Jeff Stockton here with this season's edition of Casting Grades. In this segment I will dissect the casting of several films from the season - namely adaptations featuring characters that exist in other formats (or reality). Here we go....
METROID
Game to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2025/05/game-to-film-metroid.html
Jennifer Lawrence as Samus Aran
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: An A-Lister was probably required for his one and J-Law fits the bill across the board.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Gary Oldman as Old Bird
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: His voice lends gravitas to a very strange looking CG character.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Sterling K. Brown as Gray Voice
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B-
Thoughts: His voice doesn't add much without the rest of him to help with the performance
Overall Casting Grade: B-
David Tennant as Ridley
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: He has a decent voice, but maybe not as intimidating as Ridley probably needed
Overall Casting Grade: B
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Pirate Commander
Appearance: N/A
Performance: C+
Thoughts: I don't think he was a great choice here. As an actor, JDM relies on his expressive face a lot - something lost in a voice role.
Overall Casting Grade: C+
Michelle Williams as Mother Brain
Appearance: N/A
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Her voice was perfect here - nailing a tone somewhere between motherly and menacing
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Rose Byrne as Virginia Aran
Appearance: B-
Performance: B
Thoughts: Rose Byrne felt wasted on such a role.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Patrick Dempsey as Rodney Aran
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: He looks the part but is not given a ton to do as performer.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Violet McGraw as Young Samu
Appearance: B-
Performance: B
Thoughts: A little old for how the role is written, but McGraw is very good.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Overall Film Casting Grade: B
NIGHT STALKER
Fact to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2025/05/fact-to-film-night-stalker.html
Danny Ramirez as Richard Ramirez
Appearance: A-
Performance: A
Thoughts: Almost a dead ringer for the real figure and manages to deliver a chilling performance
Overall Casting Grade: A
Michael Pena as Gil Carrillo
Appearance: A-
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Michael Pena brings life and determination to a dark story
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Michael Chiklis as Frank Salerno
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Chiklis looks enough like the real guy, but most importantly, he works well opposite Pena
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Zoe Kazan as Doreen Lioy
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: She's better looking than the real Doreen, but Kazan manages to capture the mania
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Gabriel Chazarria as Miguel Valles
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Chavarria is chilling as the man who introduces the Night Stalker to violence.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Isabella Gomez as Maria Hernandez
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: A small role, but Gomez does well with it.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Isaac Ordonez as Young Richard Ramirez
Appearance: B-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Probably a little old by release for the role, but he still feels believable as a younger Ramirez
Overall Casting Grade: B
Overall Film Casting Grade: A-
Asher Angel as Jason Scott/Red Ranger
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Angel brings scrappy leadership to the role of Jason
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Millie Bobby Brown as Kimberly Hart/Pink Ranger
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: While the role is a little underwritten, MBB delivers strong work
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Wyatt Oleff as Billy Cranston/Blue Ranger
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: While not as believable in the action, Oleff brings a shaky charisma to the nerdy Billy.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Niles Fitch as Zack Taylor/Black Ranger
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Niles Fitch keeps things pretty close to the original role - which is not a bad thing.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Minnie Mills as Trini Kwan/Yellow Ranger
Appearance: A
Performance: B
Thoughts: An underwritten role a bit, but she is perfect looking for the role.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Lucy Liu as Rita Repulsa
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Liu seems to be having fun with this one
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Giancarlo Esposito as Zordon
Appearance: B-
Performance: B
Thoughts: Esposito has gravitas, but maybe not the perfect kind for this type of role
Overall Casting Grade: B
Alan Tudyk as Alpha 5
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Tudyk knows how to voice a robot
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Clancy Brown as Goldar
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Few have a stronger, gruffer voice than Brown
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Ethan Cutkowsky as Skull
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: A pretty good match for the character as depicted on the original TV series
Overall Casting Grade: B
Aedin Mincks as Bulk
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Another strong physical match, albeit a little soft-spoken
Overall Casting Grade: B
Jason Isaacs as Lord Zedd
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: A voice cameo, but Isaacs sets the role up for the future
Overall Casting Grade: B
Overall Film Casting Grade: B+
BROADWAY JOE
Fact to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2025/06/fact-to-film-broadway-joe.html
Jeremy Allen White as Joe Namath
Appearance: A-
Performance: A
Thoughts: A little short, but other than that, JAW gives it his all
Overall Casting Grade: A
John C. Reilly as Bear Bryant
Appearance: B-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Reilly is never not great - although he doesn't always feel legendary as the Bear
Overall Casting Grade: B
John Goodman as Weeb Ewbank
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Goodman always brings the, well, goods.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Kathryn Hahn as Rose Namath
Appearance: B-
Performance: B
Thoughts: She doesn't have a ton to do, but she does help ground young Namath
Overall Casting Grade: B
Bob Odenkirk as Pete Rozelle
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Odenkirk was very good as the unlikable commissioner.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Madelyn Cline as Randi Oakes
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: She certainly looks the part.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Emma Mackey as Deborah Mays
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Mackey doesn't show up until the later parts of the film as Deborah, but she holds her own opposite White's Namath.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Quincy Isaiah as Winston Hill
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Isaiah has the size and some swagger.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Will Patton as Chuck Knox
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Patton's always reliable
Overall Casting Grade: B
Overall Film Casting Grade: B+
WATCHMEN
Comic to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2025/06/comic-to-film-watchmen.html
Aaron Eckhart as Eddie Blake/Comedian
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Eckhart isn't completely miscast, but is probably a bit too likable.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl
Appearance: C
Performance: C+
Thoughts: JGL didn't feel right here in a lot of ways.
Overall Casting Grade: C
Justin Timberlake as Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias
Appearance: B-
Performance: D-
Thoughts: His appearance wasn't the problem, but his performance was. JT isn't a bad actor, but he was all wrong here.
Overall Casting Grade: D+
Katherine Langford as Laurie Juspeczyk/Silk Spectre
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Langford doesn't get much to do other than look good in the costumes.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Tony Curran as Roschach
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Curran was able to do more to give a strong performance in Who Watches the Watchmen, but he's still good here.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Matthew Fox as Dr. Manhattan
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Fox is one of the few returning cast members and still brings that nice distant quality that makes a good Manhattan
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Allison Janney as Sally Jupiter/Silk Spectre
Appearance: C-
Performance: C+
Thoughts: Another talent who feels wrong for the role.
Overall Casting Grade: C
Overall Film Casting Grade: C
LUCIFER
Jonny Lee Miller as Lucifer
Appearance: A-
Performance: A
Thoughts: Pretty much perfect casting
Overall Casting Grade: A
Justin Theroux as Michael
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: I liked him as Michael - he brought a kind of childness to the role that was an entertaining contrast to the more worldly Lucifer
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Adeline Rudolph as Mazikeen
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: She gets saddled with a lot of the exposition and thankless scenes, but she's good.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Julia Butters as Elaine
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Finally Butters gets a role that really shows off her strengths
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Vinnie Jones as Amenadiel
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Jones can certainly play angry
Overall Casting Grade: B
Daniel Henney as duma
Appearance: C+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Henney was an interesting choice here for the physical elements he brings.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Tom Felton as Remiel
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: It was nice seeing Felton pop up in a big movie again
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Overall Film Casting Grade: B+
THE HAMMER OF THOR: THE FROST WAR
Comic to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2025/07/comic-to-film-hammer-of-thor-frost-war.html
Channing Tatum as Thor
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Still feels slightly off at times, but the script wisely plays into Tatum's physical and dramatic wheelhouse.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Sam Riley as Loki
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Riley gets to do more than just play villain this time around and it was great
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Phoebe Dynevor as Jane Foster
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Dynevor is charming and had great chemistry with Tatum
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Mark Hamill as Odin
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: He left the story pretty quick, but his death scene had gravitas
Overall Casting Grade: B
Sophie Lowe as Lady Sif
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: I like Lowe in this role
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Laurie Davidson as Fandral
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Davidson gives Fandral a fun, theatrical energy
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Denis Menochet as Volstagg
Appearance: A-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Menochet nails Volstagg again
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Sung Kang as Hogun
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: He gets some fun action this time around
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Jeanne Tripplehorn as Frigga
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Frigga emerges as a major figure in this one and Tripplehorn delivers
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Caitirona Balfe as Amora
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Amora develops into a major villain playing Asgard and Johtunheim against eachother quite well
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Thomas Ian Griffith as Laufey
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Griffith brings a big imposing physicality that the role benefits from
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Overall Film Casting Grade: B+
SPLENDOUR
Fact to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2025/07/fact-to-film-splendour.html
Rebecca Hall as Natalie Wood
Appearance: A-
Performance: A
Thoughts: Hall feels perfect here. Right age, right look, right dramatic talent
Overall Casting Grade: A
Ashton Kutcher as Robert Wagner
Appearance: A-
Performance: A-
Thoughts: I can't think of a better choice to play Robert Wagner. Both have a certain quality that audiences can find like likable and unlikable at the same time
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Michael Pitt as Christopher Walken
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: I can't think of anyone better. Pitt can play charming and weird at the same time - a Walken expertise.
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Wyatt Russell as Dennis Davern
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Not as perfectly cast, but Russell brings a different energy the film needed
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Ron Livingston as Det. Duane Rasure
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Livingston was a clever choice here, helping ground the mystery with his everyman charm
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Overall Film Casting Grade: A-
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
Game to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2025/07/game-to-film-legend-of-zelda.html
Noah Schnapp as Link
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: His voice has boyish energy which works for Link
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Florence Pugh as Zelda
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: She's good, but a lot of her acting talents come from her expressive face/body, not her voice
Overall Casting Grade: B
Bryan Cranston as Ganondorf
Appearance: N/A
Performance: A-
Thoughts: This brings Cranston back to his old grounds of voicing Power Rangers villains. He's a fun choice.
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Jonathan Pryce as Great Deku Tree
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Pryce's voice works well here
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Wunmi Mosaku as Gerudo Sage Soul
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: Hard to get a gage on this one, but she's not bad
Overall Casting Grade: B
Overall Film Casting Grade: B+
SUPERGIRL: POWER
Comic to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2025/08/comic-to-film-supergirl-power.html
Chloe Grace Moretz as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Moretz continues to excel as LRF's Supergirl
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Amanda Seyfried as Kara Zor-L/Power Girl
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: She's very good as the older, angrier Power Girl here
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Alicia Vikander as Constance D'Aramis/Crimson Fox
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Her Crimson Fox (while having dumb powers) was a welcome return for some dramatic flair
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Jon Hamm as Nathaniel Adam/Captain Atom
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Hamm returns with his stoic take on the character
Overall Casting Grade: B
Skyler Gisondo as Morgan Edge
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: He starts to show a new side of the character by the end
Overall Casting Grade: B
Ted Danson as Vincent Edge
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: He has some amazing scenes in this one
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Radha Mitchell as Eliza Danvers
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: She delivers a lot of plot information, but still stands out enough
Overall Casting Grade: B
Simone Ashley as Chandi Gupta/Maya
Appearance: A-
Performance: B
Thoughts: She doesn't get much development but Ashley looks the part for sure
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Lukas Gage as Buddy Baker/Animal Man
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Gage felt perfect for this version of Animal Man despite a smaller role
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Elizabeth Gillies as Leslie Willis/Livewire
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Gillies doesn't need to do much, but she worked well
Overall Casting Grade: B
Overall Film Casting Grade: B+
BASHENGA: THE BLACK PANTHER
Comic to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2025/08/comic-to-film-bashenga-black-panther.html
Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Bashenga
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Harrison pulled the role off well, both the action and the drama
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Rufus Sewell as Ulysses Klaw
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Sewell brings that classic villain energy he is known for to this one
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Genevieve Nnaji as Bast
Appearance: B
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Not a big role, but an important one. I wish her performance stood out more given the role.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Overall Film Castin Grade: B+
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