Summary
- Key Takeaways:
- The television adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House is underway, sparking discussion about which actors would be best to portray the characters, particularly Daniel Arlington (Darlington). The actor playing Darlington must embody an academic yet passionate spirit.
- Freddy Carter, known for his role in Netflix’s Shadow and Bone, could be a major draw as an actor for the role of Darlington due to his success and ability to portray the character. Other potential candidates include Thomas Doherty, Charlie Rowe, Cameron Chapman, Benjamin Wadsworth, Louis Partridge, and Nicholas Galitzine.
- The casting for Ninth House is crucial for the success of the series, and if the actors can accurately portray their characters and bring the story to life, the show has the potential to be a major success in the fantasy television genre.
With Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House television adaptation confirmed and under way, this is as good a time as any to discuss which actors would be best to portray the book’s characters, and in particular Daniel Arlington. Daniel Arlington, affectionately nicknamed Darlington, is something of a secondary main character to the book’s protagonist Alex Stern. Though he has gone missing in the book, he plays a vital role in Alex’s journey at Yale, and his perspective in the “Ninth House” book is just as important as Alex’s. All in all, the actor playing Darlington will have to embody his academic yet passionate spirit.
Ninth House tells the story of a troubled young woman named Alex Stern who, after a near-death experience, is offered a scholarship to Yale. Only, she won’t be attending for her academic achievements. In reality, Alex is being asked to join a secret group called Lethe which oversees the magic used by Yale’s secret societies, and she’s the best candidate for the job because she can see ghosts. At Yale, Alex learns more about the occult from Darlington, her mentor and a Yale senior. Though the two couldn’t be more different, they begin to form a tentative bond that, unfortunately, is abruptly broken when Darlington goes missing.
10 Freddy Carter
What’s more fitting than an actor from Leigh Bardugo’s first television series appearing in her newest one? Freddy Carter is a British actor best known for his role as Kaz Brekker in Netflix’s Shadow and Bone. Though the fantasy series received criticisms about straying from the source material, Carter was a Shadow and Bone cast member that continued to impress fans with his accurate performance. Although Carter is quite a bit older than Darlington, he certainly fits the character’s physical appearance. Furthermore, it would be incredibly interesting to see Carter in a more polite role. Overall, Freddy Carter could be a major pull for audiences considering his Netflix success.
9 Thomas Doherty
An actor with a sizable following that could bring Ninth House even more success is Thomas Doherty. With projects like the Gossip Girl reboot, Descendants 2 and 3, and The Invitation, Doherty is no stranger to the screen, and because of this, he could be a great choice. Additionally, the Scottish actor possesses the ability to appear both put-together and just a bit frightening which, if Ninth House succeeds, will be a vital quality for the actor playing Darlington. Though he’s yet another actor that is a bit old for the role, Doherty has the perfect look and the acting credits to back him up.
8 Charlie Rowe
Though Charlie Rowe has played many different roles in his career, he has never played a character like Darlington before, and for this reason, he has overwhelming potential. Charlie Rowe is a British actor who began his career in the early 2000s in projects such as The Golden Compass and Never Let Me Go. More recently, he has appeared in The Red Band Society and Angelyne. Rowe is an experienced actor, but more than that, playing Darlington could potentially be a challenge for him. While it may seem risky, this type of pressure could make him work even harder to bring an accurate and strong performance to Ninth House.
7 Benjamin Wadsworth
Another young actor with a budding career is Benjamin Wadsworth. Like Thomas Doherty, he’s not completely unknown to audiences as he has made appearances in Girl Meets World, Teen Wolf, Tell Me Lies, and Deadly Class. Additionally, he also has that look about him that can appear both collected and verging on dangerous at the same time. Either way, based on Wadsworth’s performance in Deadly Class, it’s clear that he can portray the more chaotic aspects of Darlington that come later in the story.
6 Hero Fiennes Tiffin
It would be difficult to make a list of young, mostly British actors with dark hair and not include Hero Fiennes Tiffin. Best known for his role as Hardin Scott in the After film franchise, Tiffin definitely would have something to prove coming onto Ninth House. While he has the look for Darlington, he would have to show that he also has the acting chops to bring the character to life. This could be an exciting challenge for the actor, who has pretty big shoes to fill considering he is the nephew of actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes. However, there’s no doubt that Tiffin could bring Darlington’s more antisocial nature.
5 David Iacono
A pick that may be unexpected is David Iacono. While most audiences likely know him as Cam Cameron from The Summer I Turned Pretty, Iacono actually has quite the list of minor roles in a variety of television series. In this way, he is both experienced yet likely shooting for a bigger role that can truly put him on the map, like Darlington. In The Summer I Turned Pretty, Iacono proves that he can play a sweet boy, so it would certainly be interested to see him in a more restrained role. Overall, the potential for him is definitely there, and could finally come to light with Ninth House.
4 Cameron Chapman
Based on his breakout performance as Anthony Lockwood in Netflix’s Lockwood and Co., there’s little doubt that Cameron Chapman would be perfect for the role of Darlington. The young British actor is at the very start of his career, but he has certainly proved that he can play dashing and adventurous characters that prefer to go by their last names. His ability to build chemistry with other actors is incredibly strong, and beyond just mannerisms, Chapman has Darlington’s physical appearance as well. Although Lockwood and Co. ended after only one season, it garnered a solid following, and as a result, Chapman could bring some serious exposure to Ninth House.
3 Cole Sprouse
A final Darlington candidate that might seem a little out of left field is Cole Sprouse. With a long history of acting, including Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Riverdale, Sprouse definitely knows what he’s doing in front of a camera, but more than that, he has proven that he can be a part of a franchise. Though Riverdale lasted for seven seasons, it seems likely that Sprouse could be on the search for other, more serious roles, and Darlington could be the choice. Ninth House is fantasy, but has adult themes that ground it. Additionally, Cole Sprouse has the dark look that could make for a great Darlington.
2 Louis Partridge
The fact that Louis Partridge’s career is on the climb is a sign that casting him in Ninth House would be the perfect choice. Partridge is a young British actor whose biggest projects include Paddington 2, The Pistols, Enola Holmes, and Enola Holmes 2. Of all the actors on this list, he is one that has absolutely proven that he can be both posh and out of control, as evidenced by his roles in The Pistols and Enola Holmes respectively. Also, apart from matching Darlington’s physicality to a tee, Partridge seems like he could perfectly embody the curious academic. Overall, he has all the aspects of an ideal Darlington.
1 Nicholas Galitzine
Finally, there is Nicholas Galitzine. Although the actor showed off his goofy side in Bottoms, his recent performance in Red, White, and Royal Blue showed off his ability to play a more put-together character, and also, proved that he can build a dedicated fan base. Though he is on the older side, Galitzine has the perfect physical appearance to play Darlington and has definitely showcased the fact that he is a versatile actor. With a strong career behind him, and upcoming projects like Fantastic Four, Galitzine could be on a serious upward climb that could help Ninth House as a result. Overall, he is a perfect candidate for Daniel Arlington.