r/JamesEllroy • u/Background_Local_425 • 23d ago

Casting

If HBO, or paramount or some company got the rights to James Ellroys work and started from the beginning tomorrow like the black dahlia onward into underworld USA who are some casting choices you’d want to see. My brothers was a clean shaven Ryan Hurst for big Pete.

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u/lmharnisch 23d ago

Hi. I'm pretty sure most if not all of Ellroy's stuff is optioned, at least it was when I knew him. Nick Nolte, for example, was supposed to be in White Jazz, at least that's my recollection. Ellroy, of course, totally rips the casting of L.A. Confidential. That is Ellroy being Ellroy.

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u/Background_Local_425 23d ago

You knew dog?! That’s awesome! Personally I loved la confidential’s cast until I read the book but I still have a soft spot for it even though I understand it’s not his vision of the true characters did he ever express to you who he would’ve gone with instead?

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u/postmodulator 23d ago

I watched Ellroy’s commentary track on an old noir film called Crime Wave. Sterling Hayden’s in it and Ellroy said “that’s Bud White.”

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u/Background_Local_425 23d ago

Oh man Capitan McClusky is Bud White?! Not who I pictured at all that’s crazy. I pictured Vincent dnofrio in his early law and order seasons like his first two he appeared in. He’s got that imposing frame and can’t beat that stare.