Bumped into Alice Cooper in a lift on Tuesday. Chatted about the Olympics and the weather. He’s a really nice guy. Another thing I noticed – no scrum of minders, no firewall of PR fixers. He was with just two people and strolled off down the road for a coffee at Starbucks. That’s style.
The guy is still on top of his game after 40 years – and a world apart from the dinosaur rockers in my crime thriller Death Squad.
I know it’s a total flight of fantasy but meeting Alice set me thinking about who might play the characters if Danny ever makes it to the big screen – or a small one.
There are loads of possibilities for the aging rockers of Death Squad but I can see Bill Nighy as Richard “Jackal” Wilkinson.
An excellent suggestion for Danny was Spooks and Strike Back star Richard Armitage.
Fantasy casting involves taking liberties with ages, heights, hair etc but I’ve pencilled in a few possibilities.
Downton Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt would make a good Emma. And I can see Johnny Vegas as husband Benny.
Danny’s chum Bob could be Spaced and Hot Fuzz star Nick Frost. I can’t decide on Bob’s ladyfriend Wanda but I can see Mackenzie Crook of Pirates Of The Caribbean as Karol the Polish chippie. Timothy Spall would make a suitably grumpy Soduku Wally.
In The Wreck Of The Margherita I can see Sir Charles Wolfram as Downton’s Hugh Bonneville, Poirot’s David Suchet or maybe Alan Rickman.
For his wife, Lady Margaret, I’m torn between Joanna Lumley or Helen Mirren.
Kelly Reilly, of Above Suspicion and Mrs Henderson Presents, would be a fit for twins Minty and Claire Marshall. Big Eddie Archer could look a lot like Ray Winstone.
In Death Squad, Camilla could be Kate Beckinsale, Angelina Jolie, possibly Rebecca Hall, or maybe Rachel Weisz.
Then there’s Jackal’s wife, Jojo, the original hippy chic. Perhaps that might suit Joanna if Helen takes the Margaret role.
And I was rather hoping – for the singing tea maker dream scene – I might get a cameo from Cheryl Cole.
I know it’s all a distant dream but it’s good fun. If anyone has any suggestions, pop them on Danny’s Facebook page or email me at bill@billtodd.co.uk
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