Kristy Carlson gets it. As a longtime CD who had a hand in casting Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Henry Cavill as Superman, she’s seen all the fan comments.
“Whether it’s a project made from a book or a graphic novel, I know there is a passionate fanbase coming in with casting expectations, because they’ve already interacted with all the characters,” she says. “I think it’s great, but I also think they don’t always understand the many factors that go into casting. So I’m trying to navigate those expectations, and it is challenging.”
Her latest challenge was matching the right actors with the right roles for Justin Baldoni’s “It Ends With Us,” hitting theaters on Aug. 9. The film is based on Colleen Hoover’s runaway bestseller, which, as of 2022, has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide.
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Carlson drew on past experience and her solid instincts to cast Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, a Boston florist with a troubled upbringing; Baldoni as Ryle Kincaid; and “1923” star Brandon Sklenar as Lily’s first love, Atlas Corrigan. “I’ve read a lot of positive reactions to the casting, even though the roles were originally written as a bit younger,” the CD says. “I do want to make sure that both the fans are happy and that the movie [finds] a wide audience. So it’s really about who is the best actor for the part.”
Here, she opens up about how she hits all her (book)marks when casting an adaptation.
Do you always read the original before casting a project based on existing media?
In terms of IP projects, I don’t always read the original material. Much of what I need is in the script. But sometimes I will go back to the original material to get a deeper understanding or to find the real psychology of the characters.
How did that work when you were putting together the ensemble of “It Ends With Us”?
I knew of the book because my daughter read it years ago; but I did read it after talking to Justin. Then I read the script and began ruminating. I have this database [of actors I want to work with], so I started building and making some preliminary lists for myself. I talked to Justin to get his take on my ideas; then I went to Sony and the producers and got their initial lists, too.
What were you looking for in the actors you cast as the leads?
There were expectations. We asked ourselves if there were physical traits that people were really expecting—like age, gender, and ethnicity—for the main characters. Other traits were subject to interpretation and flexibility. For Lily, when she opens the flower shop, her life is really starting, and she’s putting herself on this path and getting into this relationship with Ryle. But she’s not so far along that she doesn’t have the ability to change.
Justin Baldoni in “It Ends With Us” Credit: Nicole Rivelli
Why did Lively fit the bill to play Lily?
We were focused on established actresses, and we liked Blake early on. She has this great combination of strength and independence and vulnerability. There’s this emotional arc to the movie, because Lily starts off as a pretty strong and independent person. She doesn’t become a victim, but her character is authentic. Blake could pull off all those characteristics.
Is there added pressure when you’re working on a project based on existing source material?
Definitely. We’re never going to make everyone happy, for sure, and we don’t want anybody to be disappointed or feel like we didn’t get it right. But hopefully I’m doing my job; and even if we don’t cast an actor that fans had in mind, they still will really enjoy it.
Do you ever take fans’ casting ideas under consideration?
I will always consider an idea, and I like to be aware of the conversations. When we were working on [Zack Snyder’s] “Watchmen,” somebody on a blog suggested Jackie Earle Haley for Rorschach. We did already have him on the list, but I did think, Oh, this person is going to be so happy.
Are there benefits to placing an unknown in a big role?
When the IP itself is the marquee name, it does free you up a little bit. You really need to get somebody like a Wonder Woman or Superman right, so a studio is willing to go with somebody who’s lesser-known. Fans also don’t have any kind of preconceptions about them.
Is there a movie adaptation that you consider to be particularly well-cast?
I didn’t cast the original “Harry Potter” films, but I was working at Warner Bros. at the time and got to see some of the tests. Now, I can’t imagine anyone else in those roles. Daniel Radcliffe just embodies the real heart and soul of Harry, as well as his heartbreaking qualities.
How can you tell if a project didn’t quite work on the casting front?
If something is really well-cast, I get completely immersed in the storytelling and performance and don’t think twice. If something is jarring and feels off, then I start to think, Maybe I wouldn’t have done it that way. But I know how challenging it can be to pull this stuff off, so I don’t ever critique it at that high of a level.
What else do you factor in before choosing actors to play well-known characters?
Each project is like reinventing the wheel. Like: OK, how are we going to do this?—whether it’s the budget or logistics or specifics of the role. I remember when we had to cast a new Wonder Woman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” [Director] Zack Snyder said, “I want her to be an international actor with an accent, because she’s from this other place and time.” My casting partner and I were just like, “Oh, my God.” Hundreds of actresses must have read for it.
This story originally appeared in the Aug. 8 issue of Backstage Magazine.