537 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

Please.

[Lionheart]

Maybe he is being considered for another part?

MM

Another day, another candidate for the vacant James Bond role comes to light. But unlike most days, this report has more meat on the usually bare bones.

Croatian actor Goran Visnjic is being seriously considered as the sixth 007. He has reportedly been in multiple meetings with "Casino Royale" director Martin Campbell throughout March. It is understood that he is a favourite of Campbell to take over from Pierce Brosnan.

[Skudor]

He is a great actor and very likeable. But he's no Bond... just check this picture:Goran

I've never heard him speak without the accent.

Anyway, I don't think this is the point to argue (is he suitable). The main question is: how on earth is this a credible rumour?

[Seannery]

Athena you brought this thread up from the dead a while back--any insider reasons for that?

[Martin Mystery]

I'm getting a feeling this is a plant by Eon, to either draw attention away from a likely candidate, or -even more plausible- to tell us that Bond is not necessarily going to be one of the 'usual suspects'.

MM

[Seannery]

I'm getting a feeling this is a plant by Eon, to either draw attention away from a likely candidate, or -even more plausible- to tell us that Bond is not necessarily going to be one of the 'usual suspects'.

MM

It's finally happened MM--this Bond search has driven you mad.

[Martin Mystery]

I'm lying awake each night in my bed, soaked in sweat, wondering who they'll pick...

(It won't be Goran, that's for sure)

MM

Edited by Martin Mystery, 25 May 2005 - 10:16 PM.

[Mr. Somerset]

He's been on the TV show Full House.

Thanks.... just looked him up on the net.

Looks like a well known TV star on your side of the water...

He also worked on a movie called Never Too Young To Die which featured Geoge Lazenby as his father. And yes, I agree Goran resembles Stamos too much to be the rugged agent OO7. Besides, how would this look:
Albert R Broccoli's Eon Productions present GORAN VISJNIC as James Bond OO7 in Ian Fleming's CASINO ROYALE
compared with, for example:
Harry SAltzman and Albert R Broccoli present SEAN CONNERY as James Bond in Ian Fleming's GOLDFINGER?
Doesn't quite have a ring to it.

[Taro Todoroki]

I'm sure some heads would roll if this guy got picked over Owen, Jackman, Brosnan etc. The pressure on the set making CR would be enormous.

[spynovelfan]

Don't see him as English.

Bond is half-Scottish/half-Swiss, though.

So he's had several meetings with Campbell - could it be he's under consideration as the villain, or another Double 0 agent?

[Loomis]

Hasn't there been some fan speculation that Visnjic may be being looked at for the role of the SMERSH assassin (which role will presumably be changed from SMERSH assassin to something similar but less "dated", and beefed up - I like the idea of another camp going after Le Chiffre, but at the same time being hostile to Bond and not joining forces with him)?

Re: Visnjic for Bond, I think he looks the part. Don't think I've ever seen him in anything, so I can't comment on his acting. But, heck, sign him up (if it isn't going to be Owen or Craig).

[Skudor]

Hasn't there been some fan speculation that Visnjic may be being looked at for the role of the SMERSH assassin (which role will presumably be changed from SMERSH assassin to something similar but less "dated", and beefed up - I like the idea of another camp going after Le Chiffre, but at the same time being hostile to Bond and not joining forces with him)?

Re: Visnjic for Bond, I think he looks the part. Don't think I've ever seen him in anything, so I can't comment on his acting. But, heck, sign him up (if it isn't going to be Owen or Craig).

Good point, re the assassin. He'd be a good fit.

[luciusgore]

He does have an accent, I presume his own, on ER, where he plays a Croatian. He has fairly deep voice. He did an American accent on the movie Practical Magic several years back and I was amazed it was the same guy who was on ER. He could probably pull it off. Not my first choice by a long shot, but still more credible than Jude Law, McGregor or Hugh Grant.

I watch ER every week. Goran Visnjic is a good actor and sexy as hell, with quite a following among the ladies, but his accent is impossibly thick. His English is far worse than it appears on the show. He has a voice on-set all the time.

I think you're mis-remembering Practical Magic; he had an accent there too. He simply can't pull off the English language without it. Which rules him out.

If what you say is true then yes rule him out--it all depends on how he can speak the Queen's English.

Perhaps they could get Roger Moore to dub him

[Stephenson]

[quote name='Lionheart' date='25 May 2005 - 14:55']
[quote]Another day, another candidate for the vacant James Bond role comes to light. But unlike most days, this report has more meat on the usually bare bones.

MI6 has learned that Croatian actor Goran Visnjic is being seriously considered as the sixth 007. He has reportedly been in multiple meetings with "Casino Royale" director Martin Campbell throughout March. It is understood

[Gabe Vieira]

#1: In no way could Goran's English accent be worse than Connery's "Russian" in The Hunt for Red October [shutters].

#2: His surname is pronounced 'VISH-nyich'. Think along the lines of a Russian accent.

#3: I don't know if this had been said but he would be the tallest Bond yet. He stands at a tall Six-foot-Four.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Visnjic can be the first Bond since Lazenby to be dubbed!

[Bondian]

I've just seen this chap interviewed by Jonathan Ross. As soon as he walked on, Carol and I instantly said "he's James Bond!".

I think he's make an excellent James Bond...I'd like to see this chap go a long way.

Cheers,


Ian

[Loomis]

Saw it too, and was expecting Ross to mention the Bond rumours, but he didn't. But I think we could be looking at a very serious candidate (unless they're determined to hire someone of 22 or so), and here's why:

- Visnjic really looks the part. Looks-wise he strikes me as a cross between Brosnan* and Jackman, but without being too much of a "pretty boy" or appearing like a male model type. Very handsome indeed, but not "plastic". He'd wow the ladies without causing resentment among men who'd attack him for being "metrosexual" or some such. And he fits the traditional tall, dark and handsome Bond image perfectly (unlike, say, Jackman, who's undeniably good-looking but IMO doesn't really "look like Bond").

- His English is excellent, and I'm sure he could do a British accent with no trouble. In fact, he pretty much passed as a Brit on Jonathan Ross without (presumably) even trying. For some reason (the knowledge that he's in "ER", I suppose) I thought he'd speak English with an American accent, but he doesn't.

- Personality. This is a key thing. He strikes me as someone who'd be a splendid ambassador for the Bond franchise. Warm, down-to-earth, friendly, modest and enthusiastic, with bags of charm and no apparent arrogant or "up himself" qualities. Just the kind of guy you'd want to send out on the interview/promotional circuit to plug your new Bond flick. Definitely not a reluctant or "difficult" interviewee, at least on the strength of Ross.

I'm sure Sony and Eon want a Bond actor who'd "play the game", and I reckon they'd have no problems on that score with Visnjic.

- Level of fame/success. No idea how famous he is as a result of "ER", but as far as I'm aware he hasn't as yet got a particularly massively successful film career going on (unlike, say, Owen). Therefore, I doubt that it would take squillions of dollars to tempt him to the Bond role. May not have any particular airs and graces about doing Bond.

Would the public (especially us Brits - I think we get a bit proprietorial towards Bond) accept a Croatian 007? Well, I reckon Visnjic's so likeable that he'd put most people at ease about his background within minutes of a press conference or TV interview.

So, yes, I guess this guy's really bowled me over (fnarr). Seems an excellent choice to me, although I'd still prefer Owen or (for the ballsiness of it) Craig.

*Just one note of caution, though: he could easily get the "Brosnan Lite" tag, which could cause problems if critics started referring to him as a "poor man's Pierce", which would lead to people wondering why they didn't simply get Broz back (after all, it seems that many feel that Brosnan was good for at least a couple more films and had not outstayed his welcome with audiences). Therefore, there would be zero point in casting Visnjic unless it were established that he could really put his own spin on the Bond role and put some distance between CASINO ROYALE and the Brosnan era. Since I don't think I've seen him in anything, I can't comment on his acting. For all I know, he's a lousy actor who'd be capable only of a pale imitation of Brosnan's Bond. Then again, for all I know, he's a good actor who could bring something fresh to the Bond table. If he isn't, though, it would be far better to hire someone like Craig, a much riskier move though it would almost certainly be.

[Bondian]

Bloody well said Loomis. I agree with everything that you've said.

He IS tall and good looking, and as you say, he's really got a good natured and unpretentious attitude.

No other actor has hit me straight away so much as Goran has.

Bond with a slight European accent?, yeah, I like the sound of that.

Now, if he's ever considered, perhaps my faith in James Bond would be restored.

[007 Agent]

It's a bit of a sorry state when fans think a Croatian actor is right for Bond. Not meant to be racist or anti-foreigner, but I am bigoted enough to think Bond should be played from someone from the British Isles or at least someone where English is the native tongue.

It's a joke this guy is being considered. If people think Visnjic is suitable then why not hire French actor Oliver Martinez? He looks more like Bond than Goran:




And just for the record, no, I don't want Martinez as Bond, just making a point how farcical this Bond search has become when a Croatian is a candidate for Bond. Call me prejudiced but let's find a Bond actor closer to home.

Keep Bond British or from a Commonwealth country.

[Loomis]

Still a few questions that need answering, obviously, but I'm sure Sony and Eon'll sort 'em out. Such as: can he be convincingly dangerous, even cold and mean (assuming a few Daltonesque moments of menace will be needed somewhere down the line)? Would audiences buy him as Fleming's ruthless assassin (sorry, spynovelfan ), as opposed to just a good-looking chap with "a good natured and unpretentious attitude"? Not that I want more angst-ridden Bond films (quite the opposite, actually), but 007 can't be just a "nice guy" (although that said Moore seems to have gotten away with being just that, and to enormously entertaining effect too, in some of his Bond flicks).

And would Visnjic be sufficiently different to Brosnan? A Pierce clone would be a terrible mistake. If they're going to start a new era, then there must be a fair amount of contrast between Bond 5 and Bond 6. On the face of it, a seamless continuation from Brosnan (who was extremely successful at the box office as Bond, after all) might seem exactly what's needed, but it would almost certainly be a disaster in the long run, and probably the short run, too.

From "Martinis, Girls and Guns": "In casting Roger Moore, Broccoli and Saltzman were determined not to repeat what they believed had been their fundamental mistake with On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Then they had resolved that what they were looking for was a replica Sean Connery. This time, they believed that the new Bond should have clear blue water between himself and Connery and that the way Bond is depicted in the movie should work towards that. Thus, throughout Live and Let Die, many of the associations with Connery's Bond are downplayed: Bond is never seen in a dinner jacket; he does not order a vodka martini, shaken or stirred; he does not appear in M's office (M and Moneypenny visit him in his mews flat instead); and poor Desmond Llewelyn, with whom Sean Connery had established something of a screen double act, does not appear at all."

There'd certainly be plenty of "clear blue water" between Brosnan and someone like Craig, or Marton Csokas, or McMahon, or Scott, or Karl Urban, or Dominic West.... but what about Visnjic? Well, although I thought he looked fairly Brosnanesque on Ross, he doesn't really resemble the Brosmeister in the pic on his IMDb page. And I guess the filmmakers would make sure that associations with Brosnan's Bond were downplayed, say by having Visnjic's Bond know Felix Leiter, smoke cigarettes* (I noticed Visnjic fagging backstage on Ross), not drive an invisible car ( ) and so on. But the similarities to Brosnan, superficial though they may be, do raise questions, and as for the answers.... well, I dunno. But doubtless some very high-up folks in the world of the Bond flicks are pondering 'em right now.

*Okay, unlikely, I know.

[007 Agent]

If people think Goran Visnjic is right for Bond you know nothing about Bond. Sorry to be harsh but it's a plain insult to cast a Croatian as Ian Fleming's British character.

I assume Bondian's comment

"Bond with a slight European accent?, yeah, I like the sound of that.

... was a joke otherwise I don't consider Bondian a true Bond fan. Sorry to say this but this search is getting more pathetic by the week. How about some Russian as Bond, how about a Spanish actor - Antonio Banderas might be free early next year!

Yes, I am taking the piss and quite rightly so. No sane person would advocate an East European as Bond or anyone else where English is not the first language. I thought CBn fans had more intelligence than to suggest a Croatian as Bond, guess I was wrong.

If Ian Fleming read this thread he would be very upset to know fans advocate a foreigner (where English is not their first language) playing his creation. Perhaps we should all have a reality check and respect Fleming's creation. I think so.

[Bondian]

It's a bit of a sorry state when fans think a Croatian actor is right for Bond. Not meant to be racist or anti-foreigner, but I am bigoted enough to think Bond should be played from someone from the British Isles or at least someone where English is the native tongue.

Well, we've had actors from Scotland, Australia, England, Wales, Ireland, so why not go further a field and have an actor who I'm sure could do it. How is this different from an Australian, Irish, Welsh, Scottish person trying to play a Englishman?.

It's a joke this guy is being considered.    If people think Visnjic is suitable then why not hire French actor Oliver Martinez? He looks more like Bond than Goran:

I'm going to have to dissagree. It's not a joke at all, but I agree that Martinez looks like Bond, and like Goran.

And just for the record, no, I don't want Martinez as Bond, just making a point how farcical this Bond search has become when a Croatian is a candidate for Bond.    Call me prejudiced but let's find a Bond actor closer to home.

Keep Bond British or from a Commonwealth country.

Well, for my money, I want a Bond that makes me feel his IS BOND, and these two ( as you call it ) foreign actors would be fine with me.

[007 Agent]

Still a few questions that need answering, obviously, but I'm sure Sony and Eon'll sort 'em out. Such as: can he be convincingly dangerous, even cold and mean (assuming a few Daltonesque moments of menace will be needed somewhere down the line)? Would audiences buy him as Fleming's ruthless assassin (sorry, spynovelfan  ), as opposed to just a good-looking chap with "a good natured and unpretentious attitude"? Not that I want more angst-ridden Bond films (quite the opposite, actually), but 007 can't be just a "nice guy" (although that said Moore seems to have gotten away with being just that, and to enormously entertaining effect too, in some of his Bond flicks).

And would Visnjic be sufficiently different to Brosnan? A Pierce clone would be a terrible mistake. If they're going to start a new era, then there must be a fair amount of contrast between Bond 5 and Bond 6. On the face of it, a seamless continuation from Brosnan (who was extremely successful at the box office as Bond, after all) might seem exactly what's needed, but it would almost certainly be a disaster in the long run, and probably the short run, too.

From "Martinis, Girls and Guns": "In casting Roger Moore, Broccoli and Saltzman were determined not to repeat what they believed had been their fundamental mistake with On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Then they had resolved that what they were looking for was a replica Sean Connery. This time, they believed that the new Bond should have clear blue water between himself and Connery and that the way Bond is depicted in the movie should work towards that. Thus, throughout Live and Let Die, many of the associations with Connery's Bond are downplayed: Bond is never seen in a dinner jacket; he does not order a vodka martini, shaken or stirred; he does not appear in M's office (M and Moneypenny visit him in his mews flat instead); and poor Desmond Llewelyn, with whom Sean Connery had established something of a screen double act, does not appear at all."

There'd certainly be plenty of "clear blue water" between Brosnan and someone like Craig, or Marton Csokas, or McMahon, or Scott, or Karl Urban, or Dominic West.... but what about Visnjic? Well, although I thought he looked fairly Brosnanesque on Ross, he doesn't really resemble the Brosmeister in the pic on his IMDb page. And I guess the filmmakers would make sure that associations with Brosnan's Bond were downplayed, say by having Visnjic's Bond know Felix Leiter, smoke cigarettes* (I noticed Visnjic fagging backstage on Ross), not drive an invisible car (  ) and so on. But the similarities to Brosnan, superficial though they may be, do raise questions, and as for the answers.... well, I dunno. But doubtless some very high-up folks in the world of the Bond flicks are pondering 'em right now.

*Okay, unlikely, I know.

Loomis, are you even a Bond fan with nonsense talk like this? Since when was Bond meant to be played by a foreigner with a clearly defined foreign accent? Do you have so little regard for Bond you will accept the first handsome foreigner actor who happens to be free for the Casino Royale shoot? That seems to be your stance with your support for Visnjic.

Please get a reality check as you're making a fool of yourself. One minute you want Craig and now foreigner Visnjic. No offence meant, but thank God you're not casting Bond.

Sorry, but I cannot believe people want a Croatian to be Bond.

[Bondian]

If people think Goran Visnjic is right for Bond you know nothing about Bond. Sorry to be harsh but it's a plain insult to cast a Croatian as Ian Fleming's British character.

That's rather a rediculous assumption to make. I think I'm old enought to understand and to know what THE IAN FLEMING CHARACTER should be made of, but there isn't an English actor WHO CAN NOW PLAY JAMES BOND.

I assume Bondian's comment

... was a joke otherwise I don't consider Bondian a true Bond fan. Sorry to say this but this search is getting more pathetic by the week. How about some Russian as Bond, how about a Spanish actor - Antonio Banderas might be free early next year!

Nope. I'm being deadly serious. If it worked for Connery it would work for Goran.

Yes, I am taking the piss and quite rightly so. No sane person would advocate an East European as Bond or anyone else where English is not the first language. I thought CBn fans had more intelligence than to suggest a Croatian as Bond, guess I was wrong.

It certainly looks like it.

If Ian Fleming read this thread he would be very upset to know fans advocate a foreigner (where English is not their first language) playing his creation. Perhaps we should all have a reality check and respect Fleming's creation. I think so.

I'm sure he'd have a heart attack also to know how much his character had changed since his been dead also.

Wouldn't you rather see a 30+ French or Croatian actor to a 17 year old?.

[Loomis]

Since when was Bond meant to be played by a foreigner with a clearly defined foreign accent?

Ah but you see I don't think it's all that clearly defined, or at least it wasn't on Jonathan Ross. He could almost have passed as a Brit. Anyway, they could do a bit of dubbing or fancy sound mixing to iron out any bumps in his voice (although somehow I don't think you'd care for that idea ).

Do you have so little regard for Bond you will accept the first handsome foreigner actor who happens to be free for the Casino Royale shoot?

Of course not. It's not as though I'm trying to get a non-British/non-Commonwealth actor into the role at any cost. I'm not on some kind of equal opportunities crusade, y'know. As for Martinez, this may surprise you but I wouldn't accept him as Bond - I disagree that he looks more like Bond than Visnjic (although I know that this is all very subjective, so I guess there's no point in even arguing). Martinez has too much of a dark, Mediterranean look for 007, IMO (although there was a discussion here on CBn recently in which it was suggested that changing Bond's ethnicity might be okay). Same goes for Banderas.

My top three choices (in order of preference): Owen, Craig, Visnjic. All very different, but all - IMO - with the potential to be terrific Bonds (in very different ways, of course).

[007 Agent]

I'm going to have to dissagree. It's not a joke at all, but I agree that Martinez looks like Bond, and like Goran.

Well, for my money, I want a Bond that makes me feel his IS BOND, and these two ( as you call it ) foreign actors would be fine with me.

You don't care if a foreigner from Europe plays Bond?

Without wishing to cause a flame war, I find your opinion deeply offensive and an insult to all things James Bond.

I don't consider you a true Bond fan if you want to see a Croatian or a French actor as Bond. That is completely disrespectful to Fleming's creation. Just because you might think Visnjic looks the part doesn't mean he should be hired. He is not British, knows nothing of British charm, British culture, the way a British person behaves - he is Croatian - and has a completely different culture. All the Bonds, even Lazenby, had an understanding of British life but a Croatian has a completely different culture. You can't expect a Croatian to put on the dinner jacket and act Bond - it's a ridiculous notion. In the same way it's a ridiculous notion to imagine Sean Connery playing a Croatian secret agent with Croatian charm.

Don't wish to be rude or unkind but these comments in support of Visnjic I find plain offensive. Just telling it how I see it. Flame me if you like but no way should an East European ever play Bond.

[Loomis]

No interest in flaming you, 007 Agent. I'm just chilling out, shooting the breeze about Bond, and I don't claim to know it all. It's not as though anything any of us types is going to make a blind bit of difference to the casting process.

ETA: Oops, I see your remarks were addressed to Bondian, not me. Arrogant of me. Still, my remarks still stand.

[007 Agent]

Of course not. It's not as though I'm trying to get a non-British/non-Commonwealth actor into the role at any cost. I'm not on some kind of equal opportunities crusade, y'know. As for Martinez, this may surprise you but I wouldn't accept him as Bond - I disagree that he looks more like Bond than Visnjic (although I know that this is all very subjective, so I guess there's no point in even arguing). Martinez has too much of a dark, Mediterranean look for 007, IMO (although there was a discussion here on CBn recently in which it was suggested that changing Bond's ethnicity might be okay). Same goes for Banderas.

This is the sign of desperation, Loomis. To think a foreigner like Visnjic is adequate for Bond is a sign of total desperation and I'm amazed die-hard Bond fans would hold such a view. I don't want to say things I will regret or get personal and call people here idiots, but I think it's clear how I feel about Loomis and Bondian's views on a foreigner playing Bond. The word idiots would be appropriate but I'm refraining from using that word.

[Bondian]

Still a few questions that need answering, obviously, but I'm sure Sony and Eon'll sort 'em out. Such as: can he be convincingly dangerous, even cold and mean (assuming a few Daltonesque moments of menace will be needed somewhere down the line)? Would audiences buy him as Fleming's ruthless assassin (sorry, spynovelfan ), as opposed to just a good-looking chap with "a good natured and unpretentious attitude"? Not that I want more angst-ridden Bond films (quite the opposite, actually), but 007 can't be just a "nice guy" (although that said Moore seems to have gotten away with being just that, and to enormously entertaining effect too, in some of his Bond flicks).

Well, judging by the snippet we saw of 'ER', he would need considerable acting experience to get emotionally involved in the part he's portraying. I'm sure he could portray "dark and dangerous" if given the chance.

And would Visnjic be sufficiently different to Brosnan? A Pierce clone would be a terrible mistake. If they're going to start a new era, then there must be a fair amount of contrast between Bond 5 and Bond 6. On the face of it, a seamless continuation from Brosnan (who was extremely successful at the box office as Bond, after all) might seem exactly what's needed, but it would almost certainly be a disaster in the long run, and probably the short run, too.

I think the 'Commonwealth' is exhausted for actors who can play Bond, and Goran IMHO would be considered an entirely unique Bond. In fact, he could be more believable than Dalton. He's had a different upbringing in a cold country, so he knows how bad life can be. I feel he'd portrat this in the part.

From "Martinis, Girls and Guns": "In casting Roger Moore, Broccoli and Saltzman were determined not to repeat what they believed had been their fundamental mistake with On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Then they had resolved that what they were looking for was a replica Sean Connery. This time, they believed that the new Bond should have clear blue water between himself and Connery and that the way Bond is depicted in the movie should work towards that. Thus, throughout Live and Let Die, many of the associations with Connery's Bond are downplayed: Bond is never seen in a dinner jacket; he does not order a vodka martini, shaken or stirred; he does not appear in M's office (M and Moneypenny visit him in his mews flat instead); and poor Desmond Llewelyn, with whom Sean Connery had established something of a screen double act, does not appear at all."

There'd certainly be plenty of "clear blue water" between Brosnan and someone like Craig, or Marton Csokas, or McMahon, or Scott, or Karl Urban, or Dominic West.... but what about Visnjic? Well, although I thought he looked fairly Brosnanesque on Ross, he doesn't really resemble the Brosmeister in the pic on his IMDb page. And I guess the filmmakers would make sure that associations with Brosnan's Bond were downplayed, say by having Visnjic's Bond know Felix Leiter, smoke cigarettes* (I noticed Visnjic fagging backstage on Ross), not drive an invisible car ( ) and so on. But the similarities to Brosnan, superficial though they may be, do raise questions, and as for the answers.... well, I dunno. But doubtless some very high-up folks in the world of the Bond flicks are pondering 'em right now.

*Okay, unlikely, I know.

Well, he came across over as James Bond, and not a Pierce Brosnan. In fact, ( if we are to compare ) he would be more of a Hugh Jackman. Same height, same ,long and lean frame, and a pleasant and soft lower register speaking tone.

If he's an actor, he'd be able to adapt himself into the role.