35 replies to this topic

[DavidJones]

There's always been a lot of rumours that Clive Owen was asked or wasn't asked to be Bond, he turned it down due to lack of contract points etc. But was he ever going to be Bond, or is it just the baseless speculation?

[marktmurphy]

I expect he was considered; he may have not wanted to. Hugh Jackman was asked if he'd be interested; he said no because he was too busy on X Men 2.

[Vauxhall]

I imagine he was almost certainly considered. Whether he was actually offered the role seems far more unlikely to me though.

[S K Y F A L L]

I thought I read somewhere that Owen made up the rumor himself about being considered for the role in hopes that it might come true.

[doublenoughtspy]

I thought I read somewhere that Owen made up the rumor himself about being considered for the role in hopes that it might come true.

 

You are confusing him with Hugh Jackman.  Jackman admitted to Eon that he started the rumor.

[seawolfnyy]

I think Owen was considered, but I think I remember him saying he was never asked. Could be wrong on that though....

[graric]

I expect he was considered; he may have not wanted to. Hugh Jackman was asked if he'd be interested; he said no because he was too busy on X Men 2.

Going by Clive Owen has said in interviews, and what the producers have said in interviews about only having 3 actors they seriously looked at, I would say he was never really considered for the role (he is probably to well known an actor to play Bond in any-case) he denies having anything to do with the role in the interview http://www.mi6-hq.co...php?itemid=9706

 

As for Hugh Jackman, as others have said, he was never considered for the role (he admits as much in this interview where he even admits that he started the rumors himself http://www.mi6-hq.co...php?itemid=1299) which is what really frustrates me about him bringing up Bond in more recent interviews (where he likes to say the producers tried to get him for the role but he was busy with X-Men...which doesn't even line up when you look at the time frame for each of the X-Men films!)

[plankattack]

I've also heard Jackman say that his wife questioned whether it was a good career move to be involved in another franchise, as he was already well-established in X-Men - I think perhaps that what he means: he was already involved in X-Men rather than actually filming an entry in the franchise at the time.

[graric]

I've also heard Jackman say that his wife questioned whether it was a good career move to be involved in another franchise, as he was already well-established in X-Men - I think perhaps that what he means: he was already involved in X-Men rather than actually filming an entry in the franchise at the time.

I've never seen anything about his wife telling him to turn down the franchise (although I have heard him say she didn't want him to do X-Men at first) but that is possible, here he seems to suggest the X-Men filming schedule is what put him off http://www.mi6commun...s-bond-role/p1 My point was however that despite what Hugh Jackman says about having to say no to the role in interviews these days, its simply not true because he was never offered the role to begin with!
(In the earlier interview I posted he acknowledges starting the rumours himself to get himself noticed by the producers...a tactic that doesn't seem to have worked as the producers at no point seemed interested in him. His involvement in the X-Men series would've worked against him more from the producers perspective than as a reason for him not to take the role.)

Edited by graric, 15 January 2013 - 02:21 AM.

[plankattack]

Graric - agreed totally on Jackman not being offered; I suspect his involvement has always been more wishful fan-w)^%^&g! The whole tall, dark, and handsome thing! Conventional wisdom is that only Cavill was ever close to being offered (and how close is anyone's guess), though I'd be curious to hear if there are any stories out there about whether Ewan McGregor was anywhere near consideration.

[thecasinoroyale]

Either way I'm glad Owen wasn't taken on - he may have that modern Bond look in this image that started the wheel turning...

 

 

 

... but deep down I feel he's a standard actor with nothing memorable, he's not got any of the Bond traits and simply he's not as good as people thought as he is just churning out sub-par films.

[PPK_19]

Hugh Jackman was on The Graham Norton Show a couple of weeks ago. He said that he was offered the role of Bond but was too busy on X-Men 2. Glad Clive Owen didn't get the part. That man can't act for toffee.

[DavidJones]

... though I'd be curious to hear if there are any stories out there about whether Ewan McGregor was anywhere near consideration.

 

I heard they thought he was too short, and then he got sour grapes and said he wasn't interested anyway, that he would have to dedicate ten years to it, which he didn't want to do.

[thecasinoroyale]

Ewan circa 2003...

 

 

Certainly could have injected some youth to the role after Brosnan's 'Die Another Day' - though I expect it wouldn't be in the re-boot sense of 'Casino Royale' and more of the classic formula.

 

I'd pay to see McGregor in the role.

[marktmurphy]

 

I've also heard Jackman say that his wife questioned whether it was a good career move to be involved in another franchise, as he was already well-established in X-Men - I think perhaps that what he means: he was already involved in X-Men rather than actually filming an entry in the franchise at the time.

I've never seen anything about his wife telling him to turn down the franchise (although I have heard him say she didn't want him to do X-Men at first) but that is possible, here he seems to suggest the X-Men filming schedule is what put him off http://www.mi6commun...s-bond-role/p1 My point was however that despite what Hugh Jackman says about having to say no to the role in interviews these days, its simply not true because he was never offered the role to begin with!
(In the earlier interview I posted he acknowledges starting the rumours himself to get himself noticed by the producers...a tactic that doesn't seem to have worked as the producers at no point seemed interested in him. His involvement in the X-Men series would've worked against him more from the producers perspective than as a reason for him not to take the role.)

 

 

I think there's some Chinese whispers going on there. He's even mentioned in interviews this week that he was asked if he'd be interested (not offered the role) and he turned it down due to the X Men franchise. I see no reason to disbelieve that.

[graric]

 

 

I've also heard Jackman say that his wife questioned whether it was a good career move to be involved in another franchise, as he was already well-established in X-Men - I think perhaps that what he means: he was already involved in X-Men rather than actually filming an entry in the franchise at the time.

I've never seen anything about his wife telling him to turn down the franchise (although I have heard him say she didn't want him to do X-Men at first) but that is possible, here he seems to suggest the X-Men filming schedule is what put him off http://www.mi6commun...s-bond-role/p1 My point was however that despite what Hugh Jackman says about having to say no to the role in interviews these days, its simply not true because he was never offered the role to begin with!
(In the earlier interview I posted he acknowledges starting the rumours himself to get himself noticed by the producers...a tactic that doesn't seem to have worked as the producers at no point seemed interested in him. His involvement in the X-Men series would've worked against him more from the producers perspective than as a reason for him not to take the role.)

 

 

I think there's some Chinese whispers going on there. He's even mentioned in interviews this week that he was asked if he'd be interested (not offered the role) and he turned it down due to the X Men franchise. I see no reason to disbelieve that.

 

I would agree, if Hugh Jackman hadn't already confirmed he made up the rumors of his being in consideration for the role (as stated in this article from 2004 http://www.mi6-hq.co...php?itemid=1299) His claims to having been in talks about the role don't even line up with the facts we know:
He couldn't have been busy making X-Men 2 when he was offered the role (as he claims here http://metro.co.uk/2...es-bond-187120/) because X-Men 2 was being filmed in mid-2002, around the same time as Die Another Day (unless the producers were considering getting rid of Pierce Brosnan before the film even came out.)

Instead, assuming Hugh got the dates wrong and going by when the rumors first came up of his involvement (and taking his claim to have started the rumors as his attempt to play down his involvement) he would have been in talks in early 2004, when it was beginning to look  there was a chance Pierce Brosnan wouldn't come back to the role.
This would've been ideal timing for Hugh Jackman from X-Men perspective as Bryan Singer had just left the third film, and Hugh had not officially signed up for a third film at this point...there was no obligation for Hugh Jackman to continue with the X-Men franchise if he didn't want to at this point (and if he wanted to they would have worked the schedule around him...he was the star of the franchise and even had director approval for the third film.)

He was also keen on starring in a non X-Men franchise (he had done Van Helsing in 2004 in an attempt to star in another action series, but it did not do well at the box office) he needed a hit to establish himself away from the X-Men series, and a Bond film would've been close to a sure thing for success at the box office.
He either started rumors at this point to get the attention of the producers in an attempt to become a star outside the X-Men series (as the article would suggest) or he decided to pass on the role (despite it being a self-confessed dream role) and waited to see what would happen with the uncertainty around X-Men 3.

Even if he had gotten offered the role during the filming of X-Men 3 (ignoring the rumors of Daniel Craig having accepted the role in May 2005) at this point he still hasn't had a truly successful film outside the X-Men franchise, the filming schedules of Casino Royale and X-Men 3 would not even over lap (one finished in late 2005, the other begins in early 2006) X-Men 3 would help him say good-bye to the character of Wolverine, while Casino Royale would set him up in a new franchise and help people see him as something other than Wolverine.
(The only possibility for him turning down the role at this point is if he wanted to take a longer break between the films than would have been possible to meet Casino Royale's release date.)

While I may just be speculating going by the producers history of avoiding actors who are already established in other roles (Mel Gibson in the 80's, turning down Pierce Brosnan when NBC renewed his contract) it appears to me that they would be less willing to bring in an actor who is already so closely associated with another action franchise, than Jackman would be in taking the role.

In the end it just makes more sense to me to takes Hugh's statement in 2004 at face value and believe that he did start the Bond rumors in an attempt to get the producers attention, trying to get his name in consideration, than it is to believe his more recent statements of actually being offered the role (as that story doesn't seem to add up with any of the other facts we have.)

Edited by graric, 15 January 2013 - 01:35 PM.

[S K Y F A L L]

I like McGregor but I think he is to short. I also wouldn't have minded Clive Owen. Hugh Jackman I would rather see making more X Men films. 

[archer1949]

Either way I'm glad Owen wasn't taken on - he may have that modern Bond look in this image that started the wheel turning...

 

 

 

... but deep down I feel he's a standard actor with nothing memorable, he's not got any of the Bond traits and simply he's not as good as people thought as he is just churning out sub-par films.

You obviously never saw him in Croupier. The fact that the Bond rumors began swirling around him after that movie came out was no coincidence.

 

And nothing memorable? Three words: Children. Of. Men.

[Iceskater101]

Clive Owen is a really good actor I think, I love the movie Derailed.

[MajorB]

I think Owen was considered, but I think I remember him saying he was never asked. Could be wrong on that though....

This tallies with my recollection. There was lot of media/web foofaraw, and I'm sure at some point his name must have come up at Eon--assuming they did what I would do, which is write down every conceivable candidate as a way of brainstorming. But I don't think I've ever seen a shred of evidence that he was seriously considered, much less approached. 

[trevanian]

Part of the deal is that Martin Campbell had worked with him and probably wanted him early on, until it was clear they were writing this for a twenty something, hence Campbell's preference for Cavill when things developed. If Owen HAD actually seen a script -- and there's no indication this happened at all -- he'd've certainly turned it down, because it is clearly written for a young man. Craig's casting is utterly absurd, as the guy was not only way too old to be playing a new Double-0, but he looked years older than he was -- it was like seeing DAF era Connery as a rookie Bond, just with muscles stuck on and cut off at the knees, after losing an acid fight. 

[Simon]

Personally, I cannot imagine Owen was evr considered.  Others might have done some considering but not Eon.

 

I am sure Mr Owen is a thoroughly decent chap but he is one of a very few actors that for the life me, I cannot fathom why they have any sort of career in acting.  Ewan McGregor and Julian Sands being two others.

 

Owen seems to excel in the gormless stare, the flat delivery, and intonation is ALL the wrong places to ensure he comes across as someone completely devoid of any charisma or personality.

 

I have just finished watching Croupier which, while it wasn't helped by the dumb script, showcased Owen's 'talents' to the full.  Indeed the only thing I have ever seen Owen in where he came across well, were a couple of BMW advertising shorts.  He wasn't called upon to Talk, and this helped him immeasurably.

[Baccarat]

 Three words: Children. Of. Men.

 

Outstanding film/performance by Owen. Can't say if he would have made a good Bond, but a credible choice for the role if he was in fact considered.

Edited by Baccarat, 24 January 2013 - 10:06 PM.

[DavidJones]

I think Eon really missed a trick by not hiring Owen and going with Craig. His look is classic Fleming's Bond.

[trevanian]

I think Eon really missed a trick by not hiring Owen and going with Craig. His look is classic Fleming's Bond.

Pretty sure Campbell did sound Owen out early on and got the 'not interested' but who knows how serious that was on either side. I do agree that Owen could have been a classic Bond -- I think he is a terrific actor, look at CLOSER and CHILDREN OF MEN to see a range -- but there's no point in having one of those working with the scripts they've done this century. I DO think that if QT actually did a draft for his own proposed CR, that Owen would have probably been able to nail that perfectly -- I feel Fleming in a lot of QT's stuff, and imagine Owen could live in that landscape very well.

[SecretAgentFan]

Clive Owen, IMO, is a really good actor - but it is surprising that his career did not really take off.  Bad choices?  The powers that be did not like him too much?

 

I could have imagined him as Bond.  However, there is something about him that does not work for me too well.  Interestingly, it might be his working class charisma - which Daniel Craig, of course, also has.  But Craig appears to be more versatile, and his arrogance is more of a quiet type while Owen´s screen persona is definitely aggressive and without too much self-doubt.  Something that humbles Craig´s Bond in a way that makes him more sympathetic to me.

 

Then again, nobody knows how Owen would have played Bond.

[trevanian]

It's dangerous to read too much into any magazine piece on an actor, but 6 or 7 years back there was a mag I picked up for my wife with a cover story on Owen. Eventually I read it and we agreed that it sounded like he was more interested in just doing a job and spending time with his family, which is a low-profile approach to movie stardom ( before he did the Hemingway miniseries and THE KNICK obviously) that would not jive with the on-display aspects of being Bond. Dalton maintained a low-profile, trying to keep things on his own terms, and I think created a lot of negative press as a result, even though I think it was simply integrity on his part.

[tdalton]

While at one point I thought that Clive Owen could, and should, have been Bond, looking back on it I'm glad that I was wrong at the time.  I really don't think that he could have pulled it off all that well.  He's a decent enough actor, but when it comes to Bond, I think his voice and his delivery would have been major obstacles to overcome in the part.  It always comes across as rather flat and dreary in every film I've seen him in, and I just can't see that translating well to Bond, especially when it comes to the one-liners.

[trevanian]

Watch Owen in CLOSER and see if you can't imagine him doing 'salt corrosion' as well as Dalton (probably the only one-liner TD had that came off in a properly Bond-ish fashion, though he more than made up for that with the 'real' humor like the cello stuff.)
 

[Yellow Pinky]

I like Clive and he would have been my choice prior to Craig signing on. But with 20/20 hindsight, I agree with tdalton that it really wouldn't have been a good fit for Clive as an actor.  Probably the closest he's come to playing Bond would have been in "The International" and it just doesn't work for me.  Part of it is how consistently low-key he is, but the biggest issue I have is that he's a bit of a mumbler in everything I've ever seen him in. He just doesn't enunciate with clarity, which would not fit in with Bond.  I think Craig's speaking voice and his line delivery are things that really elevate him and make him convincing, especially since he's the least traditionally handsome in a classic male model sense of all his predecessors.