98 replies to this topic

[Number 6]

I don't know.... for some reason I just can't picture her in a Bond film...

Neither can I...

[Double-Oh Agent]

Reasons I'd like to see Rachel McAdams as Vesper

-As others have said, she's not too huge a star but on her way up enough for her to work (as opposed to Angelina Jolie, who many here have wanted to be in a Bond film) so her salary wouldn't be outrageous either and she's not an above-the-title name either. And she won't likely have equal status on the poster Halle Berry had.
-She could balance out the fairly unknown Craig the way Diana Rigg did with Lazenby in OHMSS, where she was coming off a hot television series but didn't overwhelm the new guy.
-McAdams can play sweet or bitchy and she's no stranger to action films as seen in the recent Red Eye.
-A lot of people are concerned because she's not British as Vesper is in the book. Who says she can't fake an accent or if the character will even be British.
-She'd bring in the female crowd as she likely has a lot of younger fans (The Notebook was a hit a couple years ago) and a few guys too, unlike, say, Denise Richards who primarily appeals to guys.

And lastly
-I actually sat through The Notebook because I was drawn to her. And I don't usually sit through chick flicks.
So she gets my vote as Vesper.

Good points Turn. I agree with most of them. I haven't seen The Notebook, but I did see her in Red Eye, Wedding Crashers, and The Family Stone. I like her. She's not beautiful but she is good looking and yes, cute. But is she Bond girl material? That is the question. I'm not so sure--certainly for Vesper. Rose Byrne is THE BEST CHOICE for Vesper Lynd. No doubt about it. I don't know if I even have a second choice. I like Thandie Newton but I don't see her as Vesper either.

I will say this for Rachel McAdams though. She does have that little something. You can't help but like her when you see her on-screen. Like Daniel Craig she does have screen presence. I was watching Ebert and Roeper some months ago when they reviewed Red Eye and I believe Ebert compared her and her likeability factor to Julia Roberts when Roberts was starting out in her career. He basically said the two of them were good actresses who you just couldn't take your eyes off of and couldn't help liking. I know I, for one, found myself really being drawn toward her when I watched Red Eye, Wedding Crashers, and The Family Stone. If she was in fact cast as Vesper, I could accept her, I suppose.

But that said, I still prefer Rose Byrne for Vesper Lynd.

[Hitchcock Bond]

McAdams is undoubtedly attractive. I think she could well be a Bond girl, but not really ideal as Vesper. She has that sort of perky 'American-ness'(although Canadian)typified for some time by Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan. Vesper should be a more sophisicated character: a sort of smoldering innocence that is perhaps best exemplified by Byrne; it's more than just putting on an English accent. On the other hand McAdams is an 'up and comer', and does have a higher profile than Byrne, or even Newton, and that could be the deciding factor in selecting her.

[blueman]

I dunno, I'd like to see McAdams do a nice smoldery turn...could be interesting.

[hcmv007]

Don't want to be a bitch, she's pretty enough but just far too ordinary looking to me, she could be my neighbour. Rose Byrne has a far more mysterious look, I hope she gets it.

Rose is still my choice as well. I wish the role was cast already, as I am sick of all of these 'new' rumors.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I think she's too 'cute'. Vesper is not cute. She's the kinda woman that the adjective 'cute' is just not appropriate.I thought Rose Byrne was signed!?

[Harmsway]

I think she's too 'cute'. Vesper is not cute. She's the kinda woman that the adjective 'cute' is just not appropriate.I thought Rose Byrne was signed!?

Yeah... I just don't see the dark and more mysterious qualities of Vesper in McAdams (who also looks like a little girl). There needs to be a strong presence of womanhood here, and it's just not.

We need a Bond girl as good and commanding and strong as Diana Rigg. This, Rachel McAdams is not.

[Skudor]

I think she's too 'cute'. Vesper is not cute. She's the kinda woman that the adjective 'cute' is just not appropriate.I thought Rose Byrne was signed!?

Yeah... I just don't see the dark and more mysterious qualities of Vesper in McAdams (who also looks like a little girl). There needs to be a strong presence of womanhood here, and it's just not.

We need a Bond girl as good and commanding and strong as Diana Rigg. This, Rachel McAdams is not.

I think there needs to be some soft innocence there though, which Rigg didn't really have. She was quite tough. Vesper isn't 'tough'. It needs to be a surprise when she turns out to be a traitor.

[Harmsway]

I think she's too 'cute'. Vesper is not cute. She's the kinda woman that the adjective 'cute' is just not appropriate.I thought Rose Byrne was signed!?

Yeah... I just don't see the dark and more mysterious qualities of Vesper in McAdams (who also looks like a little girl). There needs to be a strong presence of womanhood here, and it's just not.

We need a Bond girl as good and commanding and strong as Diana Rigg. This, Rachel McAdams is not.

I think there needs to be some soft innocence there though, which Rigg didn't really have. She was quite tough. Vesper isn't 'tough'. It needs to be a surprise when she turns out to be a traitor.

I didn't think it was such a huge surprise in the book when that turned out to be the case. She seemed awfully cold to Bond. Sure, she shouldn't be a tough as Tracy (she should be more vulnerable, for sure), but she shouldn't be the little girl that McAdams is, either.

Rose Byrne is all that. She's innocent, vulnerable, and still very strong and womanly. McAdams still looks very young (heck, she even starred in MEAN GIRLS just a few years ago and was convincing as a high school girl!).

[Lounge Lizard]

No, I don't see Rachel McAdams as Vesper Lynd, no matter how hard I try. I think we're getting to a point where you can say 'Kathy Bates' and people will respond: 'Approved! Sign her up now! Let's get it over with!'

[Skudor]

I think she's too 'cute'. Vesper is not cute. She's the kinda woman that the adjective 'cute' is just not appropriate.I thought Rose Byrne was signed!?

Yeah... I just don't see the dark and more mysterious qualities of Vesper in McAdams (who also looks like a little girl). There needs to be a strong presence of womanhood here, and it's just not.

We need a Bond girl as good and commanding and strong as Diana Rigg. This, Rachel McAdams is not.

I think there needs to be some soft innocence there though, which Rigg didn't really have. She was quite tough. Vesper isn't 'tough'. It needs to be a surprise when she turns out to be a traitor.

I didn't think it was such a huge surprise in the book when that turned out to be the case. She seemed awfully cold to Bond. Sure, she shouldn't be a tough as Tracy (she should be more vulnerable, for sure), but she shouldn't be the little girl that McAdams is, either.

Rose Byrne is all that. She's innocent, vulnerable, and still very strong and womanly. McAdams still looks very young (heck, she even starred in MEAN GIRLS just a few years ago and was convincing as a high school girl!).

I totally agree - McAdams is not right for the role and Rose Byrne is (my top favourite so far, she fits the part perfectly).

[blueman]

Guess I still think McAdams could do it, and be more dimensional than Byrne. McAdams has been very selective with her roles, Vesper would be a natural progression for her and the opportunity to show yet another side of her talent. It's what she seems to do with every successive film, don't see why she couldn't with CR. Odd, even thought I've seen Bynre do more dramatic work, she strikes me as kinda shallow, all surface and not all that much depth. McAdams in contrast makes every role like an onion: by the end of the film, she's peeled back some layers, even in the lighter stuff she has that ability. Byrne does look very much like a Vesper, but I get the feeling McAdams (who also has her share of a Vesper look, IMO) would deliver a fuller character. It's pretty vague in my head, but that's the impression I get, FWIW.

Also, I think Vesper should be cast not like a Bond girl, whatever that means (okay, Rigg in OHMSS sticks out as a non-Bond girl piece of casting, IMO). McAdams jives with that.

Edited by blueman, 03 February 2006 - 08:20 PM.

[JB007YH]

I'm sorry I'm going to have to say nay. I thought she was hot in wedding crashers until brother pointed out all the beauty marks all over her face(especially on her chin and cheek) and neck. i know it sounds ridiculous but every time I see her my eyes always find the beauty marks and I cant stand them. I think she wouldve been perfect if it wasnt for those marks.

[Fro]

I'm sorry I'm going to have to say nay. I thought she was hot in wedding crashers until brother pointed out all the beauty marks all over her face(especially on her chin and cheek) and neck. i know it sounds ridiculous but every time I see her my eyes always find the beauty marks and I cant stand them. I think she wouldve been perfect if it wasnt for those marks.

There is such a thing as makeup. She would look drastically different than in a "Wedding Crashers" in this film as she'd wear makeup, be lighted, and dressed to give her a more glamorous, mysterous look as opposed to being a "natural, girl-next door". Probably something like this photo (sans the blonde hair).



Not saying she's my first choice, but she'd definitely work and her ability to act and bring depth to the role is without question.

Edited by Fro, 03 February 2006 - 09:01 PM.

[Jack Bauer]

I saw her in RED EYE and WEDDING CRASHERS, she's good looking but she's also another big-name American actress and I would prefer to go for someone less well-known for the role.

Hit the nail on the head there. Ever since shortly after Mean Girls, her career's been blowing up. I don't want this to be like Die Another Day, with a huge name female lead. I always thought being in a Bond film should be the jumpstart of your career, not just another notch in your belt. But that's just my whacky old opinion.

[Turn]

I always thought being in a Bond film should be the jumpstart of your career, not just another notch in your belt. But that's just my whacky old opinion.

Save for Ursula Andress, Jane Seymour and maybe Famke Janssen, who else can you really say that about? Most treat being in a Bond film as being a kiss of death to a career.

[Publius]

She's certainly cute, but lacks Rose Byrne's presence and exotic looks. I prefer mystery to "girl-next-door," although I wouldn't mind seeing her as a minor Bond girl down the line. Just not Vesper.

[Bon-san]

I definitely think the potential is there.

Everyone in the known galaxies thought Connery was a bad fit for Bond.

"Acting!"

[dinovelvet]

After a little snooping around the web, it seems that Rachel has at least one prior engagement in Hollywood in the next few weeks :

http://news.bbc.co.u...ent/4679174.stm

[Harmsway]

Everyone in the known galaxies thought Connery was a bad fit for Bond.

Not true - Connery won that Daily Mail poll where the readers had to vote on who should play James Bond, and he also had a striking resemblance to the McLusky strip.

Part of my hesitancy to endorse McAdams is I don't see her playing off of Craig very well. Byrne I could see working with Craig. Newton I could especially see playing off of Craig. But McAdams? Not so much.

[SecretAgentFan]

And what

[zencat]

*sigh*

She would be fine. She's cute...good actress... She certainly doesn't possess the mysterious, haunted, tragic quality of a Rose Byrne or C

[ACE]

She's very attractive. I like her. I'm sure she'll go well. Just get any girl. Cor, what a great job it must be - searching for Bond girls. Hey, I volunteer!

[blueman]

I think she could, zencat...maybe. Be interesting to see her in the role if they cast her.

[booyeah_]

Why is it that the difference in age btwn Rosamund Pike and Brosnan was criticised, but McAdams is a favorite here? IMO, based on looks, the two appear to have a bigger age gap. I'd prefer Byrne out of the two most rumored choices.

[Harmsway]

[quote name='SecretAgentFan' post='512881' date='4 February 2006 - 08:56']
And what

[Bon-san]

Byrne is still my top choice.

But McAdams could be very good. The fact that she's played some girly, "fun" parts doesn't mean she can't do otherwise. Again, "Acting!"

Newton I'm unclear on. She could be OK, but if it were up to me and I could get Byrne, why bother with Newton.

Defrance looks to be an interesting actress, but at times she looks not quite pretty enough for my tastes. Yes, I can be that shallow sometimes.

Ditto Defrance for Stirling.

[Jack Bauer]

I always thought being in a Bond film should be the jumpstart of your career, not just another notch in your belt. But that's just my whacky old opinion.

Save for Ursula Andress, Jane Seymour and maybe Famke Janssen, who else can you really say that about? Most treat being in a Bond film as being a kiss of death to a career.

I don't know, honestly. I always just thought being in a Bond film would be a pretty nice start to a career. I don't like it when huge names are cast opposite of Bond, whether it be the female lead, or the villain. I think I just have a problem with Halle Berry in the last flick, her being there seemed to overshadow Brosnan almost. So many people saw DAD in hopes of seeing Berry in a bikini and didn't go for the film itself. I think if audiences didn't have that reason to see the film, and the producers didn't use that brand of sex-appeal to sell their film, then the overall product would be that much better.

Let me explain. I believe Halle Berry was cast because she was a huge star and is beautiful, and because of that fact, they knew the film would be a success. People would leave their houses to see Die Another Day because they were pretty much guaranteed to see a hot actress who they have heard of before half naked. It's beneficial to the viewer, it's beneficial to the pockets of the company, however, it's not beneficial to the true moviegoers who see 007 films for a good, quality time. And I'm pretty sure the companies don't give a damn whether the "real" Bond fans care about anyways, so it's win-win for them.

I just want to see a movie with a relatively unheard of Bond, unheard of Bond girl, and unheard of villain. Sure, it'll get its kicked financially, as it has little star-power to sell it, but the focus won't be on powdering Halle's forehead, it'll be on making a quality film.

Much is the case for the newest Pink Panther film. Who will see that turd log for Steve Martin and Jean Reno? Nobody. Add in Beyonce, and you're pretty much guaranteed a smash, any way you slice it. With her addition, the overall quality is sure to drop, but the ticket sales will surely increase ten, maybe one hundredfold.

See my point?

[tdalton]

I may be in the minority here, but I don't think that McAdams is on a level of fame comparable to Halle Berry or Denise Richards yet that would make her casting purely about wanting a "big name". Most of the time, for me anyway, when I'm trying to tell someone who McAdams is, just saying her name isn't enough. Usually, I have to qualify it by saying, "The actress from Red Eye or The Notebook" or something like that. I think that CR would take her into the kind of stardom that Berry has and that Denise Richards at one time had when they were going into their Bond movies. I think that the idea of casting a big name would be to draw people to the film. I don't think that McAdams has enough star power for her to be the only reason that people would go to the film.

I also think that her likeability and girl-next-door quality could help her in the Vesper role. Given the fact that the last two Bond films have featured lead women betraying Bond in the film (and neither of them being surprises, to say the least), I would think that EON would want to make this betrayal a bit more of a surprise to the audience, even if it's quite as surprising in the novel. By having someone that almost always plays innocent characters who are always likable, that would make the events of Casino Royale very shocking to the average person going to the movie who has no knowledge of the CR storyline. I think that she would give the Vesper character's actions more of an element of surprise than would an actress like Monica Belucci, who has played those types of characters before in high profile films like the Matrix films.

[booyeah_]

Byrne is still my top choice.

But McAdams could be very good. The fact that she's played some girly, "fun" parts doesn't mean she can't do otherwise. Again, "Acting!"

Newton I'm unclear on. She could be OK, but if it were up to me and I could get Byrne, why bother with Newton.

Defrance looks to be an interesting actress, but at times she looks not quite pretty enough for my tastes. Yes, I can be that shallow sometimes.

Ditto Defrance for Stirling.

nothing wrong with being shallow when looks is a part of what makes the role, but I dont know where you're coming from with the Defrance is unpretty talk. She's the best looking of all the canidates, and I know this might no be PC, but isnt Vesper supposed to be white(all the covers of CR)?