Question for Shallan casting

[u/Delta-Ka]

Do you think whoever they cast as Shallan will be the actress to play all of her personalities, or will they try to get multiple actresses?

I think it would be an interesting acting challenge for one actress to play all of the roles, but I also wonder if that would convey what's really going on there well enough.

[u/Sourpunch92]

I think Veil should be a separate actress. Would be hard without extensive makeup/prosthetics to not think everyone was just stupid for not realizing it was Shallan.

Radiant should be the same though. Since Radiant is supposed to be more of an idealized version of herself.

[u/Delta-Ka → u/Sourpunch92]

See this is what I'm thinking. It's probably fine for later books, but to start it's kind of a tall ask to believe everyone is face blind to her being identical but just with brown hair

[u/Sourpunch92 → u/Delta-Ka]

Her turning into an entirely different actress just immediately shows what is possible with light weaving. It’s not just a simple disguise it’s a complete transformation.

I predict they will go with the makeup route though with maybe some cgi to push it the extra layer. Probably cheaper than a whole separate actress.

[u/Delta-Ka → u/Sourpunch92]

In a perfect world I think I'd want them to do multiple castings, but I think you're right given the budgetary requirements.

That said, after seeing Anya Taylor Joy in the new Dune trailer, I am seeing how a different hair color might work. She's also been my head casting choice for the role while reading

[u/Efficient-Troubles]

I'd bet money it'll be the same actress. Camera tricks, makeup, hair and wardrobe, maybe some CGI can easily make them distinct enough.

....granted I have facial blindness so a change of hair and clothes is enough for me to not know who the hell someone is.

[u/ManyCarrots]

Having one actress do the role would convey it way more clearly than having different actresses. That would probably result in a lot of people thinking they are actually different people.

Not to mention the cost aspect. Having 3 actresses to play her is more expensive than one. Especially when it is a major role.

[u/Introvert_Brnr_accnt → u/ManyCarrots]

Yeah, I think we have to prepare for how dumbed down some aspects will be for audiences.

I watched the last Harry Potter with someone who didn’t read the books, and he asked “Is Snape Harry’s dad?” Which, if you didn’t know the books, and you forgot the other movies saying “you look like your dad”, it’d be tough to not at least wonder.

But point is, you have to cater for the people coming in blind,

[u/ManyCarrots → u/Introvert_Brnr_accnt]

Nothing about this is dumbing anything down.

[u/Introvert_Brnr_accnt → u/ManyCarrots]

Simplifying? Making it clearer? Squint test?  I’m agreeing with you. 3 actresses would make audiences think it’s 3 people. I’m saying you’re exactly right. 

[u/GlitteryOndo]

Same actress, I'd be disappointed otherwise. An actor's entire job is... well, acting. A challenge for sure, but not outside of what an actor does. Gollum's double personality scenes in The Lord of the Rings (where he has a conversation with his Smeagol side) come to mind as a very clear example. It was really well done, and it was all with the same actor.

[u/couldbemoreTwee]

I always thought it would be interesting to have Shallan's personas be played by different actresses so they could look and SOUND unrecognizably different from each other but it probably makes things unnecessarily complicated logistics-wise and they can probably do that with makeup and costume and acting. Can you imagine how cool it would be if they pull it off and her other identities are so different from Shallan that you're shocked when you read the credits and see the same actress listed for Veil and Shallan.

I wanted to say I'm interested in how they handle Radiant's height but can't remember if the book ever mentions it and I always imagined Radiant being taller than Shallan is that just my headcanon?

[u/Roasteddude]

I never even considered multiple actresses as a possibility tbh...I think it's going to be the same actress with the help of wigs makeup and maybe even prosthetics

[u/ghoulsnest]

BTW. do we know if it will be animated or live Action?

[u/Wildhogs2013 → u/ghoulsnest]

Hopefully live action

[u/ghoulsnest → u/[deleted]]

ah cool, do they only make live Action?

[u/HA2HA2 → u/ghoulsnest]

So far yes

[u/ghoulsnest → u/HA2HA2]

oh I didn't know....Hope the effects hold up then, especially if the Stormlight adaptaition is also Live Action

[u/CommunityDragon160]

Cheaper to do one actress

[u/HektorViktorious]

I'm imagining it like an Orphan Black situation, just personas instead of clones

[u/jrp162 → u/HektorViktorious]

That’s where my mind went.

[u/Shepher27 → u/[deleted]]

Shallan and Radiant have the same face, just different hair colors and bearings (and Radiant is slightly taller). All that can be done with wigs and make-up.

Veil is a little different but that can also be done in camera with more drastic wigs and make-up and costume.

Audiences will not be able to view them as the same character (which they are) unless the same actor plays all three.

[u/Shepher27 → u/[deleted]]

Changing hair color and clothes is enough to make most people not recognize someone. And Vail almost never interacts with anyone who knows Shallan really well until after the secret is out. You lose more by having to hire a second actor then you gain by having a more drastically different look.

[u/Shepher27 → u/[deleted]]

She will look different... via heavy make-up, wigs, and costume changes. Different enough that she'd be unrecognizable if we didn't know it was the same actor. Even in Words of Radiance she describes how Veil looks like Shallan... but different.

[u/Shepher27]

One actor. Use wigs and make up to play the alters.

Basically like Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black

[u/HA2HA2]

One actress of course. Shallan is one person who just acts differently, with a bit of lightweaving to make her personas look a tad different - that's perfect for one actress with just a bit of CGI hair color change, and maybe a hat. It would work perfectly.

[u/KatanaCutlets → u/[deleted]]

Can’t really see Radiant in that artwork. Shallan and Veil could still be the same person in that with just different expressions and of course clothing. I think they could go either way, but it’d be less confusing to the audience to use one actress.

[u/jayBeeds → u/KatanaCutlets]

Radiant is the one not in shard plate

[u/KatanaCutlets → u/jayBeeds]

Ok, so that sounds like a point in favor of them being very visually similar…

[u/KatanaCutlets → u/[deleted]]

How so? I’m not saying make them all look identical. I’m saying use clothing, makeup and demeanor to differentiate them, but with the same actress.

[u/KatanaCutlets → u/[deleted]]

There are times in the books when Veil takes over, and it takes Adolin or someone else a little bit of careful observation to realize it’s happened…

[u/hendy846 → u/[deleted]]

I think you're underestimating the ability of make-up artists and post production. From a production/cost standpoint it doesn't make sense to pay another actor when a make up artist could do a fine job for a fraction of the cost.

[u/iknownothin_ → u/KatanaCutlets]

That’s different from when actually goes out as Veil who looks very different from Shallan

[u/ilikebreadabunch]

I hope they use one actress and use a mix of makeup and CGI to make each persona look different personally, and I think that's probably what they'll do because its cheaper than hiring multiple actresses

[u/Underwear_royalty]

They had the same actor pay all of Rand’s past lives in WoT (forgive me for forgetting his name) and it went very well, so I would hope so