Wow! I can't believe I missed this thread! I definitely have some ideas for the production and casting of a CT movie. (This post is partially copied from a PM I sent awhile back on this very subject, with a few changes.)
One, it must be a combination of live-action and CG. An all anime project wouldn't be taken very seriously, and the typical anime voice talent would be used if they went that route. Instant fail. Don't even consider anime. Please...
Two, I envision a four-part film series - at least if you want to do it right and try and resolve Chrono Cross' ambiguous ending. It could be done in three, but only by sacrificing a lot of potential.
And now to the casting. I've scanned this entire thread, and I'm astonished at what names
haven't been mentioned. Obviously, Crono, Marle, and Lucca are the most important members of the cast, as they would have prominent roles in all four films (though Crono would be dead for most of episode III). And those three should be played by:
Crono Lantree:
Zac Efronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zac_EfronI have always pictured Crono (that last name is one of my own making) as something of a troublemaker, and something about Zac's mischivious grin just screams Crono. Crono is a character with attitude. That quality must outweigh all other considerations - aside from the essential chemistry he must have with Marle and Lucca. Zac is also very popular right now, so casting him in the lead would garner instant notice. Note in the personal life section of his wiki that he's a fan of manga and Dragonball Z, so the odds of him accepting this role are quite high. It would also give him a chance to demonstrate his talent in a unique way. Crono is a blank slate, so Zac can portray him pretty much however he wants - script allowing.
Princess Nadia "Marle" Guardia:
Hayden Panettiere http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayden_PanettiereHow could anyone have missed a choice this obvious? It falls into the category of "No, DUH!" She's practically a Marle lookalike. It's the part Hayden was born to play. She has some experience under her belt now, so I think Hayden has enough depth to bring Marle to life. Hayden has also attended sci-fi conventions, so she probably has at least a passing knowledge of Chrono Trigger. She wouldn't turn down a chance to be in a four-installment film franchise post-Heroes. That's an impressive thing to have on your resume'.
Lucca Ashtear:
Nicki Clynehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicki_ClyneBig names do not always translate into success. Sometimes you have to take a chance on someone who is less well known who just happens to fit into her role perfectly. The perfect Lucca, as of this writing, is clearly Nicki Clyne. In any live-action adaptation of CT, Lucca is the most difficult character to get right. Just finding a person that looks the part is hard enough. Finding an actress that can evolve as her characer does is even harder. And Lucca evolves quite a bit - starting as a witty sidekick and growing into someone who could possibly be considered the series protagonist after Crono exits the stage. If the series intends to address Chrono Cross and its aftermath in some fashion, then Lucca's importance cannot be understated. Nicki's role on Battlestar Galactica was initially minor, but she became a recurring character throughout the show's four-season run. That doesn't happen unless you have some talent. At 26, Clyne would be the oldest of the three leads (Zac is 22 and Hayden is 20), so a production would have to start very soon for her casting to be practical. But there is zero chance she would turn down the role. It would be the biggest thing she's ever done. For those of you with doubts, here's a recent video of her at a sci-fi convention:
http://www.vidgle.com/podcast/2009/04/18/con-goer-i-con-28-2009-press-conference-nicki-clyne-and-sala-baker/ Put some glasses on her, and the likeness would be almost scary. Purple hair could be done in post-production - important because I envision that as a story element.
With strong leads, you have some options for the supporting cast. Due to the nature of the supporting characters, three out of the four will probably be CG creations - so great voices are a must. Here are my top choices:
Frog/Glenn:
Patrick Stewart or
Liam Neeson (V.O.)
Unlike the three leads, Glenn, by necessity, will be a CG creation, so there is some flexibility to casting him. But if Glenn speaks in archaic English - as he should, frankly - than he should be voiced by a Shakespearian actor that knows how. Glenn's age is indeterminate in his amphibian guise, but he is an experienced warrior and veteran soldier who speaks with authority. His voice needs to reflect that as well as the profound pain he carries. Both Stewart and Neeson have the depth to pull that off. It's simply a question of preference. Picard or Qui-Gon?
Robo/Prometheus:
Hugo Weaving (V.O.)
Let's forget that he voices Megatron in Transformers. He's far more memorable as Agent Smith, Elrond, and V. Robo is a challenging voice role because his voice should evolve subtly from one film to the next. In Episode I, when he is first found, he should speak with very little inflection - being a robot with no real memory of what he was. As the series continues, his inflections should grow as he spends more time around humans. By Episode IV, his voice should be almost indistinguishable from a human's. Weaving is qualified, and I can't really picture anyone else voicing Robo. Since he already voices a robot in Transformers, Weaving might be reluctant to voice another - though Robo is a much deeper role than Megatron. It's unknown if there will be any more Transformers films, but a third seems likely, so there may be commitment issues for Weaving.
Ayla:
Uma Thurman (probably V.O.)
For those of you that have seen Avatar, you know that some pretty amazing things can be done with computer animation now. I just can't see Ayla being handled in any other way. Her martial skills are such that it would look less than convincing if performed by a live actress - even Uma, who has no small amount of experience kicking ass on-screen. Uma is the name that most comes to mind when I think of Ayla, though there is some flexibility in casting her. I envision Ayla as being somewhat older than the leads, so an older actress would suit the part best.
Magus/Janus Zeal:
Zachary QuintoLet's face it, Magus will be hard for anyone to pull off. He is a terrible adversary, yet not exactly evil. Magus is a tragic character that requires a great deal of subtlety from the actor portraying him to show that he hasn't fallen completely to the dark side. Everything he has done has been in the hopes of reuniting with his sister and taking revenge on the being that destroyed his life. We all know Zachary Quinto can play a dark part. Sylar is deliciously evil. We also know he can be subtle. Spock has to be. There's no question in my mind that he's the perfect Magus. The only real question is if he'll be available. With commitments to Heroes and Star Trek, signing him to a multi-film deal presents a huge challenge.
And some of the rest of the cast:
Melchior:
Ian Holm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_HolmBelthazar:
Ian McKellan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_McKellenGaspar:
Christopher Lee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_LeeGlad I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Empress Zeal:
Sandra Bullock http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_BullockPrincess Schala Zeal:
Ellen Page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_PageGeneral Dalton:
Jim Carrey or
Johnny DeppBeing one of the main villains of the series, this supporting role might get the attention of either Carrey or Depp. Their comic backgrounds would be a great asset to the character.
Taban Ashtear:
Mark Harmonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_HarmonOriginally thought of Christopher Lloyd, then realized he was too old for the part. Intrestingly, Harmon has a background in carpentry, making him a good choice to play the elder Ashtear.
Lara Ashtear:
Kate Mulgrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_MulgrewThis list is far from complete, but I think I've addressed the most important characters. Now we can all weep from the knowledge that this movie will probably never become reality, even if the perfect cast exists at this moment.
(sorry for the colossal post guys)
