23 replies to this topic

[ChickenStu]

Admittedly I've not read the books so I can't talk with any great authority on the subject, but still - I think Young Bond movies as a concept is something that could work very well. 

 

Think about it: The Harry Potter, Twilight, Percy Jackson films have all been great successes and they are of course based on young adult books. There is a market for that sort of thing obviously and with the main Bond movie series becoming more adult and realistic there is a danger that the family audience they used to go for is being left behind a tad. 

 

The idea is quite simple. The Charlie Higson books seem to receive great acclaim and have a loyal following of young fans. They are officially endorsed by the Ian Fleming estate, so I really do think it would be prudent of the Barbara Broccoli and Michael G.Wilson to strike while the iron is hot. They could set up a brand new series of films to exist alongside the current ones.

 

Obviously, the current ones will be the main priority for the duo since they are producers. The way they'll need to do it is to be "Executive Producers" on the Young Bond series and hire a new producer whom they trust to oversee the series. This role could make a star of a talented young newcomer. They could aim for a straight PG rating and guarantee you they'll have the audience sewn up. 

 

Like the main series they could have title songs, but for these ones get stars who appeal to younger audiences. Artists like Katie Perry, Jessie J, Lady GaGa?

 

The mission statement for Casino Royale was to start afresh taking the character back to basics and seeing how he became the man we all know and love. With a series of movies chronicling his formative years - they could go one better. 

 

Also (and this is a bit of a wild one) they could take a leaf out of Smallville's book. That show acknowledged the characters history with guest appearances by actors steeped in Superman lore. Over it's ten years it had brief turns by Margot Kidder, Marc McClure, Helen Slater, Terence Stamp (who appeared in a semi regular role providing his voice), Dean Cain, Teri Hatcher... and of course the man himself Christopher Reeve.

 

Perhaps Young Bond could try something like that? A few older actors who've previously played love interests and sidekicks could show up as teachers, different relatives? Maybe someone like Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, even Pierce Brosnan, maybe even George Lazenby could show up in a flashback as an Uncle or Grandparent or something? Give Jason Connery a nice juicy role? (Sean Connery's retired of course but even if he wasn't I doubt he'd touch it with a barge pole, lol)

 

I'm sure many will disagree but I think it would be an absolutely wonderful idea. 

[Jim]

Interesting, but arguably these books are more violent and unsettling than much of what we've seen in the past couple of Bond films.

[ChickenStu]

Interesting, but arguably these books are more violent and unsettling than much of what we've seen in the past couple of Bond films.

 

It is possible to be dark and violent and still be suitable for a family audience. I mean, look at The Empire Strikes Back. Some Harry Potter films, hell, even some old Walt Disney cartoons! Like I said I can't talk with any great authority because I haven't read the books - but a good kid's movie doesn't treat it's audience like an idiot. 

 

That's why I hate the Home Alone films. There is no way a kid could really do that, put in that situation. Whereas a movie like E.T The Extra Terrestrial is a stunning film - simply because it's depiction of childhood feels authentic (the fact that there is an alien in it is a moot point). Elliott could be the kid that lives next door, Kevin McCalister couldn't. If its done right, kids can handle it. 

[Jim]

Fair enough - but they are pretty graphic. That's probably their appeal.

[Walecs]

I've never read Young Bond books, but I'm willing to do so, and a movie series would encourage even more.

About stars who appeal to younger audiences... no. Definitely no, the music gender must be the same that they use in the movies; songs like Goldfinger, Nobody Does it Better, AVTAK, TWINE and Skyfall,

 

What I'd rather have though, is a tv-series, made of 90 minutes episodes like Sherlock, set in the 50s/60s, and 100% based on Fleming books. We'd finally have books like Live and Let Die and You Only Live Twice done in the good way, for instance, and without the exigence of a remake with Craig in the main series.

Edited by Walecs, 21 October 2013 - 05:14 PM.

[glidrose]

Live action films? I don't see it happening. As Higson himself said, you've got to get a teenage actor who has the charisma of Sean Connery. Ain't gonna happen.

 

Remember the Alex Ryder movie Stormbreaker?

 

Animated/computer-generated films? Possibly.

[ChickenStu]

Live action films? I don't see it happening. As Higson himself said, you've got to get a teenage actor who has the charisma of Sean Connery. Ain't gonna happen.

 

Since our man has been played by six different actors - I don't think the casting criteria should be to find a young actor who is in any way reminiscent of those actors. Each actor had the opportunity to put their own unique stamp on the part. The lucky little sod who gets the Young Bond gig should have the same opportunity. Should this ever happen, I think the little blighter cast in the role should actually not watch any of the movies and just base his performance on the material he's being given to work from. Then this could be a strong movie series in its own right. 

Edited by ChickenStu, 21 October 2013 - 08:08 PM.

[hoagy]

It's a great idea, but not one to be handled loosely, like many of the pre-Craig Bonds with illogical moments, continuity errors, etc.  If done, it should be entirely IN PERIOD -- the early 20th Century.  Another blip in the Bond Time Continuum  ?  Yes, of course !  There is no continuum !

Additionally, it should be done to the exacting and superb standards of the Potter films.

Now -- what was VERY important about the Potter films is that the child actors selected turned out very well.  They stayed with it, kept level heads and so on.  It's not that the main character must be a "young Connery" or "young any Bond actor" -- he must be a right for the part itself, as written in the books.

The Potter films got darker and more mature as they went on.  No problem with that.  The character is growing, getting older.  It should go that way.

It really could be wonderful.

And see how mature I was with my note ?  No jokes about "he who must not be named" for a young Blofeld- nope, I resisted all that....

[glidrose]

Since our man has been played by six different actors - I don't think the casting criteria should be to find a young actor who is in any way reminiscent of those actors.

You misunderstand me. I never said the casting criteria should be to find a young actor who is any way reminiscent of the six Bond actors.

Instead, no teenager can possibly live up to onscreen expectations. You need a tough, charismatic, unflappable teenager. They don't exist.

Here are Higson's own words: "When the subject of Young Bond on the big screen came up, Higson called the idea complicated. 'You know, with screen rights, and also trying to find a boy with the charisma of Sean Connery. It's very difficult to get good child actors.'"

Harry Potter worked onscreen precisely because Harry Potter is a four-eyed nebbish. That's a part teens can play quite well.

If you don't believe me, ask yourselves why there was only one Alex Ryder movie.

[AMC Hornet]

I wouldn't mind f they went with anime - then I wouldn't mind giving it a miss, either.

[OmarB]

I'm glad someone else mentioned Alex Rider.  His movie while good was still very childish in it's execution of the story from the book.  A Young Bond movie would have to be toned down to a level that it's not even brutal anymore.  I had to put them down several times on my first reads.  That claustrophobia and water in Silverfin, those flies in Blood Fever, that villain's continually worsening state if you know what I mean, that body count in Hurricane Gold.  At times the violence and brutality meted out to James is on the same or even an higher level as the adult books.  Made all the worse because he is a kid.

 

As for the setting itself.  These stories are very tied to their period, even moreso than the adult books.  Young Bond is more caught up in his surroundings being a kid and being very interested and curious.  These movies theoretically leading into CR with DC turns problematic.  

[Dustin]

One thing's for sure, the Young Bond series goes far beyond Enid Blyton/Famous Five country. Young James is not really spared a lot and the entire run has a strong coming-of-age element. It's not really a series for 'children' and I suppose bringing it to the screen properly - and why do it at all if not faithfully? - would call for something different than family entertainment. These are tough adventure stories that happen to have a child as their protagonist, but are not particularly 'light' or 'easy'. Think of the 1958/children parts of Stephen King's IT, that's also no material for family entertainment, even though the children protagonists manage to overcome their adversary.* If I take the recent Marvel productions AVENGERS, IRON MAN or CAPTAIN AMERICA as benchmark for what currently is considered family entertainment than tone would be decidedly wrong for Young Bond in my view. At least if you want to stay true to the core of these stories.


*Which is not to say I think young readers would not be able to cope with King's story, understand and enjoy it. It just would not be stuff for family entertainment.

[OmarB]

Admittedly I've not read the books so I can't talk with any great authority on the subject, but still - I think Young Bond movies as a concept is something that could work very well. 

 

 

Anybody find it odd that the person suggesting this is the guy who has not read the books?  When you do you will make a more solid post on the issue.

[Jim]

 

Admittedly I've not read the books so I can't talk with any great authority on the subject, but still - I think Young Bond movies as a concept is something that could work very well. 

 

 

Anybody find it odd that the person suggesting this is the guy who has not read the books?  When you do you will make a more solid post on the issue.

 

 

Be nice.

 

It's a fair point, though, that the books as written are a bit, um, robust.

[Dustin]

Anybody find it odd that the person suggesting this is the guy who has not read the books? When you do you will make a more solid post on the issue.

Not odd at all. I bet you can ask any random guy on the street if a Young Bond film would be a good idea and will get positive responses 8 out of 10 times - regardless if they ever heard of Charlie Higson's books or not. In fact I suppose the more cursory one's familiarity with Bond in general is, the better the idea may sound to some. It's really quite easy to get the wrong idea when one just hears 'Young Bond'. Being familiar with the Alex Rider series I'd even argue they are a better fit - despite these books also featuring some tough scenes - for the 'family entertainment' bracket than Higson's Young Bond. Always going by the Marvel-popcorn standard of course.

[ChickenStu]

 

Admittedly I've not read the books so I can't talk with any great authority on the subject, but still - I think Young Bond movies as a concept is something that could work very well. 

 

 

Anybody find it odd that the person suggesting this is the guy who has not read the books?  When you do you will make a more solid post on the issue.

 

 

Tell you what. Why don't you put that question a bit more politely? Then I may feel like answering you. 

[OmarB]

I didn't ask you a question directly.  I don't need an answer from you, it is indeed odd to want movies of books you have never read.

[AMC Hornet]

I don't know - after first seeing Diamonds are Forever I was crazy to see more Bond films, even though I hadn't read any of the books yet...

As for Young Bond, I have read them (once each) and wouldn't care to see them dramatized.

And remember: Danjac has exclusive first refusal rights to all written works about Bond, and MGW has already admitted that it costs EON less to commission original screenplays than it does to option existing titles.

Someday they may go Lucasfilm on us and create an animated series like The Clone Wars - or like they already did with James Bond Jr - but I hope not.

[Double Naught spy]

^{Is it true they've approached Idris Elba to play Young Bond?  .... Sorry, I couldn't resist.}  

 

^{I'd love to see Higson's series turned into films, mini-series, or even an ongoing TV series with each season a self-contained story arc.   But, as pointed out by OmarB, the fact that these stories are set in the 1930's could be problematic (not for me though!) for the powers-that-be who want the current-day celluloid 007 to always be in his mid/late 30's.  And, before anyone suggests it, give me a second to climb to the mountaintop so I can scream "Nooooooo!" into the heavens to anybody who come up with the solution of taking Higson's novels and setting their movie counterparts in the 1980's or 1990's!}  

 

^{Walecs - Hell-to-the-yeah!  on your suggestion of Sherlock-style 90-minute episodes of 100% translated Fleming novels!  That's been a dream of mine for a long time.  At this point, I'd even settle for an adaptation of the newspaper comic strips in a "Motion Comic" format like they did with The Watchmen a few years ago.} 

Edited by Double Naught spy, 30 October 2013 - 07:59 PM.

[Walecs]

@AMC Hornet I really enjoied the The Clone Wars animated series, but that wouldn't work for Bond.

 

@Double Naught spy: I'm glad you like the idea.

[Dustin]

Actually I see no reason why these adventures wouldn't work on the screen (though the telly is probably the way to go if you want them done faithfully). These books are so fine they would also work without the name 'James Bond'.

[OmarB]

Trying to crack the inherent violence and brutality in them is the problem.  Young Bond does not mean targeted at kids by any means.  

[saint mark]

I do sincerely hope that there will never be such a thing as a Young James Bond movie.

 

The producer of such an enterprise would find certainly an unlimited amount of ways to do the idea and the books grave injustice.

[Dustin]

Can't say that I'm entirely averse to an adaptation, provided it's done 'right' - 'right' being period, faithful to the adventure theme and not trying to tap into the film series at all. Do it as if it was the first time, 'James Who? Never heard of the guy...' You could get some decent projects out of Higson's books, I've seen stuff filmed that was way less substantial.