DrDoom Presents: MASS EFFECT FanCast
One of the most critically acclaimed video game franchises of the 21st century, Mass Effect has become an iconic staple of modern science-fiction. However, a film series based on the property has been languishing in development hell since 2010. Here, DrDoom gives his opinion on which actors should be chosen to bring this franchise to life on the silver screen.
By DrDoom -
Dec 28, 2014 12:12 PM EST
Despite being a relatively young entry in video game canon, the Mass Effect franchise has quickly become one of the most revered names in the medium's history due to combining compelling storytelling driven by player choice and highly customizable role-playing gameplay. The journey of Commander Shepard, and an exhaustively long list of supporting characters, has turned into a social media phenomenon, and is likely to remain so for a long time to come. Drenched in deep lore and stuffed to the brim with incredible characters, alien races and art design, the Mass Effect universe has torpedoed to the top of the list of influential and acclaimed video game franchises.
However, the franchise has entered something of a rut ever since the release of the final game in the original trilogy, Mass Effect 3. The gargantuan controversy regarding the ending to Shepard's story overshadowed the rest of the game, and while I am one of the many people who despise the ending of Mass Effect 3, I also know that the rest of the game, which is spectacular, doesn't deserve to be dismissed because of it. Likely due to the backlash, details on a future Mass Effect release have been sparse, with developer BioWare going back and forth as to whether it is a sequel, a side-story, or something else.
Along the way, Mass Effect has also seen several pieces of tie-in material in other mediums, such as novels, comic books, mobile games and even an animated film in Mass Effect: Paragon Lost. Unfortunately, outside of the first three Mass Effect novels penned by BioWare writer Drew Karpyshyn, the tie-in materials have ranged from mediocre to atrocious. The writing for many of the comics has been barely passable, and the mobile game releases have been cheaply thrown together spin-offs with none of the franchise's flair. Even Paragon Lost failed to truly add to the series, due to being a disposable side-story made to introduce the backstory of James Vega, a relatively inconsequential character who debuted in Mass Effect 3.
Given the dire circumstances surrounding Mass Effect's future, I have decided to put together this fancast article to detail a possible Mass Effect film franchise. The games have always been heavily cinematic in their storytelling, and so would likely translate well to the medium of film given a talented scriptwriter and visionary director. A Mass Effect film has been talked about in the past by producer Avi Arad and BioWare itself, but the film has never gotten past the scripting stage, fizzling out after the overwhelming rejection of Mass Effect 3's ending. If the project were ever to be reignited (hopefully with a different producer), I nominate the following actors to bring the series to life. I want to preface this by saying that this is my first fancast article, and that I hope you enjoy it.
Cobie Smulders as Commander Shepard
"The Reapers won't stop at Earth. They'll destroy every organic being in the galaxy if we don't find a way to stop them."
Taking on the responsibility of leading a major franchise such as Mass Effect would be a daunting task for any actor, but I truly believe that Cobie Smulders would be up to the task. She was originally the frontrunner for Wonder Woman when the project was under Joss Whedon's command, and has shown her talents in many roles since then, the most prolific of which would be Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor behind Shepard needs to be able to balance a tough, commanding presence with an empathetic and sensitive demeanor, and I think it is far past time for Smulders to get a film franchise of her own. As well, given that Mass Effect is a Canadian developed video game franchise, it would only be appropriate for a Canadian actor to take lead of the film adaptation.
Bryce Dallas Howard as Liara T'Soni
"I have been working on this for fifty years. I have tracked down every scrap and shred of evidence. Eventually, subtle patterns start to emerge. Patterns that hint at the truth."
Taking on major roles in Spider-Man 3, The Help and the upcoming Jurassic World, Bryce Dallas Howard is an in-demand actor who has shown incredible skill despite landing several disappointing roles. The role of Doctor Liara T'Soni requires someone who can shoulder the responsibility of being possibly the most important supporting character in the series, given how integral she is to the overall plot of the game trilogy. From what I've seen her in, I believe Howard is exactly what this highly developed character needs to come to life.
Karl Urban as Kaidan Alenko
"You don't have to take this all on yourself. Look to your crew. To the talented people fighting by your side."
I've always been a fan of Urban, and I've enjoyed his performance in every role I've seen him in. He is certainly no stranger to science fiction, having portrayed Dr. Leonard McCoy in J. J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot series, as well as playing a comic book superhero in the fantastic Dredd. Having shown a wide range across several different performances, I firmly believe that he is the best choice for Kaidan, being a comfortable and safe bet as the male lead opposite Smulders.
Alice Braga as Ashley Williams
"Why is it that whenever someone says 'with all due respect', they really mean 'kiss my ass'?"
A Brazilian thespian, Braga has plenty of action and science fiction background that would make her appropriate for the role of 'shoot-first' hero Ashley Williams. She played a very similar character as Isabelle in Nimrod Antal's underrated Predators, which is the main reason for her getting the role here. Her performance in Elysium also helped to cement this choice.
Brandon Keener as Garrus Vakarian
"Can it wait for a bit? I'm in the middle of some calibrations."
When putting together this fancast, I spent quite some time considering whether or not the turians would be portrayed via conventional make-up or with motion capture. Due to the abnormal shape of their skulls compared to humans, I decided that it would be via motion capture, and because of this, I feel that Keener should reprise the role from the games. His voice as Garrus is unmistakable, and it would be a real shame to lose him.
Felicity Jones as Tali'Zorah nar Rayya
"The Pilgrimage proves we are willing to give of ourselves for the greater good. What does it say about me if I turn my back on this?"
I have always wanted to see Felicity Jones get more substantial roles ever since seeing her incredible performance as Catherine Morland in the 2007 adaptation of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. She has since appeared in several other films, including an absolutely wasted cameo role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Tali requires an actor who can convey a wide range of emotions without being able to see her face; a master of body language who can elicit multiple different emotional responses from the audience, and Felicity can definitely bring her talents to bear as the young quarian engineer.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Urdnot Wrex
"This isn't right, Shepard. If there's a cure for the genophage, we can't destroy it."
Urdnot Wrex is the ultimate badass in the Mass Effect universe, and as such requires an actor who can bring a sense of weight and grittyness to the role. While I considered keeping Steven Barr, his voice actor from the games, I ultimately decided that a motion captured performance from Jeffrey Dean Morgan would be the right way to go. After seeing his compelling turn as the Comedian in Watchmen, he was always my choice for Ben Grimm in a Fantastic Four film, and I think he would be just as good as the mighty krogan battlemaster.
Dylan Baker as Mordin Solus
"Collectors? Interesting. Plague hitting these slums is engineered. Collectors one of few groups with technology to design it. Our goals may be similar."
Like many people, I believed that Doug Jones would be a great choice for the salarian scientist Mordin Solus based on his performance as Abe Sapien in the Hellboy films. However, I wanted to strike out in a different direction, and decided that Dylan Baker was the man for the job. Comic book fans would remember him as Curtis Connors in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, but he has his best credits in live theatre, having starred in several Broadway productions. Given how similar he looks to Mordin and his proven prowess on the stage, I think he would be a great choice for the character.
Yvonne Strahovski as Miranda Lawson
"I have the utmost respect for your abilities, Shepard. It's your motivations that concern me."
I tried to find someone else, but after a long while of rumination, I just could not find a suitable replacement for Miranda. Yvonne Strahovski completely embodies the role, having provided voice over work as well as motion capture for the character in both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3. It is unfortunate that so many don't appreciate Strahovski's talents, but I do believe that her best performance has been given in these games, and it would be a dream to see her reprise the role for the silver screen.
Adrien Brody as Thane Krios
"The measure of an individual can be difficult to discern by actions alone."
Ever since his landmark role in 2002's The Pianist, which won him an Academy Award at an extremely young age, Brody's career has gone through several up and down turns. However, having seen him in several films, such as King Kong, Splice, Predators and Midnight in Paris, I definitely have respect for his talents. As such, I think he would be a great choice to take on the role of the master assassin Thane Krios, bringing the character's tormented and sympathetic qualities to bear.
Mike Colter as Jacob Taylor
"Tell you what, you help me take down these mechs, and I'll play twenty questions with you all day."
Obviously Marvel Studios and I have similar ideas, since I've had my eyes on Colter ever since Million Dollar Baby back in 2004. Given that he is a fine choice for Luke Cage, he would also do quite well as Cerberus operative Jacob Taylor. Having refined his science fiction skills in Men in Black 3 and Halo: Nightfall, he would certainly be a welcome addition to the Normandy crew.
D. C. Douglas as Legion
"Organics fear us. We wish to understand, not incite."
There are plenty of voice actors who can provide a robot voice, but none can match the nuance of D. C. Douglas as fan-favourite geth infiltrator, Legion. Given that the role would likely be voice only, and the unique structure of Legion's face would make traditional motion capture relatively useless, it would only be appropriate for Douglas to step back into the role once again. I don't think I would be able to believe anyone else saying "Shepard-Commander" anyway.
Karen Gillan as Jack
"[frick] off!"
If anyone can make me actually like this character, it would have to be Gillan. After seeing her shaved head in pictures earlier this year, I realized that she was a dead ringer for the psychotic biotic, Jack. Having developed her acting skills across multiple seasons of Doctor Who, and being criminally underused but still good in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, she would definitely be able to bring this tortured character to life.
Lena Headey as Samara
"Help me find my long lost daughter . . . . and kill her."
Fancasts for Samara have ranged all over the place, from Lucy Lawless to Lucy Liu, but the one person who comes to mind for me is none other than Lena Headey. Having accomplished great turns in shows such as Game of Thrones and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, as well as in comic book movies like 300 and Dredd, she would certainly bring the gravitas and refined elegance required for the role of the famed asari justicar.
Charlie Day as Joker
"You know it's just our heat emissions that are hidden, right? They can look out a window and see us coming."
I can already feel legions of fans crying foul, but I want to make it clear that yes, Seth Green reprising his role as Joker would certainly be more than welcome. However, having seen Charlie Day perform several comedic roles in the likes of Horrible Bosses and Pacific Rim, I always felt that he could pull off an incredible performance as the Vrolik syndrome afflicted pilot of the SSV Normandy. Every time I imagine Day saying one of Joker's lines, I always crack a smile, and that certainly has to count for something.
Tricia Helfer as EDI
"Do not worry, Shepard. I only forget to recycle the Normandy's oxygen when I've discovered something truly interesting. That was a joke."
Unlike Joker, I simply could not find someone to replace Helfer as the Normandy's resident artificial intelligence, EDI. She simply did so much to help bring the character to life, and make her stand out amongst the abundance of AI characters in science-fiction. Her comedic timing and ability to bring forth genuine pathos for EDI is, in my opinion, irreplacable, and thus she should definitely return to the role for the cinematic adaptation.
Keith David as Admiral Anderson
"Consider yourself reinstated, Commander."
Don't worry, this is the last reprisal from the games in this article. Ever since his breakout role as Childs in John Carpenter's 1982 sci-fi/horror classic The Thing, Keith David has become a juggernaut, starring in countless live-action films and voice over roles. His turn as Admiral Anderson in the Mass Effect game trilogy lent a great deal of weight to the narrative, being a mentor to Commander Shepard and, by proxy, the player. His voice is unmistakable and his talents are inarguable, so there really should be no debate about this choice.
Cate Blanchett as Doctor Karin Chakwas
"Eden Prime. The Battle of the Citadel. Defeating the Collectors. We've been through too much together to see it end now."
I sorted through several older actors until I finally decided to go a little younger with this role, settling on acclaimed thespian Cate Blanchett. Her talents have been honed and proven across a multitude of films, some of the most prolific being Elizabeth, Blue Jasmine and her iconic role as the Lady Galadriel in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Certainly there can be no doubt that she would bring some serious credibility to the franchise in the role of the Normandy's chief medical officer.
Kate Mara as Kelly Chambers
"Commander, you have a new message at your private terminal."
Like Felicity Jones, Kate Mara is another actor who deserves better than what she has gotten so far. However, a lot of her roles have been minor, like her cameo as a Marshal in Iron Man 2, or in less than impressive films, such as Shooter and Transcendence. While the role of Kelly Chambers does not require tons of screen time, she is actually a more dynamic character than people give her credit for, acting as the heart of the Normandy SR-2 and providing therapy support for her crew mates and war refugees, and Mara is definitely a great choice to embody the role of this bubbly yeoman.
Elizabeth Henstridge as Samantha Traynor
"If you die, whoever replaces you might not let me use your shower."
Communications specialist Samantha Traynor was actually one of the hardest roles to cast because no one immediately came to mind. I could not find any actors that I knew of who both looked like her and possessed a genuine English accent, and so I was forced to go with an unorthodox pick. Henstridge does not have the same skin tone or general appearance as Traynor, but has played a similar character as fan-favourite Jemma Simmons on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and so seems to be the best fit as far as I'm concerned.
Kevin Spacey as Captain Bailey
"Yeah, I feel like a glorified doorman."
Ever since starring in my absolute favourite film of all time, American Beauty, Spacey has been one of the greatest actors in Hollywood. His credits are simply too many to list, with some of his most well-known turns being in films such as Se7en, The Usual Suspects, L. A. Confidential and Recount. While he doesn't necessarily quite look like Captain Bailey, he is a credit to any film that he is in, and would certainly elevate any scene as the disgruntled but loveable senior officer of Citadel Security.
Rachel McAdams as Kahlee Sanders
"Commander, thank you. Admiral Anderson always said you were the best."
Kahlee Sanders is a unique character for Mass Effect because she debuted in the tie-in novels rather than the games themselves, not making a physical appearance until Mass Effect 3. Despite this, she is actually an incredibly important figure in Mass Effect lore, as well as being the love interest of Admiral Anderson. She would likely have a small role in the films, but if she were to appear, Toronto-based Rachel McAdams, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the character, would be a fine choice to bring this Mass Effect veteran to life.
Peter Capaldi as Ambassador Donnel Udina
"Do the words political shitstorm mean anything to you?"
Having an incredibly long history of work in film, television and live theatre, Peter Capaldi would be a sensible choice for many roles. The critical acclaim he's received as the latest incarnation of the Doctor on Doctor Who even further cements his talents. As a character who slowly shifts from an ally to a villain over the course of the trilogy, the small but important role of Udina requires a deft touch, and I think Capaldi is just the person to administer it.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Khalisah Bint Sinan Al-Jilani
"You bitch! I'll make sure everyone in the Alliance sees that! Your career is over!"
You just knew that Mary Elizabeth Winstead was going to appear in here somewhere, didn't you? I actually told myself before I started this fancast that I would not shoe-horn in MEW if she was not appropriate for a role, but I believe I may have found a niche for her with the intrepid reporter from Westerlund News. While she would have essentially a cameo at best, Khalisah has become an icon of the Mass Effect franchise, and it just wouldn't be the same without her.
Matthew McConaughey as Saren Arterius
"Your species needs to learn its place, Shepard. You're not ready to join the Council. You're not even ready to join the Spectres."
What is there left to say about Matthew McConaughey anymore? He's one of the most talented actors alive, most recently wowing audiences with a commanding performance opposite Woody Harrelson on True Detective. As the first major villain of the series, the rogue Spectre Saren needs someone who immediately commands presence without a word, and only further compels the audience when he does speak. McConaughey definitely fits the bill in both regards.
Julianne Moore as Matriarch Benezia
"You do not know the privilege of being a mother. There is power in creation. To shape a life . . . . turn it towards happiness or despair."
I actually considered both incarnations of Clarice Starling for this role, but ultimately settled on Julianne Moore to portray the esteemed asari matriarch after deciding on Bryce Dallas Howard for Liara, given that she could definitely pass for Howard's mother. Being able to hold her own in basically every film she has appeared in, from smaller art films to giant Hollywood blockbusters, Moore would absolutely crush the role of this villainous master of biotics.
Bruce Greenwood as The Illusive Man
"Where you see a means to destroy, I see a way to control . . . . to dominate and harness the Reapers' power. Imagine how strong humanity would be if we controlled them."
While Martin Sheen provided an unforgettable performance as The Illusive Man in both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, he is quite old at 74, and as such for logistical purposes I decided to cast a younger actor as the enigmatic leader of Cerberus. Another Canadian, Bruce Greenwood has built a long legacy on both film and television, recently giving a memorable performance as Admiral Pike in both 2009's Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness. If anyone can carry the torch for Sheen as the Illusive Man, it would certainly be Greenwood.
Thanks for reading!
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