Marian Cottilard? not sure of name or spelling....I believe she may be French, but her physical appearance works for me!

What do you think of Ms Kruger playing Dagny?

I don't think actors or actresses care at all about changing their hair color for a part. It's just what they do.

I know how they feel. I am about as blonde as you can get. I became a japanese noble for a production of the Mikado. So for several months I had black hair for 3 weeks of performances. Then I had a strange off blonde color for 6 months afterward as my hair grew and natural color returned. But if the next role had called for green hair I would have done so.
Dedicated actors go through such changes regularly.
For some reason the producers/director were satisfied with a blonde Dagny.

I wonder. I think when an actress is known for a certain look, she must be reluctant to change it. Though there are exceptions, like Charlize Theron drastically changing her appearance for Monster.

I believe she is a liberal too.

Well, if we are going to narrow the field down to actors and actresses who live the values of the characters in AS, we will have a very narrow list of people. But I see all of your points.

A good actor can play a role he/she doesn't believe in. I'll bet very few actors who play murderers are actually murderers.Also, Helen Mirren, a fine actress and ex-hippie played Ayn Rand in Barbara Branden's biography of her, and did a super job.

Jennifer Lawrence is a very big liberal and would in no way fit the character of Dagny...

Taylor Schilling would be the perfect Dagny, as she was in Part I, she took the part and built it into a perfect account from the actual book

Yes. In the book, Dagny's only 35. Francisco, Galt & Ragnar a few years older. Hank Reardon's the "old man" of the group at 45.

Bingo.

I agree.

Maybe we are not looking at this the same way. This is a tv show, so it doesn't need "A list box office draws" to get a good viewership. (The case where "A" list actors make financial sense is if they are so totally sold on Rand's philosophy that they want to do it as a financial partner, e.g., Charleton Heston's history of committment to conservative causes in the past.) I think of it being bought by new media streaming source like Netflix or Amazon, not any traditional tv or cable network. It does need convincing actors and professional production crew and writing. I think the crew and writers are at least as important as the actors. Badly written or poorly produced can't be saved by good acting, or by actors' popularity. There is a wealth of talent available, more today than ever before, and imo more of them are awake to the betrayal of both government and corporate powers than are the republican voters, for example. The screenplay should be updated using modern examples to emphasize the corruption aspect. Rand based on her experience with Russia emphasized corruption from government, but she didn't play up government-business axis of corruption to the extent it exists today and that should be more effectively contrasted with free markets and their benefits. Jim Taggart is not evil enough in comparison to today's banking cartel. imo there are many writers who would embrace Atlas Shrugged with a more updated depiction of the corruption of markets by centralized power in both government and business.

Spacey is a looting parasite and I would not want to dirty my project with him or his kind because he could wreck the production too easily. Its a large scale production that can't survive sabotage from within.

So... who then? Taylor Schilling for Dagny, she was a natural oin the part then, so she is now. Spacey as Mouch? If Wesley Mouch isn't someone you want to both exude that certain sliminess and be dynamic, then there ya go. Give me a set of A list box office draws who are outstanding actors AND are, as you say, thinking... People who both can breathe life into a script and when you see their name, you can think of a handful (or more) of films that were box office successes that you went at least "WOW" about, and meet your criteria of "thinking man" (or person).

Because unless you can floor people - NOT the people on this list, but John and Jane Sheeple, and keep them coming back over and over for at least 4 (and hopefully more) seasons - Or have that person who nails it SO completely they see him on a poster and think "HE is John Galt", you're not getting the message OUT THERE, you're singing to the choir in a corner concrete church. And investors are going to look at this series with AMAZING potential, say "Meh", shake their head, and fund something that will make them TONS of money with great writing, big name stars, and amazing directing, regardless of who they voted for...

If you want to build a statue - a monument - to sit in a courtyard, that's one thing, people will look at it and say "that's nice" and move on... What this story needs is someone who will build a Petronas tower, have it occupied at 98%, and have people look at it and remember it... and tell their friends, grandkids, and coworkers not just how flipping AMAZING it is, but get them wanting to live there, work there, and be a part of it.

You may not like Spacey or Wright, but they made HoC a memorable franchise that, for a while, wasn't about to die.

JLaw can play any part and look great while doing it. She specializes in strong female protagonists.

Robin Wright could play the part very well. However I like January Jones. JJ could rock a Dagney!

We have the complete "Avenger" DVD set. Watched it live when it was on TV back when. Rigg played Emma Peel with class, intelligence and subdued sex appeal. She was a super role model for women who could do it all and still get along with men. My husband still has an Emma sweat shirt that draws compliments every time he wears it. Emma was not dependent or clingy, yet she was not brittle and bitchy, which is what we see today as choices.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like the typical Liberal...do as I say, not as I do. I agree, she would make a mockery of AS.

Love him. He gets his digs in at political correctness every so often on "Castle". He is Canadian, so not of the US politics. Stana Katic is no slouch either, she is smart college educated in ilaw and finance, and can be gritty. She at least would understand the subject, unlike Jolie, who just wants the part. Did anyone ntice the reference to "Atlas Shrugged" on "Last Man Standing" this week? Go, Tim Allen!

Never. Anyone who knows her involvement in liberal causes could not stomach her. She and Brad are all for The UN taking over Frank Lloyd Wright's "Fallingwater" as a Heritage Site. Her whole rainbow children thing, her do as I say, and i will live like a queen, screw the environment, that is for peasants to preserve, is way too much like a politician.The role needs not just a talented actress, but one who reflects the character of Dagny.

No, never Joelie, liberal as they come. She would love the strong character to play, but she is the darling of the United Nations. She and Brad called for telling people how to carpool and save energy, yet flew in jets to their island retreat just for their caviar! I could not stand to watch such a person make a mockery of AS!

in the absence of Katharine Hepburn, I would ask
Alex Webb -- you know, our Alex Webb -- first! -- j
.

I used to think (a long time ago) that Ingrid Berg-
man should play Dagny Taggart, Gregory Peck
should play Hank Rearden, and Larry Linville
should play James Taggart. But at least two of
those individuals are dead now, and even if Ingrid
Bergman is alive now, she'd be too old.

Wait long enough and someone will suggest Kaitlyn Jenner. Ouch!!!

I loved Taylor Schilling, in Part I, but I'm prejudiced. Besides, I don't watch enough TV to know who else is out there, anyway.