[UPDATE: Turns out they are in the process of writing a script for a film version. Maybe they’ll see this blog and take my advice ;) A girl can dream right?!].
Casting the Main Characters
Kate "Puck" Connolly
Best known as Lady Rose MacClare in "Downton Abbey" and champion athlete Lisa Temple in "Fast Girls".
I had to do a bit of digging around my memory of young, talented British actresses. Being an avid BBC fan I had quite a crop to sift through. One physicality we're sure of with Puck is her long, wavy, and often out of control red hair. I hadn't thought of Lily off the back, mainly because both the roles I have scene her in she plays a very light blonde. Yet, when I stumbled on pictures of her with dark hair I thought she'd be perfect. I've seen Lily play the tough, sassy, and adventurous girl who doesn't take no for an answer in "Downton Abbey". I think Lily would do fabulous as the down and out, but determined Puck. Puck spends a lot of the novel alone pondering things, she has this brooding brilliance that I think Lily could totally channel. Obviously, Lily is older than Puck is in the novel, but I think she could easily play younger. Another great fact about Lily is she can ride! She was just cast as the title role in Disney's new film "Cinderella" and as you see in the picture above Lily has expereince riding! From a director's perspective that kind of experience is invaluable.
Sean Kendrick
Best known as Merlin in BBC One's "Merlin", Cathal O'Regan in "Parked", and most recently was seen at the Globe Theatre as Ariel in William Shakespeare's "The Tempest". In 2012, he won the National Television award for Best Actor.
Let's be honest... who better to play a dark, handsome, brooding Irishman, than a dark, handsome Irishman? Alright, I'll admit most of my friends will not be surprised by my choice for Sean (I'm known to be a huge "Merlin" and Colin fan.). However, to be fair, Colin was the exact person I envisioned for Sean as I read the book. Sean is a man who lives "and breathe[s] the beach" and the wild sea horses. After seeing his father killed by one of the water horses, Sean has had to grow hard and mainly keeps to himself. His one love is his horse Corr. He is a well renowned race champion and horse tamer, but that doesn't mean he's popular. In the book we learn Sean has and is "made of all corners", wild looking with a sharp expression. Almost too severe to be handsome, he has sharp-edged cheekbones [Hello Colin! ;) ] and a razor-edge nose. His hands are bruised and torn from his time working with the horses. His eyes are permanently narrowed against the sun and the sea (Source). I mean if Sean Kendrick doesn't scream Colin Morgan, I don't know who does. Not only that, but Colin is one of the most talented young actors of this day. Though he has never played a character quite like this, I don't doubt for a second that he could. To quote his Merlin co-star Katie McGrath, "Colin Morgan [...] is an absolute acting genius and if we’re not talking about him in ten years time in the same way we talk about Daniel Day Lewis, there’s something wrong with the world" (Source). To top that all off, Colin has over 5 years of horseback riding expereince through his part in Merlin. He is the perfect Sean Kendrick.
Inspiration Board: The Setting
The Horses (& Eich Uisce)
The End
What do you think? Do you agree with my ideas or you do have your own suggestions for this book to film adaptation? Or perhaps you have another novel you'd like me to try and "direct"? I'll take suggestions! Thank you for reading!