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Atlas Shrugged Part 3 Cast: Who is John Galt? _#ASP3

Posted by sdesapio 11 years, 3 months ago to The Gulch: Promotions
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*** BEGIN PRESS RELEASE (Reposted from http://blog.atlasshruggedmovie.com/2014/...) ***

Los Angeles, California - January 23, 2014 - Atlas Distribution Company announced today that “Atlas Shrugged: Who is John Galt?” went into production on Monday, January 20th. The movie’s release is slated for September 2014.

The movie trilogy follows the three-part structure of Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel, “Atlas Shrugged.” The dystopian story takes place in a not-so-distant future with the nation’s economy approaching collapse. While overreaching government regulations persist in strangling the country’s few remaining entrepreneurs, society’s most productive have mysteriously disappeared.

At the helm of Part 3 will be seasoned award-winning Director Jim Manera who will be accompanied by Cinematographer, Gale Tattersall who previously worked as Director of Photography on Hugh Laurie's House M.D. as well as Tom Hanks' From Earth to the Moon.

“It’s very fulfilling for all us to be finishing the trilogy. Atlas Shrugged has impacted so many lives and we’re extremely proud to be bringing the final installment to the screen. The team we’ve assembled is nothing short of stellar. Part 3 is without question going to be the best of the trilogy.” said Producer John Aglialoro.

Atlas Distribution Company also announced today that the much anticipated role of John Galt will go to Kristoffer Polaha, an accomplished actor who, prior to working on Atlas, was profoundly influenced by Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead.” Kris has been in a variety of television shows including Ringer (CW), alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Life Unexpected (CW). He will next be seen in a regular role alongside Rainn Wilson in Fox's new show, Backstrom. His feature credits include a supporting role in Devil's Knot, opposite Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth.

The role of Dagny Taggart, heroine COO of Taggart Transcontinental, will be played by Laura Regan who has appeared in the AMC hit Mad Men as well as the movie Unbreakable with Bruce Willis.

Producer Harmon Kaslow said, “We’ve always known that finding the right actor to play John Galt was going to be a huge challenge, but as soon as Kris walked in the room and said ‘Hello’, we knew we found him. Kris is John Galt. We couldn’t be more pleased. Laura and Kris already have great chemistry together. Atlas fans everywhere are going to be blown away.”

Rounding out the cast of “Atlas Shrugged” heroes are acclaimed actors Joaquim de Almeida as Francisco d’Anconia, Eric Allen Kramer as Ragnar Danneskjöld, and Rob Morrow as Hank Rearden, as well as a host of other veteran actors.

The prior two “Atlas Shrugged” movies are currently available on DVD & Blu-ray, iTunes, or streaming on Netflix and Amazon.

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Official Movie Web Site: http://www.WhoIsJohnGalt.com
Official Atlas Shrugged Forum: http://www.GaltsGulchOnline.com

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About Atlas Distribution Company
Atlas Distribution Company was formed by John Aglialoro to distribute the trilogy adaptation of Ayn Rand’s epic novel, Atlas Shrugged and other motion pictures. For more information, visit http://www.AtlasShruggedMovie.com.

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*** END PRESS RELEASE ***

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Check out some exclusive behind the scenes pics attached. Thanks to Eudaimonia for compiling the IMDB links.

John Galt - Kris Polaha - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1119340
Dagny Taggart - Laura Regan - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716438
Francisco D'Anconia - Joaquim De Almeida - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0021835
Henry (Hank) Rearden - Rob Morrow - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001555
Ragnar Danneskjold - Eric Allen Kramer - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469503
Hugh Akston - Stephen Tobolowski - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0864997
Midas Mulligan - Mark Moses - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0608601
Ellis Wyatt - Lew Temple - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0854702
Cherryl Taggart - Jen Nikolaisen - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0993212
Eddie Willers - Dominic Daniel - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1563320
James Taggart - Greg Germann - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0314524
Head-of-State Thompson - Peter Mackenzie - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0533380
Floyd Ferris - Neal McDonough - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568180
Wesley Mouch - Louis Herthum - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0381043
Cuffy Meigs - Tony Denison - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208
Clem Weatherby - Claude Knowlton - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0461572
Gerald Starnes - Ned Vaugh - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0891224


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  • Posted by EconomicFreedom 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    >What about Dagny's inability to accept leaving the rest of the world to burn?

    An intellectual issue for her, but not one that says anything one way or the other about her character. That's why there's something 2-dimensional about her: she's not conflicted enough to do something really surprising or unexpected from the reader's point of view.

    This, however, doesn't change the fact that Atlas Shrugged is Dagny's story: it's really her struggle to overcome obstacles and challenges that drives the storyline. But when you compare the "beginning-of-the-story-Dagny" with the "end-of-the-story-Dagny," there's no great change in her values or personality. Some of her larger intellectual philosophical premises have changed, of course! But if you compare the beginning Rearden to the end Rearden, his philosophical premises are not just different, but he's a very different sort of man.

    So although I think Dagny is the most important character in the novel — technically, the "main character", or the "protagonist" — I think Rearden is the most interesting character, and the one whose inner conflicts are most fully worked out.
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  • Posted by Hiraghm 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    LOL... did you see ASP2? The woman was hardly "waif-like". I didn't say she wasn't a small woman.
    But she definitely had meat on her bones.
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  • Posted by EconomicFreedom 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    >a women can be good looking have brains and be a bit steely.

    I don't know what you're talking about. Regarding the casting for Dagny, I criticized the 3 iterations of almost identical-looking blonde, frail, and wispy women (I also threw in frail). Nothing wrong with being attractive.

    For my money, nothing said "attractive", "ballsy", "steely", and "classy" better than Barbara Stanwyck. Here's Dagny:

    http://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Stanwy...

    The hat might be a bit old-fashioned, but definitely keep that mink stole, honey!

    She had the kind of screen persona that allowed her convincingly to melt in front of a guy that turned her on, as well as to say, "Oh, go eff yourself!" to one who got in her way. There could be fireworks between her and Rearden, and mortar fire between her and her brother James.

    There's a very interesting early movie with Stanwyck playing an ultra-successful and aggressive businesswoman called "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers". She's manipulated at a young age into marrying a wealthy, but weak-willed, scion of a social-climbing family (very ably played by a very young Kirk Douglas — in fact, it might have been his first major role). It's a completely different kind of story from Atlas, but you'll see the sort of range Stanwyck had, especially when playing a successful, powerful woman.

    Luckily, it's free to watch on YouTube. See link:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38dHmVqJ...
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  • Posted by freedomforall 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I agree, there are some challenges to presenting Rand's fiction today (and also in mid 20th century.) However, I can still recommend the Fountainhead (movie). The essential ideas are there albeit somewhat melodramatic. It also was pretty well cast with actors who could bring people into the theatre. I haven't seen We, the Living, have you?
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  • Posted by rlewellen 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I watched Fountainhead for for the first time recently. Mind you, Ayn Rand was there.for that. I think there is a bit of rigidity in her characters. Economic Freedom pointed out earlier that the main characters except Rearden were two dimensional, that is an issue.
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  • Posted by Rozar 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Very well put.

    What about Dagny's inability to accept leaving the rest of the world to burn?
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  • Posted by freedomforall 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Quality results often cost more than mediocre results. The message in Atlas Shrugged deserves to be good quality. After watching AS1 I was inspired and hopeful that the ragged edges would be improved in AS2. AS2 was a great disappointment and based on experience I don't expect much better in AS3. Perhaps the next producers (in 20 years or more) will have deep enough pockets to do a job that Ayn Rand would admire.
    I can heartily recommend the book and the audio book, but not the movies.
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  • Posted by rlewellen 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The inside story is that when you hire actors for a sequel their salary goes way up.
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  • Posted by freedomforall 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Can't say I'd agree with superb, but certainly they did an admirable job and I doubt I'd have made these comments if those AS1 actors had made AS2 and were making AS3. Definitely the AS1 cast was significantly better (as was virtually everything) when compared to AS2. The clowns blew it by not contracting for that AS1 cast for the series. I don't know the inside details of those contracts, but experienced professionals would not have made those mistakes, and then continued to make the same errors again. While I admire Agliolaro for getting the movie made, the results on-screen have been disappointing.
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  • Posted by BradA 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Agreed. Not sure that I've given Rearden as much thought as you have, but you make a good point.
    Oddly, I think we get to see more character development with Cherryl Taggart than anyone else in the novel.
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  • Posted by rlewellen 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    See him working on stuff with his sleevless shirt, and his carmel hair shining in the sun? Then.... ok I loved hm since I was 5. I can hear him giving the John Galt speech. I think he may need to be a little more subdued to be like the book but I would surrender.
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  • Posted by BradA 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Thanks for correcting my construct. It is hard to be cogent and correct prior to my first cup of coffee. Cobwebs, rust, etc.
    But yes, I agree that a director, etc can take an inspired performance and destroy it with poor direction, editing, etc. Just like a mediocre engineer can take a ton of Reardon metal and produce garbage with it. It doesn't make the initial material any less valuable, it just wastes it. In commenting on the cast I was expressing hope that the director/producers will at least be given something inspired to work with.
    WRT ASP1 & 2, I think the results were obvious. Regardless, I did enjoy seeing (along with the 6 other audience members for Part 2) the attempt to bring the story to the screen. I don't know who's effort came up short for 1 & 2, but in looking at the experience of 3's cast, I think we've got an improved troupe of players.
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  • Posted by rlewellen 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Economic Freedom age may play a role there. I don't know your age, but if you have not worked with many women in charge especially attractive ones that might skew the perception that a women can be good looking have brains and be a bit steely.
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  • Posted by $ Abaco 11 years, 3 months ago
    This reminds me of something. When I was reading Atlas Shrugged several years ago I could really, REALLY relate to Rearden. As I was reading the book I had heard the rumor that a film might be in the works. I remember telling my wife how, on a whim, I thought I would send info to the producers about me and my desire to play Rearden. Then, soon after that, the rumor hit that Angelina Jolie had looked at the part of Dagny and I (jokingly) told my wife, "Now, I MUST play the part of Rearden!" haha...

    And, just last night I found myself in a Hank moment. I worked late at a client's house, closing a good deal. It wasn't too far from home (about a mile) so I walked home through the darkness. It was nice, and reminded me of Rearden's chosen commute.
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  • Posted by jghodgson 11 years, 3 months ago
    I agree with most that Frisco and Ragnar are miscast however, my greatest disappointment with parts one and two, especially part two, were the scripts. If they can finally get that right with part three a few miscastings won't matter. And PLEASE, no Hannity!!!
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  • Posted by rlewellen 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    There was nothing wrong with the first set of actors they were superb. The story requires alot of introduction and build to find John Galt.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I wouldn't be so hard on them. Making a quality movie with some of the aspects in AS is rather challenging. Steel factories, huge span bridges, railroads and trains, those are challenging things to film and make it look larger than life. All in all, I think they've done a credible job of presenting a series of 2 (and hopefully 3) movies that have remained remarkably faithful to the book.
    Would I have done things differently? Perhaps. I've come to look at the cast changes as a means of exemplifying that anyone could be any of these characters.
    The only thing that I will criticize is the change in the "permanent" location sets - Hank's office and plant and the offices of TT should have been kept the same.
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  • Posted by Vegasrenie 11 years, 3 months ago
    Two of the casting decisions, those of d'Anconia and Ragnar, are the worst. They are both too old for the part - didn't the casting person even read the book? They were supposed to be classmates of John Galt for crissakes! As it is, they are only slightly younger than the guy who's going to play Hugh Akston who was their college professor and a "dad" of sorts to John Galt! Really?!?

    It seems that Lew Temple - although not "pretty" as Ragnar was described in the book - is at least in the same age range. In addition, I still feel that in order to keep the right look for d'Anconia, someone such as Eduardo Verastegui would have been nearly perfect. Yes, he speaks with an accent, but who cares. He looks the part and isn't as far out of the age range as De Almeida. Who thought THAT was a good idea?!?

    I like the look of the new Dagny, but as someone else mentioned, Cheryl is way too pretty for someone who Jim married because she admired him and he felt sorry for her. The jewel of the casting decisions was Greg Germann as Jim Taggart. He plays smarmy well, and fits the part as an older brother. Now who (if anyone) is going to be Lillian Reardon? Still like the original casting for that.

    And for those who were wondering why Eddie Willers was a black man in the movie but not in the book - diversity at the time that the book was written was pretty much non-existent. That's not a reflection on Rand; it is what it is. So casting Eddie Willers as a minority was a stroke of genius in my opinion and reflected the more modern mindset.
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  • -1
    Posted by EconomicFreedom 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    >Sorry, but you just can't make a successful trilogy with 3 different casts.

    Of course not. But the producers can try to make some of their money back by marketing the DVDs exclusively to hard-core Objectivists who might purchase several copies of each installment. Then the producers might try to market t-shirts, coffee mugs, bobble-head dolls, action figures (with movable limbs), a board game, a video game, etc.

    So even when it fails at the box office and generates lots of negative reviews among critics, the producers can market the trilogy precisely based on that! For example, they could create a board game (instead of passing "Go" and collecting $200, you pass through "Galt's Gulch" and get an ounce of gold from Ragnar) and market it with slogans like, "The culture is too depraved, and audiences too irrational to have appreciated the great achievement of the AS trilogy! Play 'Going Galt' and escape to a modern-day Atlantis! Only $39.99." Etc.
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  • Posted by freedomforall 11 years, 3 months ago
    If only the casting people actually understood Rand's principles. Then they might have chosen the best actors for the job in the beginning.
    If only the producers had a clue about making movies, then they would have contracted with the original cast for the entire series, with an exit $$ paid to the actor if the producers absolutely had to replace them.
    These people are complete clowns.
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  • Posted by EconomicFreedom 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    >Not Rearden?

    Good question. I hesitated about Rearden because I think he's the most fleshed-out character in AS. From today's vantage point, of course, he comes across as just plain neurotic in some respects — e.g., his insane jealousy over Dagny's sexual past (c'mon, guy, of course she's slept around before you). Rand goes to great lengths to show his shortcomings and how they limit his success in certain areas of life, and also how he tries to deal with them as he becomes increasingly aware of them.

    So that's why I didn't include him.
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  • -1
    Posted by EconomicFreedom 11 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    >Would you be willing to list here those of Rand's characters whom you perceive as 2 dimensional caricatures

    Sure.

    John Galt
    Dagny Taggart
    James Taggart
    Francisco D'Anconia
    Wesley Mouch
    Eddie Willers
    Quentin Daniels
    The Wet Nurse
    All the evil characters in AS
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