Voice of Smaug?

[Mnemosyne]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Tuor, you skipped my suggestion on TORn:

Pee-wee Herman.

That would throw everyone off.

*brain asplodes*

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Mnemosyne

*brain asplodes*

*Casually wipes Mnemo's splattered gray matter off his shirt*

Ummm...sorry about that. I hope you didn't need that brain. I simply suggested Pee-wee Herman because most people are suggesting folks like Jeremy Irons, Ian McShane, Sean Connery, Tim Curry, John Hurt, Geoffrey Rush, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart and the like to voice Smaug, and these individuals, fine actors one and all, have each done very recognizable voice-overs for notable cartoon/CGI characters.

Personally, I would prefer an unrecognizable, ominous voice for Smaug, rather than watching the movie and saying, "Hey, that's [fill in the blank] doing Smaug's voice!" The cameo superstar voice/appearance in movies has been so overdone that it is past cliche. Besides, the voice of a many-ton talking dragon would be distorted, loud and would reverberate about the cavern. Such large vocal chords amplified in such a vast hall would be more of a rumbling growl at its quietest and a bellow of a herd of hefalumps at its loudest.

[Kent2010]

Djimon Honsou would be interesting, but I would like to see Derek Jacobi considered.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Jacobi's voice is just a little light. But at the same time the deep, booming Darth Vader thing is a pitfall to be avoided. Smaug should be an *aristocrat*- a sneering, cynical, supercilious villain, which is why Irons comes to mind (think of his von Bulow). Alan Rickman maybe. Tom Wilkinson might be good (he's a voice chameleon). But I'm leaning toward Jason Isaacs (who hasn't as distinctive a voice as Rickman and wouldn't carry as much Harry Potter baggage).

[Gwathagor]

I like the idea of Irons voicing Smaug because of the gravelly quality of his voice. Someone who breathes fire is likely to be a bit rough-throated.

[Durelin]

If only Orson Welles were somehow still alive.

I love Alan Rickman but I know I'd just be cracking up. Isaacs is too sniveling in the Potter movies at least...I don't remember him well enough from other roles to really comment though.

Liam Neeson can't because he's the Jesus-Lion.

Sean Connery already got to be dragon.

Patrick Stewart...yeah, I'd also be cracking up. I love his voice (who doesn't?) but...

As long as Jeremy Irons can be less of a fruitcake than he was as Scar...no, still, not feeling it. Too weak.

Christopher Lee would be a safe choice, but regardless might not agree to it anyway.

That is such a horrible list from ToRN, though...no offense. Seems mostly like a joke list...I mean, Morgan Freeman? Hmm...actually I bet Mark Hamill could pull off a pretty good Smaug voice, haha.

So, a couple more hilarious Smaug ideas:

Peter Ustinov. O.m.g. So terribly terribly hilarious (though also dead ).

Also, CaptainofDespair just suggested they just get Christian Bale to do his *Batman voice*...much lolz.

[Gwathagor]

Originally Posted by Durelin

As long as Jeremy Irons can be less of a fruitcake than he was as Scar...no, still, not feeling it. Too weak.

Jeremy Irons weak?! Have you SEEN Die Hard 3? Just the right combination of smooth-talker/tough-guy/sarcasm.

[Mnemosyne]

Eek, NO Orson Welles! That guy exudes "I am Orson Welles" with every syllable. The fact that he'd be playing an egomaniac only partially ameliorates the problem: I don't think he could make it from "I am Orson Welles" to "I am Smaug."

Wish I could say something constructive for the topic, but I honestly can't think of anything. I would, however, like him to be a guy that I wouldn't recognize until the credits and then go "D'oh!" Which wouldn't be terribly difficult for me.

As it is, I thought I heard GDT already had a "dream actor" for the role.

I'd like some input from people who have listened to enough contemporary radio drama to give some input on good voice actors from that field. Unfortunately the art is all but dead in America so I cannot comment.

[Kent2010]

Originally Posted by Durelin

Isaacs is too sniveling in the Potter movies at least...I don't remember him well enough from other roles to really comment though.

I remember him most from Dragonheart and The Patriot. Both times he played the snivelling "I am better than thou" role, but I don't remember it being too much. As the British Colonel Tavington in The Patriot there is absolutely nothing redeeming about his character, he's pure evil, and is set up as the "big bad guy," not Cornwallis, and Tavington is the guy Mel Gibson's character squares off against.

I also remember him in Black Hawk Down, but he played a hard-nosed Captain and had a bit of a southern drawl.

Funny thing is Mark Hamill is doing a lot of voice over work, but ugh he's just too bland. If we want someone with a lot of voice over work and a very entertaining, might as well make it Adam West.

[Durelin]

Orson Welles is Unicron in my head, that's it.

"Your bargaining posture is highly dubious..."

Originally Posted by Kent

Funny thing is Mark Hamill is doing a lot of voice over work, but ugh he's just too bland.

Yeah, he's been in every cartoon show imaginable...and unlike Adam West he actually plays roles other than himself.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Durelin

As long as Jeremy Irons can be less of a fruitcake than he was as Scar...no, still, not feeling it. Too weak.

I wouuld never call Jeremy Irons weak.. just for me so associated with the 80's adaptation of Brideshead Revisited

"It was in the Autumn of TA 2941 when I first met Sebastian... I mean Bilbo Baggins..."

Leslie Phillips would be hilarious...Ding dong!!!

[Durelin]

Since my Jeremy Irons comment is apparently so shocking, I'll at least point out that I'm talking about the nature of his voice and not the characters he is capable of portraying... I don't find his voice strong or striking enough. I don't know what kind of voice acting he is capable of...don't with most of the actors recommended!

[Gwathagor]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I wouuld never call Jeremy Irons weak.. just for me so associated with the 80's adaptation of Brideshead Revisited

"It was in the Autumn of TA 2941 when I first met Sebastian... I mean Bilbo Baggins..."

What a great miniseries! (Megaseries?)