The Rock is Race Bannon and Zac Efron is Jonny Quest?!
Filed under: Animation, Casting, RumorMonger, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels
The world of Jonny Quest was never typical -- How many young tykes go on hair-raising adventures unless they're The Venture Brothers? -- but the casting for this sucker sure is.Word of a Jonny Quest movie first hit back in August of 2007, and in his post, Erik said: "will Zac Efron dye his hair blonde and play Jonny?!" Then Peter Segal was talking up the project, and musing that The Rock should place Race Bannon. Now, Moviehole reports that Dwayne Johnson is definitely Bannon, and Efron is in line to play Jonny, although he's not a lock due to Efron's advanced, 17-year-old age. While I can see the allure, that's a big change to add into the mix.
Then again, I'm sure there are a lot of changes to be made. I mean, they can't talk about the productive perks of hallucinogenic drugs these days, and it wouldn't be very PC to keep Hadji as the turbaned magic kid. This all just leads me to the same conclusion: The Rock might be a good choice for Bannon, but they might as well go for a newer project, one that takes the ideas of Quest and morphs it for a modern audience. Oh right, that's already been done.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-16-2009 @ 7:29PM
jfarley said...
Oh come on... just because Hadji had a turban in the 60's doesn't mean you can't easily update him for the movie. Look at Mohinder on Heroes... a very believable Indian with powers and integrated his culture into his background/powers etc.
And as for Jonny's age - either you make it with 12 year olds for a 12 year old audience or broaden the appeal with Efron and age the character.
I am surprised that Monica didn't think that Rock couldn't play Bannon unless he dyed his hair platinum blonde.
And my 2 cents on Dr. Quest would be Liam Neeson.
But kill me if they make Bandit a CG dog.
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2-16-2009 @ 7:35PM
Monika said...
jfarley:
Of course Hadji could be updated. That's precisely what I said -- that he'd have to be. The stereotypes wouldn't fly today like they did back then.
I'm also surprised that I said Rock couldn't play Bannon unless he was blonde, since it was actually Erik wondering if Efron would bleach his hair to play Jonny. :)
2-16-2009 @ 10:55PM
Rich said...
Screw Johnny Quest, give me a Venture Bros movie!
Cause you know they will butcher it trying to make it funny and end up with something not as cool as JQ or as awesome as the VBs.
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2-17-2009 @ 12:58PM
King Zilch said...
*sigh* Is it even possible to mention JQ on the internet anymore without it being hijacked by Venture Brothers fanatics?
2-16-2009 @ 11:26PM
SlimPickins said...
I would only be interested in a Johnny Quest movie if it was in a retro-futuristic style.
That worked very well for The Incredibles, and I think it would be a huge mistake to do a JQ movie in a normal, modern setting, which is what I'm afraid they'd end up doing.
And I'm by no means an expert on Efron...but according to Wikipedia, he's 21, not 17....either way, he's way too old to play JQ.
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2-17-2009 @ 1:07AM
Joe said...
I wonder what version of Jonny Quest the movie will be based off the original or the new version that came out in the 90s.
I think Jonny Quest could be a really great film. If it is PG-13 this would be to make it have the same feel as the old series did.
Also in no way would I want to see a film if it has Zack in the film. This movie does not need to be for the little girls that go crazy over him.
Plus He is to old I would say even 16 year old would be to old to play Jonny but that would be the best way to go or some one around that age. Because you do not want Jonny to look to young but at the same time make him to old either.
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2-17-2009 @ 1:55AM
carg0 said...
i love Venture Bros but i don't see it translating well to the big screen at all.
the absurdity of their adventures, the hilariously outlandish characters...i simply can't imagine any of that existing outside of it's animated confines, nor would i want to now that i really think about it.
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2-17-2009 @ 1:45PM
ajcraig said...
Benton Quest: Sean Penn
Race Bannon: Josh Brolin
Jonny Quest: Zac Efron?????????? IDK
Hadji: NOT KAL PENN!! That kid from Slumdog Millionare would be a better choice.
Bandit: Real dog but he has to stay out of the movie as much as possible so it doesnt run the movie.
Keep the same music. Give it the feel of Raiders of the Lost Ark and a Sean Connery Bond film. Bump up the age of Jonny to 17-18 so it won't seem like a kids movie but keep it set in the 60's. It will work. Follow the 60's version and forget the 90's version of the cartoon. I hope that the director they are considering doesn't end up directing this film bc i think he will make it feel and look campy like the joel schumaker batman movies. Crap. I hope that it doesn't end up like the flintstones and scooby doo adaptations, very stylized and very crappy.
I personally think that the Rock would be a terrible choice for Race Bannon and I'm not sure about Zac Efron either.
What do you guys think?
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2-17-2009 @ 1:48PM
Robobagins said...
The Rock as Race Bannon? Puh-leeze. That man is one of the few I could accept as Brock Samson.
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2-17-2009 @ 2:19PM
ajcraig said...
Im just saying what i have already heard about the casting of Race Bannon and The Rock.
Who do you guys think should be casted as Race Bannon and the other characters?
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2-18-2009 @ 8:46PM
Hughman Bein said...
Instead of Zac Efron they should get that kid that's playing Aang in the M. Night mess and finally make some casting that makes sense on that movie.
Reply
3-01-2009 @ 4:18PM
Cami said...
Of course they should make a big-budget, live-action Venture Bros movie! Because if it's old, serious, and not dripping with sarcastic comedy or pop-culture commentary for nerds to cream their pants over, nobody could possibly enjoy that, right? Ugh
It's like you people don't even watch the Venture Bros. That's exactly the kind of thing they wouldn't do with that show.
With that being said, JQ would have made a fantastic movie franchise, it's exactly the kind of thing it's made for. Just a fun-pulply,stylish, action adventure movie everyone can lose theirselves in for an hour or two. and yes, it could have retro decor without the movie failing. Style does not equal camp.
But because of weird casting,direction and people hating on it for not being the goddamn Venture Bros., it probably will fail.
sigh
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4-16-2009 @ 11:58AM
stephen said...
Hey ajcraig, I,too, wish that they stick to the one and only classic 60's Jonny Quest and use the original music score.
As far as casting role, The Rock is pain wrong to play Race.
I totall agree on your choices for the other roles except for Dr. Benton Quest.I suggest that whomever was "The Matrix"'s architect ( who has the authorative voice and the look), to be in that role.
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4-29-2009 @ 9:21PM
Rock said...
I'm all for a Jonny Quest movie--whether original or Real Adventures version--but not with The Rock and DEFINITELY not with Efron.
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5-07-2009 @ 6:42PM
ME said...
Yeah, I got a comment. This had better be good, damn good, because so far, I'm getting a terrible twitch from the casting choices from an American icon. Nothing against Dwayne Johnson or Zac Efron, but JONNY QUEST has particular standards that MUST be adhered to. So far, I'd say the audience is GOING AWAY!!! And as far as Dr. Zin goes, KEN WATANABE and nobody else.
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5-07-2009 @ 6:50PM
ME said...
Yeah, I got a comment. This had better be good, damn good, because so far, I'm getting a terrible twitch from the casting choices from an American icon. Nothing against Dwayne Johnson or Zac Efron, but JONNY QUEST has particular standards that MUST be adhered to. So far, I'd say the audience is GOING AWAY!!! And as far as Dr. Zin goes, KEN WATANABE and nobody else.
Reply