1. Ryan Reynolds
There were few men on the planet as fit as Lance Armstrong was in his prime, but Ryan Reynolds proved in Blade: Trinity that he’s willing to take his preparation to the next level and get as fit as possible for a role. For that film, he reportedly ate ten small meals a day and worked out like a maniac. Of course, the results were obvious.
Reynolds actually sounds quite a bit like Armstrong too. Armstrong has a slightly deeper voice but it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to picture Reynolds easily picking up the proper sound. Though not an exact match, Reynolds and Armstrong definitely look similar enough that the portrayal would work.
Finally, Reynolds’ career has had a good mix of action roles and more dramatic roles, both of which would be necessary to fully capture the scope of Armstrong’s life and career.
2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is as hot as anyone in Hollywood right now, consistently turning out great performances every time he’s on screen. He’s proven to be excellent both in supporting roles and as the central figure of the film. This year has seen the actor in a whole slew of interesting roles, ranging from Robin to Bruce Willis, so why not give him a shot at Armstrong?
Gordon-Levitt did a phenomenal job of playing someone struggling with cancer in 50/50 too. The seriousness and depth he brought to to that role, and the film, makes it one of the best performances of his career. I have no doubt he could do it again as Armstrong.
Plus, he proved in Premium Rush that he already knows how to ride a bike, just in case there was any question to that. Personally, I think it’d be great to see him cycle through the mountains of France being chased by his competitors, as opposed to weaving through New York City on the run from Michael Shannon.
Check out the trailer for Premium Rush below to see how well Gordon-Levitt handles his bike.
Click below to continue reading.