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Author
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Topic: Who Should Play Neil Armstrong?
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collshubby
Member Posts: 591
From: Madisonville, Louisiana
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted March 12, 2003 06:25 PM
   
Hello all.I make reference to the article on the homepage about the movie that will be made about Neil Armstrong's life (http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-013003b.html#12)... Which actor do you think should play Neil Armstrong? Or some of the other NASA astronauts/officials that will be featured? ------------------
Brian Peter
astronautbrian@hotmail.com [This message has been edited by collshubby (edited March 12, 2003).] |
STEVE SMITH
Member Posts: 462
From: WICHITA, KANSAS, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted March 12, 2003 08:38 PM
Tom Hanks |
Joe Davies
Member Posts: 258
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted March 12, 2003 08:52 PM
Has to be Ed Harris.
Ed Harris IS John Glenn.
Ed Harris IS Gene Krantz.
So why not Armstrong also.
And he looks a bit like him.
Or Michael Caine, he'd be good, or Sean Connery.
But of course it will be Hanks. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted March 12, 2003 09:07 PM
Actually, wouldn't it be cool if Hanks made a cameo as Lovell? I think so... |
uzzi69
Member Posts: 181
From: Richmond, IN USA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted March 12, 2003 09:42 PM
Hanks making a cameo appearance as Lovell would be great. As far as Armstrong goes, for this movie to be an all out blockbuster my vote goes to Bruce Willis!!!Regards, Bill uzzi69 |
Rob Sumowski
Member Posts: 451
From: Macon, Georgia
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted March 12, 2003 10:32 PM
Remember, Neil was something like 38 when he walked on the moon...It may end up being someone younger than these...maybe even an unknown actor. This is a left field guess, but Billy Baldwin looks a little like Neil... |
Ed Krutulis
Member Posts: 145
From: Plainfield, IL USA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted March 12, 2003 10:40 PM
My toughts would be someone like Ben Aflick or Matt Damon.Cameos are great, but Hollywood likes a big name to bring in the $$$$$$$ Ed |
Rob Sumowski
Member Posts: 451
From: Macon, Georgia
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted March 12, 2003 10:57 PM
Ed:
I think you got it. Matt Damon would be an excellent choice...and also looks similar to the younger Neil... |
BrianB
Member Posts: 77
From: Kamloops BC Canada
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted March 12, 2003 11:05 PM
I think it should be me!  |
scout706
Member Posts: 164
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Registered: May 2002
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posted March 12, 2003 11:51 PM
What about the actor that played Neil on "From the Earth to the Moon" Already has the experience!!!!Tom |
Paul
Member Posts: 201
From: Duluth,Ga.
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted March 12, 2003 11:56 PM
Jim Carrey! |
Ben
Member Posts: 1753
From: Daytona Beach, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted March 13, 2003 12:15 AM
I'm not sure who I would pick for the role. But as great an actor and fitting a role it would be for Hanks, I don't think that would be a great idea.Hanks is established as Lovell from Apollo 13; playing another astronaut in a similar movie would not seem right. On the other hand, Ed Harris could play Kranz again! |
David Stephenson
Member Posts: 225
From: England
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted March 13, 2003 02:48 AM
How about an unknown actor?Maybe ask Neil Armstrong his thoughts on a choice. |
Matt T
Member Posts: 1166
From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
Registered: May 2001
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posted March 13, 2003 03:51 AM
How about a computer generated Armstrong, Gollum-style? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 1222
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted March 13, 2003 08:00 AM
Matt Damon for me as good a choice as any. The subject of Armstrong signing anything these days has been discussed to death numerous times. But a book tour is the norm these days. Has anyone actually ask Neil, or his assistant about the possibility? ie. one book per person, personalized and actually in person....? We can but live in hope.Regards, Rick. |
BobbyA
Member Posts: 134
From: Northern Virginia
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted March 13, 2003 09:53 AM
I think Chris Iassac could be Dave Scott, they look alot alike, even though Iassac played Ed White in "From the Earth to the Moon." |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1238
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted March 13, 2003 10:35 AM
Toby Maguire......if you can get him out of the Spiderman suit.. |
Gordon Reade
Member Posts: 314
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted March 13, 2003 12:30 PM
I think it should be Tom Cruse. |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 536
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted March 13, 2003 12:54 PM
I don't care who plays Armstrong as long as it's NOT Bruce Willis! Please! Might as well be Pee Wee Herman! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted March 13, 2003 12:59 PM
I wouldn't be too hard on Bruce Willis. Have you seen "12 Monkeys" or "Sixth Sense"? I thought both films demonstrated his range as an actor. |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 609
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted March 13, 2003 01:37 PM
Neil should be played by not too well known an actor.
Those quoted here are too well known to be
believed to be Neil. Neil's too private a person to be Bruce, Tom, etc..... |
OPOS
Member Posts: 184
From: Inverness, FL
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted March 13, 2003 02:10 PM
I have to agree w/ Robert. Although I am not sure I would pick Willis for Armstrong, he definitly has shown his range with some projects over the past few years.I think I would go with Tony Goldwyn, he played him in FTETTM and he is unknown enough. I also felt that based on things I have read about Armstrong, Goldwyn was able to capture that soft-spoken yet intense character that Neil is. It will probably be Matt Damon....(if he's still popular by then....) Tom Edmonds |
Paul
Member Posts: 201
From: Duluth,Ga.
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted March 13, 2003 02:28 PM
Nix on Tom Cruse, also!
I'd have to have one of those throw-up bags
like they put behind the seats on an airliner!  Bruce Willis is too old looking to play a
young, 38 year old Armstrong, but he might
be able to pull it off! |
BarryLowe
New Member Posts: 4
From: Denver, Colorado, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted March 13, 2003 02:53 PM
I think Vigo Mortenson (not sure about the spelling, but he played Aragorn in the LOTR trilogy) could bring the right kind of intensity to the role. If you can't imagine him without the long hair, checkout CRIMSON TIDE where he played one of the sub's junior officers. |
Joe Davies
Member Posts: 258
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted March 13, 2003 05:03 PM
After due consideration, my vote is for Swarzenneger - "I'lllllll be baaaccckkkkk". |
mikepf
Member Posts: 227
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted March 13, 2003 05:05 PM
No Tom Cruise!!! I'd have to boycott the movie. I refuse to watch any of his movies since they made Mr Phelps the bad guy in MI1. No way, never happen. He'd probably have Neil leave Buzz on the moon and land the CM in Russia.
Mike |
Spacerelic
unregistered
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posted March 13, 2003 07:51 PM
Think about it....can't you just hear William Shatner saying "That's one small step..."
Ricky
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Ed Krutulis
Member Posts: 145
From: Plainfield, IL USA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted March 13, 2003 09:16 PM
Okay, I'll take one for the team.I volunteer. I'm Tan, Rested, Ready & 39. LOL Ed |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 536
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted March 14, 2003 08:38 AM
Robert,
Not only have I seen "12 Monkeys" and "Sixth Sense, " but I've seen some of it being filmed right here in Philadelphia. There have been so many Bruce Willis sightings in this town. He also did "Unbreakable" here as well. I always thought of him as this "Not-To-Be Taken Seriously" action star. Then I saw some of his post-film interviews and had a few in person run ins with him. I now think he is "Not-To-Be Taken Seriously Anytime" actor. He set space films back 50 years with Armegedeon. "You guys are NASA and this is the best you can come up with...?" |
spaceheaded
Member Posts: 96
From: MD
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted March 14, 2003 12:44 PM
Doesn't Neil have a couple of sons? I wonder if either could be given a crash course in acting, and play 'dad' reasonably well.On the other hand, the desire for fame and public attention probably doesn't run in the family. Bill |
Rodina
Member Posts: 835
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted March 14, 2003 03:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Cliff Lentz:
He set space films back 50 years with Armegedeon.
As bad as Armaggedon was, it made money. <i>a lot</i> of money. And if you want space/sci fi films to be made in Hollywood, you want to show that they can make money, because that makes the greedy heads in Hollywood more likely to fund space/sf movies in the future. Armaggedon's success helps that cause. |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 536
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted March 14, 2003 05:00 PM
My problem with Armaggedon is it made NASA look like bumbling idiots. We have thiese secret Space Shuttles that the public doesn't know about! Let's launch them at about the same time so their solid boosters can cross paths in flight! Let's get up this tremendous speed, but wit! We have to dock with Mir. Why? Obviously to blow it up somehow! I could go on and on nad probably will at a later date! There were some good actors in that movie. Of course there was Willis too! |
bruce
Member Posts: 702
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted March 14, 2003 05:18 PM
My daughter & I happened to watch "Spiderman" last night. Toby Maguire could definitly handle the "understated determination" quality of Armstrong's character. Plus he's got blue eyes (or the blue contact lenses anyway!). If the movie includes Neil's X-15 days, which it absolutely should, Maguire would be a great young Neil choice. Also, it's easier to "old them up" than to "young them down" in the movies.I love Robert's idea of having Hanks do a cameo as Lovell - genius! I'd still buy Ed Harris as Gene Kranz. I hope Clint is reading these posts! Best,
Bruce |
Gordon Reade
Member Posts: 314
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted March 14, 2003 10:28 PM
I'll stand by my chose of Tom Cruse to play Armstrong. And now to round out the cast.Buzz Aldrin......... Kevin Spacey Mike Collins...... Edward Furlong Deke Slayton.... Harrison Ford or maybe Mel Gibson Richard Nixon.... Danny DeVetto or perhaps Jabba the Hutt Spiro Agenw........ Mike Myers Jules Berman..... Pee Wee Herman or C-3PO William Proxmire.... Mini Me or R2-D2 Gene Kranz...... Himself. I saw him a few years ago and he might have put on a few more pounds but other then that looked pritty much the same. [This message has been edited by Gordon Reade (edited March 14, 2003).] |
Joe Davies
Member Posts: 258
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted March 14, 2003 10:44 PM
Good choices Gordon. here are some more:Armstrong: Aldrin Aldrin: Michael Caine Collins: Clint Eastwood Gene Krantz: Ed Harris (of course) Charlie Duke: Arnold Schwarzenneger Richard Nixon: A Pinnocchio puppet Miscelaneous Aliens etc: The Spice Girls, Bruce Willis, Kermit the Frog (at least he's green)
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Leon Ford
Member Posts: 246
From: Shreveport, LA, United States
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted March 14, 2003 11:17 PM
Just as long as Britney Spears is in it as one of the astronaut's wives, I'll be happy. Wasn't Joan Aldrin a blond?Leon |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 609
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted March 15, 2003 01:44 PM
Britney? SHAME on YOU !
Enough of Bruce Willis, that guy signs autographs Mickey Mouse,etc & some people
don't reccognize it till he's gone 2 secs later. You wouldn't see Neil that conceited.
Isn't this fantasy string getting too long?
|:\ |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted March 15, 2003 01:52 PM
Just curious, but how is Willis signing "Mickey Mouse" any different from Bill Anders signing in multiple styles just to toy with collectors? Even he once wrote in a letter (see "Relics of the Space Race" by Russ Still") can you tell which is is his "real" signature?Something to remember though: Hansen's book is about the life of Armstrong, not Apollo 11. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the mission in the film was limited to the same amount of time given to Apollo 1 in "Apollo 13". Its far more likely that Armstrong will need to be played by someone much younger than Willis, as most of the story is likely to focus on his pre-NASA (or at least, pre-Apollo) years. |
spaceheaded
Member Posts: 96
From: MD
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted March 15, 2003 09:14 PM
Robert, good point about a younger actor. Perhaps we'll see multiple actors playing various ages.If that's the case, we'll have to figure out who will play Neil the toddler, Neil the 3rd-grader, Neil the teenager, etc. Bill |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1167
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted November 18, 2006 02:05 PM
 Advantages of Christian Slater as NA: About the right age to play Apollo-era Armstrong. Was born in summer of 1969. Has space experience in Beyond The Stars, in which he plays "the teen-age Eric, son of a computer scientist who worked for the Apollo mission which sent the first human to the moon. Eric, determined to become an astronaut himself one day, befriends Paul Andrews, the first man on the moon. Paul is avoided by other astronauts nowadays, because he was very rude and rebuffing when he returned from space. Only slowly Eric learns, that he discovered something during his excursion on the moon, that he keeps as a secret." Also, he was in Star Trek VI. ------------------
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