Heh, I'm pretty sure that was the first mention...at the very least I believe it was the first time I personally heard the idea. Props to Locke.
So in my continuous boredom of being without a vehicle/work duty this week, I made a quick-list of my current fantasy of the main cast:
Kellhus -- Michael Fassbender (obviously)
![](http://www.tasteofcinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/300-Michael-Fassbender.jpg)
Achamian -- Ray Winstone (still my personal fave, though I do like earlier mentions of Gary Oldman)
![](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/03/12/article-2579033-1C37F68400000578-205_306x423.jpg)
Cnaiur -- Tom Hardy (this particular image sold me; if he's bulked up Bane/Bronson style...I can see it)
![](https://imheathcliff.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/tomheathcliff2009.jpg)
Esmenet -- Paula Patton (she's been my go-to Esmi mental impression for a while now)
![](http://www.miriamsalat.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Paula_Patton_550a.jpg)
Proyas -- Dominic Cooper (he's got that youthful -- but still potentially stern/dangerous -- look that I think is needed for the character)
![](https://nyppagesix.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/dominic_cooper-300x300.jpg)
Serwe -- Kristen Bell (for me, Serwe needs to be a natural beauty with just the faintest hint of "strange" thrown in -- an ethereal quality)
![](http://hr-plus.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/kristen-bell-1680x1050-30360.jpg)
Conphas -- Oscar Isaac (dude totally has that vaguely arrogant handsomeness to his appearance that seems perfect)
![](http://d3rm69wky8vagu.cloudfront.net/article-photos/large/1.156516.jpg)
Saubon -- Ryan Gosling (weirdly, Gosling was the image I'd initially conjured when reading Conphas, though that has changed over time)
![](http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/007/713/Ryan-Gosling-3.jpg)
Maithanet -- Javier Bardem (though honestly, I can imagine a ton of different actors for Maitha...and a ton of different roles for Bardem)
![](http://www.toptenz.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/javier-bardem.jpg)
Sarcellus -- Jon Hamm (someone mentioned it here before, I know, and it has always stuck for me)
![](http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-460/h--/q-95/sys-images/Observer/Columnist/Columnists/2013/11/13/1384343875133/hamm-010.jpg)
Fanayal -- Oded Fehr (he just has the rouge-ish badass look to him)
![](http://www.odedfehr.de/tm2/tmrmakin029big.jpg)
Aurang -- Mark Strong (in his illusory human form)
![](https://secure.static.tumblr.com/9eb72d0ee15caa27b3a49c0ee1bb8e16/kekyxhf/38hn4fvxw/tumblr_static_akizmlvsh60oksogksw0cg00g.jpg)
To be clear, these are largely just approximate representations of my own mental image of the characters. Aside from a few instances (Fassbender for Kellhus, Winstone/Oldman for Akka, Patton for Esmi, Cooper for Proyas, and Hardy for Cnaiur), I'd probably end up seeking largely unknown actors for most roles.