982 replies to this topic

[pgram]

Still, the only interesting suggestion so far has been Daniel Auteill, although I 'm not sure whether he 'd like to play in a Bond film. Depardieu is a good actor,but certainly an awful choice for a Bond villain, especially after Obelix, for Christ's shake.

A creepy choice would be Daniel Emilfork. At least, he is definitely uglier than Craig...(not an easy task )

[tdalton]

Here are a few of my ideas on who should play Le Chiffre:

Bob Hoskins
Jack Nicholson
Michael Lonsdale (someone mentioned him previously in this thread, and even though he was Drax in MR, I think that enough time has passed for this to be given consideration)
Johnny Depp (for a quirkier, more deranged Le Chiffre than what's presented in the novel)
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
John Goodman
Lambert Wilson

[rubixcub]

Someone who's not young and skinny and unmemorable; I'd prefer they go back to the 'sinister father figure' mold of the old Bond villains. Younger villains doesn't really help as much as the marketing dept. would have you think. Did Toby Stephens put more in seats than would, say, an Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart or Anthony Hopkins?

When I read the book, the physical description of Le Chiffre kinda reminded me of Irish character actor Brendan Gleeson ("A.I.", "The Tailor of Panama", "Cold Mountain", "Gangs of New York", "Troy"). I think he'd be an inspired choice.

I always used to picture Le Chiffre having a beard, but that was because of Orson Welles.

Maybe Anthony Hopkins would finally play a Bond villain; Le Chiffre was the father of 'em all, and hopefully will make a better villain than some we've had recently.

I also like the choice of Michael Gambon for a Bond villain- he's older (62 I believe), physically imposing, a good actor, and he has a rich speaking voice. He could be a tremendous Le Chiffre, to be sure. When I saw him in a tweed hunting suit in "Gosford Park", I got Goldfinger vibes.

It shouldn't be too huge of a name or someone known for their own distinctiveness. IMO Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson, and John Goodman would be far too distracting.

The best villains have usually been unknown actors or B-listers. IMO Joseph Wiseman, Gert Frobe, Donald Pleasance, Christopher Lee, and Michael Lonsdale were among the best- the most memorable villains were often the most cold, disassociative, odd, or the most extreme but specific in their characterizations (Goldfinger, Scaramanga). The worst villains IMO were the ones who lacked any real menace and/or who were virtually colorless- Charles Gray, Julian Glover, Louis Jourdan, Toby Stephens, etc. Robert Davi kinda comes close- he was suitable sadistic but his character was unremarkable.

What I'd really like is good specific character writing, little details that we can hang our hats on (Hugo Drax plays Chopin, controls his dobermans by the click of his fingers, transports a chateau from France to California and would've done the same for the Eiffel Tower, motivations are likened to a space-age Hitler, he never smiles and his voice and face barely ever change register). Villains of late have become generic and watered down, even their names (from Dr. No, Goldfinger, Klebb, Largo, Blofeld, Scaramanga and Drax to Whitaker, Sanchez, Carver and King). I believe Le Chiffre is French for 'zero' or 'the zero' (hmm, wonder if a 60s production would've cast Zero Mostel), so that's suitably strange enough. The Bond films are larger than life, and nowhere has this been more evident than the villains. Both the character of Le Chiffre and the actor playing him need to exude something bigger than reality in order to capture real screen magic.

Dave

Edited by rubixcub, 28 October 2005 - 05:43 AM.

[Harmsway]

Maybe Anthony Hopkins would finally play a Bond villain; Le Chiffre was the father of 'em all, and hopefully will make a better villain than some we've had recently.

I've always been a fan of Anthony Hopkins as a choice - I'm not sure about him as LeChiffre... but maybe it would work?

[Streetworker]

Maybe Anthony Hopkins would finally play a Bond villain; Le Chiffre was the father of 'em all, and hopefully will make a better villain than some we've had recently.

I've always been a fan of Anthony Hopkins as a choice - I'm not sure about him as LeChiffre... but maybe it would work?

I know I'm in a minority, but I'm afraid I've always found Hopkins a terrible slice of ham. My money's on Kevin Spacey.

[Q'ute]

what about Tch

Attached Files

•  180px_TchekyKaryo.jpg   8.23KB   44 downloads

[Adler 001]

Tcheky Karyo is good but he'd already played in Goldeneye, I'm not for the double job, there are a lot of actors who never played in a Bond film and they are waiting.
I think about Jo Prestia. He terrified me in " Irreversible ( by Gaspar No

[THESWARM]

I'd say Suchet has it in the bag - he could do a French accent and hint at middke eastern connections. He can be menacing. He is a veteran.

Failing that? Gerard Depardieu? Liam Neeson? Ben Daniels?

[MattofSteel]

We're not totally sure about the nationality of this "new organization..." so I imagine it will be someone to fit in that mold.

[Qwerty]

Tcheky Karyo is good but he'd already played in Goldeneye

Yeah, I wonder if they'd want someone new this time.

[Q'ute]

[quote name='THESWARM' date='30 October 2005 - 20:32']
I'd say Suchet has it in the bag - he could do a French accent and hint at middke eastern connections. He can be menacing. He is a veteran.

yes i agree he would deffinatley be great, he was Hercule Poirot and didnt he play a terrorist in a Kurt Russell film.

[sam29]

Jeffrey Rush would be good as the Baddie.

[pgram]

 portrait_PINONDominique_pet.jpg   5.55KB   57 downloads

Dominique Pinon (even uglier than Craig!!!)

[dinovelvet]

Tcheky Karyo is good but he'd already played in Goldeneye

Yeah, I wonder if they'd want someone new this time.

But EON loves to use actors again, e.g. Joe Don Baker, Shane Rimmer, Charles Gray, Sir Hilly/The Admiral in TSWLM. And Karyo was unrecognizable in GE anyway with slicked back & dyed hair and a thick beard.

[THESWARM]

One of the Bond contenders that didn't get it? That used to be an EON policy in the Brosnan era. Why stop the habit?!..

[double-O-Durg]

i think Suchet would be excellent. Failing him i think Lambert Wilson from The Matrix Reloaded would be good too, even if he is a lil young. could hav him as Bonds equal etc

[pgram]

 raimondi.jpg   17.34KB   47 downloads

Another unorthodox, yet really intriguinging suggestion: opera singer Ruggero Raimondi has always played (brilliantly) villainous roles. (Check Joseph Losey's Don Giovanni, he was poisonous!)

Well done pgram, I 'm very proud of you again...

[Adler 001]

Tcheky Karyo is good but he'd already played in Goldeneye

Yeah, I wonder if they'd want someone new this time.

But EON loves to use actors again, e.g. Joe Don Baker, Shane Rimmer, Charles Gray, Sir Hilly/The Admiral in TSWLM. And Karyo was unrecognizable in GE anyway with slicked back & dyed hair and a thick beard.

I don't like that they re-take an actor to a second Bond-movie. I know they did often...but I don't like that !

[Simon Beavis]

As Le Chiffre.... I'd suggest David Suchet or Patrick Stewart.


It should also be noted, however, that anyone who has played a villain on Alias would also make a good Bond villain.

[DavidSomerset]

One word - Alfred Molina. (Two words infact).
Vesper Lynd - Angelina Jolie. Now that they dont stand a chance at the Box Office with the JB Begins concept, the only way they can make some money is with Jolie in a bikini.

[Carver]

I also like the choice of Michael Gambon for a Bond villain- he's older (62 I believe), physically imposing, a good actor, and he has a rich speaking voice.

Interesting. He played alongside Craig in Layer Cake, and I thought the two had some on screen chemistry. I liked the way Gamdon's character spoke down to Craig's in the film, and I think that they could do the same in Casino Royale.

i think Suchet would be excellent. Failing him i think Lambert Wilson from The Matrix Reloaded would be good too, even if he is a lil young. could hav him as Bonds equal etc

I loved his character, the Merovingian, in Reloaded, and I really can imagine him as a Bond villian. I thought he was the dogs b******s in that film, but he could be too young to play Le Chiffre as we already know the character and being slightly older than Bond.

One word - Alfred Molina. (Two words infact).
Vesper Lynd - Angelina Jolie. Now that they dont stand a chance at the Box Office with the JB Begins concept, the only way they can make some money is with Jolie in a bikini.

Excellent. Molina was pretty nasty in Spiderman 2 and, lose just a bit of weight, I think he could make a pretty good Le Chiffre. I'm also with you on the Jolie idea .
However, my votes also go to Suchet or Hopkins. If I'm being honest, I think that Suchet would make a better Le Chiffre simply because I've seen him so much in Poirot and I think he can pull of the Belgian accent really well. Hopkins definatly has to be in a Bond film at some point, the man was made for a Bond villian.

[Adler 001]

Hopkins should be great. What about Harvey Keitel ? ( he's my favourite )

[Stephen Spotswood]

I nominate Klaus Maria Brandauer as Le Chiffre. He was a hoot and a holler as the baddie in "Never Say Never," and even played a game with Bond, albeit a holographic video game with electric shocks for whenever you made a poor move. Of course he's about 20 years older now, but that might make him scarier. The only problem would be why a villain with a French name spoke with an Austrian accent, but then Peter Lorre played La Chiffre opposite Barry Nelson in the American TV version of "Casino Royale" in 1954.

[Bondesque]

Lechiffre candidates:

Liam Neeson
Ben Kingsley
Ray Winstone
Alan Bates
Cyrian Hinds

Peter O'tool as M (probably too late for that but a nice thought)

[hartley_bond]

HUGH "SixTwo" LAURIE

[dinovelvet]

Lechiffre candidates:

Liam Neeson
Ben Kingsley
Ray Winstone
Alan Bates
Cyrian Hinds

Peter O'tool as M (probably too late for that but a nice thought)

Erm, you should know that Alan Bates is somewhat...unavailable.

[Andrew]

Lechiffre candidates:

Liam Neeson
Ben Kingsley
Ray Winstone
Alan Bates
Cyrian Hinds

Peter O'tool as M (probably too late for that but a nice thought)

Finally someone agrees Hinds would be good

[booyeah_]

Lechiffre candidates:

Liam Neeson
Ben Kingsley
Ray Winstone
Alan Bates
Cyrian Hinds

Peter O'tool as M (probably too late for that but a nice thought)

Finally someone agrees Hinds would be good

Yeah, out of all the suggestions made so far, Ciar

[Stephen Spotswood]

There has been a thread about who to play Le Chiffre before, but it seems to have gone dead, like Strangways phone call to HQ.

I would like to see Klaus Maria Brandauer in the part. He was a hoot and a holler in "Never Say Never." He even played a game opposite of Bond, albeit a holographic video game, complete with electric shocks when you moved wrong. He's about twenty years older now, and that might make him a more intense villain. The only problem would be to explain why a character with such a French name has an Austrian accent, but then Peter Lorre played opposite Barry Nelson in the 1954 television version of "Casino Royale." Woody Allen also played a villain in a later version of the novel, but I don't consider him to be an acceptable alternative.

Udo Kier I think could make a very good Le Chiffre too.

[Qwerty]

There has been a thread about who to play Le Chiffre before, but it seems to have gone dead, like Strangways phone call to HQ. 

Hardly! Let's try to keep that kind of discussion in this thread. Thanks.