Alpha Flight: The Movie

 

Alpha Flight Movie All-Canadian Dream Cast

There has been some talk recently from some AF fan twitter accounts regarding casting a hypothetical Alpha Flight MCU movie. As a huge fan of AF and John Byrne, I admit that I’ve had thoughts about this, but have never put them to “paper” in this much detail before. I’ve decided to share my list, which has a unique twist. Everyone I’ve selected is Canadian. Some are well know, some I literally picked based on Googling some photos. I am happy to hear everyone’s thoughts.

Guardian -- Nathan Fillion. Best known for Firefly and Castle. My longtime choice for Mac has been Paul Gross, but at 61 he’s now a bit old for the role. Nathan doesn’t exactly look like the classic Mac, but he’s well known and can play a lead role. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Fillion

Heather-- Sarah Gadon. This is a Googled casting, but I like it very much. She starred in the adaptation of King’s 11/22/63, and has been in a season of True Detective. Not a redhead, but there’s something to her look that I think if she went red, it would work. There’s a decent age difference with Fillion as well, which is canonical. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Gadon

Northstar -- Marc-Andre Grondin. I went for double authenticity here. French Canadian. Not too many credits. A hockey movie called Goon that I admittedly know nothing about. He may have shaved his head for some recent work, but there’s some Google images out there with a full head of hair, and he could definitely pull off Jean-Paul. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc-Andr%C3%A9_Grondin

Aurora--  Sophie Desmarais. Again, a French Canadian performer who I am not at all familiar with. I admittedly just looked for attractive, young, Quebecois actresses, and I liked her the best. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Desmarais

Shaman -- Adam Beach. I did not know his name, but by credits he is definitely a go-to guy for Native/First Nation roles in the US and Canada, and he has comic book cred as he was Slipknot in Suicide Squad. He’s younger than I envision Michael, but I can easily picture him in the costume. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Beach

Talisman -- Ashley Callingbull. A former Miss Universe and has a couple of acting credits. Not going to lie, I absolutely looked for Native/First Nations actresses and did a “Stop the press. Who is that?” when I saw her picture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Callingbull-Burnham

Snowbird -- Katheryn Winnick. Best known as Lagertha from Vikings. Also was in the ill-conceived Dark Tower adaptation movie. Beautiful northern demi-goddess describes both character and actress. As soon as I thought of this, it was locked in for me. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katheryn_Winnick

Sasquatch -- Stephen Amell. Best known as Ollie/GA on Arrow. Not how I picture Walt really, but remember that the character is not only a Bruce Banner-level scientist, but also former pro football player. Amell is blond, in shape, and has obvious comic-fan recognition. I admit it’s a stretch, but I’m comfortable with this pick. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Amell

Puck -- Carlo Rota. Not Peter Dinklage. (He’s not Canadian.) Known for 24, Jane the Virgin, and Little Mosque on the Prairie. Given Judd’s appearance, I don’t see why making him a person of color couldn’t fit into his backstory, and I think this actor has the voice and the gravitas to make you respect a character that could be played for laughs, but shouldn’t be. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Rota

(Note -- I am fully aware that I’ve cast Mr. Rota in the role of a little person, something that he is not. I will accept your criticism for this, and I certainly would be fine with someone like Rick Howland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Howland) as well.)

Marrina -- Charlie Storwick. Starred in a Canadian teen comedy show called Some Assembly Required. Circumstances caused me to be familiar with this show, and she played the punky, rebel teen character, which, in terms of Marrina,  is one of the few post-Byrne changes to AF that I like. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Storwick

Gary Cody -- John Byrne. Yes, you read correctly. Come on, with all of Stan’s cameos, do you think I wasn’t going to put the creator of AF into this somehow? A cameo as the team’s gov’t manager/handler is perfect, and the fact that Cody is based on a real person who is one of JB’s friends makes this some sort of wall-breaking meta. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Byrne_(comics)

Master -- Keanu Reeves. I’m sure we’re all familiar with his work, but as he currently sports the long-haired bearded look, I think he’s absolutely perfect for AF’s immortal, Vandal Savage-esque arch foe. Plus, Keanu doesn’t play the bad guy much, and I think it would be fun to watch him chew some scenery here. (Although I might gravel up his voice a bit in post.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keanu_Reeves

Box-- Brent Butt. Most known for the CTV comedy Corner Gas. No, he doesn’t have much in common with Roger Bochs other than maybe a rounded face and body type. But I still love the idea, and you can’t tell me it wouldn’t be great. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Butt

(Note -- Again, aware that Brent Butt is not a disabled person, and Bochs is. I mean no disrespect, just picked someone I liked and who I could envision. If you countered with Spencer Miller (https://www.instagram.com/thespencermiller/?hl=en), I would be totally fine with that.

Delphine Courtney -- Cynthia Dale. Best known from the CBC legal drama Street Legal, she’s also the wife of legendary newsman Peter Mansbridge. When SL was on in the 80s and 90s, she, and her character, were favorites of mine. Even tracked down a copy of a Flashdance wanna be movie called Heavenly Bodies to see hers. This character’s twist leaves this cast pretty open, but I don’t think it’s a visual stretch from the comic presentation at all. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Dale

Jerry Jaxxon -- Donald Sutherland (Young version -- Kiefer Sutherland) -- Veteran Canadian actor, tons of credits to his name, perfect for Guardian’s arch-foe and the mastermind behind Omega Flight. If we do a flashback sequence, Kiefer is an obvious stand in for his dad.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Sutherland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiefer_Sutherland

Flashback -- Fred Ewanuik. Another Corner Gas alum. I think we have one or two panels of Flashback out of costume in AF. Dark hair, greying, is all I remember. Basically, I like Fred’s character from CG, and it would be funny to see him and Brent Butt do a couple scenes together in totally different context. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Ewanuick

Smart Alec -- Henry Lau. Most of his acting credits are in South Korea, and he’s also something of a KPop star. Pretty much a complete blank slate of a character, so yes, I decided to do some inclusion here and give the villains at least one non-white face. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lau

Wild Child -- Hayden Christensen. Anakin from Star Wars Ep II and III. Yes, him. I know he takes a lot of heat for his acting in the prequels, but hear me out. Between his look, and the lighting and the CGI Sith eyes and such, there are some shots where after his turn to the dark side where his face looks long, and gaunt, and full of rage and evil. I can do with a Kyle Gibney who can give me that for a few minutes screen time. And we know Hayden can block a fight scene, so there you go. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayden_Christensen

Diamond Lil -- Brittney Slayes. Not an actor, she’s the lead singer of Canadian metal band Unleash the Archers. Tall, long hair, striking. Can pull off a costume based on some of the band’s videos. It’s my cast. I can pick who I want. https://theheadbangingmoose.wordpress.com/2018/10/01/metal-chick-of-the-month-brittney-slayes/

Madison Jeffries -- Shamier Anderson -- He has a role on Wynonna Earp, which I haven’t seen. Once again, criticize the race-swap if you want, but this character doesn’t have any built in racial requirements, and I want to be representative. An unlikely friendship with Bochs, two possible romances down the road, and a cool power. I’m happy with my choice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamier_Anderson

Lionel Jeffries -- Stephan James. Shamier Anderson happens to have a brother who’s an actor. Madison Jeffries has a brother who’s, well, you’ll see. (He’s post-Byrne, but I rather like the character arc with these two.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephan_James_(actor)

Nelvana -- Voice of Joni Mitchell. Famous singer-songwriter. CGI character as one of the Gods of the North. I just think it would be cool to have famous Canadian voices in the voice over roles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Mitchell

Hodiak -- Voice of David Suzuki. Another God of the North, and his voice provided by a world-renowned scientist, naturalist, and tv personality. He ranked 5th in a Greatest Canadian of All Time poll, so that’s all the credentials you need. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Suzuki

Prime Minister -- Eric Peterson. Another alum of both Street Legal and Corner Gas. I wanted Leonard Cohen for this part for years, but he’s gone from us. I see this PM as more of a Preston Manning-ish prairie populist. If he calls Northstar “jackass”, he gets paid double. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Peterson

Unnamed CSIS Agent -- Paul Gross. Star of the tv show Due South and various other Canadian productions, and a country musician as well. My longtime choice for Guardian, but at 61 he’s a little past the age I think Mac should be. This part is basically their equivalent of Nick Fury, and he’s based on a character from comics and a novel or two that I occasionally work on. Not much detail in case I ever finish, I’d like to not lose the rights. Think steampunk Highlander meets Bogart.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gross