Paul Malmont's "The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown"

Paul Malmont is the author of The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown, out this month from Simon & Schuster.

Here he suggests some possible directors and actors for an adaptation of the new novel:

Any discussion about the casting of my novel, The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown, has to start with the director.

Steven Spielberg. No one does WW2, light and dark, better than the master. Plus, who better to tell the origin story of the genre that has been so rewarding to him?

Francis Ford Coppola. This guy invented the modern ensemble period epic. For all its scope, Amazing is really a character piece, so I think this would be a natural fit for him.

Paul Thomas Anderson. The contemporary master of ensemble pieces and multi-layered story-telling. The guy can open up a moment on film like nobody else.

Duncan Jones. Did you see Moon?

Christopher Nolan. Why not?

And now to the cast. The fun thing about casting it, is that it’s a big cast with lots of juicy roles for hot, young talent.

Robert Heinlein: A terrific leading man who would be amazing in this role is Lee Pace. Great in Pushing Daisies. Even greater in The Fall. Michael Fassbender from X-Men, has the dark energy needed to pull off this complicated role of the brilliant leader. In a somewhat different vein, so does Leonardo DiCaprio.

Isaac Asimov: Daniel Radcliffe. He’s young, earnest and intelligent. Plus a little naïve-looking.

L. Ron Hubbard: Seth Rogan or Chris Pine, both work different sides of swagger and charm.

L. Sprague de Camp: Aaron Johnson or Ben Barnes both have the touch of patrician New York society about them.

Virginia Gerstenfeld: Anne Hathaway or Olivia Wilde have the intelligence and style to pull off the 40’s patter and clothes.

Catherine de Camp: Evan Rachel Wood. She does debauched style with wit and grace. Perfect.

Gertrude Asimov: Kat Dennings or Kristen Stewart. Young, earthy and sly. The perfect foil for Isaac’s naiveté.

When it comes to some of the other members of the story, I have to go back to my dream cast for The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril in which they first appear and own center stage:

Walter Gibson. I’d love to have Michael J. Fox cured and suited up for this part. Matthew Broderick, would be great, too. If he’s still acting. But, I’d be happy if Sam Rockwell gears up for it, plus he’s worked with Duncan Jones (hint, Duncan, hint). I wanted Robert Downey Jr. for this pre-Iron Man. Still do.

Lester Dent. Matthew Fox or Aaron Eckhart. The stoic, charming center of the story. Lee Pace, if DiCaprio takes the role of Heinlein from him.

Norma Dent. Heather Graham. Too often stuck playing goofball—I think she’d be a terrific 30’s-40’s adventuress.

Before I close out, I’d like to make the point that The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril and The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown would make an incredible TV-series, as much as I’d love to see it on a theater screen. Think of it as Mad Men with pulp mags instead of advertising. You’re welcome, Hollywood!

Learn more about the book and author at Paul Malmont's website, blog, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

The Page 69 Test: Paul Malmont's Jack London in Paradise.

--Marshal Zeringue