OotS the Series?

[Slayer Lord]

I'm not really sure if this belong here or in the Media Thread, so feel free to move it if it's wrong.

Anyway, my group and I recently came up with the idea of how Order of the Stick would be as some sort of television series. In general we agreed that it would be best animated, but who would play which character?

Amongst our more sane ideas we had Samuel L. Jackson as Roy, James Earl Jones as Xykon, John Clesse as Redcloak, and Dominic Monaghan as Belkar.

So what do you guys think? Have fun.

[An Enemy Spy]

I'm not really sure if this belong here or in the Media Thread, so feel free to move it if it's wrong.

Anyway, my group and I recently came up with the idea of how Order of the Stick would be as some sort of television series. In general we agreed that it would be best animated, but who would play which character?

Amongst our more sane ideas we had Samuel L. Jackson as Roy, James Earl Jones as Xykon, John Clesse as Redcloak, and Dominic Monaghan as Belkar.

So what do you guys think? Have fun.

I hate your voice actors. Xykon with a deep voice? I can't see it. And I see Roy as way too young to be played by Samuel L. Motha****in' Jackson(full name).

[Slayer Lord]

They were just ideas being thrown around. And Xykon does say in SoD that he sounds a bit like Vader (i.e. Jones)

If you don't like those then what are your picks? Or pick different characters, whatever.

[blackspeeker]

I hate your voice actors. Xykon with a deep voice?.

Yeah, what absurd mind wouldthink of that? Other than the creator of oots.

Though on a less snarky note I tend to read xykon as James Woods, everyone else I just read in my voice but in different pitches, because I'm lazy.

[Emperordaniel]

I always "heard" Xykon's voice as resembling Darth Vader's (but with a sort of low rasping sound because of the undead-ness), myself.

[factotum]

Dunno if Dominic Monaghan could pull off the psychotic-ness needed to play Belkar--even in Lost when he was supposed to be playing drug-addled rock god he was still essentially *nice*. Tom Hardy, maybe? He was one of the best things in Star Trek: Nemesis and he's only got better since, IMHO. Of course, when it's just the voice you're using that's a completely different skill in any case, so maybe you'd be best off thinking about dedicated voice actors. (In which case, I *so* nominate Jennifer Hale to do Haley's voice!).

[Kid Jake]

I could see John Dimaggio pulling off Xykon

[Iamyourking]

Elan: Yuri Lowenthal (High pitched and youthful)
Haley: Jennifer Hale (Strictly speaking Haley isn't tough enough for Hale's usual roles, but it's a good enough fit)
V: Karen Strassman (Not meant to be a statement about gender, but an androgynous woman sounds more gender neutral than an androgynous man)
Belkar: Steve Blum (Yes, I know he could voice every male character. "Default" raspy Blum, probably pitched up somewhat)
Horace Greenhilt: Jameson Price (Because seriously, it's perfect)

Nale: Johnny Yong Bosch (Almost identical to Lowenthal but a little deeper)
Sabine: Michelle Ruff (She's got a really good range, perfect for a shape shifter)
Thog: Fred Tatasciore (Does really good brutes)
Tarquin: Grant George (Can do high and low equally well, one with the helmet on and one with it off)

Xykon: Crispin Freeman (Because can't you just imagine him declaring himself to be ONE BADASS FREAKIN' OVERLORD)
Redcloak: Liam O'Brien (Best voice actor for best character. Plus a British accent fits Redcloak; although not quite as strong as he usually does it)
Tsukiko: Laura Bailey (Can do perky and malevolent really well)
MitD: Dave Wittemberg (Very child-like)

[ti'esar]

I'm pretty sure that when Xykon compares himself to James Earl Jones, he's referring to the "voice of the legion"/reverb effect that the black speech bubble represents. It doesn't necessarily mean anything about his actual voice, as such.

And isn't there a thread like this already?

[Studoku]

And isn't there a thread like this already?

This thread appears every couple of weeks. The mods prefer people to restart dead threads instead of necroing them.

[ti'esar]

This thread appears every couple of weeks. The mods prefer people to restart dead threads instead of necroing them.

It was last posted in less than two weeks ago. I wouldn't call that "dead".

[Cizak]

It would actually be really interesting to see how an animated series would tell the story differently, like anime and manga often does.

[Winter]

Mark Hamill could probably do a kickass Xykon. Less maniacal laughter than for the Joker and set deeper, more calm but with the same variation in mood and pronunciation. And with the same creepiness or rage when creepiness or rage are required.

[TopCheese]

Mark Hamill could probably do a kickass Xykon. Less maniacal laughter than for the Joker and set deeper, more calm but with the same variation in mood and pronunciation. And with the same creepiness or rage when creepiness or rage are required.

+1

This is who I would like to see play Xykon though now that someone said James Woods I'm torn.

Ever since James Woods went kinda crazy in Family Guy I've been wanting him to play a villan on more stuff.

[Joe the Rat]

Mark Hamill could probably do a kickass Xykon. Less maniacal laughter than for the Joker and set deeper, more calm but with the same variation in mood and pronunciation. And with the same creepiness or rage when creepiness or rage are required.

I'm not sure if he'd get the right edge of Xykon's wackiness... that and he usually has a bit too much of a nasal to voice someone without a nose.

Then again, he's exceptionally good at mimicry. He could get a lot of mileage out of his muppet-mocking tricks. Having the Oracle sound like a Yoda knock-off (in voice, not in diction) would be even more annoying.

Mm... Assuming the "Roy in Heaven" arc makes it, I'd stunt-cast Sam LMF Jackson for Grandpa Greenhilt.
{Hits evil caster with his caster-disrupting strike} "Oh I'm sorry, did I ruin your concentration?"

[Opperhapsen]

I'm not sure if he'd get the right edge of Xykon's wackiness...

He's The Joker.
He brings the whacky plenty.

Although he can never reuse the Joker voice

[Sith_Happens]

Elan: Yuri Lowenthal (High pitched and youthful)
Haley: Jennifer Hale (Strictly speaking Haley isn't tough enough for Hale's usual roles, but it's a good enough fit)
V: Karen Strassman (Not meant to be a statement about gender, but an androgynous woman sounds more gender neutral than an androgynous man)
Belkar: Steve Blum (Yes, I know he could voice every male character. "Default" raspy Blum, probably pitched up somewhat)
Horace Greenhilt: Jameson Price (Because seriously, it's perfect)

Nale: Johnny Yong Bosch (Almost identical to Lowenthal but a little deeper)
Sabine: Michelle Ruff (She's got a really good range, perfect for a shape shifter)
Thog: Fred Tatasciore (Does really good brutes)
Tarquin: Grant George (Can do high and low equally well, one with the helmet on and one with it off)

Xykon: Crispin Freeman (Because can't you just imagine him declaring himself to be ONE BADASS FREAKIN' OVERLORD)
Redcloak: Liam O'Brien (Best voice actor for best character. Plus a British accent fits Redcloak; although not quite as strong as he usually does it)
Tsukiko: Laura Bailey (Can do perky and malevolent really well)
MitD: Dave Wittemberg (Very child-like)

Mm... Assuming the "Roy in Heaven" arc makes it, I'd stunt-cast Sam LMF Jackson for Grandpa Greenhilt.
{Hits evil caster with his caster-disrupting strike} "Oh I'm sorry, did I ruin your concentration?"

*casts Wish to transport both of you to the Non-Elemental Plane of Cookies*

[Umberhulk]

Liam Neeson as Tarquin.

[mistformsquirrl]

For reasons still inexplicable even to myself, I've always thought of Xykon as having a voice like Hector Con Carne >.>

[Dr.Epic]

I'm not really sure if this belong here or in the Media Thread, so feel free to move it if it's wrong.

Anyway, my group and I recently came up with the idea of how Order of the Stick would be as some sort of television series. In general we agreed that it would be best animated, but who would play which character?

Amongst our more sane ideas we had Samuel L. Jackson as Roy, James Earl Jones as Xykon, John Clesse as Redcloak, and Dominic Monaghan as Belkar.

So what do you guys think? Have fun.

I hate your voice actors. Xykon with a deep voice? I can't see it. And I see Roy as way too young to be played by Samuel L. Motha****in' Jackson(full name).

Very minor SoD spoiler:

Spoiler

Show

When Xykon first becomes a lich, he comments his voice sounds just like James Earl Jones. He even says "'Luke, I am your father,' sounds just like him right?"

[stabbybelkar]

Personally, I always have trouble with Roy simply because the two actors who I feel would fit the best (Samuel L Jackson and Keith David) are simply too old. I'm picking Dee Bradly Baker, simply because his voice is varied enough that he could probably come up with a brand new character voice that he hasn't used for any of his other characters, but would fit Roy perfectly.

Vic Mignogna, after hearing him voice Tamaki from Ouran High School Host Club I think it's safe to say he has the "idiot hero" thing down perfectly.

Josh Phillips. Admittedly, he is not a particularly well-known voice actor, in fact, the only character I've seen him play was Jan Valentine from Hellsing. That's why I'm providing a sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHFQj06gWyc WARNING! THAT VIDEO IS EXTREMELY NSFW, VIEW AT YOUR OWN RISK. Suffice to say, if he ever did voice Belkar, the performance would actually have to be toned down compared to his performance in Hellsing.

Jennifer Hale, it becomes pretty clear after playing Knights of the Old Republic that she's perfect to play Miko.

Shojo: George Takei. Why? Because it's George mother-freaking Takei that's why! Seriously, try reading strips #289 and #290 while picturing Shojo being voice by George Takei, he's perfect!

That's all that I can think of for now.

[EatAtEmrakuls]

Xykon - Richard Epcar or Billy Zane.

[Dr.Epic]

Vic Mignogna, after hearing him voice Tamaki from Ouran High School Host Club I think it's safe to say he has the "idiot hero" thing down perfectly.

No. No! NO! FMA is one of my favorite animes ever. I will not hear the great Edward Elric - a smart and cunning alchemist - be shouting stupid things like "I GOT A FOUR!!!"

That's why we have Sean Schemmel.

[Sith_Happens]

Yes. Yes! YES! FMA is one of my favorite animes ever. I would pay to hear the great Edward Elric - a smart and cunning alchemist - be shouting stupid things like "I GOT A FOUR!!!"

Fixed. I just now imagined some of Elan's funnier moments in Edward's voice, and it was the best thing ever.

[Dr.Epic]

My Name is Sith_Happens and I'm totally writing this and not someone else editing a quote and I take back what I just said. Vic Mignogna would make a terrible choice for Elan, and Dr. Epic is right as he always is because he's awesome and amazing and this isn't him writing this. It's Sith_Happens.

Fixed it for you.

[stabbybelkar]

No. No! NO! FMA is one of my favorite animes ever. I will not hear the great Edward Elric - a smart and cunning alchemist - be shouting stupid things like "I GOT A FOUR!!!"

That's why we have Sean Schemmel.

Sean Schemmel could work I guess, I mostly picked Vic Mignogna over him because I've never been a huge fan of DBZ, and because the first two things I saw Mignogna in were the afformentioned Orren High School Host Club where his character is basically an even more over-the-top version of Elan, and Soul Eater where his character is basically the butt monkey comic relief about 80% of the time.

[Sith_Happens]

Fixed it for you.

I would say something about that not making sense, but I just finished watching Gurren Lagann and it's going to take at least a day for my sense of logic to come back.

[Dr.Epic]

Sean Schemmel could work I guess, I mostly picked Vic Mignogna over him because I've never been a huge fan of DBZ, and because the first two things I saw Mignogna in were the afformentioned Orren High School Host Club where his character is basically an even more over-the-top version of Elan, and Soul Eater where his character is basically the butt monkey comic relief about 80% of the time.

Vic Mignogna is in Soul Eater? Maybe I shouldn't had stopped watching that series. I kept watching the series up to the battle for brew or whatever that thing was: when all the characters fight in the snow. Who does he voice?

Wait, was he Maka's father? If so, how the heck did I miss that?

I would say something about that not making sense, but I just finished watching Gurren Lagann and it's going to take at least a day for my sense of logic to come back.

Speaking of TTGL, why not Kyle Herbert as Elan? I can imagine that. They both do ridiculously stupid things caring more about style and somehow through luck or pure awesomeness make it through victorious.

[willpell]

It would actually be really interesting to see how an animated series would tell the story differently, like anime and manga often does.

Unfortunately I just don't think it would work at all. OOTS is just too thoroughly married to its format; jokes about fitting in the panels or reading the compilation book are all over the frigging place, I don't know how much of a scalpel you'd have to take to it but it wouldn't be pretty, and I don't think it'd be worth it. Which is a shame because it is a great story, but I think the Adaptation Decay would just kill it.

[veti]

Unfortunately I just don't think it would work at all. OOTS is just too thoroughly married to its format; jokes about fitting in the panels or reading the compilation book are all over the frigging place, I don't know how much of a scalpel you'd have to take to it but it wouldn't be pretty, and I don't think it'd be worth it. Which is a shame because it is a great story, but I think the Adaptation Decay would just kill it.

That could all too easily happen, yes. (It happens to most screen adaptations.) One of the worst things that could happen would be if the screenwriters got too hung up on being faithful to the source, so they slavishly try to transcribe every joke that only works in the comic format.

(That's been the death of every Terry Pratchett screen adaptation I've ever seen - complete lack of initiative or confidence on the part of the screenwriters.)

But it's not inevitable. If Rich were prepared to invest huge amounts of time in rewriting, and had a skilled screenwriter to help him, the result could be a completely new version.

And that scenario, I think, contains the answer to whether it would be a good thing. Do you really want Rich to invest all his creative time and energy on retelling a story he's already told?