Casting the Inevitable David Rohde Movie

New York Times journalist David Rohde's harrowing account of his seven-month captivity at the hands of the Taliban is, simply put, one of the most gripping stories I have ever read. Over the past six days, the Times published the six-part narrative in daily installments, from capture to improbable escape. The suspense is palpable, the villains are vile, and the heroism is the stuff movies are made of. It's not a question of if Hollywood will come calling, but when. In the meantime, we've decided to give studios a helping hand by putting together our dream cast of the main players in the saga of David Rohde. There has never before been such an up close and personal account of what motivates the lawless extremists waging a war against the West from their outposts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's the kind of thing you can't make up, and luckily, Hollywood won't have to.

David Rohde: The obvious choice to play the lead would be—as my colleague Foster Kamer pointed out earlier—someone like George Clooney. He’s played the kidnapped American before in Syriana, although then it was as a CIA agent. While he possesses the quiet dignity and steely resolve that Rohde displayed during his captivity, he looks too much like a movie star. Part of what made Rohde’s story so captivating is that he was an ordinary (and ordinary looking) man who survived against all odds. The truth is, Rohde is kinda nerdy, which only makes you root for him more. To preserve that quality, we’d cast Casey Affleck. He isn’t an exact physical match, but if he lost 20 pounds and threw some glasses on, he’d be just right.

Tahir Ludin: An Afghan journalist and Rohde’s translator and loyal companion. He planned and executed the daring escape with Rohde, and served as his guardian for much of the movie. When Rohde let his emotions get the better of him, Tahir was the voice of reason. Ironically, our choice is British actor Khalid Abdalla, who played Ziad Jarrah, the lead hijacker in United 93. But he later won our good will with an absorbing and touching performance in Marc Forster’s adaptation of The Kite Runner.

Abu Tayeb: The villain. Tayeb is the Taliban commander who Rohde was going to interview, and instead ended up orchestrating the kidnapping. He spends most of the time concealing his face with sunglasses and a scarf, and he positions himself as Rohde’s protector against more extreme militias, rather than his kidnapper. By the end however, Tayeb is revealed as the hypocritical, delusional monster he is. Israeli-Iraqi actor Yigal Naor gave a devious performance as Saddam Hussein in HBO’s House of Saddam and is our choice to play Tayeb.

Kristen Mulvihill: David Rohde’s wife is a small presence in the story (he only speaks to her over the phone a few times), but her aura is felt throughout; she’s the light at the end of Rohde’s tunnel. The movie can take the liberty of filling her side of the story in, showing her efforts from home to liberate her husband. Mulvihill, who you can see here, needs to be played by a strong actress with an angelic voice whose glamor can be downplayed. We nominate Naomi Watts.

And as for the film’s title, why not call it Triumph of the Will, just for kicks.