If you’ve ever gotten lost in a fandom or binged a favorite book, show, or game, you’ve likely imagined which actors would be perfect for the characters. That’s the heart of fancasting—bringing beloved characters to life with the perfect face and voice. Recently, there were a lot of fancasts for “Sunrise on the Reaping,” the newest book in the “Hunger Games” universe. Once the cast was announced, fans rejoiced. Many of the actors seem like a great fit, particularly McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner. Fans were thrilled that she so closely matches the character’s description in the book.
This begs the question: what makes a perfect fancast? For many, it’s about how closely the actor resembles their character. But to me, it’s not just about the appearance of a character. While likeness does matter, what really counts is how well the actor brings the character’s personality to life.
When the live-action adaptation of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” announced that Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel, there was a lot of backlash rooted in her appearance. But when she appeared in the trailer, she silenced critics. She embodied Ariel’s personality so well that many viewers fell in love with Bailey—and with Ariel–all over again. For some, it felt like watching the movie for the first time as a child.
Book-to-screen adaptations tend to spark heated discourse about casting. Fans either celebrate or feel disappointed. Take “The Shadowhunter Chronicles”—both the film and the TV series were met with mixed to negative reactions. Still, one element fans could agree on was the casting of Harry Shum Jr. as Magnus Bane and Matthew Daddario as Alec Lightwood. The chemistry between the two and their faithful portrayals of “Malec” won over fans and critics alike.
One of my fancasts was Will Poulter as Kaz Brekker—best known for “The Bear” and “The Maze Runner” movies—in Netflix’s “Shadow and Bone,” a series adapted from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels. When the actual cast was announced, I was hesitant. But after watching the show, I was blown away. Everyone—from Freddy Carter to Ben Barnes—fit their roles perfectly. I especially noticed Jack Wolfe and Kit Young, who play Jesper Fahey and Wylan Van Eck, because they both captured the characters in the best way possible.
In the book world, some authors have fancasted their own work. Stephanie Meyer, author of the “Twilight” saga, helped with the castings for the movie adaptation. Meyer supported the casting of Jackson Rathbone, who eventually played Jasper Cullen. Despite her original choice for Edward being Henry Cavill, Meyer approved of Robert Pattinson.
So, what makes a perfect fancast? While appearance plays a part, personality is the true key. Watching an adaptation should feel like the character loved on the page has come to life. Whether from a book or a game, a perfect fancast makes that connection feel real.
That’s the magic of fancasting—it bridges imagination and reality, making beloved characters feel just a little more alive.
Author
As Rhiannon had done journalism in the past for her high school. She hopes to continue that path through the Collegian.
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