Dream Casting: Old Man's War

John Scalzi is another of my new favorite authors; think Robert Heinlein with a large dose of humor. Old Man's War has the potential to be a great movie. Its driven by the characters and doesn't get bogged down by the science. Not to mention the characters are very likable and would translate well to the big screen. My biggest concern is that most of the characters have light green skin and are about 20 years old. Their bodies are enhanced and do not age. I'm not sure how almost a full cast of green people would be accepted by an audience. I would make the skin tone very subtle, so that it would be easier to get used to. Also, the beginning of the novel (and thus, the movie) the actors would need to portray 75 year olds, so special effects like those used on Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button would need to be used. After their new bodies are introduced (which are nearly perfect; every man has a washboard stomach and every woman is stunningly beautiful) they will shed the special effects.

"With his wife dead and buried, and life nearly over at 75, John Perry takes the only logical course of action left him: he joins the army. Now better known as the Colonial Defense Force (CDF), Perry's service-of-choice has extended its reach into interstellar space to pave the way for human colonization of other planets while fending off marauding aliens. The CDF has a trick up its sleeve that makes enlistment especially enticing for seniors: the promise of restoring youth. After bonding with a group of fellow recruits who dub their clique the Old Farts, Perry finds himself in a new body crafted from his original DNA and upgraded for battle, including fast-clotting "smartblood" and a brain-implanted personal computer. All too quickly the Old Farts are separated, and Perry fights for his life on various alien-infested battlegrounds. Scalzi's blending of wry humor and futuristic warfare recalls Joe Haldeman's classic, The Forever War (1974), and strikes the right fan--pleasing chords to probably garner major sf award nominations." - Booklist

Dramatis Personae

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Perry- John Perry is the main character of the story and we follow his journey as an seventy-five year old Ohioan to a "young" soldier on the front-lines of an intergalactic war. He's a widower, has a sarcastic sense of humor, and is retired from advertising.

Summer Glau as Jane Sagan- Jane is in the Special Forces, a part of the Ghost Brigade. While not Kathy Perry, her body is from the DNA of John's wife. She was 'born' into the military, with no memories of a prior life, as is the case with most soldiers. After overcoming the shock of seeing herself in one of John's wedding pictures, she becomes curious about 'her other life.'

Simon Woods as Alan Rosenthal- Alan Rosenthal is one of the members of the "Old Farts" and Harry's roommate. He was a theoretical physicist on Earth. He is the only member assigned to the same unit as John and becomes his best friend during basic training.

Elijah Kelley as Harry Wilson- Harry is one of the first people John meets in the military. He's a retired physics teacher from Bloomington, IN. The new science being used off of Earth is fascinating to him and he's good at explaining complicated technologies in ways the others can understand.

Arielle Kebbel as Jesse Gonzalez- Another 'Old Fart,' Jesse hails from San Antonio, TX. Her husband left her on their 30th anniversary, but she has a good sense of humor about it. She is assigned to the same unit as Harry.

Channing Tatum as General Szilard- Head of the Special Forces of the military.

Freddy Rodriguez as MSG Antonio Ruiz- Master Sergeant Ruiz is the Drill instructor for John's unit. He is the typical hard-case that one associates with Drill Sergeants. He never gives a compliment and is prone to screaming in your face, even for a job well done.