...is very - very - troubling. Maybe this is just him in adolescence in Book 1, because the books are very clear that Uhtred is enormous, a "head taller" than every other man. It's what makes the character who he is to a large extent, the source of his intimidating personality. It would seem an actor would need to be at least 6'3-6'4 to truly capture the character.
sharesorry but this is the perfect Uhtred. Haven't read the books but I love this character.
shareNot to mention that most actors that claim to be 5'10" are actually 5'7" or 5'8".
shareGreatest people in History were short, look at Napoleon or Julius Caesar for instance.
What is important for a powerful man is brain not his body.
That's not the point. In the book Uhtred is always saying that he is a head taller than most men (he is vain about that), in the series he is a head shorter than most of the men and some of the women!!! He looks so young, maybe he will grow!!! I suppose he was the best actor available to play the part, but physically he doesn't look like the Uhtred from the books.
shareI agree, the actor does not have a powerful presence. imo
Humankind cannot bear very much reality. ~T.S. Eliot
I haven't read the book so I get your point, thanks.
Anyway I like this story and I think that Alexander is doing a good job.
I think they selected Alexander for this character after testing some others and may be he is the best.
I accept that the casting deviates from the book. A LOT of things deviate from the books. As in all adaptations. What I can't determine is why this deviation is so much more critical than any of the others you chose to highlight. It seems a rather superficial difference, there are many of much greater impact to the plot that you could have chosen to highlight.
I guess I just find it odd that you focus on -- in all the things you can lose in translation to the screen -- a purely visual thing.
Actually the greatest people were by and large tall. A couple of anecdotes does not disprove that fact.
And height is an indicator of health and nutrition in childhood and taller in any group are in fact on average smarter
Actually the greatest people were by and large tall
taller in any group are in fact on average smarter
And height is an indicator of health and nutrition in childhood and taller in any group are in fact on average smarterAlways ask a basket ball player for advice. share
The listed height is likely not his actual height.
Judging from the scene where he stands next to Alfred I think he's shorter than 5'10
It's quite hard to find someone who is both good looking and tall and can act. Travis Fimmel was also average.
"All models are wrong, but some are useful."
It's quite hard to find someone who is both good looking and tall and can act. Travis Fimmel was also average.
Fimmel is 2 inches taller than this actor, he's 6'0" tall.
shareI haven't read the source material, but I think Uthred is wonderfully cast. Gorgeously cast, in fact. I am very, very pleased with Uthred's casting.
shareIt is odd that he not only doesn't quite match the books, he seems shorter than other key characters like Ubbe, Leofric, and perhaps Guthrum. I don't know how tall the actor playing Ubbe is; but he towers over everyone else. In the period, he'd probably be a giant at 6' or 6'2" or so.
shareHe is miscast in general IMO.
Book Uthred is 100% warrior and fights like one. Outright arrogant and pretty abrasive. In other words, Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry."
TV Uthred is "roguish" and fights like a rogue. Somewhat of a jackass and can get pretty snippy. In other words, Johnny Depp's "Jack Sparrow."
e.g. In the long running fight in, I think, ep.2 he uses his knife throughout and only draws Serpent Breath once - and that was to poke it through a wall. If anything, this guy should have been cast as Finan or Uthred's 2nd son (both described as smaller and with a more 'acrobatic' fighting style than Uthred himself) much later in the series.
Love the books, love that it was made into a series. Not too keen on the lead, but will watch every episode for as long as they make them.