Not getting petty at all, just stating facts. Brits have more of a grasp of accents than Yanks, Cannucks, Ozzies, or Kiwi's. Every single time they cast people from other places to play an Englishman they screw it all up. Name me one that hasn't? And as far as I know the only person playing a Yank on TV is Hugh Laurie, and he is proving my point as he keeps winning Emmy's and Golden Globe's for his performance, and the American public love him.
Its like with all the speculation surrounding the next Bond movie, An American entertainment show just last week said that if it does not get off the ground soon its possible Daniel Craig could leave the project, who did they say was favourite to take over? Ashton Kutcher. Who yes can be a very good actor but is all wrong for James Bond just like Russell Crowe is all wrong for Robin Hood. Not only are they not believable due to the fact they murder the accent, but it is a slap in the face to the British public.
The sooner Hollywood gets the idea that it is better for them to cast British Actors and Actresses to play British roles, the better. For those that question it being better, I have proof that it is better. When you are making a movie centred around a British character, your main target audience is the British. Yes there are some British cult heroes that translate well enough to be cult heroes around the world, but the British is still your main target audience as that is where you are going to get your best and most honest reviews. Brits praise the movie and say how good it was, others around the world listen as who would know better than British people if it is any good. We know our own history better than others around the world.
It is just plain disrespectful to cast any random foreigner in the role. It tells the British public "Sorry but you are just not good enough". If we are not good enough to play people from our own country, then why should we throw millions and millions of pounRAB at the movie, because we obviously are not good enough to give our opinions either.
Add to the fact that casting a drama queen like Russell Crowe costs four times as much as casting a British actor, thus pushing the budget up higher, you'd think the studio would look at that and understand its a good idea to cast a British Actor. To blame the director is a valid point, yes Ridley should have known better, but its not always the director that picks the cast, they have input but sometimes the studio demanRAB that a certain person be given roles. The director can challenge it and try to prove them wrong but if the studio is set on one person they can either force the casting of that person or they fire the director. That is why I say Hollywood is to blame as too many big American studios think they know more about British cult heroes than anyone else.
What the hell is next, Tom Cruise starring in a movie as one of the Kray twins?
