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McAvoy and Cruise Desired for 'At the Mountains of Madness'

by Ethan Anderton
September 2, 2010
Source: Collider

James McAvoy & Tom Cruise - At the Mountains of Madness

We already know and are very excited that the next project from Guillermo del Toro is the long-gestating adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's novella At the Mountain of Madness which is being produced by James Cameron and shot in 3D. Though production isn't expected to begin until May of 2011, apparently Universal and del Toro are already in the midst of searching for their cast. Collider reports that the studio would like James McAvoy to lead the film while del Toro is much more interested in bringing Tom Cruise on board. In addition, Chris Pine is also being considered as a potential candidate for del Toro's new passion project.

While Chris Pine has quite a future slate already lined up like the forthcoming Star Trek sequel, the action comedy This Means War, the Jack Ryan franchise reboot Moscow and The Art of Making Money with D.J. Caruso, the other two aforementioned actors aren't nearly as busy. McAvoy will soon be shooting X-Men: First Class with Matthew Vaughn and at some point after could then be shooting the adaptation of Cloud Atlas with director Tom Tykwer and other X-Men alums Ian McKellen and Halle Berry. Meanwhile, Cruise is prepping for the next installment in the Mission Impossible franchise and has a feature film surrounding his Tropic Thunder character Les Grossman in development as well. Both will likely have no problem opening their schedules for a May production start next year. So which actor is more likely to take on this big role?

While there were rumors that McAvoy would take on the role of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, which del Toro sadly had to leave, a more solid relationship most likely already exists between Tom Cruise and the Hellboy director. One of the projects del Toro left behind in order to finally adapt At the Mountains of Madness was a new take on Van Helsing with Cruise producing and maybe starring. So it stands to reason that del Toro still wants to work with Cruise and finds him the perfect man to to lead the project. Being unfamiliar with the H.P. Lovecraft story, I can't speak as to whether Cruise's potential casting is good or bad, but if del Toro has faith in him, that's certainly good enough for me. Any Lovecraft fans have any other suggestions?

Filed under Movie News, Opinions, Rumors

From around the web:

Xerxex

you know Crusie has the ability to give a heartfelt performance just look at The Last Samurai, Collateral, and Vanilla Sky three amazing performances, imo. and At The Mountains of Madness could be another one of his heartfelt performances
LINKFX

YEA! These two actors would be perfect! Guillermo del Toro can do no wrong! And I love Cruise when he's doing sci-fi/fantasy...a la "Legend" and "Minority Report"...
Xerxex

ah dammit! I forgot all about Minority Report! and I forget to add a period to my #1 comment!
Gmorra

Ive read the screenplay and I have to say, Cruise would be awful in this movie. Maybe as the cocky professor guy he'd be good, but for the title character, no way.
gonnarentit

There are two main human roles in the story, can't see whey they both wouldn't be great. One is younger (MacAvoy) the other older (Cruise). The story is nuts. If anyone can pull off the insanity of Lovecraft, it'll be Del Toro.
Xerxex

agreed, gonnarentit. There had better be a 2-D option.
nelson

i like Cruise the dude gets no respect it is ridiculous yet he is a great actor
gonnarentit

'cmon Xerxex, you know you want to see giant blind penguins in 3D. That'd be sweet.
loser

born on the fourth of july
Xerxex

nah 3-D just annoy's me.
http://amodernamericanman.wordpress.com/ ModernAmericanMan

Xerxex, you forgot Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire! Two great performances from Cruise as well. It's hard to say what would be the right choice. Chris Pine, though? I'm not sure about that guy yet.
Xerxex

Dammit! I forgot Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry McGuire (The latter is a personal favorite too!).
ConnachtFan

I hope Del toro does not have blind penquins with eyes in their wings ..his creatures all have the same theme...
Cody w

Xerx, you dont like 3-d? I mean like I had no idea you never say that or anything.....lol I kid I kid. On topic, all three sound like they could have some great on screen chemistry. Im already sold, this just adds more awesome to the current pile of awesome.
Cody w

Just re-realized sarcasm translates terribly in text.
loser

Eyes wide shut and Magnolia
Ali

I will say cruise is best for this type of role........u just his films and then comment
http://cinematicjackass.wordpress.com Krishna Shenoi

I know you guys are really busy and all, but just pointing this out: The title of this blog-post reads "At the MountainS of Madness", not "Mountain". If Guillermo del Toro thinks Tom Cruise is the right choice for his film, I'm not gonna say otherwise. If there's one guy who knows what he's doing, it's del Toro.
Xerxex

funny, very amusing Cody w. lol.
jack

being a huge lovecraft fan i have to say that mcavoy is way too young! dyer (the protagonist) is supposed to be a 55 year old university professor... i'd go with someone like viggo mortensen
Fox

So... Cruise as Cthulhu ? (#20: viggo would be great!)
Xerxex

I like the Viggo idea.
art seike

Tom Cruise? Really? Destroying War of the Worlds wasn't enough. My dollars never go to supporting Scientology, so if this movie, which I've waited a lifetime to see made, stars this psycho, I will pass, forever and ever.
http://Xaotikdesigns.com Adam

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! I will not see this movie, no matter how much I want to, if it stars Tom Cruise.
Xerxex

@23 War of the Worlds was ruined by Steven Spielberg .
zubzwank

People have too many issues about Cruise based on the media-drenching culture of celebrity, not on his skills as an actor. The movie's point, hopefully, is to portray one of Lovecraft's best stories in all its atmospheric, outre' glory. The humans are mainly there to give a reason for all of it to be presented. Competent actors, like Cruise, giving committed performances in well written roles, are sufficient. They mainly have to be able to convey skepticism (initially), then horrified amazement, then terrible realization. I love to see Kurt Russell in the movie. It would be a nice connection to another very lovecraftian (if not actually by HPL) story. He's also acted with Cruise before.