Matt Lucas- LOL!
No, seriously (Stiffles a giggle ) I'm hoping they fild someone new, because I know that they want big names to sell the movies, I think that once they get a big famous star involved, sudenly the rest of the film looks dull in comparison and everyones like 'so and so was good...' 'yeah, he was better that youknowwho...'

As far as looks go I see him as in his 30s/early 40's, quite handsome but TOTALLY dulled down by his cabbie clothes etc, but as a king he suddenlt looks regal and amazing and wiser and oldre (Like a way older transition of Edmund in LWW from a 'raggamuffing' to a regal king!)

Really? I pictured Helen and Frank as at least being in their mid-40's. I don't know where anyone gets any idea of them being significantly younger.

Because they are going to have a number of children, that's where it comes from - their sons and daughters married naiads and dryads etc... and became the forefathers of all the Narnians for many years.

Sean Astin is not appropriate, no matter what he looks like. He did not find it easy sustaining a 'west country' accent (not cockney or Irish), and to ask him to play a local country man who has lived for some years in East London is a bit much. He's a good actor but this is not him.
An English actor will handle the accent properly (or yes, a good Scot or Welshman! - thinking of James McAvoy).

Wouldn't people recognize him?

James McAvoy! Oh lol. I don't think we could even say that he's playing Mr Tumnus' ancestor. Yes, he's very recognizable. It's a pity, I really, really liked him. I'm looking forward to seeing him in HHB! Oh well. I agree, a new face!

She can correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think coracle meant somebody LIKE James McAvoy. Not actually cast him again as the Cabby.

I'm surprised at how much I like the suggestion of Sean Astin as the Cabby, but really in appearance only. I'm of the same opinion as Coracle that his accent in LotR was not the greatest. But someone along those lines I think is a great idea.

How about Dylan Moran? I've not seen him in anything myself, but he's a comedian that shows up in some of Simon Pegg's movies so I have a feeling this suggestion will be shot down. But I really like the way he looks. In some pictures I've run across, he looks very tired and aged (Cabby) but then in other pictures, I think he's quite handsome (King Frank).

Good find, Watchful Admin. That is actuallly the closest to how I imagined how the Cabby should look. So if not Dylan Moran, at least someone else who has the same kind of look would be the way that I would go.

'Twill be interesting to see how close the actual casting choice comes.

Yeah...he reminds me of the cabbie- Nice find

Last night I was watching old episodes of Top Gear and they had Michael Sheen on as a guest. I'm only familiar with him because of his role as Lucian in Underworld and had I not seem him without all the hair and makeup, I would NEVER have thought of him. But in real life he looks rather different and also has a completely different personality. (Imagine that! )
So I thought I'd suggest him as Frank the Cabby knowing he's a good actor and looks about right.
Here are a couple pictures of him.

WOW, Dylan Moran looks exactly how I've imagined the Frank... With a little bit of cleaning up, that guy could look like a king! Yes. I like him. Now all we need are good writers that don't mess up his character.

Sean Astin would be an awesome King Frank! Too bad he doesn't have an English country accent!

I agree with FK in that Dylan Moran would make a great cabby. He's not exactly what I pictured, but I have the feeling he could pull it off really well. He has the kind of look that would work well for both his role as a Cabby and afterwards, when he is King Frank.

As for Sean Astin, I'm a huge fan of his portrayal as Sam, and I think he could do a great job at portraying the Cabby. My only concern is that he was already in LotR. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the way I see it, it could go both ways. On one hand, it might not help establish Narnia as a separate story from LotR, but on the other, it might help draw in more viewers since pretty much everyone I know is a fan of Sam.

Also, Michael Sheen looks like a good fit, too! He also has a cabby-turned-king sort of look, which is probably the most important thing I'd like to see in whoever ends up playing King Frank.

I'm actually not too partial as to who plays him, as long as we get to see him in the movie regardless.

I really like the idea of Dylan Moran. Not really a fan of the Michael-Sheen-as-the-Cabby idea, though.

Do you think the Cabby would be better played by a famous actor, or an unknown?

~Riella

I could see Stellan Skarsgård as a good cabby.

I think Dylan Moran looks very close to the cabby. I guess I've always imagined him as simple-looking. To me, he shouldn't look like someone that would be voted "World's Hottest Male". I'm not saying he should be ugly, but just have a simple look to him. That's how I've always imagined it because he's very humble and honest as a cabby and even when he is made king.

This may be a strange suggestion, and I doubt anybody has ever heard of him, but how about Iwan Rheon, a Welsh actor, for King Frank/Cabby?

This is one of the few actors I base off of both acting and physical attributes. I've seen him act in a few things, and he is excellent.

I don't really know why, but recently while reading MN again, I thought that Mr. Rheon looked a lot like how I imagined King Frank/Cabby. He's only in his mid-20's, but with makeup you never know.