If Nick had played Mal

nightshade

Your grandfather is a cat
Staff member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
18,370
Location
England
Black Thorn
I read in another thread that Nick was supposed to have played Mal in Firefly instead of Nathan Fillion. Do you think this would have worked well or not?
 
No not really I think Nathan is more talented acting wise. Plus I would not have cared for the character much at all most likely. I like Nick but I like Nathan more.
 
T
Tintaglia
[No message]
Goby
Goby
[No message]
C
Carrrrgh
[No message]
As much as I love Nick, I think Nathan is better suited to the role of Mal. And yes, you really did just see me type that here. LOL
 
No way!!

Nick doesn't have that same swagger that Nathan has. I don't think I would have enjoyed watching firefly if Nick was Mal, Mal is my favorite character on the show and I wouldn't want him any other way 🙂
 
I actually think Nick would have been pretty decent as Mal (maybe even Jayne or Wash) but what I think would have been against him is how incredibly tied to Xander he is. There is just no way this fandom could have looked at him and not seen/heard Xander Lavelle Harris.
 
BuffyElevated
BuffyElevated
[No message]
S
Spikefan31
[No message]
white avenger
white avenger
The cahracter of Wash was close enough to Xander that he could have pulled that off pretty easily. They're both kinda competent/goofy
I cant see him being any of those; I can see him being Simon, though.
 
I don't think he would have suited the part as well as Nathan to be honest. I'm judging based on him as Xander though, so perhaps that's not quite fair.
 
I think he looks more like Simon but I can't imagine him as Simon at all.
 
I think he looks more like Simon but I can't imagine him as Simon at all.

Really? Manner, behavior.. that kinda.. nervousness.
 
C
Carrrrgh
i could maybe see him playing simon but simon has this finese about him that i dont think nick could have pulled off
Really? Manner, behavior.. that kinda.. nervousness.

Much more Wash than Simon though.

Simon is so refined and uppercrust...so stuffy. He's basically a Watcher. I think Nick is a little too goofy or something?
 
Skanky Vamp
Skanky Vamp
He could have.. I am sure of that. He is not the greatest of thespians, but could have been Simon much easier than Wash.
VisionGirl
VisionGirl
But the sexiest of the watcher-types!
Much more Wash than Simon though.

Simon is so refined and uppercrust...so stuffy. He's basically a Watcher. I think Nick is a little too goofy or something?

I agree. I could for sure see him playing Wash but like I said to Sco ^ Simon def has this finesse about him that makes him sort of regal and above the others (in his mind anyway) and I always picture Nick playing characters who are either losers or self conscious or just ordinary guys...basically characters that dont have that 'im better than you' stink about them.
 
Nathan is a man
Nathan is more talented
Nathan is older
Nathan has the acting skills, age, and wisdom to command the Firefly

Nick is a terrible actor (sorry to say to that)
Nick is too young
 
C
Carrrrgh
i dont know about nick being a terrible actor but other than that, i agree with everything about nathan
caitaintdead
caitaintdead
[No message]
I love Nathan as Mal. It seems odd to think of anyone else playing him, especially Nick.

I think I would have thought Xander the whole time.

I think it would have been weird though if Nathan had been cast as Angel. When I heard that I was like . . .what? But he didn't even get very far in the audition process.
 
Nick is actually a very good actor. His comedic timing is impeccable and he plays evil wonderfully.
 
Nick is actually a very good actor. His comedic timing is impeccable and he plays evil wonderfully.

I agree. People that knock Nick's acting chops have clearly never seen any of his other work. Even though he may not be as famous for his other roles as he is for Xander, he was marvelous in "Private Practice", and he was really good in that movie "A Golden Christmas", even though the movie itself was floptastic.
 
S
Spikefan31
[No message]
I agree. People that knock Nick's acting chops have clearly never seen any of his other work. Even though he may not be as famous for his other roles as he is for Xander, he was marvelous in "Private Practice", and he was really good in that movie "A Golden Christmas", even though the movie itself was floptastic.

I think it is very easy to underestimate how much effort it takes to play funny and still come off as sincere and sweet. The same could be said for Matt Le Blanc and how he played Joey in Friends. It looks so easy but it is really the exact opposite of easy.

And I agree about Private Practice too. He made my skin crawl in that role.
 
C
Carrrrgh
him on private practice....he really got to me. his acting in that role was so creeepy it was amazing, it was the first time i didnt see 'xander' when i watched him
S
Spikefan31
[No message]
I agree. People that knock Nick's acting chops have clearly never seen any of his other work.

You're right, I haven't seen his other work. I just know that his is the weakest actor in the BtVS cast.

BTW, I do give him kudos for landing the job. I give him kudos for giving it 100% in OMWF when he had never sang or danced. And he seems like a nice guy. And I hear he wear great looking Speedos. 😉

But a great actor he is not. 🙁

---------- Post added at 10:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:56 AM ----------

I think it is very easy to underestimate how much effort it takes to play funny and still come off as sincere and sweet. The same could be said for Matt Le Blanc and how he played Joey in Friends. It looks so easy but it is really the exact opposite of easy.

And I agree about Private Practice too. He made my skin crawl in that role.

lol!! You named an actor that makes Nick look like Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks, and Jack Nicholson combined! Matt is horrible!

Kean, I know we'll agree on something someday. 😛
 
You're right, I haven't seen his other work. I just know that his is the weakest actor in the BtVS cast.

BTW, I do give him kudos for landing the job. I give him kudos for giving it 100% in OMWF when he had never sang or danced. And he seems like a nice guy. And I hear he wear great looking Speedos. 😉

But a great actor he is not. 🙁

If you have not seen his other work, you can't judge him. In your opinion, he's a bad actor. But that does not make it fact.
 
Back
Top Bottom