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 | Lists | November 10, 2011 |

By Cindy Davis | Lists | November 10, 2011 |

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])

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:

4. Eric Bana:

3. Damian Lews:

2. Ewan McGregor:

1. John Simm:

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