If I were to CAST today...
Yo!
No new Extended Audition scenes to add to the pile this time, as I wound up going down a massive writing exposition rabbit hole with Kimberly's EAudition doc, raking up a ridiculous 12 pages of info-dumping covering the events from the original Arrival Day, Green Ranger, and everything else in-between where MMPR '06 picks up.
More than a few detours from being squarely focused on Kimberly, but it felt like the right place to sit down and actually try to hash out more of a streamlined, defined history of what exactly happened during the likes of Green Ranger and such outside the vague notions I had floating around in my head.
I'd say there's still more work to be done with fully establishing my Year 1-3 canon, but I think I made significant progress with figuring out the journey's of both Kimberly and Tommy prior to the start of E1. Like, for example, when I wrote the Trini/Kat scene from the Trini EAudition, I was faced with a choice about firmly deciding whether Tommy killed people as the Green Ranger or not. Not that I had that much debate about it--since if he hadn't, it's basically a "no harm, no foul" situation where he can go on to be all heroic and fight the good fight, and hook up with Kimberly free of penalty. In other words, not very interesting.
However, this doesn't exactly compute with the seemingly pretty well adjusted Tommy I've already written in E1, so it begged the question of "what happened" to have him conquer those potential inner demons from his Green Ranger actions--which ultimately ties into how he obtains Saba and the White Tiger Power coin, since I'm not doing the free hand-out from Zordon approach in the original show (Boys gonna have to put in the work).
So, considering how draining crafting terribly written exposition dumps is to me compared to the actual art behind composing drama, I didn't actually add the 2 scenes to Kimberly's EAudition just yet as I'm in dire need of a small breather to recharge the creative banks. Thankfully, I don't anticipate digging anywhere close to that 7 layers of hell Kim took for the remaining EAudition cast backstories since I should be able to remain in-scope with the basics of Ranger history out the way.
So...what I want to actually elaborate on for this update in regards to casting is this--if someone we're to hold a gun to my head and tell me "I MUST make casting choices TODAY," then who would I pick?
NOTE: THIS IS NOT SAYING ANYONE MENTIONED BELOW IS A GUARANTEED LOCK. The fine print is still very much in effect, and EVERY role is up for grabs, and regardless of who I may be leaning toward today, tomorrow, or even a few weeks from now, I will test anyone who I find have interesting potential or qualities to bring to the table.
My goal with this elaboration is to 1)be transparent about where my thought processes are currently and 2)elaborate more specifically on the particular qualities I'm looking for with the characters as the story and my general philosophy has matured. The main point I would like to stress on the high-level is this--"Stop thinking Power Rangers--think drama." I'm looking for naturally compelling voices, not the infamous caricatures the series is all too well known for.
So, with all the mumbo jumbo out the way--let's kick things off, shall we?
1. Kat/Pink Ronin
I consider myself lucky that I even have two legitimately interesting options for Kat atm, but I can't say I'm not really surprised either, given that Katherine Hillard as a character has existed to this point for securing the Tommy Oliver bloodline (Resident Evil meme) because Amy Jo left the show.
Despite being MY favorite Pink Ranger due to the charming aesthetics Catherine Sutherland brought to the role, the character herself has remained mainly a wiki footnote for Tommy in the modern reincarnation of MMPR with the Boom series, where as her predecessors Kim and Trini have had more arguable buffs in the character quality department.
Obviously I'm seeking to capitalize on this severely missed opportunity, as I feel Katherine as a character has been criminally underutilized when, in fact, she could easily stand toe-to-toe with Kimberly in the compelling department. And without the in that the "Pink Ronin" concept gave me into the Power Ranger characters and world, there would be no story here to tell, quite frankly. I mean, why does Kimberly get a cool "Ranger Slayer" form, but Kat is stuck with being some rando "coinless" cosplaying resistance leader? See what I mean? Always stuck getting the table scrapes in the official media.
So I'm saying all this since I don't really want to comment publicly yet on who I could specifically cast for Kat atm, but the two people I've communicated with so far certainly know what's going on. Otherwise, Kat is still one of the biggest roles in the story just chomping at the bit for more submissions!
2. Tommy Oliver/Lord Drakkon
Now, this role atm has 3-4 people currently on my radar for going in with full EAudtions, but again, you put a gun to my head right now...I think I would choose @Isaac https://cstng.cc/s/3945936
My philosophy on Tommy is that he's the pretty boy that no Pink Ranger can resist (like how any of X-Men's female psychics get weak in the knees around Mr. Scott Summers). I think @Isaac's voice really sells that dynamic pretty well, but what really sold me was his Drakkon reading.
My conceptualization of Drakkon is that he's truly the ultimate final boss of the Power Rangers lore and mythos--not just an "evil Tommy doppleganger that gets randomly talked into fascism by Rita in 5 mins." Instead, he is a pure, irredeemable evil, the figurative and thematic Devil of the Power Rangers universe (like Darkseid is thematically the Devil of DC Comics). And there are two forms the devil can take--he can come as a demonic looking monster with the horns and scary face and pitchfork to frighten you, or he can come to you as the most dashing man ever to exist to sweep you off our feet.
Obviously the latter is what I've opted for with my version of Drakkon, and what I find so extremely intriguing about him as a character instead of the more standard "I'm a Tommy Oliver who speaks with more evil bass in my voice" fare. It's Drakkon's actions that scream out his evils, not the refined, charming exterior that habors them.
Which is what I find intriguing about @Isaac's Drakkon line delivery. Not only does he strike a perfect balance behind retaining the base of his Tommy Oliver voice while embracing the more elegant refinement behind Drakkon's character that distinguishes the two, his line delivery also captured Drakkon's intention from the excerpt--a clear, seemingly sincere, emotional appeal to Pink Ronin in order to sway her to his side without any kind of nefarious coercion typical of the usual Power Ranger villain cliches.
That, to me, is what's imperative for making Drakkon standout as an antagonist who's truly different and unique from everything that's come before in the Power Rangers rogue's gallery, including his own prior depictions in official or fanworks alike.
3. Kimberly Hart/Ranger Slayer
Unlike my poor neglected Kat, I do have a very clear contender for Kimberly with @writergamernerd. https://cstng.cc/s/3935448
What really strikes me about her voice is it feels extremely fitting for the more grounded tone behind MMPR '96. You have the traces of valley girl still there, but this is a Year 4 Kimberly Hart who's been put through the absolute ringer over the years and transformed herself from being completely out-of-her-depth from "Arrival Day" into this very fierce (if still chaotic and impulsive) individual.
This is a Kimberly that has a strength and conviction to be willing to challenge not just Jason as the leader, but even Zordon's sage-status in regards to his "rules." @writergamernerd's voice just really emphasizes and sells the credibility behind the almost antagonistic notion, reconciling Kimberly's past along with her present quite poignantly that simply resonates with me and the way I view Kimberly's character.
4. Jason Lee Scott
Jason is the one remaining Ranger character that I really haven't heard what I've been hoping to hear quite yet...if we're talking about people with good mic quality. Because if I could wave a magic wand that could provide crystal clarity to anyone, then my pick for Jason without hesitation would be @Jaxon https://cstng.cc/s/3891271
His audition for Jason to me is STILL my genuine ideal for what I'm looking for with the character. He sounds like the leader Jason is--confident, strong, firm, forceful. Which makes it an absolutely incredibly easy sell that Trini would have the hidden proverbial sizzles for him. A clearly talented voice actor...
Which, there are a couple other interesting auditions for Jason that have some good acting chops and everything...but when it comes to finding that special intrinsic quality that flicks the switch in my brain into fully believe that what I'm hearing is Jason Lee Scott and not a VA reading for the character, only @Jaxon has made me go "That's totally Jason, bro," so far.
5. Billy
Again, like Jason, there are a couple of auditions that do stand out in regards to the acting chops, but in terms of that intangible quality that's either there or isn't for the character, @Sab's Nikoli Billy has really captured my imagination--even with just a single line. https://cstng.cc/s/3940448
What I find so compelling about @Sab's Billy is how truly opposite it is from the more direct David Yost inspirations. The immediate comparison that came to mind is Christopher Barnes Spider-Man, which being THE Spider-Man voice to me, really makes me go "Wow--I didn't even know I was wanting to go in that direction for Billy, but know I absolutely do."
My comparison to Barnes isn't about @Sab's actually sounding like Barnes, but the general style of the voice for the "nerdy" character. No "nasal" quality--just a very analytical one. Which fits the tone I want so much better. Not to mention, to continue this theme of appealing romantic attractions (because I'm all about the John Romita Sr. idealized aesthetics), makes it far easier to believe that my Punisher-esque bounty hunter reimagining of Karone could find Billy's often roundabout technobabble nonsense charming.
@Sab's voice is a perfect illustration of what I mean when I say "Don't think Power Rangers--think drama."
6. Trini Kwan
I've already gushed about @mcb020's Trini, but she has truly won my heart with the character as I'm currently chipping away at crafting the mock-up for her Trini Extended Audition that she accidently sent in to me way earlier than I intended and was unprepared for (but that's okay!). https://cstng.cc/s/3928679
Just an absolute perfect encapsulation of all of Trini's vital character traits I was hoping to hear. Which really, puts the pressure back on me now to make sure I can write a Trini truly worthy of her time and talent. So if anyone from this list is as close to a genuine LOCK to me, it's her, just to be 100& real. I just can't see someone else coming along and practically telling me "Hey, this is mine!"
7. Zack Taylor
Another person here that's no surprise to be mentioning again, but @SmeytonVA's Zack just hit his audition perfectly out the park for Zack https://cstng.cc/s/3925993
The personality, the charisma, just totally captures the Hip Hop Kido master in all his swagging glory... which has doubled my efforts to pick up the slack in fleshing out Zack's actual arc for the story as he has been the one Ranger that really had me stumped on what to do with besides being the "hip" Ranger, but thankfully, it's become more clearer to me on what kind of challenges and dilemmas Zack can face to push the character into unknown waters.
8. Rita
This is a character I've yet to hear someone really grab me with their take. What I will take some time to stress is that THIS IS NOT TRADITIONAL BARBARA GOODSON RITA IN ANYWAY. My version of Rita is about as close to a full on reboot as it gets.
I don't see her as a villain--I see her as a tragic character of unfortunate circumstances that is capable of some absolutely "vile" things because she is quick to take offense and being extremely petty/vindicative to those that have crossed her in the wrong ways (Zordon, the Rangers). Sure, she is an Empress and has a love of power--but it's not what truly drives her at her core. For me, she's the most complicated of all the returning classic villains. She's very hard to fit into one particular box, as I want to layer Rita with the kind of nuance and complexity she's never been given to chance to have as a character.
Soooo, yet again--think DRAMA, not Power Rangers.
9. Scorpina
There is one person I'm in on-going conversation with at-the-moment, but a lot of what I've said about Rita can apply to Scorpina. Scorpina, and especially in regards to her relationship with Rita, is going to be way more nuanced than "loyal servant to evil empress," and will have equally important roles in both our traditional MMPR reality and the Drakkon Pink Ronin equivalent.
10. Goldar
There are a couple of candidates so far that have piqued my interest that I think I will be interested in testing with Extended Auditions, but if I were to go off the top of my head right now, then @RJ would be my current pick simply because of the unique and serious quality of his voice https://cstng.cc/s/3923679
A lot of the auditions for Goldar tend to be on the side of trying to relive nostalgia, which, even as well-acted as some of them are, are a total mis-match for the dialogue that is written in a completely unironic and serious tone.
My Goldar is not a sniveling weasel. He is a genuine brute that prides himself on head-to-head battle. Intelligent, but not much patience for more convoluted schemes. A loyal soldier to his pledged fealty to Zedd, even if he has his own certain hangups about it.
11. Zedd/Zolphram
Now, I feel I have royally screwed the pooch on conveying what my intentions are with Zedd, so this is my L so far to still correct with the Extended Audition material, but my intention is to figuratively "kill" Zedd at the end of E1 and slowly rebuild him back to Zolphram--both figuratively and literally in this case.
So, as a character, he is not "evil space wizard." He was once one of the greatest Rangers/Elartian soldiers alive, arguably to ever exist, that became obsessed with power that ultimately crippled him into the skinless meatsack hanging on by tubes and metal plating everyone's so familiar with. My intent with Zedd is to tell the story of a fallen emperor that comes to see the errors of his ways, and decides to walk on the seemingly impossible path to redemption (ala Magneto).
So when it comes to the voice, the classic "eeevvviiill" Zedd is too one-dimensional, leaving zero room for character growth (or in this case, restoration). So what I'm looking for is someone with some genuine gravitas for a far more complex and nuanced portrayal of "Lord Zedd." that can build into a proper change in his nature.
12. Zordon
Much like Zedd, I haven't yet heard a clear front runner yet. Given Zordon's history with Zedd as his student and their ensuing ideological fallout (ala Charles Xavier and Magneto), I'm looking for an appropriate voice that has the gravitas to sound like the wise alien sage that's become a stand-in father figure for the Rangers. I cite Mr. Breaking Bad not just for having played Zordon in the reboot movie, but for sounding perfectly suited for grounding a character like Zordon instead of the beacon of all that is pure and good tone the character is usually portrayed in.
I know a Zordon voice is tricky, but often attempts sound like they lean too far for my taste in the "put-on" category that's too much in the caricature territory. Natural believability is important to me.
13. Alpha 5
The one character I'm actually okay with in regards to sounding similar to the show (but still open to different takes), because really, that's the entire character's personality really, and there has to be A LITTLE bit of fun charm to be had in this far more serious adaptation.
There's a couple people that have certainly interested me, but I feel I need more hands-on testing with them to really get a firmer idea on preference, so I'm going to cheat and defer Alpha to the future supporting character round.
----
Okay, I know i wrote an absolute tomb, but I wanted to convey my current thoughts and the casting status leaders surrounding each of the main characters in terms of what has stuck out to me the most and what I'm hoping to find within future submissions for them.
This took WAY longer than I intended to write-up, but now that it's done, I intend on shutting up with anymore pontificating updates since I really need to start chewing through these Extended Audition Excerpts. So my updates will be sticking strictly to highlighting these as they're completed for the foreseeable future.
Any brave soul he's read this whole ramble, you have the patience of a saint.
Major thanks to everyone who's submitted and follows. You seriously keep the drive in me going!
Ciao!
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