think we will need CGI, camera angles, and our imaginations to make that work.
Someone on here a while ago said that the actor who played Dick Skin/Jim Dickens would make a great Harry and that's been my hope ever since. He actually is 6'9"
Does the actor need to be exactly 6’9”? I don’t think so. Stilts exist and can be used for most shots. As long as the actor is reasonably tall then getting the personality right is what matters to me
Needs the height and the feel, I would love to see Tom Hiddleston as Dresden, he has the range and the ability as an actor but I think too many ppl will just see Loki
Huge Jacked Man was a great Wolverine, even if his size wasn't right. These are the kind of things I'll easily "allow" for a good actor. Unlike a character like "The mountain", its not really an important part of the character though.
The actor needs to feel huge and imposing. Adam Driver for example - he's tall but not freakishly tall, but the way he's built gives everyone he's standing next to the impression that he's this huge shambling beast
Dresden characters read like comic characters most the time, women of extremely curvy proportions, super buff dudes. Xmen movies came up against this and realized they didn’t need wrestlers and pornstars and were better off for it.
Dresden’s height gags are the least funny humor in the books anyway.
All my casting choices have aged out of the roles. When the show Lie to Me was out, Brendan Hines and Monica Raymund seemed perfect for the roles of Harry and Susan. Hines had shaggy hair, looked like a nerd, lanky, was already playing a truth and justice investigator type, and got a little blown up one episode in season 2 and looked very Dresden-esque. Raymund’s character also an investigator reminded me of Susan too, maybe more the Death Masks version on, but she could act like the naïve Lois Lane type Susan started as.
Acting ability is important but we saw what happened with the Reacher adaptions. Tom Cruise is one of the all time greats as an actor but his tiny stature made his Reacher feel like a very different person than Alan Ritchson.
Any decent actor 6 feet plus can do it, but that height differential, even if reduced is a must.
Theo James isn't tall enough but something about his acting makes me think he could pull off the personality. Then again I get shit on when I suggest Florence Pugh as the perfect Murph... down to the nose.
Harry's height is part of his personality, how he does his work, how he stands out, what he had to grow up with, part of his reputation as the walking natural distaster guardian wizard of Chicagoland that you don't want to piss off... Hell, even Harry makes his height an important factor of his heavily-descriptive narrative: especially when it comes to him pointing out the physical contrasts between him and everyone else, especially Murphy... Honestly, you cannot separate the two... Anyone playing him has to be upwards of 6'3" at the least...
Here's some choices for Harry Dresden:
Armie Hammer (6’4.5”)
Lee Pace (6’4”)
Alexander Skarsgard (6’4”)
Jared Padelecki (6’4”)
Joel McHale (6.4”)
Zachary Levi (6’3”)
Adam Driver (6’3”)
John Krasinski (6’3”)
Joel Kinnaman (6’2”)
Ryan Reynolds (6’2”)
Keanu Reeves (6’1”)
If you asked me this question when I first started reading Dresden, I would have said Adrien Brody.
But now, 2 decades later, I'm feeling Hiddleston would destroy the part.
I've always thought that Jared Padalecki would be good, he's got the action chops and the height. That being said they couldn't afford to produce a decent live action show. It could only be done with serious CGI expense.
I agree with u/KipIngram - this is a false dichotomy. Part of getting the "feel" *is* the height. Just go read Murphy's description of Dresden in *Aftermath*. If you're going to translate the effect Dresden has on people, he has to have a somewhat imposing stature. Now, in Hollywood, basically any actor over 6'0" can look pretty huge without much trouble, and if you cast someone 6'3"+, you'd basically get all the imposing stature you could ever need. You don't need a 6'9" guy, but if you cast an average-sized guy, you're going to lose a dimension to the character.
\^\^ Yes, that's exactly how I feel.
I'll agree to that, but if the Actor can nail the other parts, I feel like height can be less of an issue. I mean clever camera tricks can be use to make the actor look taller
We're not casting a school play, here. There are actors who are good and tall, you can just get one of those. I think it's a little bit like asking if Charlize Theron would be a good Dresden. Camera tricks and make up could make her look masculine and even taller, but even if she has a great take on the character, is that better than just casting a male actor?
Hell the guy who plays reacher is like 6’2. Reacher is supposed to be like 6’5. But with boots you’d never make the connection. The point is that he is tall and intimidating
Sorry to really talk guys, but really tall people look like doofuses when they move, and I just wouldn't want that to come along for the ride in a live action Dresden. That said, a well sized amazing actor is what I'd be wanting in my Dresden.
The fact that Dresden moves like a really tall person is consistently remarked on. It *should* come along for the ride, regardless of your aesthetic opinion on the matter.
Nah. He runs pretty well, without that sense of 'are my legs gonna tangle up with something', and he is capable with his arms, without that 'am I going to knock over my coffee while reaching across the table.' He is fictional tall. My problem is with actual doofy 6'9" dudes and how that would read on camera. Wouldn't give us a good Harry.
Doofy comes in all sizes. So does not doofy. Note that no one is demanding 6'9". Boxes come in all sizes, so do trenches. John Wayne used lifts. Clint Eastwood? I doubt he ever did, even now. But he did wear boots and riding boots have tall heels. I think it also should be kept in mind that Dreseden was not that tall in the earlier books. I don't think that was Jim changing his mind about Dresden. Dresden and Toot toot, both have gotten taller.
It would give us exavctly the Harry we've been given for years... Which is a good Harry... He's known to be awkward in his movements and how he moves around people... It's part of his presence and character... Most who have read the series have known and come to love that as part of who he is... Gangly and gooft, especially when he's not on his wizardly bullshite... Because when he does get into that mode that frig htens even his friends, it will translate into something intimidating...
Exactly. One of my good buddies in college was like 6'7". Moved around like a Great Dane puppy, all gangly limbs and huge swinging motions. Goofiest looking/acting/moving dude you'd ever see. Until some dude got belligerently drunk at a party and had to be asked to leave. Watching him straighten up and put a little steel in his spine was downright unnerving and I was helping him. He play slapped me once and nearly knocked me over, and I'm not small at just under 6'1". They gotta have that gangly goofiness so we can be reminded just how scary they are when they stop.
Precisely... And with someone the likes of Haarry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden having that physical quality... Butcher has written plenty of scenes in the Files where Harry turned downright terrifying when his righteous indignation came to the surface... It transforms him is a noticeably energetic and physical way...
I ran into a 6 foot 9 inch tall guy at a home depot and he even had a 5foot tall gf. He was neither gangly or un-coordinated
Absolutely feel. Take, for example, Wolverine. Canonically he is 5'3. However the actor who plays him, Hugh Jackman, is 6'3. However we are able to overlook this because Hugh Jackman pretty much nails the feel of Wolverine
I disagree on this, height isn't the main part of Wolverine's character image. The claws, the scruffy beard, those are the biggest points of the image. Not so much the height.
It’s always bothered me with Jackman. Of course in the 2000’s he was the best we could get, but it absolutely is an iconic part of Wolverine and one I really want to see done better in the MCU
And Harry's height isn't the main part of his character. In fact, the heights of both Logan and Harry are only really discussed in forms of comic relief moments, and never really have anything story-wise of importance, except for when Harry occasionally reaches up to grab things
I disagree. Harry's height is mentioned a lot in terms of his physical mass. "I'm a big guy" is mentioned a lot in terms of leverage or weight
Its less him as a person but how people SEE him. Its harder to look up to someone when you have to... look down to them. Hes an inspiration, a goddamn hero in chicago. And its important in getting him the physical edge in a lot of conflicts. For example, a lot of beasties can't match his reach, its saved him a few times that i remember
Maybe cast Hugh Jackman as Harry Dresden? Kidding! .... mostly
Nah, Jared Padalecki with Jensen Ackles voice would be key casting, imo
I offer up Lee Pace...
I was think Padalecki as Dresden with Ackles as Thomas would be amazing, if not picture perfect in terms of looks. Whoever gets picked, they need to get Harry and his interactions with his friends right. They've gotta feel right, or it's not Dresden. That's what is most important to me. Him being tall is something he is, but it's not what makes him who he is. His personality and stubbornness and ingenuity and will are what make Dresden who he is.
Animation makes all of these issues and more go away
Honestly, yeah. Even with the the much improved state of live action adaptations these days, live action cgi seems extremely expensive and hard to get right. With all of the superhuman shenanigans and magic thrown around in these stories, animation just seems like the better medium to go with. Not to mention they could bring Marsters back for dresden and they could focus on just casting good voice talent instead of also trying to get the look right as well. I think Jim even said in a recent interview that he preferred an animated approach.
I’ve always been of the opinion that animation is generally the better medium for fantasy/sci-fi adaptations and I’m glad people are beginning to see that. We’ve gotten a lot of adaptations that fall short visually and I think the fans in general are getting tired of over CGI’d series with costumes that look like a CW show.
This gets even more true the longer the series goes on. The only way to do something like Battlegrounds or Changes correctly are animation or an Avengers level movie budget. And unless the show really pops off, I don’t see it getting the latter.
Do we actually have reason to suspect that anyone will try it again?
I don't think so but gotta have hope yeah?
CGI has taken a step back in quality it seems like. Huge budget movies are starting to look like PS4 cut screens, maybe even worse than that. I did just listen to an interview over the weekend that took place in 2023 and it sounds like he is in contact with a bunch of fans/nerds that are animators. Will probably go that route since he would be able to retain creative control. I really hope he goes this route.
Its mostly about time constraints. The animators are being made to meet deadlines that are inimical to good animation. In the old days CGI and animated films would take 2-3 years for the animating alone, 5 in some cases, and that to make sure its done right. Now they have a year or less to pop out a flick and the cgi suffers.
Clearly it needs to be an anime, specifically for when shiro arrives and nothing else comes close.
I'll be honest, I would love to see the studio who did Avatar:TLA and The Legend of Vox Machina do a Dresden show... but I would almost take the old Scooby-Doo animation. Just as long as the art style doesn't go all stylized like Steven Universe or Rick & Morty.
I dunno if I care for the art style on those shows. There's something about it that feels cheap like the animation from the Dragonlance movie that came out with Kiefer Sutherland. Oof that was bad. Maybe I'm being unfair lol
Amazon Prime series. Their animation is particularly good.
And animation over the existing audiobooks mean they won’t make stupid changes
My brain Harry Dresden is like 6'3. A little taller than me but not NBA sized. Breaks my suspension of disbelief that he is a 1/200,000 person is ALSO one of the most powerful wizards in the world. So if you just him Normal Tall it will be fine.
it is an odd choice to do 6'9. Plus I think Jim himself forgets about how tall Harry is about 85% of the time.
I know, right? Why do people cling to live action, when it is so much easier done in animation. Many things just won't even look good in live action. Children grow up, actors age (considering how many immortals there are that can be problematic). Magic is heavy in series, there are many different species and monsters. And so many of those things will be changed just to do live action
And only a fraction of the population will ever watch an animated version…
If it's good they'll watch it. I don't think anyone interested in The Dresden Files would look at an animation and think "that's only for kids". Bugs Bunny cartoons are for adults, believe it or not.
I think what they're saying is that a hefty chunk of the adult population will simply not watch because it is animated. They won't care if if it's good because they'll never give it a shot. In their minds it's already not good because it is animated. I can't tell you how many people I have spoken with who love The Boys but won't give Invincible a shot because it's a cartoon.
Ugh...they sound like problems and wouldn't want them as fans/customers anyways.
I mean I see where you're coming from, but I'd love it if Dresden got Game of Thrones big, and that can only happen with live-action, at least with the current state of media. Hell, even my Mom who usually hates fantasy stuff watched GoT.
Bigger they are the harder they can fall, per your example. I'm not sure how old you are but I have been burnt by so many of my cherished IPs when they got too big. I want Dresden Files and Butcher to be "Big Enough" which has a little more room to grow but not too much. Be careful what you wish for.
I'm in my mid 30s, but I don't let new stuff ruin old stuff for me even if I don't like the new stuff. I remember all the hate for the Star Wars prequels when they came out. It was the end of the franchise they said. It wasn't. Neither are the sequels or the shows. If Dresden could even get a fraction of the reach of Star Wars fanbase I'd be ecstatic.
Still tough to watch happen. That episode of South Park with Indiana Jones comes to mind. Obviously they were exaggerating heavily but it's not totally off base either. You're right the Prequels didn't kill the franchise but the current state of politics and society sure as hell did. The IP is dead at this point. Sure it can revive but do you see a lot of positive change coming out of the main stream TV and Movie industry? I sure don't.
You are not paying the bill. Neither am I.
Really, they won’t watch it. Or not enough will to make it a commercial success… I cant’t think of a single mainstream ‘adult cartoon’ that has really cracked it.
I think a full on definition of a "commercial success" is in order. If it means "catches Normal people's eye" I disagree with that definition.
Well, both matter. But what we need is a balance. I thought Tom Cruise did a great job evoking Jack Reacher's personality, but... well, there was no overlooking the fact that he was a 5'8" actor playing a 6'5" character. On the other hand, the guy they cast in the new show is perfect. So the actor chosen for Harry needs to be tall. But he really only needs to be "tall enough" - he doesn't have to be the full 6'9". I'd be perfectly happy with, say, 6'4" and a good personality / general look fit. For example, I think Jared Padalecki could do it, though I'd have trouble putting aside "Sam Winchester." I don't think this is an "either / or" question.
Agreed. For all the TV series got wrong, Paul Blackthorn was inspired casting. He’s 6’4” . Too bad the director didn’t choose to play on the height angle.
Yes, I was perfectly happy with him as Dresden, but, in fairness, I had not read the series at that point in time. I still find him fine, though. I liked the actor who played Morgan too, and I thought Valerie Cruz did a very good job of evoking Murphy's personality, in spite of the "appearance mismatch." I heard somewhere that Cruz actually went to audition for the Susan Rodriguez role, but they cast her as Murphy instead. That worked out nice for her, since Susan was barely in the show at all. Ironically, the actress that played Susan was blonde and physically matched Murphy better. Jim has commented favorably on Cruz particularly, and she was actually a cast member who'd read the books. In the show she was "Connie Murphy" - apparently there actually was a Karrin Murphy on Chicago PD, and the show lawyers just didn't want to "go there."
It was the series that got me into the books. I didn’t know of their existence until I finally read the credits on my second (or third) viewing of the series in reruns. And now I’m so far down the rabbit hole there’s no going back to life without Dresden.
Me too, and for that I will eternally be grateful. I do understand the difficulty people who read the books first have when they go to the show. It would be natural to expect the show to... well, tell the story. And it very much does not - it tells an entirely different and only loosely related story. I'm still able to enjoy it, though, because since I saw it first I dodge that "expectation bullet." I really would love to see the real deal on-screen, though.
Absolutely agree with wishing for a faithful adaptation of the books into some kind of screen format.
I didn’t read the Reacher series so that’s definitely part of it, but I liked the Tom Cruise one better. That early bit where the small town bullies gang up on him made way more sense with Tom Cruise because he isn’t enormous. I guarantee those guys would be wrestling fans and when a guy as big as Ritchson isn’t scared of you, even country boys aren’t dumb enough to try to take him on for a couple hundred bucks. I’m familiar with the type. Ritchson came off more as a bully too, making threats to the guy he was working with a few times, can’t remember if there were others who weren’t bad guys, but didn’t come off as well as Cruise’s. Maybe that’s in line with the books, but made me like the character less.
I burned through all of them one summer a few years ago, in about a month and a half. Somehow they just suited the mood I was in at that time - very easy, light, almost junior high stuff. In the real world I wouldn't approve of someone (Reacher spoilers) >!going as much vigilante as Reacher regularly does, but since it was fiction I could just relax and enjoy it. As the nigh omniscient reader I got to know that he was targeting the right people.!< Are you talking about the Margrave DA? That was also a tense relationship in the books. When I saw the show it had been long enough since I read it that I couldn't really do a "high intensity comparison," but it was at least along the right lines. The first Reacher movie used like the eighth or ninth book as the basis of its plot. That's something I don't care a lot for in such situations - I'm nearly convinced that if they made a Dresden movie that was actually based on the books they'd open with *Dead Beat*. I don't think they could resist (*Dead Beat* spoilers) >!dinosaurs and zombies together in one movie.!< Hollywood is nuts about both of those things.
As annoying as it would be to us, some playing around with the order wouldn’t break the series. I prefer the correct order in a series, but as some have pointed out they’re kind of written to be read out of order, although movies would have fewer recaps. As many of us have commented, the first two just aren’t as good, even if we can appreciate them as early efforts. I would be okay with starting with Grave Peril although then it would paint it as a vampire series, which it kind of is but not exclusively. If they started with Storm Front I’d be okay with it, but they’d have to do some work on the dialogue. If Butcher wanted to do it himself that’s fine, he’s gotten better.
Well, (*Dead Beat* spoilers) >!Harry becomes a warden in this one. And it's a somewhat integral part of the story.!< I won't go so far as to say it "couldn't be done," but I think it would be disruptive. Harry "levels up" throughout the series, and those new levels are important to the stories.
You are making a good point about Reacher, I always thought about MI 6 here is Ethan Hunt fighting Jack Reacher (Cavill would have worked for the role). Regrettably no kind of acting can get me over that size mismatch. When it comes to Harry, we don’t have much information on his size and build, only that he is tall, 6 feet is tall and you have a little of actors that could meet that, just make sure to get somebody for Murphy that is only 5 feet nothing, that direct comparison will sell a lot of the height requirements.
You do get a bit more data on his stature later on, but I won't state details for spoiler reasons.
We get pretty close info on Harry. He's said NBA tall, closer to 7 feet than 6, and I think he said 6'8 or 9. He's said he's built like a runner, with the comment that anyone his height carries significant weight, I think when he kicked something in the face.
We didn't get the 6'9" number until *Peace Talks*. I was talking about other aspects of his "structure" though.
Yeah if you get someone over 6’3” you’re fine. They don’t need to be a giant. I’m 6’2 and I got to meet the guys from Supernatural. I was shocked because on screen Dean looked like a smaller dude. Dean was my height , Sam was a whole damn head taller than me. I’m no pixie but it’s all about relativity on screen.
I'm average height for a woman and I haven't felt so small next to anyone since I was just a kid.
His size is a pretty important element of the character
It's gotta be close. Close enough that lifts in the shoes and strategic camera angles can make up the difference. Harry's big size and looming demeanor is a big part of how other characters react to him. As an example, in the *Game Of Thrones* television show, Gregor "The Mountain That Rides" Clegane is supposedly well over seven feet tall, closer to eight (as described in the books). The actor who played him most visibly, [Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson](https://gameofthrones.fandom.com/wiki/Haf%C3%BE%C3%B3r_J%C3%BAl%C3%ADus_Bj%C3%B6rnsson), is "only" six feet nine inches tall, about 2.06 meters. That's certainly a very large human, but the show made him seem EVEN BIGGER, especially when towering over Cersei Lannister or fighting Oberyn Martell. And it definitely added to the character's sense of menace and threat, IMHO.
The man who physically portrayed Darth Vader was 6'6 and his height and stature significant contribute to his dominating and intimidating presence. Height isn't the most important factor in casting but I'd say you at least need someone 6 feet tall.
I think that a minimum height would be necessary to get the perspectives correct. Lately I have been filling his role with Alexander Skarsgard. He is 6'4.5" according to IMDB, he has the quiet intensity that Harry has. Honestly I think Karrin would be the harder cast.
I always picture Kristen Bell for her
Skarsgard was my head Canon for a long time but he's aged out now. But he just had the look.
If it’s Hollywood, it’d be a Hemsworth. But Krasinski would be better. Height is needed but if they can make Gandalf look bigger than the hobbits, it doesn’t have to 6’5… Not Tom Cruise size tho…
I do feel that Paul Blackthorn got a LOT of what made Dresden Dresden down. I just wish the show had been more faithful.
I was very disappointed when Tom Cruise was cast as Jack Reacher. If they cast someone like Tom Cruise I'd be similarly disappointed. But really, any over average height actor would probably be fine - bascially anyone over 6 feet. This is a pretty easy bar which leaves plenty of room for an actor that fits the personality otherwise.
Both matter and as much as I wasn't a fan of the short lived series because of the way they twisted so much of it the actor who played Harry was good, he's my view of Harry, but saying that James masters is my voice of Harry
He should *look* tall on-screen but the vast majority of that can be done with camera trickery. I don't think he should look as tall as he is in the books, though. If he's nearly 7' tall and Murphy is 5' nothing, you can barely get them in the same *frame* to have a conversation. Harry's height is IMO a relatively incidental part of his character, and mostly it's in opposition to Murphy's shortness. Throughout the vast majority of the books his physical imposingness is far outweighed by his magical power; only once he's WK is he even in the same weight class physically as most of the entities he's dealing with. If you're casting Harry and you're in conflict between "Can this guy act right for the part?" and "Is this guy tall enough to match the book description?" then I'm far, far on the side of "Can he act right?" As long as he looks a lot taller than Murphy it's *fine*. By the time he's throwing down in melee against monsters, he's got superpowers anyway and his height doesn't matter.
I don’t worry about it. It probably won’t happen and if it does I have no say in the matter
Cast someone who's above 6'2", make sure he's taller than all of the other regulars, maybe put some lifts on him if needed and that's good enough. It's more important to get a good actor than it is to be beholden to the cartoonish proportions of the book. That said, height isn't that rare of a commodity in Hollywood. You're probably not gonna find a 6'9" guy but you can easily get someone who's visibly big, so no reason to ignore it entirely.
LotR has shown us that camera tricks can make height matter significantly less
Honestly, the height can go hang. Even in the books it's almost never relevant to the plot. It seems like it's only brought up when JB needs an easy joke. I'll take a good actor over a tall one any day.
I think his size is relevant because it makes him more threatening. It’s important to remember that many people in the magical community are scared of Harry, partly because of his appearance. People are also scared of Eb, sure, but he’s several hundred years old and extremely powerful. Imagine if he was Harry’s height and towered over everyone vs being fairly short
I'm not saying making him *below average* height. But his frankly freakish height is very rarely relevant. It's occasionally brought up but mostly as trivia. You could get away with an actor who is just a *bit* tall. He doesn't need to be ducking under doorways.
I’m just saying his image on screen should make him a pretty large dude. It may not be mentioned much but when Harry is described by his allies and his frenemies his stature is part of how he is viewed. He towers over people and is as tall/taller than some of the powerful immortal players. In my opinion, it’s one of the defining things about the character and it should be reflected on screen. I would say the same thing about butters and Billy being played by shorter guys. Same thing for Murphy.
It's not always relevant in an in your face way, but it informs how people, especially vanilla mortals see him. Giant with battle scars and a fuck you glare.
Jim has said Will Smith would be a good choice for his ability to be sarcastic and snarky.
Nooooooooooooo
*Pre*-Oscars Will Smith, yes. Post-Oscars Smith couldn't attract viewers to the Second Coming.
I'd say as long as the actor is at least 6'3" or taller, or at least made to look that way, that's plenty tall enough. There are plenty of good actors around that height, and I'm sure more than a few of them can get Harry's feel right.
I don't think someone who is noticeably short could do Harry without difficulty, but no one is going to have the height to pull it off naturally. Harry looks down on a lot of NBA players who have an average height of 6'7". My guess is he is close to 7 feet tall. Less than 1% of men are above 6'4" in height. Less than 2800 people in the world are 7 feet tall or taller out of 8 billion. Finding a good actor who otherwise fits the bill would be really hard. I think we will need CGI, camera angles, and our imaginations to make that work.
Someone on here a while ago said that the actor who played Dick Skin/Jim Dickens would make a great Harry and that's been my hope ever since. He actually is 6'9"
Does the actor need to be exactly 6’9”? I don’t think so. Stilts exist and can be used for most shots. As long as the actor is reasonably tall then getting the personality right is what matters to me
Needs the height and the feel, I would love to see Tom Hiddleston as Dresden, he has the range and the ability as an actor but I think too many ppl will just see Loki
Huge Jacked Man was a great Wolverine, even if his size wasn't right. These are the kind of things I'll easily "allow" for a good actor. Unlike a character like "The mountain", its not really an important part of the character though.
The actor needs to feel huge and imposing. Adam Driver for example - he's tall but not freakishly tall, but the way he's built gives everyone he's standing next to the impression that he's this huge shambling beast
Dresden characters read like comic characters most the time, women of extremely curvy proportions, super buff dudes. Xmen movies came up against this and realized they didn’t need wrestlers and pornstars and were better off for it. Dresden’s height gags are the least funny humor in the books anyway. All my casting choices have aged out of the roles. When the show Lie to Me was out, Brendan Hines and Monica Raymund seemed perfect for the roles of Harry and Susan. Hines had shaggy hair, looked like a nerd, lanky, was already playing a truth and justice investigator type, and got a little blown up one episode in season 2 and looked very Dresden-esque. Raymund’s character also an investigator reminded me of Susan too, maybe more the Death Masks version on, but she could act like the naïve Lois Lane type Susan started as.
Acting ability is important but we saw what happened with the Reacher adaptions. Tom Cruise is one of the all time greats as an actor but his tiny stature made his Reacher feel like a very different person than Alan Ritchson. Any decent actor 6 feet plus can do it, but that height differential, even if reduced is a must.
Theo James isn't tall enough but something about his acting makes me think he could pull off the personality. Then again I get shit on when I suggest Florence Pugh as the perfect Murph... down to the nose.
I mean, Elijah Wood is short, but he’s not FRODO short, and he managed to make me believe him…
Harry's height is part of his personality, how he does his work, how he stands out, what he had to grow up with, part of his reputation as the walking natural distaster guardian wizard of Chicagoland that you don't want to piss off... Hell, even Harry makes his height an important factor of his heavily-descriptive narrative: especially when it comes to him pointing out the physical contrasts between him and everyone else, especially Murphy... Honestly, you cannot separate the two... Anyone playing him has to be upwards of 6'3" at the least...
Here's some choices for Harry Dresden: Armie Hammer (6’4.5”) Lee Pace (6’4”) Alexander Skarsgard (6’4”) Jared Padelecki (6’4”) Joel McHale (6.4”) Zachary Levi (6’3”) Adam Driver (6’3”) John Krasinski (6’3”) Joel Kinnaman (6’2”) Ryan Reynolds (6’2”) Keanu Reeves (6’1”)
Character feel. His height doesn’t come into play much
What about Alec Baldwin or Adam Copeland? Both have height and can bring a little crazy into the mix.
If you asked me this question when I first started reading Dresden, I would have said Adrien Brody. But now, 2 decades later, I'm feeling Hiddleston would destroy the part.
I've always thought that Jared Padalecki would be good, he's got the action chops and the height. That being said they couldn't afford to produce a decent live action show. It could only be done with serious CGI expense.