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Special Favors Come in 31 Flavors: Five Actors Who Should Be Considered to Play Napoleon Solo in Soderbergh's The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (25)

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Hallelujah! The emu is out. I repeat, the emu is out. While I can’t imagine who thought Bradley Cooper could carry off such a suave, charismatic character as Napoleon Solo (Hello movie studios [say that in your mind as Jerry would address Newman], stop trying to shove this guy as a leading man down our throats), it matters not, as long as he is out. According to rumors, Joel Kinnaman (“The Killing,” The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo [2011]) and the Fassbender were first choices, but neither could be worked out schedule-wise. If you’re not familiar with the original television series, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” was a spy show about a worldwide intelligence agency (with the main characters written/developed by Ian Fleming), starring Robert Vaughn (Solo) and David McCallum (Kuryakin). Here’s a cool, little behind-the-scenes summary:

Currently, Joel Edgerton (Warrior, The Great Gatsby [2012])

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is set to portray Solo’s Russian spy partner, Illya Kuryakin; he’s a great choice, but they still need to find the right lead. And since it’s well known in Hollywood my head that I am nothing if not helpful and full of suggestions, here are five candidates who should be carefully considered…

and pondered…

and stared at for long periods of time…

and mulled over…

and thought about day and night, until one of them is offered the role, causing him to want to come to my house and “thank” me, in person.


5. The BAMber:

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4. Eric Bana:

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3. Damian Lews:

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2. Ewan McGregor:

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1. John Simm:

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You boys know where I live, right? If not, you can reach me here.









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Comments

John Simm would make a wonderful Kuryakin, actually, what with that freakish intensity of his.

Posted by: jthomas666 at November 10, 2011 3:04 PM

I'll never again be able to hear anything about The Man From U.N.C.L.E. without thinking of Mad Men. In a "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!" kind of way.

Posted by: Todd at November 10, 2011 3:17 PM

I must applaud the dramatic increase in pictures of Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell on the site this week.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 10, 2011 3:47 PM

WHO THE FUCK IS JOHN SIMM?

Posted by: Jay at November 10, 2011 4:07 PM

John Simm-mm-mm-mmmmmmmm.
More of him everywhere.
All the time.

Posted by: Agogagogo at November 10, 2011 4:13 PM

Jay-John Simm, British actor, Life on Mars, State of Play, the drawer at my bedside.

Posted by: Agogagogo at November 10, 2011 4:19 PM

I'm so very very with you, Mrs. Julien. Bravo indeed.

One more thing: I cannot think of The Man From UNCLE w out thinking immediately of Temple Grandin (an in her voice, even) as she narrated an episode to her blind college roomate. Anyone ...?

Posted by: klingonfree at November 10, 2011 4:28 PM

John Simm is The Master! How can people not know this?
That being said, Eric Bana is my choice for this. Hanna was nice spy practice (although he did walk out in the blizzard at the fucking North Pole in just his suit. Can't take anything seriously after that).

Posted by: Irina at November 10, 2011 4:31 PM

Please.
Benedict Cumberbatch bitches.

Posted by: Jules at November 10, 2011 4:33 PM

Is it just me who thinks Eric Bana has absolutely no charisma? I was so disappointed when he was cast in The Time Traveller's Wife, especially when the character of Henry is more like Ewan McGregor in my head. He doesn't seem to bring any of his energy as a standup comic to his more serious roles. And even though I like some of his films (Munich, Hanna) he just seems completely interchangable to me.

Posted by: Katie at November 10, 2011 4:49 PM

I must applaud the dramatic increase in pictures of Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell on the site this week.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 10, 2011 3:47 PM


HEAR HEAR!! (especially the Ewan McGregor part. More please.)

Posted by: Poptart at November 10, 2011 4:54 PM

Posted by: Ghisent at November 10, 2011 4:57 PM

Posted by: Jay at November 10, 2011 5:24 PM

I like traffic lights
I like traffic lights
I like traffic lights
I like traffic lights

Posted by: Three-nineteen at November 10, 2011 5:39 PM

None of the suggested here do anything for me.

David McCallum was so sexy, and along with my Cary Grant crush, was always among my impossible 8-year-old dreams.

Posted by: NeoCleo at November 10, 2011 6:31 PM

Holy Moley, it's gotta be Ewan McGregor.

Or Nathan Fillion....

Ignatz

Posted by: Ignatz at November 10, 2011 7:03 PM

I have a huge man crush on John Simm. Loved him as the Master, and in Life on Mars. I can definitely see him as Kuryakin. Pair him up w/ Damien Lewis and it's must see time for Uncle and Aunt JR.

Posted by: Uncle JR at November 10, 2011 7:05 PM

Helloooooo Bana.

Katie, it's just you.

Posted by: Samantha at November 10, 2011 8:20 PM

Dig up Robert Vaughn and tie him to a post and wheel him around in a scene. Dead he is still cooler than any of these choices, and stop fucking around with my childhood.

Posted by: clancys_daddy at November 10, 2011 8:42 PM

I'm more annoyed with people who didn't get Jay's reference than how those same people are flabbergasted that some haven't heard of John Simm.

I agree, though, that dude should get more work. I'm done with him on Doctor Who, though. RTD ran his character into the ground.

Posted by: vic at November 10, 2011 8:58 PM

I vote for Ewan, but only if he promises to start doing nude scenes again.

Posted by: Jerry at November 10, 2011 10:22 PM

Robert Vaughn isn't quite dead yet, clancys_daddy. Although that was a touching eulogy, I always enjoy a forceful call for an exhumation.

Check out his IMDB page.

Posted by: Jennmcn at November 10, 2011 10:32 PM

Of the above, only McGregror and Lewis have the charisma to pull the role off. But why has no-one suggested Tennant yet?

Posted by: FabMax at November 11, 2011 7:33 AM

I like either of those ideas for Kuryakin (Simm or Edgerton).
But thinking about Solo, I got sort of stuck on Vaughn's look, which led me to - Robert Knepper.

He can do suave and charismatic, no problem.

Posted by: Tarn at November 11, 2011 8:14 AM

Jay: Please explain your "Who the fuck is John Simm?" comment and link. I watched it and still don't understand.

That said, I'd pick Simm for Kuryakin, not Solo.

Bamber looks too much like Edgerton.
Bana has no charisma.
Lewis or McGregor would be killer.

Posted by: BWeaves at November 11, 2011 9:23 AM