This oughta get the True Blood-thirsty among you salivating! Since Alan Ball has confirmed that season 3 will make an animal attraction of the werewolf Alcide (who debuted in the third Sookie novel, Club Dead), I thought I — and, in turn, you — should help the series’ busy, busy creator on his hunt for just the right actor to sink his teeth into the juicy part. My suggestions:
Henry Cavill: If The Tudors‘ other heartthrob can look that good in tights and frilly shirts, we can’t imagine he’d fare worse with back hair front and back. The question is, could he rock the role without an English accent?
Benjamin Bratt: The former Cleaner star may seem a little long in the tooth to strike up the necessary chemistry with Anna Paquin, whose Sookie he helps search for Bill. But remember, her currently-MIA almost-fiance is hundreds of years older!
Steven Strait: Since he’s modeled for Details and Vogue, it’s a given that the Stop-Loss and 10,000 BC vet has tall, dark and handsome down pat. But does he have the chops to pull off a compelling performance in canine chompers?
Jeffrey Dean Morgan: Thanks to a little show on The CW as well as a certain Grey’s Anatomy “ghost” story, supernatural hoo-ha is old hat to Denny’s portrayer. Trouble is, coming off slightly mad, occasionally bad and potentially dangerous isn’t. (Confession: I never saw Morgan’s slightly mad, occasionally bad and potentially dangerous turn in Watchman.)
Ben Browder: Part romantic lead, part action hero, the SyFy mainstay (Farscape, Stargate SG-1) could play Alcide in his sleep. But as with Bratt, his age could be an issue.
Cam Gigandet: One glance at this Twilight vamp and you think, “Here comes trouble.” Unfortunately for Ball and Co., movie casting directors generally seem to also think, “Here comes our Next Big Thing.” So he’s about as likely to be available for hire as Eric is for breakfast.
Your turn — who do you see donning a furry body stocking for True Blood’s next monster mash? Vote in the poll and then sound off in the comments! (Additional reporting by Andy Patrick)
PHOTO CREDIT: Morgan: David Gabber/PR Photos; Cavill: Anthony G.
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HENRY CAVILL was spot on come on Ausiello we all know you have pulling power get him on TB!
I actually initially thought Eric Bana but there’s no way in you know where they’d get him. Morgan would have been perfect if he was 15 years younger, bratt is hot but totally wrong, browder maybe with longer hair.
Me too! OMG I love Eric Bana and have pictured him for Alcide for the past few months now. But like you said, they won’t get him. Sucks though. I’m voting for Jeffrey Dean Morgan. He’s been my ideal for Alcide before I thought about Eric Bana. Damn, why can’t we have it all…lol…
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is perfect for the part. He can read the right age on camera. I’m not worried about that. Besides, werewolves live hard. He should be a little grizzled. Oh, how I hope they get him. He has the range to make it work.
I always pictured Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Calvin Norris more than Alcide, I think Steven Strait would be good though.
I agree with Elle he’s the only one on this list I can really see playing Alcide.
But in my opinion Brian Austin Green in my opinion is perfecttt for this role, he’s who I always pictured when reading the books.
Brian Austin Green is a good idea.
I think Brian Austin Green would also be great as Alcide. He is burly and tough enough looking and he played the tough guy great in the Terminator series. He would be a good choice.
I agree with everything kad stated. Brian Austin Green would be perfect!
really?! I can’t picture that AT ALL.
I agree with Ann – I totally don’t see it. Loved him in SCC, but this just doesn’t work.
Brian A. Green is good looking and i could picture him as Alcide, but i dont think he can act. I KNOW Henry Cavill can act, i watch Tudors and he is great.
@Erika
As a True Blood fan, I say this with love… but I’m not sure acting chops are really a requirement for appearing on the show. (Alex, Kim and Nelsan excluded; they’re the only ones who don’t make me cringe week after week). Sorry Stephen, Anna, Rutina (ugh!), Sam… etc.
Brian Austin Green! I never thought of him, but so true because of his eyes and build. Good Call, I am on Dead to the World right now.
If you’ve read the books, then you know. Alcide is very tall, broad shoulders, black hair, dark eyes and gourgeous.
They HAVE to cast someone as tall as Alexander to even make it believable (in my opinion anyway).
I can’t wait to meet Quinn though. He’ll be all that PLUS ripped with muscles and a bald head. YUMMY!
I pictured Vin Diesel as Quinn as I read the books – I think he’d be perfect!
Because of that description I always pictured Ray Stevenson from Rome playing Alcide in the books.
Actually, Charlaine Harris pictured Vin Diesel when she was writing the books for Quinn, so..
I know she said that about diesel but my choice is a buffed up Billy Zane. Yum
GALE HARROLD – nuff said
I don’t see Vin Diesel accepting this role. Whoever it is, they’ll have to sign a 2-4 year contract, because Alcide is in the storyline for a while. I really was hoping they would give Steven Strait the role of Jacob in Twilight, cuz he’s super tall, but oh well….
Even more reason why he should be Alcide. I also love Henry Cavill. These other guys are too old.
Have ya’ll heard of TAYLOR KINNEY? He’s on Trauma and has that sultry look & amazing body that Alcide should have. He’s also got the eyes!!!!
Isn’t Henry Cavill still on the Tudors? Am I missing something? I would watch him on anything.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Henry Cavill – most definitely! He is the main reason I watch “The Tudors.” I was also thinking Jason Behr, but he might not want to play a wolf again. Cavill is taller, anyhoo, at 6′ 1.”
Yes!!!! Henry Cavill is the only reason I still watch The Tudors – I fast-forward through most everybody else’s scenes!
Henry Cavill is in the tudors but they’re almost finished filming the last season of that so he should be all free to play Alcide. which i personally think would be excellent. i think he’d do the part justice.
For all that is good and holy, Henry Cavill NEEDS to be on more shows. His American accent is perfection btw.
AGREED!! That man is SO sexy!!
I agree. Cavill would be a perfect fit. I would live to watch him interact with Eric.
That’s pretty much my personal fantasy
GALE HAROLD (Brian From Queer as Folk and Invasion)
He’s listed among one of the hottest love scenes (one of the other EW articles featured today) if you don’t know who he is. He’s gorgeous, tall, dark, and able to be ‘mean’, broody, serious, playful…the whole nine yards.
I agree completely! He would be outstanding!
I see Oded Fehr more than Benjamin Bratt.
HENRY CAVILL or TOM WELLING have my vote!! Jeffery Dean Morgan is TOO OLD!!
Henry Cavill is perfect for this role in every way.
What about Wentworth Miller?
NO WAY! he over-acts to the point of distracting. he nearly ruined this week’s episode of SVU.
Alan Ball has done a fantastic job of casting so many Unknowns so far (and turning them into stars!) I’m sure he’ll find someone who is perfect for the new roles … and won’t come with a lot of baggage.
Matthew Bomer would be good too. . .Def should consider him in the running.
I’ve never seen him, but he does look the part – Matthew Bomer. Good call!
I agrre, Henry is the only choice.
If the ghosty “Denny” comes back and ruins yet another show, I’m gonna scream.
I think Alex O’Loughlin from Moonlight would make a great Alcide
“supernatural hoo-ha is old hat to Denny’s portrayer. Trouble is, coming off slightly mad, occasionally bad and potentially dangerous isn’t.”
Did you not see Watchman? He played a morally grey and messed up adrenalin junkie pretty well there.
Henry Cavill would be perfect!
he’s too pretty. the books portray werewolves as the biker bad boy types of the shifter world. they are the shit in their eyes. which is perfect even in the world of the show. mixes things up a lot for sweet sookie’s world so hopefully Alan won’t change that bit.
no WAY is he “too pretty!” he can be roughed up, but my God, he NEEDS to be on that show!
The books portray some of the weres as bikers- the lowlife ones that even the other weres look down on. Alcide on the other hand is supposed to be rugged, built like a buff construction worker, look like a man who is good with his hands and be more handsome than beautiful. But he is also supposed to have money and class. Henry Cavill would be great and so would Jeffrey Dean Morgan- although he may look too old.
cam is too short and blond to be Alcide.
i agree but hes soooooo pretty, i be willing to make that sacrifice.
NO he’s ALL wrong for True BLood! he can stick that lame twilight crap.
Eduardo Verástegui
Carlos Ponce
Wow – Eduardo totally looks the part to me. He has the coloring I would think Alcide would have.
Whenever I see Carlos i just think he’s this slimy shady character. Maybe it’s because of a part he played in the past. I also think he’s too pretty.
I do love the idea of a lesser known actor taking the part. To me it just makes the character so much more believeable. Actors today just have too much exposure.
Eduardo should NOT get this part. He did quite the damage to his career and reputation for butting into the 2008 Presidential Election. He’s a heavy duty catholic who voiced his um….er…displeasure over Obama…basically saying that if elected Obama would openly promote Abortion. Also, Eduardo was very vocal in his opinion over gay marriage in California. Didn’t he realize that the majority of his fans are gay men? I was a fan of his for years until I saw this side of him. He certainly can have his views, but True Blood is a gay friendly show (hello Alan Ball!) so I don’t think they would hire him. They might but I think the backlash from the gay fans and pro-choice women would be huge. It’s too bad, he’s gorgeous and can act. This could have been his breakthrough US role. Sorry Eduardo, some of us don’t forget your betrayal.
I agree with you about his politics. Soured me on him after seeing Bella, but you gotta admit, Verastegui would be the perfect Alcide.
Henry Cavill? YES PLEASE.
When I read the book, Jared Padalecki is who I saw as Alcide. He’s got the build,strong facial structure and acting chops to pull of a character that is a contractor by day and a Werewolf by full moon. My vote is for Padalecki.
here here, someone like Jared is perfect
the whole appeal of alcide is the fact that even though he’s a supe, he’s a nice, normal, age appropriate guy.
I pictured Jared as Alcide when I read the book too, but sadly I doubt very much hed be available to film it. He’d be perfect though.
I too could picture him playing Alcide! That type of look just seems to fit with the image of what Alcide was in my head. I suppose Supernatural is going to cause a problem there though.
Way too skinny and too young. Alcide should be young 30’s
I think JP is high 20’s. He could play low 30’s.
Cavill is too skinny too pretty. Morgan is the only one on this list that is big enough and can carry himself as more than a kid someone who runs a successful business, a big burly protector. I always pictured Alicide to be older than Sookie anyway. Never pictured a prettyboy 25 year old.
Much too young, IMO.
I think JP is high 20’s – I think he’s more age-appropriate than these suggestions.
Mmmmm Jared as Alcide…. *purrs*
He’s too tall and thin. He has a nice body but not what I’d see as a werewolf
If we are going to venture into Supernatural territory, I’d rather see Misha Collins play Alcide.
Henry Cavill would be AMAZING!!!!
Ball should cast him. There is no better choice out there.
Former Cleaner star???? Did the Cleaner get cancelled???
Yes, A&E cancelled it a couple of days ago.
I was wondering the same thing. I still have eight episodes unwatched on my tivo, so it’s not really a surprise, I guess.
That sucks! I really liked that show. The first season was better then the second but still, good tv!
i’m so sad by this.
Just remember with casting Alcide….size does matter
Only one guy on this list has the “girth”…Jeffrey Dean Morgan
I totally think Jeffrey Dean Morgan would be great as Calvin Norris, anyone else?
Seconded. JDM = Calvin Norris.
Calvin, yes. Alcide, no way. Love JDM, but he’s not Alcide.
JDM was actually who I pictured as Calvin when I was reading the books.
When I saw JDM’s name on the list the first thing I thought of was Calvin Norris
I totally agree – I was going to post the same thing, but couldn’t remember the name “Calvin Norris.” -sigh- All these guys are a better fit for Calvin, but JDM would be the best!
Oh yes, please! He’s too old for Alcide but would be perfect as Calvin.
He would be perfect as Calvin Norris!!!
I always pictured Robert Patrick as Norris – cause he’s supposed to be a lot older than Sookie, but still be an attractive mature man.
NO.
Thats exactly who I pictured! And Vin Diesel as Quinn!
I thought the same thing. Alcide’s got to be a big guy…Jeffrey Dean Morgan would be perfect, plus I think he could pull off a little bit of sexual tension with Anna Paquin.
GALE HARROLD -
JDM doesn’t seem fierce enough for Alcide. I know he has a soft side, but not as soft as JDM.
way 2 old!
I’ve read all the books and I’ve always pictured Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
It needs to be someone yonger than these men.. if you read the books Alcide is young and hot, 20 something… Henry Cavill seems to be the best fit to that
c’mon, really? not jeffrey dean morgan! he’s too old… sookie has to be attracted to him!
Yeah, Jeffrey Dean Morgan could play Alcide’s dad Jackson more realistically.
PLEASE PLEASE Don’t let Alan Ball cast any of these people as Alcide.
I cannot possibly think of any “known” actor that can fit the bill so I suggest he start holding casting calls now for an unknown
IAWTC
There are rumors floating that Rudy Reyes from Generation Kill has been cast as Alcide. I hope it’s true — he would be perfect.
Christian Kane, please!
too short
I agree…too short
Christian Kane I see as more vamp than wolf. But hey, any excuse to have him with his shirt off. Sadly, or not, he’s busy with Leverage with films on the same schedule as True Blood.
wow! Fantastic Idea! Hair, build, physicality, humor. Give him a beard andhe’d be perfect!!!!!
I didnt know who he was but on Imdb, he looks hot. I think hes great. And just b/c he’s short doesnt mean alot, movie magic does wonders…how do you think Tom Cruise can act againist Cameron Diaz
My vote is for JDM I think he can pull off the charm well.
I think if any of the people on this list were going to be play alcide they’d all have to buff up and gain a little weight, you can’t have a wimpy looking werewolf!
that henry is omg hot, but knowing alan he will probably want some indie star or an unknown!
JDM may be a little old for the role, but he’s so HOT, I’d overlook it! Joe Manganiello would be my second choice. None of the others in the poll do it for me, sorry!
None of them. JDM is fine but way too old.
I recently thought about this casting with a friend of mine and we came up with a list, here were our favorites:
Owain Yeoman
Tahmoh Penikett
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Joe Manganiello
Karl Urban
All tall and young enough for the part.
All fine options! Thought of the guy from BSG and Dollhouse but couldn’t remember his name…Tahmoh Penikett. All the others are solid possibles too. Good list!
Oooh, I can’t even begin to think of an actor who would suit Alcide (my favourite character, I think) but kudos for thinking of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau! I’d put up with him for a season or two.
Omg I think Joe Manganiello is the perfect Alcide!!! That’s just about how I pictured him from the book. He has that perfect blend of being handsome and built but not over the top like I picture Quinn to be.
Ok, so maybe Karl Urban wouldn’t be a bad choice either. . .I can’t pick between Joe Manganiello or Karl Urban. . .I’d be satisfied either way!
Karl Urban…purrrrrrr
Oh, Karl Urban…I just went to a happy place.
Karl Urban is sort of who I pictured as Alcide. If I were casting Alcide, I’d want either Karl Urban or Misha Collins.
I take back my vote in the EW poll. I vote for Karl Urban. I even sat through that stupid Doom movie to watch him.
I’d be willing to watch the show for Owain Yeoman! He’s definately got tall, dark and handsome covered.
TOM WELLING!!!!!
Joe Manganiello is perfectly how I had Alcide pictured – ESPECIALLY this picture:
http://tinyurl.com/y8fkfw5
The guy from prison break should play Quinn when the time comes
Which guy?
Dominic Purcell
I’ve pictured Dominic Purcell as Quinn while reading the books =D Vin Diesel is a good one too.. how tall is he? But also he’s too much of a big name to be on the show don’t you think?
When I read Club Dead, I pictured someone very tall and Hispanic or Cajun. Javier Bardem or Benicio del Toro would be perfect as Alcide, unfortunately both are too old for Sookie.
I pictured Alcide as African-American. I mentioned this in another post a while back and was roundly dismissed. So I checked a few passages in Club Dead, sure enough he’s described as “olive skin.”
Hmm, that didn’t come out just right. By “sure enough” I meant that’s he not pasty white like most of these suggestions and most readers insist.
I thought Dominic Purcell from Prison Break had the right qualities.
I thought he was African-American too. That’s what I thought of when I read the books. Tall, dark, & handsome.
I pictured someone along the lines of a modern-day Yul Brynner…
for Quinn, I mean, not Alcide…
Thank you! I thought I was crazy when everyone started naming off all these white actors. I totally pictured Alcide as black when reading the books!
Um, do any of you know what “olive skin” even means? It doesn’t mean an African-American. It means someone with a darker, swarthy complexion, like a Greek or a person from southern Italy or Spain, or even someone from the Middle East. It doesn’t mean that he’d have an African-American complexion.
I am olive skinned. Italian. not African American. not white but yes. darker in complexion.
I pictured Jason Momoa in this role. He definetly has the right skin tone and size. Plus I think he could pull off the growling like a wolf nicely.
Javier Bardem! I always thought of Alicde as an older “silver fox” sort of guy
Yes, Benicio or Javier Bardem would be perfect!
Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Javier Bardem could be twins.
Somebody needs to wash their mouth out with soap … yes, you Ausiello. Don’t even go there JDM is not the high caliber actor that Alan Ball goes for. He IMO ruined Season 5 of Grey’s Anatomy and the films he has been in have not been great either. I agree with the idea of his holding casting calls for an unknown.
Sorry, JDM’s great. When the writing is concerned, no actor can make a silk purse out of Shonda’s ear.
he’s a great actor but just too old for this role.
@ Sunshine!
i totally agree… he is grossly over-rated.
I agree. He was okay in Watchmen, but he is SO wrong for the Alcide role. HENRY CAVILL or TOM WELLING would be perfect!!
Henry Cavill would be perfect I think. Although he’s on the Tudors so I don’t see how that would work, unless the show is being canceled. If Henry Cavill can’t do it or doesn’t want too, which would just be crazy. My second choice would def. be Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
The Tudors is currently filming its final season – winds up in October, I believe. So depending on when the next season of TB starts filming….it could be perfect
Liev Schreiber!!!!!!
Wow. He’s not as young as I think the character should be, but he would be perfect. YUM.
I think he’s too old also but I WOULD DIE.
Liev would be PERFECT regardless of age. If a bunch of 30 year olds can play high school students I see no problem with Liev portraying Alcide.
TOO OLD!
None of these choices are really doing it for me. Alcide was sexy in that he was a nice, grounded man. He wasn’t seductive… he was “safe”. Physically, I always saw him as Ben Cohen (British Rugby Player) with darker hair.
yeah but you’ve got to know that on Tru Blood he will be sexy as sin. I vote for Gale Harrold – look him up if you don’t know who I mean – he’s on the 21 best love scenes article, above.
As much as I love JDM he’s far too old to lay this character. I’d love it to be Jared Padalecki, he’s what I imagined when I read the book, but he wont be available. I think Henry Cavill might be a good choice, my mind’s blank on anyone else that fits the bill in age, size and looks.
Henry Cavill makes my manties moist. I vote for him.
After seeing Steven Strait in City Island at Tribeca, I definitely think he has the acting chops. I was very impressed and I think people will see him as more than a pretty face when it comes out next year. He really showed his stuff and rugged looks good on him! Besides there’s something too funny about the thought of him appearing in the same show his wife, Lynn Collins (Dawn Green) did!
Steven Strait is not bad either!
Jeffrey Dean Morgan…as Alcide’s father maybe…not as Alcide tho’. Too old for the son.
Alcide is big, swarthy, ‘he-man’ type. I keep thinking of Kevin McKidd, from Rome and Journeyman. But I think he’s on Grey’s Anatomy now so he’s probably not available.
Not to mention, Kevin McKidd’s only seven years younger than JDM. That’s not a generational difference- if the former’s too old, so’s the latter.
Kyle Shmidt