Sorry if you're done with these types of asks, I couldn't quite remember if you were still open to them but I thought about your posts about the lis1 show casting and did some journeying and seeing what the most popularish common fancasts for the characters were and then looked at the actual cast and came to the conclusion that they were indeed better because it felt original and refreshing.
Like the fundamental prob with fancasting is that they go by appearance first and it all eventually all feels so typical and cookie-cutter. It felt like one billion people were all fancasting Sophie Lilis, Sophie Thatcher, Austin Abrams, Emma Myers, Emma Roberts, Wyatt Oleff and whatever else over and over. Its just really repetitive and so bland yknow like people cant name any more actors they know. Like people only know 5 actors nowadays, so Im glad at the actors we got. The casting directors did their job and thats what matters.
I am still taking these type of asks, no worries. And yes, I agree (and talked about it more here), because a lot of the arguments for the fancasts didn't hold a lot of weight and the counterarguments against the final cast often dip into prejudiced thinking.
"Emma Myers should be Max because she said it's a dream role and she's a fan of the game!" = Nope, the actual quote from the Seventeen article was "Another dream role? Max fromĀ Life Is StrangeĀ or Edith fromĀ What Remains of Edith Finch, both favorite video games of Emmaās. 'I heard rumors that they were doing aĀ Life Is StrangeĀ adaptation,ā she says. āI donāt know if thatās actually true, but it would be really fun.Ā What Remains of Edith FinchĀ is so good, though I donāt know if there would be a need for a lead actor. But who knows?'" The author of the article called it a dream role, not Emma herself. She also cosplayed as Spider Gwen a few years ago and everybody was clamoring for her to be Gwen, which shows that her enthusiasm wasn't that serious. And now Faly is out here posting Tiktoks with Warren quotes in the description, a self-proclaimed fan who's played the game three times, and you don't want him because he's Black? Alright then.
"Sophie Thatcher/Devon Ross should be Chloe! Maisy is too short!" = Why are we nitpicking women's bodies and comparing them to a fictional character made in a game engine? Chloe's height is far from the most defining feature of hers. What about her blue hair and her sleeve tattoo, which can be easily done by the hair/makeup team? What about her snark, her anger and hurt, her loyalty and love under the attitude, which Maisy likely conveyed in her audition? What about her chemistry with Max, which is probably what cinched the role for Maisy above the other finalists? People likely jumped to Sophie because she plays a similar character in Yellowjackets, but realistically, an actress like Sophie wouldn't take on that type of role again because she would want to show off her range. Also, she's turning 26 this year. Let other, newer actors prove their range and ability to play a character type.
"Kristine Froseth should be Rachel!" = She's THIRTY. "Austin Abrams should be Nathan!" = He's 29, and Billy Barratt is the right age (the youngest of the cast at 19), proved to be a phenomenal actor in Bring Her Back, and has won an Emmy. "Wyatt Oleff should be Warren!" = Like Sophie Thatcher (and Sophia Lillis, another common fancast for Max), he already played the same type of character in I Am Not Okay With This and would want to branch out.
Other arguments I've seen are "If this actor is cast, it'll generate interest!" The IP itself has already generated interest. And the reactions across social media and even my own posts prove that Leisha Hailey, Emily Carey, Esther McGregor, Maisy Stella, Tom Cullen, Owen Teague, and Billy Barratt (and even Charlie Covell and Karyn Kusama on the directing side) have their own fans who are really excited to see them join LiS. It doesn't have to only be Emma Myers or Sophie Thatcher with that pull.
These fans clamoring for actors who look like the characters over their acting talent don't realize that casting directors have never worked with that philosophy. They watch their audition tapes and see what the actors look like in motion. How do they interpret the script? How do they stand, move, emote? How do they react to their scene partner? When they're not speaking, how do they act with only their body language? Then, they put the actors in chemistry reads to see how they gel with others. Shows like Heated Rivalry and Heartstopper proved what actors who are unknown but have insane chemistry can pull off. It really makes me wish that these articles could include five seconds of the actors' audition tapes to show fans what they got, or at least a clip of them acting, instead of a static headshot that people nitpick to death.
I think most of all, I'm excited about unknown actors because I won't associate them with any other character. If Hannah does more voicework, I'll always hear Max. No matter how many characters Ashly Burch has done, she'll always sound like Chloe to me, like how Ashley Johnson forever sounds like Ellie. Life is Strange has always embraced its indie spirit and cast unknown actors. It would feel off if they went full A-lister Hollywood. Plus, they don't have that kind of budget. To me, Tatum and Maisy are live action Max and Chloe, and I'm thrilled about that.
