Atlas Shrugged Part II: Longer, new actors, bigger budget, more advertising

Please, don’t worry about the “names” for the actors – get good unknowns and spend more money on production!  

Keep Taylor, Grant, et al…. just get someone awesome (whether known or not) to play John Galt. Then spend what you can for more production and marketing! IMHO.

Sounds like Part 2 is gonna be on as tight a schedule as Part 1.  Start production in early 2012, with a preview possibly in time for the conventions … GOP is during last week of August. With a general release, I guess, before the election … sometime in October perhaps.   Should be an interesting year, especially for the production team.

The person who plays Dagny in the movie is of utmost important IMO. The person you selected originally did not capture the personna of this character in the book. You need a modern day Lauren Bacall for this role.  

Changing actors mid stream will probably do more harm than good.  Once all three parts are out people will want to watch the trilogy as a set of chapters of the same story.  Shifting main actors will injure that process.  Not a good idea.

who is John Galt?

I loved the actor who played Reardon.  Dagny, not so much.  She’s not as tough and self confident as Dagny should be, and why blonde???  Glad to hear they are slowing down and getting more of the content of the book.  Pretty important to get the connection between Reardon’s guilt about his affair with Dagny and why he can’t let go of his useless family, and by extension the world he lives in.  

I’m just glad there are people out there willing to invest capital to bring this masterpiece to the screen. I say Bravo to all those involved. Whenever it comes out, it can’t be soon enough. ))

dont worry about actors, they were all mostly good!!! Please produce this!!

Who cares about “named” actresses/actors?  They’re not that good anyways and not worth the multi-million dollars that they require.  Focus on the story!

I would really dislike if they changed the actors at this point. I didn’t plan on watching this movie or liking it and was pleasantly surprised. It had a few actors in it that I recognize and the main actors were quite good even though they are unknowns. Better known actors does not mean a better movie!
 

I would rather them keep the continuity of the films and keep the same actors and put more money into production and marketing. A lot of people didn’t go see the first movie because they didn’t know it was out there. This movie was mostly promoted by word of mouth. It would have done much better if more people knew about it.

Cant wait for Part II…I agree with most of the comments that we hope you keep the main actors…especially for Reardon and Dagney…I thought both were excellent…make the movie longer (truer to the book) and spend the money there and on marketing to get the word out better.  I want to buy the complete 3 volume set once its all finished.

@Jaime Dorsey Yes fingers crossed they don’t change actors. Never heard of the book till I saw the movie. Looking forward to part II if it is going to be more true to the book. Fantastic.

Please don’t change the actors!    I’ve already watched Part 1 three times.    I didn’t even think I’d like the film, but I love it.    I’m fond of all the characters, even the bad ones.   I wish producers could see things from the point of view of the moviegoer.    It’s really jarring to have to get used to someone new in a role.    Dynasty and Winds of War both did that, and although the new actors were good, the story gets disjointed when someone totally different shows up on screen.    And who would you change?    I’ve wondered for nearly 40 years who could play Dagny Taggert and how she would play the role.   The current actress is doing an excellent and memorable job.   Keep this a nice tight trilogy that those of us who really enjoy can treasure, instead of changing horses in mid-stream.   

Can’t wait til second movie comes out.  I’m just finishing the book.  I wish I would have read this when I was younger.   I would love to contribute if you’re accepting donations

Can’t wait til 2nd part comes out.  I’m just finishing the book.  Wow.  I wish I would have read this when I was younger.  It’s very important that this story comes out before November election.  Are you taking donations toward financing these films?

Does not need new actors, they are great!  Needs a lot of marketing and promotion.
This is an eye opener for many Americans. It is about today and the hypocritical goody-goodys in government and corrupt billionaires who thing they own the world and hide behind their “charities”. No wonder they could not find financing for 18 years! an expose of what is going on right now.

read this many many many years ago. never knew it was a movie until this morning when looking at the movies on the “ondemand” channel. I’m very disappointed it was split into 2 movies!

hurry up and get this movie out there!

I enjoyed the first part, left me hanging for part 2.  It’s a little slow to start but so was the book.  I think the actors should stay, we know them now.  I read this book about 10 years ago and it has stuck with me ever since.  The country needs to see this

I read this book about 10 years ago and it has stuck with me ever since.  I can’t wait for part 2 & 3.  It has such a powerful message.  The book started out slow so it only made sense that part 1 would have to set the scene for what is to come.  I hope it has a much better reception for part 2.

The only problem with part 1 was some failures to flesh out more of the back story such as the history of Francisco. This is a powerful message based film and that message should be front and center unobstructed by big name actors and the egos that accompany them. Give the viewers more of the story/ message instead of spending lots of money on star power.

Please keep the original actors!

Rand’s heroes are so beautifully crafted, but her villains are laughably unrealistic, one-dimensional straw men. Ellsworth Toohey doesn’t exist even as a conglomeration of public figures. Where is this State Science Institute that would squash a brilliant innovation to protect society from superior products?
I know of no examples of government tyranny destroying a great American innovation in the name of the greater social good, but many examples of titans of industry destroying innovations that would cut their profits. This is of course perfectly aligned with rational self-interest, but it certainly doesn’t propel mankind forward as Rand suggests.
Examples:
–Tucker’s superior innovative automobile, way ahead of it’s time. Crushed by the Big 3 in Detroit, and not in the name of the greater social good. He was smashed for profit, by profiteers, not by the government nor by socialists.
–The solar power industry in the 80′s and 90′s. All the startups were bought by competitive oil companies, and subsequently left to die. Solar and wind power are only now beginning to re-emerge. We are free to destroy our competition. How heroic.
–Los Angeles’ world-class public transit system of the early 20th century. One of the finest train systems in the world of it’s day, it was a threat to the future success of the passenger car. The entire system was bought and scrapped by the Big 3 automakers of Detroit. They knew that for America to love the car, Hollywood would have to love it. They were right. LA now has the worst traffic in the county, lots of cars, and a terrible public transit system. Luckily they didn’t destroy the NYC subways too.
–Complete ruin of the American hemp industry due to hysterical fears of reefer madness. Search for Henry Ford’s “Hemp Car” lighter and stronger than steel. Hmmm Henry Reardon anyone? It wasn’t socialists who killed hemp, it was the Alcohol and Tobacco lobbies.

Please feel free to provide some examples to the contrary. Meanwhile I find Rand’s inconsistencies distracting.

I loved the movie although I wish it would have been longer. I thought the actors were great. The story is what is important regardless of the actors. Can’t wait until part 2 is out.  Jim Ewing

I sure hope they don’t replace Taylor Schilling.

PLEASE DON’T CHANGE THE ACTORS FROM THE FIRST MOVIE!!!! I loved the first part. I thought it was the best movie I had seen in a VERY long time. I have told random strangers I encounter to watch it!! A MUST SEE!!

Dread.  Do NOT Change the actors.  Let’s let it ride.  The original actors were excellent.  They don’t need to be changed.  Suppose one wants to buy the trilogy or watch it as a whole movie, the interruption of the actor is unforgivable.  

Keep the originals please!!!

Forget paying high priced actors.  Use the money for promotions and get the word out and the movie into more theaters.  Leave the actors alone for heavens sake.

Must agree with most every comment – the actors should remain. Every one did an excellent job. What would Star Wars or the LOTR trilogy be with actors coming and going? Not a good idea at all.. 

Keep the original actors, use the resources you’ll save to get a high profiled actor to play Galt. My pick would be Christian Bale. Some might think that a superstar might overpower the unknowns, but in this case, that won’t matter. Galt is purposefully designed to be a superior figure… so a “superior” actor would not disrupt the balance.

They do, however, need to replace the schmuck they casted for Hugh Akston. That guy sucked. He is supposed to be the wise elder, a mentor to Galt. You need someone powerful for that role. i.e. Anthony Hopkins. Done.

I agree with most others. Keep the original cast,  except maybe James Taggart , who was too young.  Also Eddie Willers was not a black man. Vital that Taylor Schilling and Grant Bowler return.
Since JG hardly appeared,  it would be OK to cast a higher profile actor in this key role
( but who ).
Its almost April with still no word on who the cast will be. Surely they have that nailed down by now That’s not a good sign. I hope part 2 is not stalled.

Grant Bowler was the heart of PART ONE. Taylor Schilling has become Dagny… Ouch!