Who Plays Jack and Jill in the Cycler Movie?
A while back, I hinted at a movie deal for Cycler. I’ve been holding off announcing it officially because, well, these things take time to iron out. Film contracts are long and tediously-detailed things.
I’m happy to report now that I have optioned the film rights to producer, Don Murphy. Don has a distinguished track record, which includes Natural Born Killers, Permanent Midnight and the Transformers movies. Even more importantly, he completely gets Cycler and wants to bring it to cinematic life in a way that’s faithful to the book.
Of course, the above will be made much easier given the fact that he’s using a screenplay I wrote. It’s not often that novelists write their own screenplays. Screenwriting and novel-writing are very different in a lot of ways. But I actually began my career as a screenwriter, and Cycler began its life as a screenplay. So, in a way, this movie deal completes the circle.
The funny thing about adapting Cycler the novel into Cycler the screenplay was that I had to recall all the things I had purposely suppressed when I made the transition from screenwriter to novelist. To write novels, you have to paint the scene in great detail and place the story in the reader’s head. To write screenplays, you have to keep things sparse and leave room for the director. I had worked really hard to avoid writing novels that were too “cinematic.” As a result, my first draft of the Cycler screenplay was too “novelistic.” It was full of pointless voice over and excessive detail. But once I got back into the swing of things as a screenwriter, it all came back to me. And I’m really happy with the way it turned out.
Now, the big question is: how on earth do we cast it? Do we cast one actor to play both Jack and Jill? Or do we cast two actors who resemble each other enough to pull it off?
I know which way I’m leaning. What do you think?
I think you would cast them as 2people, twins would. that makes the most sence to me, they would (or should).
Especially after reading (Re)Cycler, I think one actress who can do both parts would be best. I suppose Anne Hathaway is too old for the role; I thought she was brilliant in the Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night last summer, and she can certainly handle the comedy and gender-switching.
One actor. I think two would make the gender aspect much less powerful. I’d like to see the audience sometimes in doubt about who/what they were watching.
Very interesting.
Well, I’ve only read Cycler but I’d say two actors. If it was just one actor, you have to figure out if its a guy in drag as a girl or a girl in drag as a guy. And from reading the book, it seems like Jack is really really a guy and Jill is really really a girl, there’s a difference between what each one looks like… they really are two different characters. I mean, Jill’s best friend falls for Jack (and more) and didn’t realize that it was Jill. Two actors.
I admit, I felt very strongly about using two actors, but I’m really interested by the arguments for one actor. I think the biggest problem with just one actor is that the characters are so wildly different. Hmm… More thinking to be done. Thanks, everyone, for the input.
Movie!!!!! NICE!
I agree about casting two actors. I think it would be cool if they were siblings, so that there would be just enough physical similarities to make the conection between Jack and Jill, but different enough to show the indivual traits of each one.
i agree about the two actors as well. you make it very clear in the book that there are distinct physical differences: height, shape, facial features. And this is what makes it interesting: there’s no ambiguity about the gender identity of each one. The only ambiguity is: are they the same person?
Having one actor would change the spirit of the film to something dissimilar to the book. Not that that wouldn’t be interesting too … cf. Tilda Swinton in Orlando.
i would say two as well…but would hope the boy would be pretty in a way that boys can sometimes be pretty – like those banana republic models.
i think two actors twins (one boy one girl) if possible
Ive read both books and i think that would be best
Thanks, ToxicKandi. Great handle. Twins would be perfect! Perhaps we should do a nation-wide talent search.