‘Ender’s Game’ Movie Casting Finally Underway

I write this with some trepidation.

This level of progress has completely graduated from wistful speculation and noisy, inept youtube videos depicting personal casting choices for Ender (1999 Jake Lloyd) or Bean (1999 Haley Joel Osment). Giant Freakin Robot reports that as-of-late-curmudgeony Harrison Ford is up for the role of Graff after beating out Viggo Mortensen. This news comes two weeks after the announcement that Hugo’s blue-eyed protagonist was offered the role for Ender Wiggin.

I’m just blindsided by the fact that the Ender’s Game Movie is finally in production. I’ve been waiting since high school, but have muted my support because there’s no way any movie or actor could do the story justice– especially since a majority of the poignancy from the book stems from internal monologue or narration and tactical meditation. Some things just won’t translate well at all: the absolute violence and hardship, Peter’s manipulative cruelty, Alai’s close physical relationship, or Ender’s empathy for the buggers in the strange dreams / VR games.

This is the face of the Hollywood Ender. His name is Asa Butterfield and apparently he has a lot of talent. I think what is most striking is his icy blue gaze. Something about him is a bit more… ethnic than I pictured for the role of Ender. Everyone’s mental image of Ender is a little different, I suppose, but I will have to watch him closely in Hugo to see any inklings of a tormented, resolute and precocious savior. Acting can overcome pre-conceived notions. It would take a Harry Potter budget to make perfect casting choices, and I don’t think they have it, but I also refuse to make do with limited resources. Not that I have much say in the matter.