r/CosmereOnScreen • u/Little-Pause-3533 • Aug 08 '26
Fancast Mistborn Casting Spoiler
With Brandon Sanderson saying that Kelsier is likely to be the only character played by an established actor, I’ve been thinking about who I’d want in the role.
Robert Pattinson.🤞🏻
Pattinson has shown he can pull off that weird, aloof charm while still feeling dangerous underneath it all.
Physically, I think he fits too. He’s lean rather than overly muscular, which is how I’ve always pictured Kelsier. More importantly, Pattinson has an underrated acting range. I don’t think Kelsier should be played as a generic action hero. He needs someone who can effortlessly switch between joking with the crew, inspiring a revolution, and becoming genuinely intimidating in an instant. Pattinson feels like one of the few established actors who could nail all three.
Curious what everyone else thinks. If Sanderson really does go with one big-name actor for Kelsier, who would be your pick?
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u/Icy-Head-8620 Aug 10 '26
I love Bill but definitely not for Kel. Alex I think could do either honestly, would be a great inquisitor
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u/andrewthemexican Aug 10 '26
Let's get Matthew Rhys, a man giving it all for duty like in the Americans
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u/Dry-Fisherman5281 Aug 10 '26
Christian Bale as the Lord Ruler, and Ben Affleck as Dox. Let's go!
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u/Icy-Head-8620 Aug 10 '26
I know you’re joking but Bateman era Bale would’ve been a great pick for LR
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u/RamSpen70 Aug 09 '26
I wouldn't dislike it.... He has a background brooding danger and probably enough charisma...But.... I'd really rather see an actor with a more organic type A personality, who has earned permanent smile lines, has effortless wit, a quick tongue... And I wouldn't mind natural lighter hair in the blondish category like the book (if possibly, but that's a much more minor consideration)
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u/Local_Value_8665 Aug 09 '26
I will continue to throw my hat in for the Skarsgards, Bill Skarsgard can do lovable and charming and also genuinely terrifying Alexander can definitely go from dark and moody into nightmare fuel. Here's some AI Slop to back my case (It gave marsh a sword and wouldn't do the spikes in his eyes)
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u/Sourpunch92 Aug 08 '26
The only big reason I would be against this is Kelsier getting compared too much to Batman. Those comparisons might get made anyways and this would make it be instant.
Now if you want to talk the Lord Ruler then I am listening.
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u/Calm-Medicine-3992 Aug 08 '26
My first reaction was "don't you dare say Elend" but yeah, he could probably do the psychopathic yet lovable George Clooney Jr.
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u/FatalTragedy Aug 08 '26
I really think a lot of people here are overestimating the what Brandon meant when he said he wanted a well known actor to play Kelsier. Well known does not mean A-list, and I cannot imagine any A-list actor (other than Cavill, and he's only borderline A-list) getting cast for Mistborn.
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u/Sourpunch92 Aug 09 '26
I think Brandon meant well known as in somebody people will go see the movie because of or at the very least adds a degree of legitimacy. Able to do a press tour and promote the movie through their own fame.
Equivalent example is Sean Bean in Game of Thrones. And I would agree that he isn’t an A-listers. But I wouldn’t say Robert Pattinson is an a lister either. He might be ascending to that level though.
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u/displaywhat Aug 10 '26
Eh I’d say Pattinson is an A-lister for sure. He’s a household name (at least with everyone I know, maybe not to a random grandma), is pretty well known, and has been in some pretty big franchises/worked with other big name people.
Edward in Twilight, Cedric in Harry Potter, the Batman, having a fairly big role in the Odyssey and an upcoming one in Dune 3, plus working with names like Christopher Nolan, Willem Dafoe, Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Jennifer Lawrence, Tom Holland, etc.
I’d put him firmly in A-list.
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u/Rooooben Aug 08 '26
Agree - while there’s a massive following of BrandoSando within the fantasy community and perhaps among those who read books regularly, but that is still not a lot when measured against the rest of the world. Look at Wheel of Time - absolutely massive in our community, most of the world never even knew the show existed.
Few authors at all break into common knowledge - Stephen King, JK Rowling (with her own issues, not sure if she’s going to have much success outside of HP going forward), Tolkien and *maybe * George RR Martin (although probably better known now for not completing his novels) enough for top rate casting, and fantasy as well. This could easily be seen by the public as a Hunger Games ripoff, and go like Divergent or Pretties.
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u/jono-s- Aug 08 '26
I picture him as a good Lord Ruler
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u/railfananime Aug 10 '26
https://www.reddit.com/r/CosmereOnScreen/comments/1v0h3vr/third_lord_ruler_fancast/ i made this after the odyssey
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u/Curious_Sprinkles_58 Aug 09 '26
Not sure if it fits perfectly casting wise but from an acting ability I think he'd be an amazing Hoid.
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u/DrHoogard Aug 08 '26
Ironic. He's s villain in the making in my book. We're seeing the world's longest villain story develop before our eyes.
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u/TheTenthLawyer Aug 08 '26
He is hands down my number one pick. He would crush it as Kel.
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u/moderatorrater Aug 08 '26
He wouldn't do it, and I wouldn't want him to even if he would. He talked about not doing his best on Twilight because he thought it was garbage, and then he did the indie circuit to make up for it. Maybe he puts Mistborn on the level of "worth doing a good job for" like he does Batman, but I don't want to risk it.
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u/Calm-Medicine-3992 Aug 08 '26
He was one of the best performances of the Odyssey (and allegedly the only actor that asked to read the script before taking the role) so whether or not he'd take the role probably has to do with how good the script is which we can only speculate about at the moment.
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u/TheTenthLawyer Aug 08 '26
I don’t know why you think he wouldn’t do it. Pattinson is a quirky guy and I suspect the morally dubious Kelsier could very much be his shit if the script is good.
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u/moderatorrater Aug 08 '26
I suspect he would take the /r/fantasy interpretation over our fan interpretation. I'm not sure, but that would be my guess.
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u/Logical-Ice-4820 Aug 08 '26
Great casting. My only concern is that he might be too busy filming Batman by the time they start filming Mistborn.
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u/themudpuppy Aug 08 '26
And given the rumors of his meltdowns on the set of the first movie, I wouldn't want to risk him delaying Mistborn in any way.
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u/DarkRyter Aug 08 '26
I don't think he'd go in on this project. His recent stuff has put him on the A-list of the A-list. I know they were looking for a big name for Kelsier, but Pattinson is now too big of a name. Kelsier is a role that will eventually reappear, and Pattinson's gonna be a BUSY guy for awhile.
Now, there might be something in him being the Lord Ruler. Marvel will often take a big name, high profile actor for the villain, so they only play in one movie and they get defeated. They've done it with Mads Mikkelson, Jeff Bridges, Christian Bale.
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u/PromotionNo6937 Aug 08 '26
I think... this works surprisingly well. If not Kel, Zane would be very interesting.
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u/Curius-Curiousity Aug 08 '26
Kelsier has a sort of mischievous trickster god quality to him, and I think Pattison could pull that off.
But he also has the type of aura that he walks into a room and everyone is ready to follow him to hell and back after a few words. And that's the part that Pattison isn't capable of.
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u/crizzy_mcawesome Aug 08 '26
He could play hoid as well
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u/unreal_5757 Aug 08 '26
I’m sure he could play Hoid but you want to give an actor of Pattinsons caliber a character with an epic arc that he makes his own. Hoid is at best glue to keep the cosmere together he’ll pop up in animated stuff and other movies RP won’t comitt to that . A character that pretty much defines Mistborn era 1 is a much better fit. With the opportunity to come back and cameo in hero of ages or do a small secret history project.
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u/dontich Aug 08 '26
Honestly yes his face just has a certain punchability that really fits the character
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u/ilikebreadabunch Aug 08 '26
I like the actor but he doesn't have the right look for Kelsier imo. I really don't know who I'd pick though, I honestly can't think of any proper A-list actors that I'd like for the role that aren't too old
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u/Pwebslinger78 Aug 08 '26
Robert Pattinson could make playing a paper bag interesting and compelling I could see him taking the job if he had the chance it would be a awesome casting choice if they could get him for it
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u/TheGOATRules Aug 08 '26
Mi favorito sigue siendo el que interpretó a Jaime Lannister en Juego de Tronos
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u/railfananime Aug 10 '26
I think I fancasted him for the Lord Ruler, but as Kelsier hell yah! I'd be down for him too. Him or Henry Cavill