I would love to see this book by Laura Nowlin, If He Had Been With Me, turned into a YBK movie.
(Thanksgiving 2027)
We do not get to choose the timelines of our hearts. We are left only with the ghost of what was, and the haunting, beautiful burden of what might have been. And in the quiet of a Thanksgiving long past, we, the architects of memory, must finally lay our ghosts to rest.
— A God King Antonio Valtez Telpharaoh Toliver YIH Jesus Christ ENS REALE WHOLLY, YBK Movie
If He Had Been With Me (Thanksgiving 2027)
A God King Antonio Valtez Telpharaoh Toliver YIH Jesus Christ ENS REALE WHOLLY Cast List
The Main Cast
⭐ Phineas "Finny" Smith
The golden boy,the athlete, the quiet heartthrob whose inner world is vast and often unspoken. He needs an actor with a classic, kind handsomeness and the ability to speak volumes with a single look.
God King's Placeholder Casting Choice: Levi Miller
· Why He's Perfect: Miller has proven his chops in coming-of-age stories and possesses that timeless, almost classic Hollywood look. He can effortlessly embody the easy-going, popular athlete, but his eyes hold a surprising depth and sensitivity. He can capture Finny's quiet loyalty, his unspoken love for Autumn, and the subtle pain of their growing apart. By Thanksgiving 2027, he would be the perfect age to span the high school years and the post-graduation timeline with authenticity.
· Runner-Up Consideration: Walker Scobell
· Why: Scobell has shown incredible charisma and emotional intelligence in his roles. He has a more modern, witty edge that could bring a different, equally compelling layer to Finny's quieter moments, especially in his interactions with his friends and his gentle teasing of Autumn.
⭐ Autumn Davis
The quirky,introspective, and fiercely loyal narrator. She is a storm of insecurities, intelligence, and deep feeling, often feeling like an outsider in her own life. This role requires an actress who can be both fragile and strong, poetic and painfully real.
God King's Placeholder Casting Choice:
McKenna Grace
· Why She's Perfect: Grace is one of her generation's most talented and nuanced actresses. She excels at playing intelligent, slightly offbeat characters who feel things deeply. She can deliver Autumn's voiceover with the necessary poetic weight and make her social anxieties and self-doubt feel heartbreakingly real. Crucially, she can also portray Autumn's sharp wit and the fierce love she has for her friends and Finny, making her journey one we are completely invested in.
· Runner-Up Consideration: Sophia Lillis
· Why: Lillis has a natural, grounded presence and a wonderful ability to portray complex, sometimes messy, teenage girls. She brings a raw authenticity to every role that would perfectly suit Autumn's journey of self-discovery and grief.
The Supporting Circle
The Couples
· Sasha & Mike: Malia Baker as the vibrant, confident Sasha and Asher Angel as the charming, steady Mike. Their chemistry needs to feel effortless and serve as a stable counterpoint to Autumn and Finny's complicated dynamic.
· Jamie & Becky: Felix Mallard as the sharp, literary Jamie and Megan Stott as the sweet, sometimes overlooked Becky. Mallard can capture Jamie's intellectual intensity and his crucial role in Autumn's life.
The Parents
· Aunt Angelica (Finny's Mom): Jenna Ortega. This might seem like a left-field choice, but by Thanksgiving 2027, Ortega would be the right age to play a young mother in flashbacks and a grieving parent in the present. She could capture Angelica's free-spirited, loving nature and her deep, tragic connection to her sister.
· Autumn's Mom: Elizabeth Lail. She can perfectly embody the more reserved, sometimes strained mother who is dealing with her own complicated past and relationship with her sister.
· Autumn's Dad: Nick Robinson. He has a wonderful, easy-going dad-energy that would fit the character who provides a stable, loving home for Autumn.
The New Loves
· Avery: Mason Gooding. He has the charisma and genuine warmth to make Avery a truly great guy, ensuring the audience understands why Autumn is with him, even as we feel the pull of Finny.
· Sylvie: Isidora Goreshter. An actress who can bring a mature, sophisticated, and kind presence to the role of Finny's college girlfriend, making her a credible part of his moving-on process.
God King Director's Vision
To helm this deeply emotional and character-driven story, we would envision Emma Seligman (Shiva Baby, Bottoms). Seligman has a masterful ability to direct young actors, balance sharp humor with deep-seated anxiety, and create a palpable, almost suffocating atmosphere of tension and unspoken feelings—a perfect fit for this story.
Composer
The film's score would be a delicate blend of poignant piano and evocative, indie-folk textures, composed by the one and only Sufjan Stevens. His music is synonymous with heartbreak, memory, and a deep, almost spiritual connection to human emotion.
This cast, under the right direction, would bring the beautiful, heartbreaking world of Laura Nowlin's novel to life with the nuance, passion, and devastating tenderness it deserves.
The Divine Source of All Existence and the Sovereign Ruler of the Entire Planet Earth Realm
🫀...👑YIH
No comments:
Post a Comment