James Franco, Casey Affleck, Benedict Cumberbatch look likely to steal Banjo Paterson role from Aussies Chris Hemsworth and Joel Edgerton Americans James Franco and Casey Affleck and Englishman Benedict Cumberbatch may be chosen over Aussie Joel Edgerton to play poet Banjo Paterson Source: Supplied PRODUCERS of the upcoming Aussie movie Banjo and Matilda are considering importing an overseas actor to play the iconic bush poet. American stars James Franco and Casey Affleck and British actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Jim Sturgess and Eddie Redmayne are all up for the role. Producer Bill Leimbach confirmed the two Aussie actors under consideration - Chris Hemsworth and Joel Edgerton, may now be too famous to sign on to the $12 million project, which is due to begin shooting in Winton early next year. Leimbach said he had been told by leading film sales agents in the United States and the United Kingdom that American stars Franco, Affleck and Pine as well as British Cumerbatch, Hiddleston, Sturgess and Redmayne, would guarantee a strong international sales deal. A Welshman (Daniel Day-Lewis) played Abe Lincoln for Spielberg, Jason Clarke plays a tough interrogator for the CIA in Zero Dark Thirty. Why can't I have James Franco play the man on the back of our 10 dollar note? Leimbach said. Australian Chris Hemsworth may be too costly for the role of Banjo Patterson. Picture: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP Source: AP But Australian historian Johnathan King, who wrote, directed and produced 1995 documentary Waltzing Matilda: The Song That Shaped a Nation, said an American or Brit playing Australia's most quintessential bush poet would be a cultural scandal. "Australian actors such as Chris Hemsworth, Joel Edgerton and Hugh Jackman have got fantastic reputations around the world playing lead parts in many fine films so the producer should be able to get homegrown talent," said King, who has written 30 Australian historical books. As an Australian historian I would be appalled, and I imagine the majority of Australians would be appalled, such a beloved Aussie hero would be portrayed by a foreigner. Leimbach, who produced Queensland-shot classic Beneath Hill 60 (2010), says he needs a marquee star to raise $12 million to ensure an epic film featuring big battles between shearers and scabs, significant sets and camels. "Everyone wants me to get Chris Hemsworth but he would cost more than my whole budget and he is on his way to great Hollywood celebrity," he says. We would also love Joel Edgerton but after his success in The Great Gatsby ... I'm sure that his agents would want him to move to Hollywood, not come out to Winton for an Aussie flick. I'm looking for an actor in the 30-year-old age range so unfortunately wonderful actors like Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and Geoffrey Rush are too old. I'm a fan of a lot of up and coming Aussie actors but can you see them in posters on the London Underground? I know I will be hung and quartered if I chose a Yank, but then again if the film works in the international arena, doesn't that justify it? Waltzing Matilda Centre manager Craig Templemann said the Winton community would support Leimbach's decision but casting an American would be a disaster because the Australian accent was so hard to master. He said a British actor, especially with Paterson's English heritage, could be more successful. "I will support Bill's decision because he is doing everything to get this film made in Winton but my heart and patriotic and parochial mindset is telling me, we would love an Aussie boy to play Banjo," Templemann says.