We’ve had our Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters for a while now, but like me, I’m sure you’ve been wondering when they were going to let us know who is going to play the crass, slightly alcoholic, Peter Van Houten in The Fault in Our Stars movie.
Casting news: Willem Dafoe (!!!!) will play Peter Van Houten in The Fault in Our Stars movie. #TFIOSmovie
— John Green (@realjohngreen) September 6, 2013
I have nothing against this casting news at all, however, Willem Dafoe was nowhere on my radar to play this character. I had pictured Van Houten a bit rounder, I suppose, but that’s not to say that Dafoe can’t do this character right. You may remember him more recently as Dr. Norm Osborn/Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movie, but he’s more versatile in his roles than that, having been in a few controversial Lars Von Trier films, animated films Finding Nemo and A Shark’s Tale, the sci-fi comic-to-movie John Carter, and the British comedy Mr. Bean’s Holiday. But to me, he will always be the passionate and ill-fated Sgt. Elias from the Oscar-winning movie, Platoon. So, really, I’m kind of excited to see how he brings Peter Van Houten to life. Here’s what director Josh Boone and actor Ansel Elgort tweeted about the news:
One of my favorite actors, Willem Dafoe, will play Peter Van Houten in #tfiosmovie!
— Josh Boone (@JoshBooneMovies) September 6, 2013
ladies and gentlemen, the legendary Willem Dafoe will be gracing our presence playing Dr.Peter Van Houten in our #tfiosmovie . oh happy day!
— Ansel Elgort (@AnselElgort) September 6, 2013
What do you think of this casting news?
via Page to Premiere.