Anything Goes : Question For The Floor (or Is It From the Floor) by Kenneth David Swenson

Further defining the question. That is not including a script that is deliberately designed for a certain actor from the get go.

Personally, I do not write with an actor in mind. And in my experience, if the script is sold, it's up to the producers to figure out who they want for the part.

The only time I add anything about the character in my scripts, is when it is necessary to move the story forward. And as RB mentioned, you could envision Brad Pitt for a role and they go and cast Denzel Washington.

For example; one of my recurring characters (seen off and on in all my arcs)(as my head sees it) could either be played by Russell Brand or Christian Bale. It would depend on just how over the top the producer would want to swing it.

I did write with an actor in mind. The company I pitched to, who is now interested in my story, has produced a film with this actor (a fact I knew). When I mentioned to someone there who I envisioned playing the lead role, I saw a light bulb go off in their eyes. :-) It has been a single-minded pursuit of mine to bring my script and this actor together. Will it happen? Who knows. It's a long shot. That's why I didn't make the character so idiosyncratic that no other actor could play him :-)

I also tend to borrow my friends and sometimes not friends to use as Avatars for characters. YES YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! The present arc has at least two that fit that category (one who positively knows she's being "stolen"). Actually she's let me "steal" her a couple of times. And yes she's actually an actor.

Kenneth, I would say that if you have a character that could be played by two actors from different sides of the spectrum (Bale/Brand) you're doing your job as a writer. A wider net is never a bad thing.

thanks RB he's actually one of my more amusing of the recurring characters that pop up in the 3 Gothic arcs I have presently.

Terry Gilliam famously wrote Time Bandits with a line that directly referenced Sean Connery. At the time he had no idea if Connery would take up the role, but he did.

Slightly different when you're Terry Gilliam and have Connery on speed dial, but I get your gist, David!