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Moneypenny's licence to thrill


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#1 quantumofsolace

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 12:46 AM

dailymail 13 September 2013

Naomie Harris is getting more of the action in the next James Bond film, which starts shooting next year.

The actress who was introduced as Miss Moneypenny in the last Bond movie Skyfall (a fact first revealed on these pages), will appear alongside Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and other cast members yet to be determined in Bond 24 (it will be given its release title later), which John Logan is writing now.

Director Sam Mendes, Craig, and producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are all big fans of Naomie’s and don’t want her to be too desk-bound, as other Moneypennys have been.

‘The idea formulating in Bond-land is for Naomie to be much more of a sidekick to James, and for her to get out and harm the bad guys,’ an executive close to the production told me.



#2 DominicGreene

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 02:13 AM

tumblr_mmk7cetkgG1s87z2qo1_400.gif



#3 Matt_13

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 02:53 AM

Baz write this? Even so, the producers have stated themselves that Eve was not going to be stuck behind a desk in future films. Good news, as far as I'm concerned.

#4 SecretAgentFan

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 05:10 AM

And that is why higher profile actors should not be cast. Of course, they don´t want to have bit parts.



#5 Dustin

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 06:14 AM

Not overly fond of sidekick-Penny. I can see her in action, but I'd prefer if it was as M's Cerberus and that would imply another attack at SIS/M, not truly innovative at the moment.

#6 wakeup37

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 06:24 AM

She could dual-role as a sort of "Head of Security" for M when he's out-and-about (an overseas briefing perhaps), she certainly displayed those sorts of skills in the raid on M's inquest in Skyfall. This could get her involved in a local threat not necessarily directed at M but at, say, the British Embassy of Wherever - and do so somewhat independent of Bond.


Edited by wakeup37, 13 September 2013 - 06:26 AM.


#7 SecretAgentFan

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 08:22 AM

And what is this saying about women being "just" secretaries? A perfectly honorable profession is not enough for a "Bond woman" anymore?



#8 RMc2

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 08:45 AM

In the Brosnan era they had opportunities to get Moneypenny more involved by virtue of the fact that M was very involved in the main story (albeit usually from a mission control room) and I'd love it if they expanded Moneypenny's active role in the plot through that device - you know, uncovering big plot points through investigation at home. Otherwise, I admit I hate the idea of Moneypenny joining 007 on missions - but I guess SF is the template for that, with the gun toting and brief sidekicking part of the intended formula from now on?



#9 tdalton

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 09:03 AM

Hopefully this is just one of the usual nonsensical reports that we seem to always get in the leadup to a Bond film and nothing more.



#10 SecretAgentFan

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 10:50 AM

Very possible. I just hope that if Moneypenny gets more than the office scenes it will not exceed the SKYFALL-quota. The two Bond girls supply enough side-kickery.



#11 JohnnyWalker

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 11:52 AM

Doesn't actually make sense does it? Since she chose not to stay in the field.



#12 Turn

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 01:20 PM

Moneypenny is a hard role to define these days. The traditional role of "secretary" has evolved in the workplace. Most aren't just about typing, scheduling conference rooms and getting the boss coffee. They do a variety of other tasks that go above and beyond that and require more skills. Not necessarily toting firearms in the field, but lets just say the days of Lois Maxwell are a fond memory.

 

I particularly didn't like the Brosnan era Moneypenny, who seemed to straddle between being independent and somewhat feminist -- the "I had a date tonight" thing in GE to being sarcastic and the comedy relief with truly terrible puns -- TND and TWINE to the flat-out embarrassing butt (no pun intended) of a cheap joke at the end of DAD. At least in the past you felt there was some affection between Moneypenny and Bond in previous films. Here she seemed to be a token figure to be squeezed in in the worst possible ways. She's the type of office personality everybody else would want to avoid at holiday parties.

 

I wasn't disappointed a bit when the character wasn't revived for CR or QoS and didn't feel particularly pleased she and Q would be in Skyfall. I did enjoy the new Q, who was a true redefinition of the character, whereas Moneypenny seemed like a big stretch. We have a field agent who is taking a desk job, although as I mentioned above the definition isn't the same as before. Nothing stood out really about her other than she shot Bond. I'll just hope for the best, but I don't see the necessity to accommodate the character in the action just to show this isn't your dad's Moneypenny anymore.  



#13 S K Y F A L L

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Posted 13 September 2013 - 10:41 PM

Moneypenny turning into Jinx, did I hear spin-off?



#14 JimmyBond

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Posted 14 September 2013 - 04:53 AM

Doesn't actually make sense does it? Since she chose not to stay in the field.

 

Which is why I refuse to believe this story. 



#15 MkB

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Posted 14 September 2013 - 07:31 PM

That's strange, after her (weird) choice of taking a desk job... 

 

Frankly, I think the I-shot-my-partner-so-I-don't-want-to-do-this-job-anymore was not a truly brilliant way of introducing a Moneypenny that would share a part of Bond's experience. Her position does not make much sense this way.

 

On the other hand... I could see their relationship working better if they had both been seriously wounded together during the Turkish mission, by none of their fault, but as a result of M's "judgement call". Then their stories take different paths:

Bond is MIA, thought dead for some time and nurses his grudge against M with various liquors in silly bars, then hears the call of duty again and pops back in London, in a sorry shape but manages to get back on track (somehow) and becomes Bond again. 

Eve on the other hand is not missing, but  is too seriously wounded to come back to a field job; yet she does not bear a grudge agains M and understands the necessities of the decision. She accepts a desk job, and becomes Moneypenny.

 

That way, the dream of going back in the field would make sense in Moneypenny, and Bond and her would share some "brother in arms" chemistry that would explain the form of affection between them. 



#16 KM16

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Posted 14 September 2013 - 08:39 PM

Meh, I think people are overthinking this. I think maybe she'll make her way into the field, probably with Q, only to lend a hand and assist Bond for a slim portion of the film. I can see that being the case since so many people wanted the characters back and to also give them a little more to do than just bit parts every two/three years. I'm down for it and I'll stay open minded until I see the finished product if it's true, but I still think even IF this is true and Moneypenny is in the field again, I think it'll be way way less screen time than what she received in Skyfall.



#17 rubixcub

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Posted 15 September 2013 - 03:00 AM

I agree that this would be hard to pull off without some serious backpedaling, all but reneging on the ending of SF.

 

The only way I could see this happening is by happenstance, i.e. Moneypenny happens to be with Bond in the field, in the right place at the wrong time -- when some sort of attack breaks out.

 

Dave



#18 Leon

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Posted 15 September 2013 - 11:59 PM

 

Doesn't actually make sense does it? Since she chose not to stay in the field.

 

Which is why I refuse to believe this story. 

 

 

Hmm, it does sound a bit early for this sort of news also. Certainly it a. makes no sense for Ms personal assistant and secretary to be going out on assignments with James Bond or anyone else, and b. it would result in another lame side-kick Bond movie. Bond is always best when he's stuck alone somewhere exotic, mysterious and dangerous. It's not as if we haven't had much of Bond with female side-kicks in the movies already. I'd rather they just get back to the meat and potatoes of what a good, classic James Bond action/espionage thriller is.

In any case this story is probably made up.



#19 Shrublands

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Posted 16 September 2013 - 09:04 AM

 

 

Doesn't actually make sense does it? Since she chose not to stay in the field.

 

Which is why I refuse to believe this story. 

 

 

Hmm, it does sound a bit early for this sort of news also. Certainly it a. makes no sense for Ms personal assistant and secretary to be going out on assignments with James Bond or anyone else, and b. it would result in another lame side-kick Bond movie. Bond is always best when he's stuck alone somewhere exotic, mysterious and dangerous. It's not as if we haven't had much of Bond with female side-kicks in the movies already. I'd rather they just get back to the meat and potatoes of what a good, classic James Bond action/espionage thriller is.

In any case this story is probably made up.

 

 As it comes from the very reliable Baz Bamigboye, I'd say it's probably not made up.

 

http://www.dailymail...nse-thrill.html



#20 Matt_13

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Posted 16 September 2013 - 01:41 PM

I'm very surprised at the negativity here. I loved Naomie's take on the character. She was excellent in the casino scene, and has a great rapport with Craig's Bond. I'd love to see more of her.

#21 RMc2

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Posted 16 September 2013 - 01:44 PM

I'm very surprised at the negativity here. I loved Naomie's take on the character. She was excellent in the casino scene, and has a great rapport with Craig's Bond. I'd love to see more of her.

 

You are blind to bad performances, sir ;)

 

I think the fuss is more over what they might do with the character having taken the pains to re-establish her as M's secretary, and less over Harris' performance.



#22 Hansen

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Posted 16 September 2013 - 01:55 PM

After having Bond kill his boss in SF, they might as well let him have sex with Moneypenny in the next one.

On step further in blasphemy...



#23 SecretAgentFan

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Posted 16 September 2013 - 02:35 PM

Kill his boss?



#24 Major Tallon

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Posted 16 September 2013 - 03:55 PM

There's precedent, of course, in the wonderful Moneypenny Diaries trilogy. 



#25 Hansen

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Posted 17 September 2013 - 05:42 AM

Kill his boss?

Taking M to his family mansion and play 'Home Alone' along with an elderly is assassination.

Yes.... And this is a bit of provokation from me ;-)



#26 sharpshooter

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Posted 17 September 2013 - 09:14 AM

I think Naomi's Moneypenny will have a larger role. They did something different with the character in Skyfall. Mostly by exploring her Craigverse filmic origins. But as a sidekick? I'd prefer her assistance to be centred around her new role. I guess if she has to pick up a gun in the course of those duties she has some skills to fall back on.
 



#27 Turn

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Posted 17 September 2013 - 12:36 PM

My request is don't let the Bond character become lost as the main focus in the need to accommodate these other characters, particularly when you consider an Oscar-nominated actor like Fiennes probably won't be limited to just a cameo to send Bond on his mission like the old days.

 

M's expanded role in the first 3 films of the Craig era was fine. Dench's credentials speak for themselves and the supporting characters were fine in their background roles in CR and QoS. I just hope Skyfall is the exception as far as the expanded screen time for the Mi6 staff. Sometimes less is more.



#28 dtuba

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Posted 18 September 2013 - 06:16 AM

That's strange, after her (weird) choice of taking a desk job... 

 

Frankly, I think the I-shot-my-partner-so-I-don't-want-to-do-this-job-anymore was not a truly brilliant way of introducing a Moneypenny that would share a part of Bond's experience. Her position does not make much sense this way.

 

On the other hand... I could see their relationship working better if they had both been seriously wounded together during the Turkish mission, by none of their fault, but as a result of M's "judgement call". Then their stories take different paths:

Bond is MIA, thought dead for some time and nurses his grudge against M with various liquors in silly bars, then hears the call of duty again and pops back in London, in a sorry shape but manages to get back on track (somehow) and becomes Bond again. 

Eve on the other hand is not missing, but  is too seriously wounded to come back to a field job; yet she does not bear a grudge agains M and understands the necessities of the decision. She accepts a desk job, and becomes Moneypenny.

 

That way, the dream of going back in the field would make sense in Moneypenny, and Bond and her would share some "brother in arms" chemistry that would explain the form of affection between them. 

Brilliant! That would have been so much better than how it ended up being.



#29 killkenny kid

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Posted 08 October 2013 - 03:10 AM

http://www.rogereber...-for-moneypenny

 

 

the story is back, I just don't know about this one. Could it be true?



#30 Pushkin

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Posted 08 October 2013 - 04:58 PM

I can see this working out well provided its handled properly. If its going to be a sidekick type of movie, I would suggest that sidekick be Felix Leiter or another agent either within MI6 or from another country. But I see the new Moneypenny as being more like a senior advisor/executive secretary.

 

She could be sent out brief Bond on some new orders and as was mentioned earlier, be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

It could also be that M has to deal with something highly sensitive or disobey orders and only trusts Moneypenny to assist Bond on an assignment. I have no problem with her working with Bond and seeing some action but there's no need to do a Lethal Weapon type film with them coupled together.

 

It might also be interesting to see Bond and Moneypenny to interact socially outside of work and one of them trying to get the other in bed. Perhaps she arrives at Bond's flat to brief him and suggestive comments are made and there is time to kill. But to me if you were ever going to have them sleep together that would have been in the shaving scene which could have been an interesting backstory and given new perspective to flirting in successive films.