310 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

There is another early twentysomething that we know of...one who isn't named here and has never been named anywhere...who I weirdly kind of like (but would make Bond fans freak). Truth be told, I was a bit let down to see Cavill's name here instead of this other "kid." We'll name him when all this is said and done.

Now Hugh could that be? Dancy'd if I know.

Nah, Dancy's 30. Can't be him.

So why would this guy make Bond fans freak? Just give us a little hint.

Or at least answer this: is he an unknown (or an actor with only a couple of very minor appearances under his belt)?

[zencat]

Unknown with minor rolls. But you guys always want he name you can't have. We'll chat about "the other" another day. Today we have four new names the play with. So have fun.

[ACE]

I think you'll find the CR script is not as radical as has been suggested.

Any tautness will assist a lower budget, something Eon are keen to do.

And P & W handed in a first draft sometime ago (June 2004). And they said it was business as usual.

And I hear a decision has actually been made on who will play Bond (no, I don't know who). So perhaps this Mirror report is playing catchup.

ACE

[Rogue Agent]

The Ewan Stewart bit reveals this as an obvious hoax, not to mention the reference to the months-old Daniel Craig rumour: "The shortlist will come as a shock to Bond fans, who were expecting Layer Cake star Daniel Craig to scoop the role in Casino Royale." Yeah, right. We were all expecting that.

These clowns have just cobbled together a bunch of recent rumours, along with a few wild cards for shock value. It's pretty transparent. At the end, they even say "Scots star Gerard Butler and Hulk actor Eric Bana have also been in the frame to take over from Pierce Brosnan as 007." Okay... so you admit you're just guessing? The Eric Bana rumour is about a year old.

No, this piece has all the signs of a cheap hoax aimed at casual fans who don't keep up with every rumour. We've heard all this crap before.

Yes, could be right, but the worrying element is we're not hearing about new candidates, new names that shout out Bond. We're getting 22 year olds more suited to playing in a Take That reunion band (a British boy band of the 1990s for those that don't know) or we're getting '40 something' actors like Stewart that look nothing like the part. Even if these reports are fake, let's read about some candidates that shout out Bond. I'd rather the Mirror made up a story and mentioned a male model that looked the part. At least it would be something more exciting!

We seem to be going forward with the search yet not moving at the same time.

[zencat]

And I hear a decision has actually been made on who will play Bond (no, I don't know who). So perhaps this Mirror report is playing catchup.

Or playing coy. Is the new Bond on this list? 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.

[Loomis]

Unknown with minor rolls. But you guys always want he name you can't have. We'll chat about "the other" another day. Today we have four new names the play with. So have fun.

Well, it does at least look as though the wheat is finally being separated from the chaff: Cavill and this so-far unnamed 20-something appear to be serious candidates, and Visnjic seems a realistic contender too. It's also apparent (from posts earlier this year by CBn staff) that Julian McMahon and Dougray Scott were looked at by The Powers That Be, as was Daniel Craig (although it seems that only Sony was interested in him, and not Eon).

So who'll end up with the Bond role? Craig, McMahon and Scott look like yesterday's men.

Hmmm....

[Seannery]

Zencat how much truth are you inclined to give this story?

[zencat]

Unknown with minor rolls. But you guys always want he name you can't have. We'll chat about "the other" another day. Today we have four new names the play with. So have fun.

Well, it does at least look as though the wheat is finally being separated from the chaff: Cavill and this so-far unnamed 20-something appear to be serious candidates...

Wait-wait-wait! I'm not saying there is another twentysomething who is in the finals. I don't know what happened to him. If we believe The Mirror's list, it looks like Cavill won the early twentysomething slot. This other guy may be in the reject pile.

[Seannery]

Unknown with minor rolls. But you guys always want he name you can't have. We'll chat about "the other" another day. Today we have four new names the play with. So have fun.

Well, it does at least look as though the wheat is finally being separated from the chaff: Cavill and this so-far unnamed 20-something appear to be serious candidates...

Wait-wait-wait! I'm not saying there is another twentysomething who is in the finals. I don't know what happened to him. If we believe The Mirror's list, it looks like Cavill won the early twentysomething slot. This other guy may be in the reject pile.

BUT Zencat how much truth are you personally giving the overall story? Surely a 5'9" Ewan Stewart can't be correct?

[Loomis]

Wait-wait-wait! I'm not saying there is another twentysomething who is in the finals. I don't know what happened to him. If we believe The Mirror's list, it looks like Cavill won the early twentysomething slot. This other guy may be in the reject pile.

Ah, okay. But, yes, it does look like Cavill may have won the early twentysomething slot.... if we believe the Mirror. Me, I believe half of the paper's list and scoff at the other half.

[Rogue Agent]

Can I speak candidly?

I think Eon should cancel Casino Royale. It's clear there isn't a natural successor to Pierce Brosnan - or if there is, he is too expensive or not available.

Why can't Eon do the sensible thing and tell Sony "no film for November 2006."

Let's look long-term and find a better candidate. I'm trying to bite my tongue on this and not post something I'll regret, but if this list is accurate I can't see movie goers the world over being impressed.

"They replaced Pierce Brosnan with Henry Cavill?"

Eon should be honest and admit there isn't an ideal candidate. Why remain in denial? Rather than waste time and money screentesting candidates that won't be accepted, delay the film, accept the search hasn't found any viable candidates. I can't see what's wrong in being honest, admitting defeat and starting again.

If anyone from Eon reads this, please consider what I have written. There is no shame in not finding the right candidate. It's life. It doesn't run to plan. Do the right thing, not the money thing, and delay the film until 2007 or 2008 and find a man that men would like to look like, women would like to bed. A man that excites us as he walks down the gun barrel. A man that is worthy of James Bond.

[zencat]

Zencat how much truth are you inclined to give this story?

I don't think I would have though much of this story (especially considering the source and the fact it broke on a Sunday) if it hadn't been for the inclusion of Cavill's name. If they're just guessing, they made a heck of a lucky guess.

But I guess it is possible The Mirror conjured this list out of authentic rejects. Maybe Eon even leaked them these names. Maybe this is a ruse to cover the identiy of the real guy who will be sprung on us shortly?

[ACE]

It is interesting to note that the list contains no names that I know for a fact have been tested between December 2004 and April 2005 at Pinewood and Shepperton.

If we know some of the actors who have been tested, it is probable that even the Mirror could get it right!

But if, on my information, a Bond has been decided upon at the highest levels some weeks back, where does it leave this news story?

I think that if a decision has been made, then the importance of these names is reduced significantly. They are useless except, of course, as chaff.

As William Goldman said, "Nobody knows anything".

ACE

Edited by ACE, 24 July 2005 - 04:09 PM.

[The Admiral]

The only thing I've seen Ewan Stewart in is Titanic, he played Murdoch.

[Loomis]

Can I speak candidly?

I think Eon should cancel Casino Royale. It's clear there isn't a natural successor to Pierce Brosnan - or if there is, he is too expensive or not available.

Why can't Eon do the sensible thing and tell Sony "no film for November 2006."

Let's look long-term and find a better candidate. I'm trying to bite my tongue on this and not post something I'll regret, but if this list is accurate I can't see movie goers the world over being impressed.

"They replaced Pierce Brosnan with Henry Cavill?"

Eon should be honest and admit there isn't an ideal candidate. Why remain in denial? Rather than waste time and money screentesting candidates that won't be accepted, delay the film, accept the search hasn't found any viable candidates. I can't see what's wrong in being honest, admitting defeat and starting again.

If anyone from Eon reads this, please consider what I have written. There is no shame in not finding the right candidate. It's life. It doesn't run to plan. Do the right thing, not the money thing, and delay the film until 2007 or 2008 and find a man that men would like to look like, women would like to bed. A man that excites us as he walks down the gun barrel. A man that is worthy of James Bond.

Sod it, I want a Bond film next year, regardless of whether there's a "natural successor" to Brosnan. Even if they end up choosing, say, Rikki Lee Travolta, surely that'd be better than nothing - hey, just think of the laughs.

[Seannery]

I just can't get past that Ewan Stewart is 5'9"!! Come on--no way! Okay maybe if he was Mel Gibson in the 80's BUT he is not even in shouting distance to a Mel Gibson--ludicrous!

[H.M.Servant]

Unknown with minor rolls. But you guys always want he name you can't have. We'll chat about "the other" another day. Today we have four new names the play with. So have fun.

well, as much fun as you can have with these four candidates.

And I hear a decision has actually been made on who will play Bond (no, I don't know who). So perhaps this Mirror report is playing catchup.

Or playing coy. Is the new Bond on this list? 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.

It's a kindof smart thing to do (can't believe I'm saying this) but if you'd name someone who is actually considered (Cavill aparently) and name one (or two) obvious bogus candidates, you could [i]sneek the other one past...

So the next Bond is Goran Whatshisname!
Sounds plausible huh? No not really I know, but at least I'm having fun with it....

[Pussycat]

I just can't get past that Ewan Stewart is 5'9"!!  Come on--no way!  Okay maybe if he was Mel Gibson in the 80's BUT he is not even in shouting distance to a Mel Gibson--ludicrous!

Agreed, Seannery. The inclusion of his name reassures me to a degree that the entire article is probably rumor and rubbish, OR a leak as stated earlier, to throw the media off the trail of the real candidates. My memory is not what it used to be, but can we list the other Mirror Sunday articles that turned out to be rubbish? Wasn't Bana one of those? And he said he'd never been contacted and didn't know how his name had been circulated. It might make us all feel better.

[zencat]

It is interesting to note that the list contains no names that I know for a fact have been tested between December 2004 and April 2005 at Pinewood and Shepperton.

If we know some of the actors who have been tested, it is probable that even the Mirror could get it right!

But if, on my information, a Bond has been decided upon at the highest levels some weeks back, where does it leave this news story?

I think that if a decision has been made, then the importance of these names is reduced significantly. They are useless except, of course, as chaff.

As William Goldman said, "Nobody knows anything".

ACE

The more we talk about this, the more I'm starting to think this is a story meant to misdirect. A smoke screen so the real guy can slip backstage and get ready to be revealed. This is a list of names who were serious contenders at one time, but didn't get the gig.

[Rogue Agent]

. Maybe Eon even leaked them these names. Maybe this is a ruse to cover the identiy of the real guy who will be sprung on us shortly?

It's bound to be an Eon leak. Craig was leaked to the Sun newspaper. These new names are to test the water, to gauge reaction. I think Cavill would be the favourite with fans and general move goers, only because he has a pretty boy look and isn't Croatian. But that's hardly reason for him to be cast as James Bond.

This search is like the guy on death row. How do you want to die? Lethal injection or electrocution? The choices are irrelevant - they lead to the same conclusion. But I guess it's possible Cavill has the right stuff to be Bond. Only Eon knows. But Eon thought Bond driving an invisible car was appropriate, so I'm not that confident they know what they're doing.

[ACE]

It is interesting to note that the list contains no names that I know for a fact have been tested between December 2004 and April 2005 at Pinewood and Shepperton.

If we know some of the actors who have been tested, it is probable that even the Mirror could get it right!

But if, on my information, a Bond has been decided upon at the highest levels some weeks back, where does it leave this news story?

I think that if a decision has been made, then the importance of these names is reduced significantly. They are useless except, of course, as chaff.

As William Goldman said, "Nobody knows anything".

ACE

The more we talk about this, the more I'm starting to think this is a story meant to misdirect. A smoke screen so the real guy can slip backstage and get ready to be revealed. This is a list of names who were serious contenders at one time, but didn't get the gig.

Perzackly!

ACE

[Seannery]

It is interesting to note that the list contains no names that I know for a fact have been tested between December 2004 and April 2005 at Pinewood and Shepperton.

If we know some of the actors who have been tested, it is probable that even the Mirror could get it right!

But if, on my information, a Bond has been decided upon at the highest levels some weeks back, where does it leave this news story?

I think that if a decision has been made, then the importance of these names is reduced significantly. They are useless except, of course, as chaff.

As William Goldman said, "Nobody knows anything".

ACE

The more we talk about this, the more I'm starting to think this is a story meant to misdirect. A smoke screen so the real guy can slip backstage and get ready to be revealed. This is a list of names who were serious contenders at one time, but didn't get the gig.

You read my mind Zencat! This leads me to my latest prediction on a Bond announcement. This is a last minute muddying of the waters as the new Bond will be announced this coming Thursday July 28!!

[Pussycat]

It is interesting to note that the list contains no names that I know for a fact have been tested between December 2004 and April 2005 at Pinewood and Shepperton.

If we know some of the actors who have been tested, it is probable that even the Mirror could get it right!

But if, on my information, a Bond has been decided upon at the highest levels some weeks back, where does it leave this news story?

I think that if a decision has been made, then the importance of these names is reduced significantly. They are useless except, of course, as chaff.

As William Goldman said, "Nobody knows anything".

ACE

The more we talk about this, the more I'm starting to think this is a story meant to misdirect. A smoke screen so the real guy can slip backstage and get ready to be revealed. This is a list of names who were serious contenders at one time, but didn't get the gig.

Perzackly!

ACE

Hoping you are right! It has to be. My, my....a lot of us are on this thread today.

[ACE]

Thursday July 28!!

"A little premature, perhaps?!"

  My, my....a lot of us are on this thread today. 

Agreed. A heck of crowd on the piste!

ACE

[Rogue Agent]

The more we talk about this, the more I'm starting to think this is a story meant to misdirect. A smoke screen so the real guy can slip backstage and get ready to be revealed. This is a list of names who were serious contenders at one time, but didn't get the gig.

The thing to note is we live in the internet age so it makes sense to release all credible candidates to the media. That way fans, like us, can give an opinion. If Eon has an unknown actor locked away, it may not be such a good idea to keep him quiet.

Look at it like this -

I reckon Daniel Craig would have been Bond had we not had the internet. He said Sony gave him the role, he's a friend of Barbara Broccoli, the Sun newspaper said he was Bond. As soon as the Craig story broke, many Bond and movie sites discussed Craig and the vast majority of posts were anti-Craig. "He's too ugly, he's too blonde blah blah blah."

Although I could be wrong, I remain convinced Barbara and MG saw those posts and reconsidered Craig. They knew he was too risky a choice and was rejected. My point being it's too risky to announce Joe Smith as the new Bond without people having an idea who he is, what he looks like.

The best feedback Eon gets is from the internet. Sure, they may think many fans are geeks but if enough people say Craig is wrong, or if enough people say Visnjic is wrong, Eon won't cast them. So it's unlikely the next Bond will remain a secret.

[zencat]

It is interesting to note that the list contains no names that I know for a fact have been tested between December 2004 and April 2005 at Pinewood and Shepperton.

If we know some of the actors who have been tested, it is probable that even the Mirror could get it right!

But if, on my information, a Bond has been decided upon at the highest levels some weeks back, where does it leave this news story?

I think that if a decision has been made, then the importance of these names is reduced significantly. They are useless except, of course, as chaff.

As William Goldman said, "Nobody knows anything".

ACE

The more we talk about this, the more I'm starting to think this is a story meant to misdirect. A smoke screen so the real guy can slip backstage and get ready to be revealed. This is a list of names who were serious contenders at one time, but didn't get the gig.

Perzackly!

ACE

So if this is really a smoke-screen (and Cavill's name suggests to me the smoke is at least partially generated from the inside), does that mean the Bond #6 announcement is imminent? After all, a smoke screen dissipates pretty quickly.

Remember we reported Campbell was in England for two weeks? If what you say is true, ACE, and a new Bond is already selected, then Campbell isn't there for screen-tests, he's there for the announcment!

Last week was week one. That's means this is his last week in London. Is the announcment coming this week?

[Seannery]

The more we talk about this, the more I'm starting to think this is a story meant to misdirect. A smoke screen so the real guy can slip backstage and get ready to be revealed. This is a list of names who were serious contenders at one time, but didn't get the gig.

The thing to note is we live in the internet age so it makes sense to release all credible candidates to the media. That way fans, like us, can give an opinion. If Eon has an unknown actor locked away, it may not be such a good idea to keep him quiet.

Look at it like this -

I reckon Daniel Craig would have been Bond had we not had the internet. He said Sony gave him the role, he's a friend of Barbara Broccoli, the Sun newspaper said he was Bond. As soon as the Craig story broke, many Bond and movie sites discussed Craig and the vast majority of posts were anti-Craig. "He's too ugly, he's too blonde blah blah blah."

Although I could be wrong, I remain convinced Barbara and MG saw those posts and reconsidered Craig. They knew he was too risky a choice and was rejected. My point being it's too risky to announce Joe Smith as the new Bond without people having an idea who he is, what he looks like.

The best feedback Eon gets is from the internet. Sure, they may think many fans are geeks but if enough people say Craig is wrong, or if enough people say Visnjic is wrong, Eon won't cast them. So it's unlikely the next Bond will remain a secret.

Unless the candidate is very below the radar almost all the candidates have been thoroughly debated already on this and other sites--so no extra need to bring them up unless it's someone none of us have thought about. The vast majority of candidates have been debated ad infinitum.

[Seannery]

It is interesting to note that the list contains no names that I know for a fact have been tested between December 2004 and April 2005 at Pinewood and Shepperton.

If we know some of the actors who have been tested, it is probable that even the Mirror could get it right!

But if, on my information, a Bond has been decided upon at the highest levels some weeks back, where does it leave this news story?

I think that if a decision has been made, then the importance of these names is reduced significantly. They are useless except, of course, as chaff.

As William Goldman said, "Nobody knows anything".

ACE

The more we talk about this, the more I'm starting to think this is a story meant to misdirect. A smoke screen so the real guy can slip backstage and get ready to be revealed. This is a list of names who were serious contenders at one time, but didn't get the gig.

Perzackly!

ACE

So if this is really a smoke-screen (and Cavill's name suggests to me the smoke is at least partially generated from the inside), does that mean the Bond #6 announcement is imminent? After all, a smoke screen dissipates pretty quickly.

Remember we reported Campbell was in England for two weeks? If what you say is true, ACE, and a new Bond is already selected, then Campbell isn't there for screen-tests, he's there for the announcment!

Last week was week one. That's means this is his last week in London. Is the announcment coming this week?

Exactly Zen! That's why my guess of July 28--this coming Thursday. Just a possibility.

[Loomis]

Last week was week one. That's means this is his last week in London. Is the announcment coming this week?

You mean this coming week, starting tomorrow?

It does seem as though as an announcement may be imminent - then again, we may just be working ourselves into the usual fanboy internet frenzy over nothing.

And, anyway, why would Eon feel the need to work up to an announcement by issuing a "smokescreen" (and to the Mirror, of all outfits)? Anyone privy to the real name would still be able to leak it if he or she chose to do so.

[ACE]

It is interesting to note that the list contains no names that I know for a fact have been tested between December 2004 and April 2005 at Pinewood and Shepperton.

If we know some of the actors who have been tested, it is probable that even the Mirror could get it right!

But if, on my information, a Bond has been decided upon at the highest levels some weeks back, where does it leave this news story?

I think that if a decision has been made, then the importance of these names is reduced significantly. They are useless except, of course, as chaff.

As William Goldman said, "Nobody knows anything".

ACE

The more we talk about this, the more I'm starting to think this is a story meant to misdirect. A smoke screen so the real guy can slip backstage and get ready to be revealed. This is a list of names who were serious contenders at one time, but didn't get the gig.

Perzackly!

ACE

So if this is really a smoke-screen (and Cavill's name suggests to me the smoke is at least partially generated from the inside), does that mean the Bond #6 announcement is imminent? After all, a smoke screen dissipates pretty quickly.

Remember we reported Campbell was in England for two weeks? If what you say is true, ACE, and a new Bond is already selected, then Campbell isn't there for screen-tests, he's there for the announcment!

Last week was week one. That's means this is his last week in London. Is the announcment coming this week?

Or just rewrites or prep. I do not know.

IF my information is correct, it means the decision has been made. NOT the deal!

Everyone expects an announcement based on the Goldeneye precedent. June 1994 announcement for a Jan 1995 start. However, what people forget is that GE was meant to start shooting in Sept 1995. So, maximizing publicity for the start of shoot, we could expect an announcement as late as September/October 2005.

There will probably be another large press call for the start of shooting in Jan 2006. Remember it is not definite that it will not be Pinewood. Yet!

However, if the decision AND the deal has been made, I think Eon would want to announce ASAP to prevent leaks and also to really drum up support for Bond #6.

Unless, of course, Bond #6 is actually Bond #5!

Educated speculation here.

ACE