Regardless of philosophy I would select Daniel Day Lewis.

He needs to have read the book and understand it. Although this book brings a strong political message, it is also a mystery and a romance. I know people who are not into politics at all who loved it for those things. I read it in college and a lot of it went over my head but still loved it. Now decades later, I "get it". That said, he needs to be of course a really good actor but he is the hero of a romance - be sure he is good looking. If you attract viewers for the romance and the people story, the message will rub off.

B! There can be no other choice. Why not put out a casting call for conservative actors on the Gulch? You can bet we've got some folks in the community who would have the skillset required!

It doesn't matter if the actor playing John Galt possesses the deep understanding as long as the person chosen can portray the message (In it's entirety) of Altas Shrugged. This speech that Galt gives is epic and needs to be done right.

And respectfully, I think that every actor suggested by name so far in this thread is a little old for the role. Young, blond, full of quiet strength and confidence. I expect and would honestly prefer a no-name to any young Hollywood actor that comes to mind.

Pick a professional actor with good skills who looks the role and is willing to learn about Ayn Rand. The acting should carry the message rather than a professorial style.

I nominate Mel Gibson.

A. A good actor can make anything believable. However, he should be required to read the book and at least be oriented that way. No pinkos should be considered (e.g. Alec Baldwin).

It's always worrisome when those in charge of a movie seem to have no vision of their own for what they want to do and instead have to ask the audience for suggestions.

It's even more worrisome that there's no Option C: Hire an actor who can ACT, which will take care of any of the other concerns!

Good grief, but this is disappointing. I had high hopes for this movie. I even plowed through the book for the first time so I could be familiar with the material.

But wow, things just keep getting worse and worse!

A. Any good actor should be convincing in the part, but an understanding of the material is critical to deliver it well.

Both are important, but I could not stand John Galt being cast with someone who is known to harbor statist views, SO I will go with B. They don't need to be a pure Objectivist ... just avoid known collectivists.

B - I said this earlier: I'd watch the movie if it consisted of stick figures and amateurish cartoon props (trains, planes, etc.). For me the story is everything. And unlike most stories, there is no story at all if the philosophy is not communicated as the subtext. If you get the story right, you could get the most left-leaning loon - hell - I'd even watch Obama play John Galt if he could be directed to play it so that Ayn Rand's intent came shining through. This is so not about the actors or the production values.

Of course, that being said, I'd still prefer to have a movie with the production values of a James Bond flick and superb acting. I'm just specifying my priorities.

Jon Voight

"B" would be nice, but, since you're trying to reach the "Eddie Willers" types, I would say a younger version of Harrison Ford just might do the trick.

The actor must at least understand where Ayn Rand was coming from. How else can he understand where John Galt is coming from?

Now I'll say one thing at the outset: the actor need not answer to the physical description that Ayn Rand gave in the novel. Ayn Rand saw her ideal man as a classic Nordic type. That's why all the Triumvirs of Atlantis were blond and blue-eyed. (Even Francisco, who I gather had pure Old World blood and was *not* a typical "Latin.")

But whoever portrays John Galt must "carry" the story. He didn't have to "carry" the story in Part I or Part 2. Dagny Taggart and Henry Rearden carried the story then. This story is about Dagny Taggart and John Galt, and everyone needs to know it.

My biggest problem is this: I don't think we have any real acting talent in Hollywood today. Might as well pick a complete unknown.

All I can do is name the one actor who could have played John Galt best of all, had Atlas come out "in his time":

Clark Gable.

Daniel Day Lewis can become John Galt better than any other actor

I believe A. and B. are mutually exclusive choices if the actor is liberal/progressive. In order to act like John Galt, you must believe in the philosophy/values. A liberal thinking actor would not be able to make the audience believe if he does not also believe. The values are too deep rooted to fake. Not even the most accomplished liberal could pull it off convincingly and that would ruin the movie and the message.

B to a point! Understanding where Ayn is coming from is the key. If I were an actor, it would be me but alas I am not an actor! John Galt will have to be a lot to a lot of people. I hope who ever is picked is up to the task!

Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Wilkerson , Michael Kitchen, yet my first choice is Daniel Day Lewis

Well lets be practical here. We are not going to get an A List actor as the budget would not withstand the hit
Given that I think the thing that comes across the most in the film is the gravitas this person had whenever he talked or met anyone. This actor has to have a presence when he enters the room. Aside from that he has to be able to articulate the ideas that are at the core of this book and film.

Maybe is should be the dumbest liberal in Hollywood, like Sean Penn. Force him to read Atlas Shrugged and see if he gets even a little less stupid.

I lean toward A. Honestly, for the sake of a movie, the actor's chemistry and compatibility with the actress portraying Dagny would be my top priority. In understanding and embracing the Dagny/John Galt dynamic, the actor will be understanding and embracing the key concepts of Rand's work. Dagny and John's relationship is the ideal of objectivism in the interpersonal space. Show me an actor who can handle that, and I'll stand behind him as John Galt.

Benedict Cumberbatch has the look and the acting chops. A is more important. It's called Acting, after all.

What would Howard Roark do? I find it interesting to apply Ayn Rand's philosophy of the Arts to the production of AS. The ideas presented in The Fountainhead are directly applicable.

Jim Caviezel is also a good person to look at. I just think that Jon Voight truly understands the role more than anyone else. Yes he is up in years, but understanding the cahracter is more important than how old is he. Character age can be shifted to fit the actor.

Since he will be interviewed by many folks: B. The actor needs to possess a deep understanding of, and passion for, Ayn Rand's ideas first and foremost. He also needs to be young like Dagney.