251 replies to this topic

[Agent 76]

Casino Royale's Cast Revealed

_{Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini), and more...}

Pics of Eva Green
http://us.tv1.yimg.c...ight/emmys6.jpg
http://img.terra.com...6/103135_ga.jpg

Pics of Jeffrey Wright
http://us.movies1.yi..._green/koh2.jpg
http://www.reflectio...ociate03low.jpg

source:
www.comingsoon.net

Edited by Righty007, 26 July 2006 - 11:37 AM.

[CowboyFunk22]

Amazing stuff, that about sures it up casting wise.

Jeffrey Wright seems like an interesting choice. Not against a black felix by any means, but still didn't see it comming. Here he is:

Edit: I stumbled upon his wikipedia page while seaching for photos and updated his filmography to include Casino Royale. I always wanted to do that. I hope he thanks me

Edited by CowboyFunk22, 16 February 2006 - 11:38 PM.

[Bring Back Valentin]

I like that choice for Felix. Wright is a very good actor, and I think will definately bring something new to the character. As for Eva Green, I'll just have to wait and see. I've never seen her in anything.

[Gobi-1]

Both good choices. Eva Green is gorgeous and has the Vesper look as Rose Bryne does and Jeffrey Wright as Felix is a nice surprise.

Here's a poster I just finished of Eva Green as Vesper Lynd, before I read this official news.

Poster
http://img135.images...perfinal5zk.jpg

Wallpaper
http://img134.images...allpaper1kb.jpg

[WC]

Well if Eva Green has been cast as Vesper for real, then I guess that is somewhat good news. At least it isn't Thandie Newton or Rachel Stirling, and not some other big name actress either like Zeta Jones or Charlize Theron. I would've preferred Rose Byrne, but I think Green will be fine, provided she does look great all the time.

Wright I'm not so sure about. I haven't seen him at all before, but from his photo he gives me the vibe of one of these bumbling Felixes again, like in Goldfinger or DAF. I was hoping for a stronger, Jack Lord type - real FBI/CIA man. Surely there must've been even a black actor who looked like that if they're making Felix black like in NSNA? He just seems too much like Bond's bumbling sidekick.

[dinovelvet]

Ha! OK, assuming this is all official, Wright is a pretty good choice. A fine, and sometimes fun (e.g. in SHAFT) actor. I can see him being a good Buddy for Bond. Thumbs up. Any idea if Wright has been signed for sequels?

Just noticed on his imdb page that Wright has a role in the upcoming The Visiting, starring...Daniel Craig. Is the Craigster responsible for this casting?

Edited by dinovelvet, 16 February 2006 - 11:41 PM.

[JB007YH]

I am not racist, but I am upset with the casting of Felix Leiter. If the character is white with blonde hair, he should be white with blonde hair. I was also a little upset about the casting of le chiffre. It shouldve been, a chubbier actor. Although Mads looks like a villian he is no le chiffre. I think eva green will do well in the role. I feel as though she is the only character that looks like the characters description from the book. Craig in my book is no bond(lookswise) but I do believe he has the acting talent to pull it off.

[dinovelvet]

Wright I'm not so sure about. I haven't seen him at all before, but from his photo he gives me the vibe of one of these bumbling Felixes again, like in Goldfinger or DAF. I was hoping for a stronger, Jack Lord type - real FBI/CIA man. Surely there must've been even a black actor who looked like that if they're making Felix black like in NSNA? He just seems too much like Bond's bumbling sidekick.

Don't worry about Wright's credentials, he is a serious, hardcore actor's actor. He's won a Tony for his stage work. He won't be a bumbling, comedy Felix (unless that's what the script calls for).

[Gobi-1]

Where did you get this information? The official website has nothing.

EDIT: ComingSoon.net has the news
http://comingsoon.ne...ws.php?id=13225

Edited by Gobi-1, 16 February 2006 - 11:56 PM.

[JB007YH]

It doesnt matter if his acting is the best in the world unless his acting makes us believe he is a white guy with blonde hair. He just doesnt look the part. Tom hanks is a wonderful actor, should he be james bond?

[dinovelvet]

Hey, Agent76, you missed a vital paragraph at the end with YET MORE casting :

The producers are delighted that the cast is rounded out by talented international actors in feature roles, including; Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis, Caterina Murino as Solonge, Simon Abkarian as Dimitrios, Tobias Menzies as Villiers, Ivana Milicevic as Valenka, Clemens Schik as Kratt, Ludger Pistor as Mendel, and Claudio Santamaria as Carlos.


Gaaah...casting overload...can't cope. Giancarlo Giannini is a good pick though.

Edited by dinovelvet, 16 February 2006 - 11:57 PM.

[Fro]

Love it! Two very inspired choices. I've already talked about Eva Green at length.

Jeffrey Wright is another guy who's won a lot of awards (Golden Globe, Tony, and an Emmy) and is a very strong actor. Also in the same age range as Craig, so they nailed that. I definitely can see him capturing the spirit of Leiter from the novels.

I'm fine with African-American actor as Felix, even though he's obviously not going to match the exact physical description of Leiter in Fleming's book. In fact, I quite like the call as he's going to really stick out (can't remember many meaningful African-American characters in the Bond films outside of some villains in Live and Let Die). I really hope he's going to be back in the next two films with Craig.

Edited by Fro, 16 February 2006 - 11:59 PM.

[DLibrasnow]

Green was fabulous in THE DREAMERS, she had real presence in it, and (apart from the nudity) was the most memorable thing in the movie.

[Bon-san]

Two big thumbs up for Green and Wright!

[ACE]

Er, what is the source for this?
Nothing on official website - where did all this come from.
Wright was a surprise (let's just hope they keep him), Green is nice, Giancarlo as Mathis is brilliant.

Nice international cast. No big names but good, solid players.
But what is the source for this again?
PLEASE - with sugar on top!!!

[tdalton]

Two big thumbs up for Green and Wright!

Agreed, although I'm a bit disappointed that Wilde didn't get the role. But, there's always Bond 22 or 23.

Green will be great as Vesper and Wright, although a very unexpected choice for Felix Leiter, is a great actor and should do very well in the role.

I think they did well with these two because Wright is somewhat recognizable as a character actor, people will recognize him when they see him because of his roles in The Manchurian Candidate and Syriana, amongst others.

[DLibrasnow]

ACE- the source is listed at the bottom of the first post:

http://www.comingsoo...ws.php?id=13225

[Lounge Lizard]

I have yet to see Eva Green in a large role, her part in Kingdom of Heaven wasn't enough for me to judge her Vesper-ability. But she looks like a classy, mysterious beauty nonetheless.

And...

JEFFREY WRIGHT IN A BOND FILM!

That is just such amazing news... I can barely contain my excitement. A bumbling Felix? Oh no, not very likely. Wright is tough. Has anyone here seen Basquiat? Ride with the Devil? Ali? The Manchurian Candidate? A terrific actor of the chameleon type, like Craig- granted, he doesn't look like Felix in the books, but he'll surely be able to project the good-humoured, laid-back 'Felix attitude'. It'll work.

And Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis. It's become a high-profile cast after all. No big names, but cool names (at the risk of sounding like Harry Knowles).

Seems a bit odd that it was never stated on the official site. It bugs me a little. Hope it's all true.

[ACE]

Er, sorry. Old age, you know!

Ta for PM

[tdalton]

And Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis. It's become a high-profile cast after all. No big names, but cool names (at the risk of sounding like Harry Knowles).

Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis is a bit of inspired casting. Even though he's fairly important character in the novel, I don't seem to recall there being much talk about him to the point where I pretty much didn't give any consideration to who I thought should play him, but Giannini is a perfect choice. And a lot of people will recognize him from Hannibal.

So now, I think we've gone from a cast with almost no "known" actors to a cast with a few recognizable faces (Giannini, Wright, and to a lesser extent, Green).

[DLibrasnow]

I have yet to see Eva Green in a large role, her part in Kingdom of Heaven wasn't enough for me to judge her Vesper-ability. But she looks like a classy, mysterious beauty nonetheless.

You have to see her in THE DREAMERS...I know I keep going on about that movie, but it realy is great. I'm surprised more people have not seen it.

[MarcAngeDraco]

They had a press conference to announce Le Chiffre, and just issued a statement to announce all this?...

[dinovelvet]

JEFFREY WRIGHT IN A BOND FILM!

That is just such amazing news... I can barely contain my excitement. A bumbling Felix? Oh no, not very likely. Wright is tough. Has anyone here seen Basquiat? Ride with the Devil? Ali? The Manchurian Candidate? A terrific actor of the chameleon type, like Craig- granted, he doesn't look like Felix in the books, but he'll surely be able to project the good-humoured, laid-back 'Felix attitude'. It'll work.

Yup. As tdalton said, they did extremely well to land him. Like its been said of Daniel Craig, he doesn't need Bond, so its a real casting coup landing an in-demand character actor who will be a perfect match with Craig IMHO. Like I said above, I wonder if it was Craig himself who got Wright in it, since they're both in The Visiting together. If they get on well offscreen, it should work wonders onscreen too.
And Giancarlo Giannini is the icing on the cake. This is really good stuff. We've got a cast of quality actors here...keep yer A-list names, we don't need 'em!

[Royal Dalton]

Some interesting names there - Giancarlo Giannini, Tobias Menzies, etc. It looks like a good mix of international actors.

[dinovelvet]

They had a press conference to announce Le Chiffre, and just issued a statement to announce all this?...

I'm betting there'll be a press conference/photo call in The Bahamas to parade all these folks out for the cameras.

[tdalton]

Yup. As tdalton said, they did extremely well to land him. Like its been said of Daniel Craig, he doesn't need Bond, so its a real casting coup landing an in-demand character actor who will be a perfect match with Craig IMHO. Like I said above, I wonder if it was Craig himself who got Wright in it, since they're both in The Visiting together. If they get on well offscreen, it should work wonders onscreen too.
And Giancarlo Giannini is the icing on the cake. This is really good stuff. We've got a cast of quality actors here...keep yer A-list names, we don't need 'em!

Agreed.

This is easily the best cast in a Bond film in a long time.

[Lounge Lizard]

Tobias Menzies, who plays M's aide Villiers, is best known from his role as Brutus in Rome, by the way.

I have yet to see Eva Green in a large role, her part in Kingdom of Heaven wasn't enough for me to judge her Vesper-ability. But she looks like a classy, mysterious beauty nonetheless.

You have to see her in THE DREAMERS...I know I keep going on about that movie, but it realy is great. I'm surprised more people have not seen it.

Well, you're not the first one who suggested I'd watch it either... And being a big fan of Bertolucci's Il Conformista, it is indeed criminal that I haven't seen The Dreamers as yet.

[Scottlee]

I'd never heard of Green, Wright or Mikkleson prior to this casting soap opera, so it'll be interesting to see a Bond film devoid of the usual big names and celebrity cameo's.

[DLibrasnow]

Well other news services are picking this up too...looks like the posters who jeered at the posting of the news item from the New York Post have egg on their faces

Inspired choice EON....You have a great track record when it comes to casting French actresses.

[luciusgore]

I'd never heard of Green, Wright or Mikkleson prior to this casting soap opera, so it'll be interesting to see a Bond film devoid of the usual big names and celebrity cameo's.

Green is a superbabe. Do an images.google.com search for her and take the "safe search" option off.