Content is hard. Let's have CASTING!

[seanan_mcguire]

It's been a while since we've had a good fantasy casting thread, and this promises to be a crazy week at work, so I figure it's time to have a pretty party. This week, we're casting Feed. Feel free to cast other works in the Newsflesh universe as well (so if you want a high-profile actress for Becks, when it's essentially a cameo in the first book, explain how you'll use her in the second). Pictures are a plus!

A few things to keep in mind:

There is absolutely no reason, by the text, that the actors cast for Georgia and Shaun need to be white. George is described as "pale" after she's been inside for a long period of time, but that's it. The only characters that really need to be cast Caucasian are Buffy and the older Masons (Stacy and Michael). Buffy because she's blonde, the Masons because they're a very specific sort of suburban archetype gone horribly wrong.

Your Shaun and Georgia should be similar in age, because they're going to be playing off each other a lot.

Explaining your casting/supplying pictures is a big, big plus.

At the end of the week—well, Thursday; I'm on a plane all day Friday—I'll pick the dream cast I like best and send them a signed copy of Blackout. Because I hate the post office but hate thinking about addresses more, this is open to everyone.

Have fun!

Comments

[dostehseh.livejournal.com]

I just watched HBO's "Newsroom" last night, and wanted Dev Patel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dev_Patel) for Mahir immediately. I mean, probably him being in a newsroom biased me. It was terrible, the moment I saw him in the newsroom, I thought, "HEY THAT GUY IS MAHIR!" :(



Adrianne Palicki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrianne_Palicki) - if I imagine her with super curly hair. I don't know why I picture Buffy with super curly hair. Anyway. She would work for me. She has, to me, that kind of busty blonde goofy look, but not really ... bimbo-y. I am not great with the words.



Georgia is always hard. Currently I am leaning towards Genevieve Padalecki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genevieve_Padalecki). She has strong features and, from what I've seen of her acting, does kind of ... aggressive firm pushy well. Haha. She'd just have to cut her hair.



For Sean, I want Jessie Williams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Williams_(actor)). Again, I am biased because I am in love with him, but he also kind of has a really mischievous ... expression. Often. And mischievous is how I want Sean to look more often than not, haha. Plus, look at his eyes.



Rick, I vote for Henry Cavill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Cavill). He's younger than the actors for Sean and Georgia, which if I recall, would not be correct, but his physical age progression in the Tudors leads me to believe he could play older AND I think shows his likely ability to transform from the Rick in the first to the Rick in the last.



Finally, for Ryman, I say Nathan Fillion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Fillion). He has that kind of ... strong jawed look that should just be a caricature of a politician, plus I think he could play off the fine line between cheesy political posturing and not quite cheesy political posturing that would make a good Ryman. If that makes sense.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

What fun choices!

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

I pictured Shawn as very Zachary Quinto-esque. I'd love to see Zoe Salanda or Gina Torres as George.

Buffy, of course, will always be a young Sarah Michelle Gellar in my mind, but as the book went on she started becoming more Willow than Buffy.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

Oh god Zoe Saldana. I've adored her since the first time I saw her. She'd rock that role.

[ladymurmur.livejournal.com]

Today I want Benedict Cumberbatch as Shaun. He has the right combination of geeky, adventurous, just a guy, completely distracting when he grins and/or is utterly intent on something...

But that changes all my previous picks for George. Will have to ponder this a bit.

[scarybaldguy.livejournal.com]

He's also way too old to play Shaun. Dawson Casting only goes so far.

[tigrkittn.livejournal.com]

I picture Hayden Panettier as Buffy, and I'd love to see Donald Glover as Sean.

[priscellie.livejournal.com]

OMGYES to Donald Glover as Shaun! I want to treat your brain to a sumptuous steak dinner, assuming your brain eats steak.

[wordswoman.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised to see the skinny-cerebral-guy suggestions for Shaun (despite loving the actors named) because I picture Shaun as a much more physical/athletic type. Shaun's the brawn and the bravado, not the brains. He's smart enough--but Georgia is the brainy one, Shaun is the action hero.

I like Jesse Williams for Shaun. Paired with a "pale" Georgia, his appearance would be a nice subliminal reminder that a certain objection some readers had about the two has no genetic basis.

[xnbach.livejournal.com]

in that case, Idris Elba should be Shaun. He's totally an action hero and makes all movies better (even the really crappy ones)

[queenaeron.livejournal.com]

I swear I remember reading somewhere that Shawn should be played by Jason Dohring (Veronica Mars) and and Allison Scagliotti (Warehouse 13) as Georgia

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

That was me. :)

[taldragon.livejournal.com]

still thinking about Georgia's casting, but in some ways i can see um...Joshua Jackson (Peter in Fringe) as Shaun - he's bright but athletic and seems to like poking things with sticks :)

[themysteriousg.livejournal.com]

I love this game but I'm no good at it. i have to say yours is an excellent choice!

In my mind I picture a guy I know and can't deviate from that but this kinda works.

[herewiss13.livejournal.com]

I think the mad scientist with the giant dog in books 2 and 3 (whose name I've forgotten) should be played by Amy Acker. Damaged & dangerous is one of her strong suites.

[taldragon.livejournal.com]

i agree.

[lauowolf.livejournal.com]

As long as it is really fantasy, I'm going with a very young Diana Rigg and Buster Posey.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Ha!

[james garza (from livejournal.com)]

First choice would have been a circa 'Thelma and Louise' Brad Pitt for Shaun. Though that guy from Legend of the Seeker - he's got the Irwin flamboyance. Runner up: Joe Anderson
Michelle Monaghan or Lynn Collins for Georgia.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Oh, very nice.

[bulletproofheeb.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Sean Mason - Thomas Dekker
Georgia Mason - Allison Scagliotti
Georgette "Buffy" Meissonier - Leven Rambin
Mahir Gowda - Alessandro Juliani
Senator Peter Ryman - Stephen Moyer
Rick Cousins - Tom Hiddleston
Rebecca "Becks" Atherton - Anna Kendrick

[eurii.livejournal.com]

I am in love with your choices!

[booniverse.livejournal.com]

Awww...this is about 10 to 15 years too late to have Ben Browder (Farscape, SG:1) play Shaun because he'd nail that part hook line and sinker. I suppose Jeremy Renner (Avengers) is also a little too long in the tooth but I picture Shaun with that sort of body type and both actors do sarcastic well. Maybe Brian J. Smith (from Stargate Universe)?

Again if it were 15ish years ago, I'd cast Salma Hayek (Desperado) as Georgia because Selma plays headstrong women and I generally like Salma Hayek. Maybe Jessica Alba (fantastic Four)? I like the idea of underscoring that Georgia and Shaun aren't genetically related and I can't think of a non-white actor with the Shaun body type off the top of my head. I also think Alba could indeed play a smart and cool character well.

Speaking of Avengers, Scarlett Johansson for Buffy?

The Masons: Timothy Hutton and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Hutton's got the acting chops to play Awesome on the outside, kinda slimy on the inside. Sarah Michelle Gellar would just be kinda funny to cast as Mrs. Mason because everyone knows SMG from the do right Buffy and this role would play to and pervert that.

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I like that Masons casting, although SMG is a bit young for Mrs. Mason. Let's age her up just for the movie.

[raelee.livejournal.com]

Well now... I've never thought of George and Shaun as anything other than white. I'll have to give that some thought. I do like the suggestion upthread of Jesse Williams as Shaun. I'm just not sure who I'd want to see George in that scenario. I'd actually like to keep the uncertain nature of the Shaun/George relationship so I'd want to keep it looking like these two could be genetically linked. Maybe Dana Davis as Jesse William's George? She's got the spunk I associate with George and she looks young (as in I was going to say she was young enough until I looked up her age and realized she's actually older than I thought). I'm not sure I've seen her in enough things to know if she's got the acting chops.

photo of Dana Davis & Jesse Williams (http://twitpic.com/a0h4bn)

But before I got sidetracked thinking about that and as I was reading Blackout, I realized I kept kind of picturing Ethan Peck as Shaun. Based, weirdly enough, almost entirely on his work as Patrick in ABC Family's 10 Things I Hate About You TV series. I think you'd believe him as the guy who just wants to go poke zombies but also as the guy who can take charge when he has to...

photo of Ethan Peck (http://twitpic.com/a0h53o)

Also, I think I like the idea of Dichen Lachman as Becks. Not at all what I pictured as I read the books but she popped into my head as I was reading the other ideas here and now I want to go back and reread with her in mind.

ETA: Can't embed my photos so I just changed those into links for the curious.

[taeli.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I love the idea of Ethan Peck as Shaun. I really can see him being the poke zombies sort and his smile is that charming one that I imagine Shaun uses to get his own way as often as possible.

[asphaltangel.livejournal.com]

Totally playing this game!

Hunter Parrish (http://www.buddytv.com/articles/weeds/images/hunter-parrish-6.jpg) as Shaun: I know the post said that Shaun and Georgia aren't necessarily white, but I didn't read the Masons as likely to adopt children of a different race because they pay so much attention to their family's "look." Mrs. Mason, in particular, strikes me as wanting a matchy-matchy family with children that look like they actually could be hers. Besides that, Hunter looks like the guy who plays soccer, gets B+ grades, and does dumb shit with cars, which is exactly how I picture Shaun in a zombie-free world. There's also a breeziness about him that I like because Shaun DOESN'T live in a zombie-free world, but he's learned to appear absolutely unaffected all the time.

Anna Popplewell (http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/lee_ann0311/Anna%2520Popplewell/anna1.jpg) as Georgia: Anna is perfectly pale, and her eyes aren't her most attention-grabbing feature, so I figure she could pull off wearing shades all film. Too, I have this idea that if the world had been normal then Georgia would have been a "normal" girl with the clothes and the make-up, so I wanted an actress who looked like that- one who'd look a little startling hopping on a bike and slaying zombies. And she does a great, "I am currently so unimpressed" face.

Elizabeth Reaser (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzcYBEHFyvE/Trq7aWO-U4I/AAAAAAAABzs/pR1PCpzcXv8/s1600/Elizabeth+Reaser+%252812%2529.jpg) as Mrs Mason: I didn't even have to think about this one. She can totally play suburban mom gone wrong- it's something about her eyes, really- and she looks athletic enough to be a believable Irwin star.

Simon Baker (http://www3.images.coolspotters.com/photos/205655/simon-baker-profile.jpg) as Mr. Mason: Working off my "matchy-matchy family" theory, I'd decided Mrs. Mason should be brunette like Georgia, so Mr. Mason had to be blonde like Shaun. Then there was an ad for The Mentalist reruns on TV, so yeah. This happened. I think Simon looks professorial enough, too, for the man Mr. Mason used to be.

Dianna Agron (http://www.hollywoodorbit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Dianna-Agron.jpg) as Buffy: She's blonde, she played a cheerleader on Glee, and she actually bears some resemblance (particularly in her hair-styling) to SMG.

Donald Faison (http://www.aolcdn.com/aolr/hookup-donald-faison-400a022707.jpg) as Rick: I love him, and he does a great, "Really?" expression, which would be useful to the character because I think that's Rick's frequent reaction to the Masons- "Really? This is what you're doing?" And he'd be adorable with a cat.

Timothy Olyphant (http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1880726016/nm0648249) as Peter Ryman: It's the jawline. It just makes him look charismatic. Heh. But, really, put this man in a suit, give his hair just a touch of grey, and you have a polished political contender. Take him out of the suit and you have the guy who works on his wife's ranch. Which brings me to...

Emily Deschanel (http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/71155_17231811030_5229365_n.jpg) as Emily Ryman: She's beautiful and I love the way she speaks, so I had to cast her.

Jon Voight (http://projectcodename.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/kilmer.jpg) as Governor Tate: This goes all the way back to Varsity Blues for me- the man is the quintessential bad guy in a suit.

Shazad Latif (http://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/aps/images/526_296/tariq.jpg) as Mahir: I LOVED Shazad in Spooks because it's an amazing show, and he was amazing in it. He played an MI-5 techie, so I'm used to thinking of him surrounded by computers. He'd be spectacular as Mahir, and while that role wouldn't have much face time in Feed, his voice would be around throughout (and it's a great voice), AND having him for the sequel would be a must.

[cleverthylacine]

I think Hunter Parrish would be awesome as Shaun, particularly because he does that "look, I'm playing dumb, watch and underestimate me" thing so WELL. I thought his character in Weeds was barely functional and then all of a sudden he was beating his mom at her own dirty game, and it was awesome.

I don't picture Georgia as pale, though, except when she's been kept indoors against her will.

I rather terribly want Adrian Pasdar as Ryman because he does both sunny openness and terrifying shades of grey with complete perfection and can switch from one to the other on a dime.

[themysteriousg.livejournal.com]

I want to see your movie:)

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Me, too.

[court clark (from livejournal.com)]

In my head Jason Dorhing is Shaun, not sure about any of the others

[batyatoon]

Mine too. *_____*

[spitphyre.livejournal.com]

I don't know if she'd be too old but I'd like to see Jamie Chung playing George. Or Kristen Keurk? Though I don't know, when she smiles it might be too much?

Other people? I like the suggestion of Jesse Williams playing Shawn which would work well with Jamie's age. Or Jensen Ackles since he does a good job doing storming around angry at the world. He's probably too old by now though?

I want to cast Maggie but I don't know any young women I like who look like she is in my head. Everyone is too thin and I always pictured her less so but still gorgeous. It's probably not a surprise I can't think of anyone with the body type I would look for :/

I have pictured an actor/director friend of mine as Mahir this whole time but I know it would be wrong since my friend is Iranian and Mahir is Indian but I just cannot shake the image of Kevin Hamadini playing him.

The suggestion as Hayden Panettier for Buffy is a good one. The only other suggestions I have are too old for the role now :P

I don't have more time right now but I will think about some more characters...

[taeli.livejournal.com]

In my head, I've always imagined Miracle Laurie as Maggie. Not sure why, just head canon.

[hiza-chan.livejournal.com]

Apparently there's too much code in this comment, so 1/2.

My casting was highly influenced by the fact that I was marathoning Dead Like Me when I was reading Feed, but it's always seemed right in my head and not just because Georgia Lass in Dead Like Me has the same name, and Mason in Dead Like Me has Shaun's last name. Just. Well.

Ellen Muth as Georgia. 1. (http://img003.lazygirls.info/people/ellen_muth/ellen_muth_em2_epxFi83.sized.png) 2. (http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9914/ellenmuth4.jpg) 3. (http://popcultureplaypen.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/george.jpg) First reason I'd want her to be Georgia is just because of how perfectly Georgia she is in Dead Like Me. Sarcastic, dangerous without really acknowledging it, and clever as all hell, so we know that Ellen Muth would be able to handle the role well. Maybe Georgia Mason would be quite a bit more lethal than Georgia Lass, but I have a feeling she'd roll with the part. Second are her features. She has very dark eyes. In some shots you can tell that they're brown, but in most shots they're so dark that they look black, same as I'd imagine Georgia's retinal Kellis-Amberlee. Her hair tends to be blond in most shows, with the roots showing through dark. This is very Georgia without having had a chance to dye her hair in awhile to me, though for Ellen Muth with properly dyed "Georgia" hair, there is this. (http://www.allcelebritypictures.com/pictures/female/e/Ellen_Muth/ellen_muth_64.jpg)

Callum Blue as Shaun. 1. (http://liz-jen.com/tv_shows/dead_like_me/images/char_mason.jpg) 2. (http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmeuhfzxPk1qget4uo1_500.gif) 3. (http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/kaaatie/6503767/50838/original.jpg) 4. (http://i30.tinypic.com/2vacw81.png) 5. (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/18/mason1x.png/sr=1) If anything, Callum Blue's Mason has far more in common with Shaun than Ellen Muth's Georgia Lass has in common with Georgia Mason. There are the obvious differences, but for those of you who have seen the show, Mason had a mischievous personality with the thrill for danger that is so essentially Irwin. He's protective of those he cares about, and his love for people is both secreted away and so blatant that it's ridiculous. And Ellen Muth and Callum Blue are beautiful when they play off of each other, same as Georgia and Shaun would be.

Pictures of those two together: 1. (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VgJEMa3XyFg/S9vWNhgA6nI/AAAAAAAABOs/yS0bxBXZ8RU/s1600/Mason.jpg) 2. (http://www.monstersandcritics.de/downloads/downloads/articles2/89710/article_images/image4_1214596655.jpg) 3. (http://i38.tinypic.com/293yn7n.jpg)

[hiza-chan.livejournal.com]

2/2

Buffy is difficult, because I saw her as a combination of people (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kristin Bell (http://assets.gearlive.com/tvenvy/blogimages/kristenbell.jpg), Dianna Agron, Laura Harris.) For the same reason as before, my opinion is biased towards Laura Harris. And the image of Buffy making Shaun dance with her (http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ldr6kr015K1qdyb3k.jpg) makes me happy. While Laura Harris' Daisy in Dead Like Me acts a lot like Buffy, I still can't see it.

Sendhil Ramamurthy as Mahir. 1. (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DKcZQ4C7Ij8/Sj_NdxiQTRI/AAAAAAAAA3o/JEUmvQ4oeb4/s400/glasses4.jpg) 2. (http://heroeswiki.com/images/2/2d/Future_Mohinder.jpg) 3. (http://static.tvguide.com/MediaBin/Galleries/Shows/G_L/Ha_Hh/Heroes/season3/heroes-season3-9.jpg) 4. (http://www.geocities.ws/heroesfan902/Mohinder_Suresh_2.jpg) In my head Sendhil is around Mahir's age, if not just slightly younger. He's also brilliant at playing the most clever of people, which Mahir is.

Bill Pullman as Governor Tate. 1. (http://lh4.ggpht.com/-T1yNYPkgylc/TkQvpkHtiTI/AAAAAAAAAlI/4yx8gYzNwZg/Bill-Pullman-is-Oswald-Danes_thumb1.jpg) 2. (http://unaffiliatedcritic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/The-Revelation-of-Oswald-Danes-Bill-Pullman.jpg') He's entirely too good at playing the villain behind everything, and looks the part.

For Rick, I agree with countesscole. I've had trouble picturing him before, especially after Blackout came out, but he seems like a good candidate for the role.

Gina Torres as Becks. 1. (http://m.popstar.com/Gallery/Celebrity/G/Gina+Torres/Photos/00000016-1944.jpg) 2. (http://abagond.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/gina12.jpg) While she's a little older than I'd put Becks, she is also an extreme badass and I can see her being a brilliant Becks.

I had people in mind for the (older) Masons and Senator Ryman, but for the life of me I cannot remember them now.

[bryan_sims (from livejournal.com)]

Sean Mason: Donald Glover
Georgia Mason: Molly Quinn (although she may be a little young) or Rachel Nichols
Georgette "Buffy" Meissonier - Emily VanCamp
Mahir Gowda - Sendhil Ramamurthy
Senator Peter Ryman - Timothy Olyphant
Rick Cousins - Jamie Bamber
Rebecca "Becks" Atherton: Alison Brie
Mr. Mason: Peter Gallagher
Mrs. Mason: Mariska Hargitay

[asphaltangel.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, Jamie Bamber! That's an excellent idea!

(he could play a rock on the side of the road and it'd be excellent... it would be such a sexy rock)

[charles ellis (from livejournal.com)]

Georgia: Danielle Panabaker (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1263939/) . I'm mostly familiar with her from "Shark" but she has fairly broad experience for her age, which is close to the right range, and I think she could pull it off.

More ethnically diverse option for Georgia: Freida Pinto (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2951768/) who would be more likely to bear a resemblance to Mahir's wife.

Shaun: I see several "Heroes" alumni have been mentioned for roles, so how about Thomas Dekker (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0215281/) who appeared in the first season and then went on to play John Connor. He has the bonus of being close in age to my pick for Georgia.

Buffy: I have to agree that Hayden Panettiere would be a good pick for that role.

Stacy Mason: I don't know quite why, but I keep seeing Natasha Henstridge (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000449/) in this role. She does make a good action girl.

Michael Mason: Tough one, most of the actors I can picture as being professorial tend to be about 70, Upon further review of the source material, I'll have to go with David Caruso based on the physical description from Blackout.

Rick Cousins: I'll take Joshua Jackson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005045/) for this one.

Senator Ryman: Simon Baker (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048932/) who, in addition to his acting skills, has previously demonstrated a willingness to appear in a zombie movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418819/).

Governor Tate: John Lithgow (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001475/) who can definitely fulfill the role and is unfortunately too old to play Michael Mason.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I like these choices.

[ohari.livejournal.com]

I don't know enough young actors to cast the main roles.
There's really only one choice to play Doctor Abbey, though. Mira Grant herself.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as the Masons. Making (as suggested below) Jon Voight as Tate a fun casting.
While I am having fun with it, Nathan Fillion and Gina Torres as the Rymans. Adam Baldwin as Steve.

[chatworthy.livejournal.com]

Wow! Mira Grant as Dr Abbey.

When I read the novels I always hear her as Georgia.

[psiten]

For Stacy and Michael Mason, I tried to think about who Hollywood might cast for my very specifically suburban parents. For George and Shaun, the criteria mostly consisted of "someone who can act an intelligent badass very well". Soo Ae was probably the best part of Athena: Goddess of War, which just about says it all, and Ian Somerhalder's Damon Salvatore has a wonderful mix of devil-may-care irreverence with borderline psychosis.
Stacy Mason: Sharon Stone			Michael Mason: Pierce Brosnan			George Mason: Soo Ae			Shaun Mason: Ian Somerhalder
Although most of the other members of After the End Times are favorite character actors -- I've always thought Brad Dourif had a riveting, quiet command of expression and space, and Aasif Mandvi has excellent delivery whether he's being serious or funny -- I chose AnnaSophia Robb, someone new to me, as Buffy for bringing an real, approachable feel to blonde and vivacious.
Buffy Meissonier: AnnaSophia Robb				Mahir Gowda: Aasif Mandvi				Rick Cousins:Brad Dourif
For the Republicans, I had to go with the smarmy, fake-charm Kurt Fuller can do so well as Tate, and the up-and-coming Mad Man for Ryman.
David Tate: Kurt Fuller						Peter Ryman: Jon Hamm

[danceswithlife]

I love all your choices!

[yellowblackhaze.livejournal.com]

I seriously suck at this, but I'll have a go. In a similar conversation, before the option had been sold someone suggested Jason Dohring as Shaun (I loved it so much that I haven't been able to get past it), I like Emma Stone as Georgia, and in a bonus she already has experience fighting zombies in Zombieland. I can't cast anyone else, but we have to get Summer Glau in there somehow, unless of course she's too busy playing April O'Leary in the Toby movie I have in my mind.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I like it!

[psocoptera.livejournal.com]

Seth Green as Shaun, or maybe Fran Kranz (Topher Brink from Dollhouse), who's a little closer to the right age.

Speaking of Dollhouse, maybe Dichen Lachman for George?

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Awesome!

[ccarlet.livejournal.com]

For whatever reason, Shaun always looked like Ryan Kwanten in my head.

[yellowblackhaze.livejournal.com]

Oh I love that, and Shaun's Irwin persona fits in with the character he plays in True Blood. While we're at it maybe we could cast the blonde version of Anna Paquin as Buffy.