There is a fine line between being a conservative and being a liberal. Not much difference between the two.

Nathan Fillion (aka Captain Mal from the Firefly series on TV and subsequent movie, Serenity).

Firefly has a cult following, and the series/movie is very libertarian (despite being produced by Joss Whedon who is a flaming liberal).

Nathan Fillion would be a great choice for John Galt. His portrayal of Captain Mal in Firefly was tremendous, and is very similar to John Galt.

Plus he has that perfect stone face of "I know you think that, but thinking doesn't make it true... {...you idiot}"

AND, he's not too big an actor that he would just shrug this off

Please stop changing actors period. Other than wandering occasionally from the book, which all movies must do, the greatest failing of the movies is the lack of continuity of main actors. It is confusing to the audience and the uneducated viewer (those who haven't read the book) spend 1/3 or more of the movie digesting the change and missing the message.

B. I would hope the actor understood and embraced Rand's ideas. We don't really know what John Galt "looks" like but the book clearly spells out how he thinks and acts - and, in my opinion, that is what counts. If you must pick someone from the Hollywood list, please be sure they are not a Progressive, Liberal, Obama backer! I would also like to have all of Galt's speech somehow included in movie 3.

You haven't read the book?!?!?!?! Stop whatever you are doing and READ THE BOOK. It will rock your world.

Please keep in mind that Ayn Rand was not politically or socially conservative. She was much closer to libertarian.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568180/bio
Neal McDonough
The look, the acting chops, the understanding, the political understanding and the grit. And people remember him from Flags of our Fathers, Band of Brothers.

oh yes, Cate Blanchett would be fabulouse as Dagny!!!

DeCaprio is a decent actor, but he is NOT John Galt. I doubt I would see the move if he were cast.

In that case, Mr Jackman DOES understand Rand. Rand would support his work to pursue what he wants. Why do you think the actor who plays Galt needs to be American? Rand's philosophy is global.

Not bad.

Snort

Wow! Great story about your intro to Ayn Rand/ Atlas Shrugged! True about the mirror.

Hi, rudminjd,
Thanks. In Part 3, Galt will give his speech, so he won't be a humble apologist, but his matter-of-fact style will have to be portrayed by the actor. Galt's cool in his composure and delivery, and I know what you meant about blending in.

Very true.

I wouldn't be so sure. This little thread generated over 600 comments in a 24 hour period and more than that are lurking just reading what other people think. Hollywood is full of of people who can ACT, DIRECT and WRITE compelling drama. But they aren't exactly doing knock out business. Most of the big money is still coming from comic books. I don't think taping into a city of copy catters will get the job done.

For an independent film, which is what this AS3 is, they have a lot of buzz interest, which is seen in these comments.

Glenn Beck would do it in a second, but he's too "boyish" for the part.

LOL

You know I've thought about this and from a marketing standpoint I really think a name like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, or Shawn Hannity would be a way to go. They believe in Atlas Shrugged, they would plug the hell out it on their shows, AND have the lame street press up in arms which would be another marketing win.

I purchased "Atlas" in the fall of 1960 in anticipation of a long and boring train ride from Pasadena, CA to Flagstaff, AZ.

It was the thickest paperback on the rack and I had no idea how Ayn Rand was poised to direct my life.

In the following three months I continued reading, while attending class at America's most Liberal private boarding school in Sedona, AZ.

Four years later, I graduated from Verde Valley School at a total cost of $50,000 and having read all of Ayn Rand that I could find.

Forty years later I left Wall Street. Not as a Broker, but as a Coder and I’d proven to myself that Rand was right.

Today, I’m too old to play John Galt, though I chat with him every day.
Probably why I’m so “off the radar”.

Want to find a great “John Galt”?
Look in the mirror.

An actor can act like his costume fits even when it doesn't. An actor can't act as Galt if he doesn't have and understanding of and sympathy for who Galt is.
I agree completely with your last sentence, but not with your idea of what "perfect for this role" actually is.

Gary Cooper didn't understand the lines he was speaking in Fountainhead - you think he'd get AS? hmmph.

Did you just describe Scooby Doo 2?

Ahh, I have an idea.. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. They are out conservatives, and they could probably handle the roles. They do a reasonable job of looking the part, while not being too old and I suspect they have a reasonable understanding of the material. But, please keep Mr Thompson cast with Ray Wise, he will eat the role up.

Leonardo Decaorio Has nailed every part he has played, Howard Hughes, J Edgar, character in Blood Diamond, he could absolutely take this role and make it his own.