Inevitably, in an author’s long journey of writing and revising, she starts to fantasize and casts actors for the movie version of her novel…you know, just in case Spielberg wants to buy up the movie rights.I don’t usually get pictures of actors or models for my characters because I never feel they quite fit, but from the beginning of Butterfly Swords, I had two candidates in mind for Ryam and Ai Li.
For Ryam, my top choice would be Ewan Macgregor. He’s got the perfect blue eyes, blond hair, and boyish grin.
He also looks good a little scruffed up, which is important for the part.
Plus from Star Wars, we know he’s good with a sword.
For Ai Li, and I kid you not, I always thought of Marjorie Liu. Everyone in Romancelandia knows she’s model-gorgeous.
I met her at a signing at my first RWA conference and I was struck by how captivating her eyes are. This was about a month before I started writing Butterfly Swords. Marjorie also carries herself with a thoughtful seriousness about her, which fits the role perfectly.
Ai Li’s family is mixed with Central Asian heritage through her father’s side, which is why she has hazel eyes. Of course, Ai Li is only nineteen, but it’s only in my head I can dial the actors back a couple of years…
I know Marjorie’s probably really busy with her bestselling books and graphic novels and video games. So if Marjorie won’t accept the role, my second choice would be Crystal Liu, who proved she can look good with twin swords in The Forbidden Kingdom.
I think the right director is actually more important. I’m down to Joss Whedon and Ang Lee. Joss has a proven reputation with kick-butt heroines after Buffy and he played with a little East meets West in Firefly. Ang Lee has romance cred with Sense and Sensibility. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon makes Lee a must-have for martial arts action. But then there was The Incredible Hulk movie…
Alright, so I have an even bigger imagination than I thought. *grins*
But I’m torn on the director. Who do you think would do the book justice?
Jeannie Lin writes historical romantic adventures set in Tang Dynasty China. Her short story, The Taming of Mei Lin from Harlequin Historical Undone is available September 1. Her award-winning debut novel, Butterfly Swords, was released October 1, also from Harlequin Historical. Join the launch celebration at http://www.butterfly-swords.com/ for giveaways and special features. Visit Jeannie online at: http://www.jeannielin.com/
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Thanks Vixens for having me over again. My sister has cast a vote for Joss Whedon, btw.
Love the cast, Jeannie! I always pick out who I think the characters look like, before I'm even a quarter of the way through the book. Always have. Sometimes I can't find the 'perfect' actor, but I'll find a painting that I think is identical to what I pictured my characters looking like!
Congrats on your release! It's next up in my reading, and I'm very excited about it!
Welcome back to the Dark Walk! I think, by the way, you could star in your own movie---you're just lovely (still thinking about you in costume at that crack-of-dawn seminar at RWA).
I'm not really up to speed on Hollywood, but Ewan M. is such an interesting actor. Loved him in Moulin Rouge.
Congratulations on your well-deserved success!
Oooh, Jos would be perfect!
Thanks for visiting Jeannie and congrats on your release.
I try never to fit famous faces to my characters (at least while I'm writing) because I want them to feel wholly unique--but afterward I'll go out and do a search and come up with a picture or tw that will do them justice :)
@Tiffany - How awesome! It would be cool to match the painting and your cover up side by side to see how "close" they are.
I hope you enjoy the book.
@Maggie - Thanks for saying that! I do get asked by booksellers when I go to hand out my bookmarks whether I modeled for the cover, but that's just because the picture is teeny-tiny on the bookmark.
@J.K. Like you, I never pick a picture while I'm writing. Nothing ever fits perfectly. Joss seems to be in the lead. My sister is a huge Firefly fan (as am I) which gave him the edge in her eyes.
Nice picks on the casting!! I can see them all in the roles...and I hope Marjorie Liu isn't too busy when the call from Hollywood comes.
I vote for Ang Lee, just because everything he does looks so beautiful. As for a director, I'd vote for Edward Zwick. He did Glory and The Last Samurai--which granted doesn't feature kick-butt heroines, but I don't think he'd shy away from them--I just like how beautiful his settings are but how great the action is. Which I think is what you're going for.
I recommended your book to a friend (and she's been able to read it before me) and she said she loved it. She said the conflict with the cultural differences between the hero and heroine were spot on and reminded her of her husband and her when they first met. "But without the swords and the war, of course," she added.
I want to add I realize Ang Lee and Edward are BOTH directors. I didn't edit before I posted to see if I made sense...and it's still early for me. Yeesh.
But if we're only picking from one of the two directors, I pick Ang. If I get to throw my own director into the mix, I pick Eddie.
There. I'm going back to my caffeinated drink now. Congrats Jeannie Lin!
@MsHellion - I'm glad your friend enjoyed Butterfly Swords and especially the multi-cultural relationship. Without being too much of a Mary Sue, it was hard to keep echoes of my own relationship out of it. Again, without the swords and the war. :)
I did love Glory and didn't realize he directed the Last Samurai as well. I really liked that movie as well. I might have to throw Edward Zwick into the mix. ;)
Thanks so much for guest blogging again with us, Jeannie!
I love the casting choices. I like the idea of Ang Lee as a director--he tells beautiful stories with his films. But Joss would be awesome, too. I can't decide! lol
Jeannie, I really loved BUTTERFLY SWORDS. It was so amazing, and you've become an auto-buy author for me.
Congrats on the release. Love the cast that you picked. I keep hearing great things about this book so I can't wait to read it.
@Elyssa I'm so glad you enjoyed the book! I think Ang Lee tells such a great romantic story in addition to being able to capture the historical feel of a period.
@Danielle - I'm so surprised and thrilled by the mentions the book is getting. I hope you enjoy the read. :)
I like Ewan, but I think I had imagined someone like Matt Damon for Ryam. I wouldn't change a thing about your female casting and I'd go for Joss. He's so good with young female heroines.
Hi Victoria!
I definitely wouldn't turn down Matt Damon. He's got that disarming smile and has shown that he can kick ass in the Bourne movies.
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