Bryan Cranston was definitely a long shot, just something I'd hoped for since Gilliam raved so much about Breaking Bad. I would like to see them work together someday.
Going by Gilliam's quote, “Our main character actually made a Don Quixote movie a lot earlier in his history,” I assumed (once Quixote was revived with the film-within-a-film storyline) that Toby was the director of that film, given that Gilliam seemed to be taking a more autobiographical approach. It could certainly work with a young actor. Welles was 24 when he directed Citizen Kane, so to believe that a 20-something character could direct a Quixote film is not really a stretch at all. I have yet to see Jack O'Connell in anything, but judging by his interviews on YouTube, he could pass for someone a little bit older (if necessary). The only catch for me is the part about Toby making the movie "a lot earlier in his history" which could be interpreted that the character should be a little older. Anyway, it seems Jack is all but officially confirmed for the part so I'm sure it will work.
Cumberbatch is another actor I'd like to see work with Gilliam in the future. I had read that he was linked to Dr. Strange, but there was no shoot date set (yet) that could've interfered with Quixote's previous spring shoot date.* As far as I know, there isn't even a completed script for Strange, though they were looking at a 2016 release date. Now that Quixote is shooting in the fall I'd agree that Cumberbatch is most definitely not in the mix.
*Update: For what it's worth, Dr. Strange will begin production in spring 2015.
Going by Gilliam's quote, “Our main character actually made a Don Quixote movie a lot earlier in his history,” I assumed (once Quixote was revived with the film-within-a-film storyline) that Toby was the director of that film, given that Gilliam seemed to be taking a more autobiographical approach. It could certainly work with a young actor. Welles was 24 when he directed Citizen Kane, so to believe that a 20-something character could direct a Quixote film is not really a stretch at all. I have yet to see Jack O'Connell in anything, but judging by his interviews on YouTube, he could pass for someone a little bit older (if necessary). The only catch for me is the part about Toby making the movie "a lot earlier in his history" which could be interpreted that the character should be a little older. Anyway, it seems Jack is all but officially confirmed for the part so I'm sure it will work.
Cumberbatch is another actor I'd like to see work with Gilliam in the future. I had read that he was linked to Dr. Strange, but there was no shoot date set (yet) that could've interfered with Quixote's previous spring shoot date.* As far as I know, there isn't even a completed script for Strange, though they were looking at a 2016 release date. Now that Quixote is shooting in the fall I'd agree that Cumberbatch is most definitely not in the mix.
*Update: For what it's worth, Dr. Strange will begin production in spring 2015.