Who is Michael McElhatton playing?

[JenniferL]

He was spotted in the video released yesterday. https://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2019/10/michael-mcelhatton-cast-in-wheel-of.html

[DragonFairy]

My guess and my hope is Thom. I haven't seen him in anything else than GoT and Chernobyl, but a friend of mine described him this way: " McElhatton is famous for 'speaking with his eyes,' he's expert at the sidelong glance, the slightly raised eyebrow, the skeptical but always understated body language--in other words, no matter who he's playing, you just know that the character knows a very great deal more than he's saying or telling."

That just sounds perfect for Thom, and according to IMDB he is also known for his voice. No idea if he can sing or not. Also, any other male roles in episodes 1 and 2 are small parts, so thinking he wouldn't go for that.

[Polskija]

Looking at his facial appearance and body built, I'm inclined to say he's our Padan Fain. Hooked nose, thinly fellow. We'll see. He's got chops to do Thom, Tam or Fain imo so I can only guess and I'll be happy with any. 

[agreddon]

Thom, Tam, or possibly Ishamael.  I'm leaning in heavily the direction of Thom.  Major enough to attract his talent, yet remote enough so that you don't have to spend that much time on him in the first season.  Although if it is Thom perhaps we don't want to look too closely at that multi-patched cloak of his

[Captainwilhelm96]

I doubt he's Tam since Two Rivers people are dark skinned in the show so it's more likely than not that he'll be played by a dark skinned actor.

Edited October 4, 2019 by Captainwilhelm96

[MasterAblar]

8 hours ago, Captainwilhelm96 said:

I doubt he's Tam since Two Rivers people are dark skinned in the show so it's more likely than not that he'll be played by a dark skinned actor.

 

Seems like the show is actually going with a very diverse Two Rivers rather, considering Mat (and presumably Tam), so there’s no reason he couldn’t be playing someone from there.

[JenniferL]

They also need to make it somewhat plausible that Rand isn’t adopted.

[MasterAblar]

Yeah exactly that’s why I mentioned Tam.

[Captainwilhelm96]

Kari being an outlander can be used to explain Rand's differences and I don't see how is Mat is an example of diversity when he doesn't seem that much lighter than Nynaeve to me.

Edited October 5, 2019 by Captainwilhelm96

[MasterAblar]

I mean Nyneave isn’t exactly super dark skinned, but she’s quite clearly of a different ethnicity than Mat. As for Rand he’s basically white as snow so regardless of Kari, it needs to be at least plausible that Tam is his real father, like Jennifer said.

 

 

Edited October 6, 2019 by MasterAblar

[Goathill]

Trying to think of something different.

 

Could he be Logaine?

[Rosemary_Sedai]

6 hours ago, Goathill said:

Trying to think of something different.

 

Could he be Logaine?

Logain is, what, mid-30s? too old by far.

 

My money is Thom, Padan Fain, or a third, non-Tam option.

[Polskija]

1 hour ago, Rosemary_Sedai said:

Logain is, what, mid-30s? too old by far.

 

My money is Thom, Padan Fain, or a third, non-Tam option.

Yes, Logain was born 972NE and the series begin 998NE so that makes Logain 26yo. 

[JJLXL]

He has a menacing appearance.  He can play that role quite well too.  My money is on Fain.  

 

That said, make-up and good acting can do wonders.  There are only so many choices from the first few chapters.  Very likely Tam, Thom or Fain. 

 

However, Tam doesn't appear much for a long time after they flee from the Two Rivers, so doubtful he plays Tam. 

 

Fain has mostly minor appearances after leaving Two Rivers.   But they could decide the flesh out his story? 

 

Thom is around quite a bit in book one, and they will need an actor that can be very serious at times.  

 

Thinking about it more, maybe he does play Thom?    I guess time will tell.  

[SinisterDeath]

I like the theory of Bornhald. I can see him being that guy. Lawful Evil/Good type character.

I dunno if they'll bother with introducing Fain in season 1, since he plays such a little part of Book 1.

[mistborn82]

If they expand Geoffram's role it could be him but as with Fain, he's not in EotW much and I think there's only so many characters, especially when the prime focus is on the Emonds Fielders. Having said that, I'm not sure you introduce Fain in season one as most of his evil is later, unless you show the creation of shaisam or whatever we call him. You have the ominous figure of Logain and probably witness his gentling, you have Ishamael and you have the guessing game of the Dragon. I'm not sure you want more antagonism.

[unlabled]

Fain or Tam, I think.  Who would be in the first or second episode?  Bornhald doesn't make as much sense. Even if he were in it, wouldn't have a huge scene.

[SinisterDeath]

48 minutes ago, unlabled said:

Fain or Tam, I think.  Who would be in the first or second episode?  Bornhald doesn't make as much sense. Even if he were in it, wouldn't have a huge scene.

For the White Cloaks pursuing Perrin story, it does make sense that they might expand his character.

I can totally see this actor playing that character, but I can't see him playing Fain. I don't think he looks like Fain in either or can pull off Fains' personalities.
 

Tam, I can maybe see. He's older, and has that 'old-soldiers body' look. 
But he has to push off that "I play evil characters" vibe, where as Bornhald isn't evil, he isn't good either so there wouldn't be much of a stretch there. I believe he could play a zealot pretty easily.

Edited October 8, 2019 by SinisterDeath

[mistborn82]

Could he be Ishamael? So far we only know good characters, eventually we're going to have to get the Forsaken and he's the only one in EotW

[SinisterDeath]

10 minutes ago, mistborn82 said:

Could he be Ishamael? So far we only know good characters, eventually we're going to have to get the Forsaken and he's the only one in EotW

Could be him to.
Course there's some kinda drama with Billy Zane over that role..

[mistborn82]

could be he hasn't heard of the series and didn't realize he has a maximum of three seasons before he's dead and there's another actor for Moridin.

[SinisterDeath]

7 hours ago, mistborn82 said:

could be he hasn't heard of the series and didn't realize he has a maximum of three seasons before he's dead and there's another actor for Moridin.

That or he was given false promises by Red Eagle Entertainment, for a lead bad guy role, with that Amazon money in an long running TV show that will rival GoT in budget and longevity.

[mistborn82]

Also WoT a larger pontential fanbase as it's not as hard of a TV-MA as GoT was. Nor isn't anywhere near as crass and crude as the ice and fire books are, I mean I think we're clear that Mother's milk in a cup means the same as another curse that starts with mother but it's not the same. Though I'm sure amazon will get it sorted before they actually need Ishamael.

[Polskija]

On 10/8/2019 at 10:58 PM, mistborn82 said:

could be he hasn't heard of the series and didn't realize he has a maximum of three seasons before he's dead and there's another actor for Moridin.

The way I heard it is that Billy Zane is actually a big fan of the books and didn't know all that well what he was stepping into. So that would indicate he knows very well who Ishamael is and how long he'll be with the series. 

[SinisterDeath]

2 hours ago, Polskija said:

The way I heard it is that Billy Zane is actually a big fan of the books and didn't know all that well what he was stepping into. So that would indicate he knows very well who Ishamael is and how long he'll be with the series. 

What's funny is, I think he'd be perfect for Asmodean.