By Dan Liebman
GameZone.com
Unless you’ve been living under a Mako for the past week, you’ve probably heard that a film adaptation for BioWare’s RPG space-epic Mass Effect is in the works. Legendary Pictures and Warner Brothers have already secured some great talent for the production, including (thankfully) some big names from BioWare. There’s still a long way to go until production begins of course, and that leaves us with a tremendous opportunity to partake in the Internet pastime – speculation. When will the film be ready? Should it follow the storyline of the game – and if so, how? Perhaps most urgent of all, who should be cast to play the iconic Commander Shepard?
Granted, there is a very good chance the film will not follow the game’s storyline. After all, it’s hard enough to deliver a consistent canon when players are engaging in universe-altering decision making throughout each adventure. As the player character, Shepard becomes less a fictional construct and more a living being of personal design; everything from Shepard’s gender and hair color, favorite sidearm and romantic escapades, even psychological profile and history, are left in the hands of the gamer. That being said, it’s difficult to imagine a major Mass Effect adventure that doesn’t involve the heroic N7, so perhaps an incredible film experience will drown on the inevitable cries of “That’s not how my Shepard would do it!”
There are some attributes that any Shepard should possess though, such as a natural ability to inspire and lead others, and an indomitable drive to get the job done. With that in mind, perhaps casting an appropriate actor isn’t entirely beyond reach. Here are a few possibilities, each bringing something unique to the table.
Christian Bale
We’re all accustomed to seeing Bale running around kicking ass, but generally he’s wearing a funny rubber suit and speaks like he’s got a bad case of strep. Imagine the same guy, decked out in the signature ablative ceramic armor of Commander Shepard. Bale is regularly seen sporting a bit of beard, so he actually bears a fair resemblance to the prototypical Shepard who appears both as a player default, and on each game’s cover art. Edgy and maybe a bit hotheaded, it’s not a far stretch to imagine Bale taking on the role of a renegade Shepard, an angry badass ready to punch Saren in the face.
Denzel Washington
An actor with as much critical acclaim as Washington could certainly put a strain on any film’s budget, but hey, it’s Mass Effect. There’s no denying the tremendous range and depth he could bring to a silver-screen Shepard, firmly distinguishing the character from so many generic “action heroes.” I’m not saying he has to start bawling in his private quarters after losing a squadmate or anything, but bringing a bit of humanity into the character will make him far more compelling, and that makes for a much better film.
Michelle Yeoh
Many a Bond girl claimed to be 007’s equal, but none have come close to the nimble Michelle Yeoh. The psychological and physical intensity of this actress cannot be overstated, and this could lend an interesting versatility to Shepard. The audience can be held tense in their seats, never knowing if she’s going to strike with a sharp word or a lash someone with a roundhouse kick. Yeoh has been known to perform many of her own stunts, so you’ll almost feel sorry for those poor stuntmen who had to wear Collector suits.
Gillian Anderson
Eyes like ice and a voice like lava, Anderson would have no shortage of the presence necessary to carry the weight of Commander Shepard. We know Anderson as the steadfast Agent Skully of X-Files fame, so investigating intergalactic conspiracies and chasing down inhuman creatures should make her feel right at home. She also looks great bursting through corridors with a firearm, a crucial component of any Council Spectre.
