The Book Was Better. Casting Call For The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
This is one of the greatest stories ever written. I’ve read this novella countless times. It has never been translated into a full feature length film that I’m aware of. Not in recent history and certainly not as an American, even modern version. The following cast could perform this as an early 20th Century, in its own time, period piece, or bring it up to now, and here in this country. So, let’s rock this roach! Here goes it.
Brandon Cronenberg is my filmmaker of choice. I’ve always heard The Metamorphosis is a passion project of his father’s, so I figure the apple (get it, apple?) doesn’t get thrown far from the tree and Brandon can inject a youthful creative energy and match his dad’s mastery of the macabre and his grotesque greatness needed for this terribly terrific tale.
For Gregor Samsa, we have to bring a young actor back from The Dead.
Carl Grimes. That’s right. Chandler Riggs would be perfect to play the world-weary traveling salesman bugged out by his life and his work.
David Dastmalchian as Gregor’s father, Mr. Samsa. Yes, who else could there be? It has to be him. I’ll bet the man can hurl some fruit too.
Allison Tolman as Gregor’s mother and Mr. Samsa’s lovely wife, Mrs. Samsa. I love Allison Tolman. Love her! She is beautiful and outstanding in every single way possible. An immensely talented actress with an Oscar in her near future. She would be perfect in this role. Sheer perfection.
Chappell Roan as Grete Samsa. The sister and daughter. I like her here. I really do. I think she’s got it and she can do it. She’s got the part.
Lastly, The Charwoman.
I love. LOVE. LOVE. Margo Martindale for this role. She is so fantastic in everything that she does. Next to the insect, this part is maybe the most important. She’s as big as the bug here, maybe bigger! And I mean that as a complete and total compliment! Margo Martindale is The Charwoman in Brandon Cronenberg’s, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. It just sounds right. It’ll look right too, if my dream ever comes true. If you haven’t read The Metamorphosis, please do so immediately! There’s a reason things gloomy, frightening and unpleasant are called Kafkaesque. Now, you need to find out why, if you don’t already know.
Brandon Cronenberg is my filmmaker of choice. I’ve always heard The Metamorphosis is a passion project of his father’s, so I figure the apple (get it, apple?) doesn’t get thrown far from the tree and Brandon can inject a youthful creative energy and match his dad’s mastery of the macabre and his grotesque greatness needed for this terribly terrific tale.
For Gregor Samsa, we have to bring a young actor back from The Dead.
Carl Grimes. That’s right. Chandler Riggs would be perfect to play the world-weary traveling salesman bugged out by his life and his work.
David Dastmalchian as Gregor’s father, Mr. Samsa. Yes, who else could there be? It has to be him. I’ll bet the man can hurl some fruit too.
Allison Tolman as Gregor’s mother and Mr. Samsa’s lovely wife, Mrs. Samsa. I love Allison Tolman. Love her! She is beautiful and outstanding in every single way possible. An immensely talented actress with an Oscar in her near future. She would be perfect in this role. Sheer perfection.
Chappell Roan as Grete Samsa. The sister and daughter. I like her here. I really do. I think she’s got it and she can do it. She’s got the part.
Lastly, The Charwoman.
I love. LOVE. LOVE. Margo Martindale for this role. She is so fantastic in everything that she does. Next to the insect, this part is maybe the most important. She’s as big as the bug here, maybe bigger! And I mean that as a complete and total compliment! Margo Martindale is The Charwoman in Brandon Cronenberg’s, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. It just sounds right. It’ll look right too, if my dream ever comes true. If you haven’t read The Metamorphosis, please do so immediately! There’s a reason things gloomy, frightening and unpleasant are called Kafkaesque. Now, you need to find out why, if you don’t already know.
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Brandon Cronenberg was born on 10 January 1980 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a director and writer, known for Possessor (2020), Infinity Pool (2023) and Antiviral (2012).- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Chandler Riggs is an American actor and director/producer. He is widely recognized for his portrayal of Carl Grimes in the AMC television series The Walking Dead from 2010 to 2018.
Riggs grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, the elder of two children of Gina Ann and William Riggs. Chandler has a younger brother named Grayson. His interest in the arts began at an early age, leading him to participate in theater productions. In the early stages of his acting career, he played the character of Tom in the film Get Low, where he had the opportunity to work alongside seasoned actors like Bill Murray and Robert Duvall.
However, his breakthrough came with the television series The Walking Dead, which started in 2010. He played the role of Carl Grimes, the son of Rick and Lori, for a remarkable eight seasons, gaining immense popularity and earning Saturn and Satellite awards for his performance.
Since then, Riggs has gone on to star in multiple films and started his own production company (Smooth Blend Films), directing and producing various projects.
Besides acting, Riggs also has a passion for video game development and runs a VR nonprofit called Virtual Nexus, where they produce the largest VR Roleplay project: Neon Divide.
Through his successful performance in The Walking Dead and beyond, Chandler Riggs has garnered a vast fan base and established himself as a prominent figure in the acting world despite his young age. Continuing his career with various memorable projects, Riggs is poised to become a household name.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
David Dastmalchian is originally from Kansas. He moved to Chicago, IL, to study acting at The Theatre School, DePaul University. After college, David worked as a professional fisherman in Alaska, a circus performer, movie theatre usher and playwright. He is an ensemble member of Shattered Globe Theatre Company and Caffeine Theatre in Chicago.- Actress
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Born in Sugar Land, Texas, Allison Tolman earned a BFA in theatrical performance from Baylor University. After graduation, she moved to Dallas where she helped found and foster the independent ensemble based non-profit Second Thought Theatre while also learning that the whole being an adult thing is like, super hard. In 2009, she was accepted into Second City's Conservatory Training Program and later went on to write and perform sketch and satire with several groups throughout Chicago, most notably the monthly comedy podcast The City Life Supplement.
Throughout her career, Tolman has played a veterinary receptionist, personal assistant, children's theatre teacher, vocal coach, phone sales associate, client services representative, and dog walker - never on film, but in her actual life in order to pay her rent and be able to afford more tank tops from Target than any human actually needs.
(2014) Tolman lives in Chicago with a portly cat named Annie who enjoys staring at her blankly whenever there is a house centipede in the kitchen.- Actress
- Writer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Chappell Roan was born on 19 February 1998 in Missouri, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Chappell Roan: My Kink is Karma (2022), Moonshot (2022) and Chappell Roan: Red Wine Supernova (Magician's Cut) (2023).- Actress
Margo Martindale was born in Jacksonville, Texas, to Margaret (Pruitt) and William Everett Martindale, a lumber company owner and dog handler. She is the youngest of three children and the only daughter. Margo attended Lon Marris College, later transferred to University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and did a summer study at Harvard University. She made her film debut appearance in Days of Thunder (1990), in which she played the minor role of Donna. Notable roles include Sister Colleen, Susan Sarandon's fellow nun in Dead Man Walking (1995), and a brief but memorable role as the selfish mother of Hilary Swank's character in Million Dollar Baby (2004).
