310 replies to this topic

[Pussfeller]

That's why this list is more likely a cast list than a list of potential Bonds. You'd have to be a right imbecile to think that Ewan Stewart could have made it this far in the casting process. Think about it:

* Visnjic is a potential Le Chiffre, as is Stewart.
* Both O'Lachlan and Cavill are potential Bonds.

I think someone (who knows nothing about Bond) stumbled onto some names and inferred that they're all candidates for the same role.

Edited by Pussfeller, 26 July 2005 - 12:34 AM.

[Red Grant 15]

Well, it's like I said before, I've heard about five differnt versions of the
so-called final four, and I think they are all just rumors. I was just saying the thing about Stewart to prove a point.

[KPDQ]

I am disappointed with the new Final Four short list. I was also very surprised that none of the original Bond Five list carried over. I liked the idea of Clive Owen, Rikki Lee Travolta, or Hugh Jackman. (I loved the idea of Adrian Paul but it just wasn't going to happen). It will be interesting if this Final Four is Final or not.

[Pussycat]

I am disappointed with the new Final Four short list.  I was also very surprised that none of the original Bond Five list carried over.  I liked the idea of Clive Owen, Rikki Lee Travolta, or Hugh Jackman.  (I loved the idea of Adrian Paul but it just wasn't going to happen).  It will be interesting if this Final Four is Final or not.

I don't believe this list is for 007. It might contain actors considered for the film, but 007? I hope not. And I wouldn't count Adrian Paul out just yet. Nope...not yet.

[bryonalston]

Who is Ricky Lee Travolta? Any relation to John?

[Evil Doctor Cheese Returns]

Henry Cavill's cute... but he's one year older than me!!! Aaaggghhh! I'd be a rubbish Bond and all.

Hugh Dancy... FACT! Gotta be. You seen him advertising Burberry cologne? He's gorgeous... I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating biscuits.

Gary x

[Skudor]

The more I sleep on this the more sure I am that none of them has auditioned for Bond. Perhaps another part, but not Bond.

[spynovelfan]

Seeing Cavill's name suddenly pop up here really has me a bit spooked because his name never leaked and I know he's been a very real and serious canidate for some time.

Spooked me a bit, too, as I tipped him as one of four young unknowns for Eon to look at in this thread back in January:

http://debrief.comma...topic=20386&hl=

Not sure why I didn't twig him as the 22-year-old, though I think he was 21 then. Still, even I didn't take him seriously, and decided that Hugh Dancy was a better candidate: 29, and with a lot more exposure. I also agreed with Loomis that Cavill's hairline is already receding (it's evident in many shots). I wonder if the other 20-something Zencat has mentioned isn't Eion Bailey. He's the guy with the beard if you click on the thread above. I think he looks a lot like Bond, and like Cavill and Dancy he made the shortlist for the role of Batman in BATMAN BEGINS. The thing that would freak people out is he's an American, which is what I think Zencat's alluding to. Another American candidate in his 20s who I think would be very good is Wes Bentley, who was the strange young man with the camera in AMERICAN BEAUTY. A great performance from him in the lousy FOUR FEATHERS, totally eclipsing the 'star' Heath Ledger, and looking and acting very much like a young Timothy Dalton. Convincing British accent, too.

For what it's worth, I don't think any of the four actors on the Mirror's shortlist will be the next James Bond.

[Loomis]

I wonder if the other 20-something Zencat has mentioned isn't Eion Bailey. He's the guy with the beard if you click on the thread above. I think he looks a lot like Bond, and like Cavill and Dancy he made the shortlist for the role of Batman in BATMAN BEGINS. The thing that would freak people out is he's an American, which is what I think Zencat's alluding to.

Thing is, though, zencat refers to the guy who'd make Bond fans freak as an "early twentysomething" - Bailey's 29. But he sort of looks the part. Could well be "in the mix" somewhere.

[spynovelfan]

Ah, I missed that. And Bentley's 27. But I would hazard a guess that the reason people would be freaked out by the guy Zencat mentioned would be that he's American. Anyway, I think it's more likely that that candidate is still in the running than Cavill. Because Stewart can't be a serious candidate, and at 22 Cavill would be very risky indeed. So would a Croatian, and the other guy isn't close enough to the Bond look by a long way. So I think these four have to be rejects, rather than the final shortlist. I hope. So I think that rather than the other 20something actor missing out to Cavill, Cavill missed out, and the leaked names are those of people who got far, but have now been ticked off the list. The quarter-finalists.

JASON SCHWARTZMAN is JAMES BOND in IAN FLEMING's CASINO ROYALE.

[Loomis]

Yes, Cavill would be too risky at 22 (and, anyway, is he really the best candidate? I for one find it difficult to believe that he is). Visnjic, I'd guess, has run a very good race but won't end up as Bond. The other two of this "final four" don't even come close to being realistic choices.

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that the next 007 ought to be in his late 20s. Any younger and you have a Cavill/verging on "SilverFin" situation; 30s or 40s and you dilute the contrast with Brosnan, and there must, in my opinion, be a massive contrast with the Broz, a lot of clear blue water between Bonds 5 and 6, for CASINO ROYALE to succeed with a new guy in the tux.

[spynovelfan]

I agree with you, Loomis. Despite my ravings, I'm by no means sure Dancy will get the job. But I think someone like him would be good for it. Think now, all ye Dancy-doubters, on your repeated assertions that he doesn't look old enough to enter a casino and so on. Think now that you could have Master Cavill in the role for the next ten years. I think with this piece of 'news', my logic suddenly comes into sharper focus, and looks less like the rantings of a deranged mind than the rantings of a slightly less deranged mind. I think a late twenties British actor of middling success and some exposure in the US looks like a pretty good bet. I think there's another problem with the 30 and 40somethings. Who are they? If they haven't made it yet, especially if they're handsome and suave enough to play Bond, there's probably a good reason for that. See Mr Adrian Paul. If they have made it - see the likes of Owen, Jackman, Law, Bale, etc - they'll be very expensive and/or won't want to be tied to the role. I think they've been down the first route, and looked at Dougray Scott and Daniel Craig and all that lot, and decided it won't work. So my guess is that the actor will be aged between 27 and 34. A rising star, but not yet big enough to be out of reach (so strike Orlando Bloom, Heath Ledger, etc). Preferably with a successful TV series or a reasonable number of small roles in major films behind him, so that some of the global audience at least recognises him (ie not a complete unknown). Preferably British. Preferably with looks that are unimpeachable (I would get rid of the Australian contender here on that alone, and would also scratch Matthew MacFadyen on these grounds). If that's the logic - and of course it may well not be, we may see Ewan Stewart as James Bond for all I know - I think there's a handful of obvious candidates for the part. The likes of Gerard Butler and Ioan Gruffudd would be the older candidates. Dancy, Davenport and others the younger candidates.

But perhaps I'm just denying what's in front of me. It does seem very odd that a tabloid would simply *invent* this story out of whole cloth - why on earth would they pick these particular actors? They're too incredible for there not to be some truth in the story. Whether or not they were considered for Bond and are finalists I doubt - but they have to have been involved somewhere along the line, I'd have thought. Tabloid journalists aren't *that* imaginative. Surely?

[Skudor]

It's interesting that out of the four supposed finalists, none seem to gather any immediate following on CBn:

Goran Visnjic (32): gets a small following, but is dismissed as impossible by most.
Henry Cavill (22): I have yet to see anyone champion him for Bond. Most seem to dismiss him.
Alex O'Lachlan (28): Has anyone actually mentioned his name?
Ewan Stewart (47): The mere idea of this guy as Bond has everyone laughing their socks off...

Surely that says it all...

I had a look at Spynovelfan's picture of Cavill in an earlier post - upped his eligibility a bit in my view. He still looks to much like Van Damme for my liking though.

[spynovelfan]

[quote name='Skudor' date='29 July 2005 - 15:29']Ewan Stewart (47):

[Loomis]

But perhaps I'm just denying what's in front of me. It does seem very odd that a tabloid would simply *invent* this story out of whole cloth - why on earth would they pick these particular actors? They're too incredible for there not to be some truth in the story. Whether or not they were considered for Bond and are finalists I doubt - but they have to have been involved somewhere along the line, I'd have thought. Tabloid journalists aren't *that* imaginative. Surely?

I think I've said this before, but I suspect that Eon may have fed the paper a list containing 50% names of people who are (or were) genuine contenders and 50% names of people with about as much chance of playing Bond as Ken Livingstone - although why Eon should do such a thing, indeed why Eon should give anyone any kind of list at all, is anyone's guess.

Leastways, I can believe Cavill and Visnjic.

[JCH]

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that the next 007 ought to be in his late 20s. Any younger and you have a Cavill/verging on "SilverFin" situation; 30s or 40s and you dilute the contrast with Brosnan, and there must, in my opinion, be a massive contrast with the Broz, a lot of clear blue water between Bonds 5 and 6, for CASINO ROYALE to succeed with a new guy in the tux.

That's a very interesting thought Loomis. I tend to agree that we need someone far different from Brosnan. But I think that could be accomplished by going with someone who is less "pretty" and much darker. I think the ideal age range would be early 30s.

If you look at those factors, I would tend to go with someone like Ion Gruffud or Daniel Craig. Unless Gruffud is considered too much of a leading man or too "pretty".

[MarJil]

I agree with you, Loomis. Despite my ravings, I'm by no means sure Dancy will get the job. But I think someone like him would be good for it. Think now, all ye Dancy-doubters, on your repeated assertions that he doesn't look old enough to enter a casino and so on. Think now that you could have Master Cavill in the role for the next ten years. I think with this piece of 'news', my logic suddenly comes into sharper focus, and looks less like the rantings of a deranged mind than the rantings of a slightly less deranged mind. I think a late twenties British actor of middling success and some exposure in the US looks like a pretty good bet. I think there's another problem with the 30 and 40somethings. Who are they? If they haven't made it yet, especially if they're handsome and suave enough to play Bond, there's probably a good reason for that. See Mr Adrian Paul. If they have made it - see the likes of Owen, Jackman, Law, Bale, etc - they'll be very expensive and/or won't want to be tied to the role. I think they've been down the first route, and looked at Dougray Scott and Daniel Craig and all that lot, and decided it won't work. So my guess is that the actor will be aged between 27 and 34. A rising star, but not yet big enough to be out of reach (so strike Orlando Bloom, Heath Ledger, etc). Preferably with a successful TV series or a reasonable number of small roles in major films behind him, so that some of the global audience at least recognises him (ie not a complete unknown). Preferably British. Preferably with looks that are unimpeachable (I would get rid of the Australian contender here on that alone, and would also scratch Matthew MacFadyen on these grounds). If that's the logic - and of course it may well not be, we may see Ewan Stewart as James Bond for all I know - I think there's a handful of obvious candidates for the part. The likes of Gerard Butler and Ioan Gruffudd would be the older candidates. Dancy, Davenport and others the younger candidates.

But perhaps I'm just denying what's in front of me. It does seem very odd that a tabloid would simply *invent* this story out of whole cloth - why on earth would they pick these particular actors? They're too incredible for there not to be some truth in the story. Whether or not they were considered for Bond and are finalists I doubt - but they have to have been involved somewhere along the line, I'd have thought. Tabloid journalists aren't *that* imaginative. Surely?

Good points. Seems logical to me, and is pretty much in line with what I'm thinking.

I think I've said this before, but I suspect that Eon may have fed the paper a list containing 50% names of people who are (or were) genuine contenders and 50% names of people with about as much chance of playing Bond as Ken Livingstone - although why Eon should do such a thing, indeed why Eon should give anyone any kind of list at all, is anyone's guess.

Leastways, I can believe Cavill and Visnjic.

The reason would be to galvanize support for the one they do choose by leaking a list of unsuitable names, make the fans sweat, then save the day by announcing the Real Thing, who will be somebody that makes us all breath a sigh of relief. That is the only way to unify fans, by scaring them into being happy that they chose who they did rather than anyone on that list. Admit it, McMahon, Craig, Butler, and Dancy sound good now, compared to a week ago, when if any one of those guys were chosen supporters of others would bitch about it, thinking their guy would be better. Now, we'll be thanking our lucky stars that anyone suitable was chosen.

For what it's worth, Butler was spotted in Heathrow on July 23 (don't know if he was coming or going). I hope he stopped off at Pinewood to visit with Martin Campbell if they were both in town at the same time.

[JCH]

[quote name='spynovelfan' date='29 July 2005 - 11:21'][quote name='Skudor' date='29 July 2005 - 15:29']Ewan Stewart (47):

[spynovelfan]

Check out Stewart in the bottom two pics on this page, JCH: I think he looks like Donald Pleasance!

http://members.tripo...doch/Kafka.html

Those are stills from Steven Soderbergh's film KAFKA, which was released in *1991*. Can this guy *really* be in the final four to play James Bond? I don't think so. It's more absurd than a rumour that Rikki Lee Travolta, Jaason Simmons and Adrian Paul will all play Bond in CASINO ROYALE, alternating between scenes.

[Loomis]

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that the next 007 ought to be in his late 20s. Any younger and you have a Cavill/verging on "SilverFin" situation; 30s or 40s and you dilute the contrast with Brosnan, and there must, in my opinion, be a massive contrast with the Broz, a lot of clear blue water between Bonds 5 and 6, for CASINO ROYALE to succeed with a new guy in the tux.

That's a very interesting thought Loomis. I tend to agree that we need someone far different from Brosnan. But I think that could be accomplished by going with someone who is less "pretty" and much darker.

Agreed. That's one reason why I championed Daniel Craig (not the only reason, though - LAYER CAKE convinced me that he would be able to act Bond superbly, combining a strong streak of Daltonism with a few dashes of Moore [yes, really] and some pretty cool moves of his own).

[fatima]

I agree with you, Loomis. Despite my ravings, I'm by no means sure Dancy will get the job. But I think someone like him would be good for it. Think now, all ye Dancy-doubters, on your repeated assertions that he doesn't look old enough to enter a casino and so on. Think now that you could have Master Cavill in the role for the next ten years. I think with this piece of 'news', my logic suddenly comes into sharper focus, and looks less like the rantings of a deranged mind than the rantings of a slightly less deranged mind. I think a late twenties British actor of middling success and some exposure in the US looks like a pretty good bet. I think there's another problem with the 30 and 40somethings. Who are they? If they haven't made it yet, especially if they're handsome and suave enough to play Bond, there's probably a good reason for that. See Mr Adrian Paul. If they have made it - see the likes of Owen, Jackman, Law, Bale, etc - they'll be very expensive and/or won't want to be tied to the role. I think they've been down the first route, and looked at Dougray Scott and Daniel Craig and all that lot, and decided it won't work. So my guess is that the actor will be aged between 27 and 34. A rising star, but not yet big enough to be out of reach (so strike Orlando Bloom, Heath Ledger, etc). Preferably with a successful TV series or a reasonable number of small roles in major films behind him, so that some of the global audience at least recognises him (ie not a complete unknown). Preferably British. Preferably with looks that are unimpeachable (I would get rid of the Australian contender here on that alone, and would also scratch Matthew MacFadyen on these grounds). If that's the logic - and of course it may well not be, we may see Ewan Stewart as James Bond for all I know - I think there's a handful of obvious candidates for the part. The likes of Gerard Butler and Ioan Gruffudd would be the older candidates. Dancy, Davenport and others the younger candidates.

But perhaps I'm just denying what's in front of me. It does seem very odd that a tabloid would simply *invent* this story out of whole cloth - why on earth would they pick these particular actors? They're too incredible for there not to be some truth in the story. Whether or not they were considered for Bond and are finalists I doubt - but they have to have been involved somewhere along the line, I'd have thought. Tabloid journalists aren't *that* imaginative. Surely?

Good points. Seems logical to me, and is pretty much in line with what I'm thinking.

I think I've said this before, but I suspect that Eon may have fed the paper a list containing 50% names of people who are (or were) genuine contenders and 50% names of people with about as much chance of playing Bond as Ken Livingstone - although why Eon should do such a thing, indeed why Eon should give anyone any kind of list at all, is anyone's guess.

Leastways, I can believe Cavill and Visnjic.

The reason would be to galvanize support for the one they do choose by leaking a list of unsuitable names, make the fans sweat, then save the day by announcing the Real Thing, who will be somebody that makes us all breath a sigh of relief. That is the only way to unify fans, by scaring them into being happy that they chose who they did rather than anyone on that list. Admit it, McMahon, Craig, Butler, and Dancy sound good now, compared to a week ago, when if any one of those guys were chosen supporters of others would bitch about it, thinking their guy would be better. Now, we'll be thanking our lucky stars that anyone suitable was chosen.

For what it's worth, Butler was spotted in Heathrow on July 23 (don't know if he was coming or going). I hope he stopped off at Pinewood to visit with Martin Campbell if they were both in town at the same time.

There is one problem with this theory. Three of the names on this list are not well know actors and hence would probably have no problem with being associated with auditioning for Bond, even if they don't get the part, because it might help their careers.

However, one of the candidates on the list is something of a rising star in the USA with a successful career in movies and a top rated TV series, it would not be good for their career to be outed as a serious Bond candidate and then be passed over. I'm sure the producers of this TV series would not be happy with this either. It would not be at all professional on EON's to exploit an actor/star in this way for the sake of some cheap publicity game.

[Bon-san]

http://members.tripo...doch/Kafka.html

Nice link, spy.

He looks like David Keith's fat, ugly brother.

He looks like the father of the tall, pasty QUOTEhunky dudeUNQUOTE from "American Pie". (don't know his name, don't ever want to have to look it up)

Perhaps a distant relative of Mr. Walsh from Beverly Hills 90210.

By all rational accounts, however, NEVER EVER CONSIDERED FOR THE PART OF JAMES BOND.

I'm definitely in the camp that looks at the "Final Four List" as a list of chaps who may have been considered for some part in Casino Royale. But I would venture that none of them (OK, maybe the Cavill chap was considered for a few seconds) were ever up for Bond, even Goran. This is a list of Villains, teaboys, MI6 fodder, what have you.

My take, anyway.

The more I see this list, the more 20 mil + 3 points for Brozzer is looking like a steal.

[cvheady007]

To cite the article, the more I think about the ladies swooning over Ewan Stewart, the more I am forced to laugh.

[MarJil]

There is one problem with this theory. Three of the names on this list are not well know actors and hence would probably have no problem with being associated with auditioning for Bond, even if they don't get the part, because it might help their careers.

However, one of the candidates on the list is something of a rising star in the USA with a successful career in movies and a top rated TV series, it would not be good for their career to be outed as a serious Bond candidate and then be passed over. I'm sure the producers of this TV series would not be happy with this either. It would not be at all professional on EON's to exploit an actor/star in this way for the sake of some cheap publicity game.

From everything we've heard, Visnjic has been a candidate, so it's not like they'd be lying about it. And I think that people who hear the list are impressed that he can get so far down the line in the Bond casting saga, considering English is a second language to him. If he doesn't get Bond, no one would think less of him; they'll think higher of his acting ability to have been considered so strongly in the first place. And as far as ER goes, same thing. This can only raise his profile, which is good for them. It's a win-win situation for both of them.

Edited by MarJil, 29 July 2005 - 09:01 PM.

[fatima]

There is one problem with this theory. Three of the names on this list are not well know actors and hence would probably have no problem with being associated with auditioning for Bond, even if they don't get the part, because it might help their careers.

However, one of the candidates on the list is something of a rising star in the USA with a successful career in movies and a top rated TV series, it would not be good for their career to be outed as a serious Bond candidate and then be passed over. I'm sure the producers of this TV series would not be happy with this either. It would not be at all professional on EON's to exploit an actor/star in this way for the sake of some cheap publicity game.

From everything we've heard, Visnjic has been a candidate, so it's not like they'd be lying about it. And I think that people who hear the list are impressed that he can get so far down the line in the Bond casting saga, considering English is a second language to him. If he doesn't get Bond, no one would think less of him; they'll think higher of his acting ability to have been considered so strongly in the first place. And as far as ER goes, same thing. This can only raise his profile, which is good for them. It's a win-win situation for both of them.

No one likes a loser.

Me thinks, maybe, the part was actually cast a little while ago and that list contains the final choice and three also-rans who don't mind having their names used to build the hype.

[MarJil]

If he doesn't get Bond, no one would think less of him;  they'll think higher of his acting ability to have been considered so strongly in the first place.  And as far as ER goes, same thing.  This can only raise his profile, which is good for them.  It's a win-win situation for both of them.

No one likes a loser.

Me thinks, maybe, the part was actually cast a little while ago and that list contains the final choice and three also-rans who don't mind having their names used to build the hype.

There are no losers, only varying degrees of winners. Really though, I personally am amazed that Visnjic has made it this far and is being taken seriously (apparently even by EON) as a candidate when English is his second language, and it speaks well of his talent. That doesn't mean I think he should play Bond. I mean if a Croatian film company was making a Croatian language version of Casino Royale then he would be the first one I think of, but that's not the case here. Getting as far as he has in the Bond search despite the nationality issue makes him one of the winners in this saga no matter who they cast.

It is possible that the list contains the choice and three also-rans like you said, but who says Goran isn't one of the also-rans in this case as well? I've seen a few photos of O'Lachlan, and in the ones where he doesn't have a beard he looks as much like Bond as Visnjic, so he's not out of the question either. I just think the list looks too random and odd for it to be completely legit, not to mention its tabloid source being less than reliable.

[bryonalston]

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Visnjic was cast in CR, especially since it seems like EoN is somewhat more open-minded for a change in the series now than they were during the Brosnan era. With a Croatian making it this far down the list, with the appearance of a Fiat Panda in CR and making CR a more realistic film, I wouldn't be surprised if that list was put out to test the public's view of all of them. I'd bet a good chunk of money that one of those people on that list is being seriously considered, if they haven't already been cast in the role, and EoN arranged for the Final Four list to contain that actor as well as three other ludicrous choices. However, the source is a little questionable, but we should get a bigger piece to the puzzle in the upcoming weeks or maybe even a more definitive answer.

[fatima]

[quote name='MarJil' date='30 July 2005 - 15:22'][quote name='fatima' date='30 July 2005 - 00:54'][quote name='MarJil' date='29 July 2005 - 21:00']If he doesn't get Bond, no one would think less of him;

[bryonalston]

[quote name='fatima' date='30 July 2005 - 10:23'][quote name='MarJil' date='30 July 2005 - 15:22'][quote name='fatima' date='30 July 2005 - 00:54'][quote name='MarJil' date='29 July 2005 - 21:00']If he doesn't get Bond, no one would think less of him;

[Loeffelholz]

I have to say, I see the Croat getting it as well. I'm not thrilled by the prospect, but if he DOES become Bond, I wish him the best and want him to succeed.