Entertainment
Garrett Hedlund Cast as Captain Hook in 'Pan,' But How Will He Live Up to Previous Hooks?
Many actors were competing for the role of Captain Hook in the Peter Pan origin story movie, Pan: Ezra Miller from The Person of Being a Wallflower and Jack Huston from Boardwalk Empire were both being considered for the role. But ultimately, it was Garrett Hedlund who walked away with an offer for the role. Captain Hook is the second role that's been cast for the movie, with Hugh Jackman having already snagged the role of Blackbeard.
Hook is also the first original Peter Pan character to have been cast in the movie. As such, Hedlund will have a lot to live up to — J.M. Barrie's classic children's novel has been interpreted many times on film, and many different Captain Hooks have made the role their own. Here's some of the best, as well as the worst.
'Peter Pan,' 1951
This is by far the most memorable Captain Hook in anyone’s minds. But seeing as Disney’s Peter Pan was a cartoon made for children, the famous pirate comes off much more goofy than frightening.
Image: Disney
'Peter Pan,' 1924
The first adaptation of the Peter Pan story to film, this version of Peter Pan was also a silent movie. Thus, it’s the sort of thing that’s hard to judge by today’s standards — since the actor was essentially mute, Captain Hook is kind of a silly character whose reactions and gestures are over-the-top, which is more or less par for the course when it comes to silent movies.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
'Hook,' 1991
As a remake that hangs entirely on the premise of “What would happen if Peter Pan grew up?”, Hook is a pretty strange and flimsy movie. As such, Dustin Hoffman is almost unrecognizable with heavy wigs, obviously fake eyebrows, gobs of makeup, and a terrible British accent. Sure, as the titular character he’s given a lot more to do, but the performance is ultimately both cartoonish and strangely bland.
'Peter Pan,' 2003
As a more straightforward, action-oriented remake of the Peter Pan tale, Jason Isaacs’ Captain Hook was less of a cartoon and more of a primitive version of Jack Sparrow: dandy, droll, and devious. What’s more, Isaacs pulled double duty as both Captain Hook and Wendy’s father Mr. Darling.
