By Anna Quesse
Fremd
I’m proud to admit that I’ve read John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars” three times already. I can also tell you that I cried approximately 7,990,000 times while reading the book.
Hear me out. The book, nicknamed “TFiOS,” is about two kids with cancer trying to make the most of their final days. Needless to say, it’s a pretty sad book. So yeah, I have a valid excuse. To say I was excited when I heard this book would be made into a movie would be a massive understatement.
But obviously, we can’t always take Hollywood seriously. Exhibit A: “Sharknado.” Need I say more?
I analyzed the cast and made my own suggestions. Note that Shailene Woodley is not featured here because she is the epitome of Hazel Grace Lancaster. This casting decision should be noted as one of the best casting decisions in the history of cinema.
Augustus Waters
Hollywood’s choice: Ansel Elgort
My choice: Zac Efron
The moment Augustus walked in to Hazel’s cancer support group is the moment readers fall totally in love with him. Augustus is Hazel’s love interest and one of the main characters in “TfiOS.” Translation: This role is a big deal.
When I first heard about the movie, I pictured a classic Hollywood hunk playing Gus. Someone like Zac Efron. He’d be perfect for the role of a dreamy guy who has no idea just how dreamy he really is.
Ansel Elgort will appear in “Divergent” and “Carrie,” but he’s still too new for fans to feel comfortable with him playing this character.
Isaac
Hollywood’s choice: Nat Wolff
My choice: Zachary Gordon
Isaac is one of Gus’s close friends. He actually brings Gus to the cancer support group where he ends up meeting Hazel.
I love Isaac. I really do. But the book is so sad overall that Isaac just isn’t a big part of the story. If I could pick someone else to play him, I’d pick Zachary Gordon. We already know Gordon can play a sarcastic, lovable character from his role in “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” He’s not ugly, but he’s not a pretty boy—he looks like a real person.
I don’t think Nat Wolff is the right choice because he just doesn’t have enough experience with mature, serious roles like this one. I’m not confident that he could play Isaac.
Patrick
Hollywood’s choice: Mike Birbiglia
My choice: Jim Parsons
Mike Birbiglia was cast as Patrick, the annoying cancer support group leader who is very adamant about his battle with testicular cancer.
I really want to like Birbiglia—he’s a funny guy. But you know how you can develop bad feelings toward an actor after he or she plays a bad character in one movie? I just know that I’m going to hate him after this.
Exhibit A: Tom Felton. He can be handsome all he wants, but I still want to punch him in the face like Hermione punched his character, Draco Malfoy, in “Prisoner of Azkaban.” I just can’t bring myself to like him anymore.
I think instead of Birbiglia, they should’ve cast Jim Parsons. We know Jim Parsons as Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory.” Parsons would make a good Patrick because he has the demeanor of someone who tries to help, but fails to do so simply because he just doesn’t know any better—aka Sheldon Cooper.
Source:
http://themash.com/blog/entertainment/2013/11/01/casting-redemption-the-fault-in-our-stars/