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Morton, West and Walker Join Stanton's John Carter of Mars

by Alex Billington
August 23, 2009

Samantha Morton, Dominic West, Polly Walker

Three more actors have joined the cast of Andrew Stanton's John Carter of Mars, Disney's adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs series of books. Samantha Morton, Dominic West and Polly Walker will star alongside of the previously announced Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins and Willem Dafoe. Morton plays Sola, the daughter of Dafoe's Tars Tarkas, who must hide her softer side from her warmongering race. West plays Sab Than (the villain), prince of the Zodangans who believes he is entitled to rule Mars. Walker plays Sarkoja, a merciless, tyrannical Thark. Not that any of that makes sense, but we'll understand in due time.

The screenplay for John Carter of Mars was co-written by Pixar's Andrew Stanton, who directed Wall-E and Finding Nemo, and Mark Andrews. Production is now aiming to start early next year, contrary to the original reports that they would shoot this year in Utah. I've been thinking about this project, and now with a cast that includes more aliens, I'm starting to wonder exactly how Stanton is going to do this. Is it going to be motion capture with CGI rendering? Or is it just going to be practical make-up? Or a mix of those two or some other hybrid style? After the Avatar backlash, I'm very curious how this is going to look. Any clue?

All the actors who joined today are English. Samantha Morton last starred in The Messenger, Synecdoche New York, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Dominic West last starred in Punisher: War Zone and was also on "The Wire." Polly Walker last starred on "Rome" and also appears in the upcoming Clash of the Titans.

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Kenco

Dominic West is one of the best actors working today, so I'll probably see it for that reason!
http://rhptkfgs.blogspot.com ramez

Agree with number 1. Anything D-West is in, im bound to see.
http://twitter.com/gimmesumsuga Mathieu

I'll 'third' that! I love The Wire and he was wonderful in it. Polly Walker was rather fetching in Rome, too...
Mark

I kind of wish they'd made it the way Stanton originally pitched it: As the first of a series of traditionally animated film for adults. I can see why it didn't go that way, it would've been a hard sell in the states, but it would've been nice.
Fisherr

A bunch of good performers...interesting.
Fritz Blaze

"Not that any of that makes sense, but we'll understand in due time." Read "A Princess of Mars" and it will make perfect sense. It's the first book in the series...