251 replies to this topic

[Blue07]

Well lets be thankful EON have finally told us who is who - not sure i'm that excited by anyone listed (primarily because I haven't heard of most of them) but I'm pleased they have not gone for any stunt casting this time around - the film should and has to be about Bond.

It begs the question what is this huge budget being spent on? No one listed here is going to be earning whopping pay check here - they are filming in Prague because of money - so where the hell is all this budget going? We can only hope it's all going to be there on the screen.

[Niwram]

Have anyone noticed that the CR site is updated? They changed "Casting annoucement" to "casting news".

But it's still just the Daniel Craig press release.

Weird.

[pgram]

Eva Green was the best candidate mentioned for Vesper. She was really interesting in Kingdom of Heaven. I didn't really like the film, I thought it was indifferent, but I remember myself googling for her the day after I saw it.
And, although I am a little annoyed by the choice of Felix, I think it is a very effective way to circumvent LTK. By casting someone so different to Hedison, or anyone else who has played Felix so far, you can have the feeling that this is Bond's american buddy, without realising that he had argued with something that ate him...

[Mr_Wint]

Except for maybe Mads, I like the rest of the cast. No American Bond-girl? This sounds very promising! Jeffrey Wright will probably be a good allied, to bad they call him "Felix Leiter" though. And Giancarlo Giannini will hopefully be a new Columbo or Draco.

Also, this sound interesting:

Amy Pascal: "we really needed to up the ante, because this character is very much an equal to Bond..."

rofl:

[JameswpBond]

It's going to be the best film of this millenium!

[Tinfinger]

Gee, do you think some of us have our expectations a little too high?

[Blabbermouth]

Being a native Dane I thought I'd give you the low down on Mads Mikkelsen. He has been a top(if there is a top in Denmark)actor for the past 10 years, he has played everything that you can imagine, and King Arthur was his gateway into Hollywood, but far from his best performance. In DK his is best known as a tough, don't mess with me type of character, but has also taken completely opposite roles. Glad to see that the producers mentioned his movie "Adam's Apples" - if you can get a copy of if it's well worth watching - actually Hollywood picked up the rights to make an American version of it.
Granted he does not look anything like Le Chiffre in the novel, but thinking of Le Chiffre as a modern money-lender he fits the bill perfectly.

Danish Media is also reporting that another Dane Jesper Christensen is to play a role as a casino owner in Casino Royale. Abroad he normally plays a nazi officer, but had a larger role in The Interpreter as the hitman/security officer Nils Lud - here is page with his image

http://movies.yahoo....=568372&intl=us

again a brilliant actor.

So all in all no need to worry about these to characters they are in safe hands with my countrymen.

[Bond Bombshell]

Am I the only one unexcited by the cast, and worried about its potential to draw an audience?

The cast may appeal to the more serious fan, but I fear the general public will need more convincing. This is a cast of good actors, but the masses couldn't care less about good acting in a Bond film.

I really don't think the general public have ever based their decision to see a Bond film based on the quality of the supporting cast. But I dunno, maybe there were people who debated seeing AVTAK : "Well its got Christopher Walken in it, but Grace Jones, I dunno. Oh Patrick Macnee, he's good! Big Ron from Eastenders? Yeah let's see it after all". And I doubt lines were forming round the block for TWINE in anticipation of seeing Sophie Marceau and Robert Carlyle together on screen for the first time. BOND is the name draw. Nothing else is required. Neither TLD nor GE had ANY actors above B-list status (yes even Judi, who was mostly known for tv and stage work then), and each of those films successfully launched a new actor and out-earned the film that came before it. Right now the success or failure of CR depends on pretty much one thing : does the trailer kick enough ? Everything else, Craig, the reboot, the supporting cast is of secondary concern to them out there.

I agree that Bond is still a big enough attraction to make money. The diehards will be there, and there will be a curiosity factor and a honeymoon period concerning the new Bond, during which business will be brisk. However, whether CR is a roaring success or a modest one by Bond standards depends not on a good trailer, but mostly on reaction to Craig.

History has shown that the fortunes of Bond films can fluctuate, depending on who is Bond. Craig has to sell this film on screen and during promotional activity not only to the general public, but to an antagonistic media as well. That's a lot of pressure which could have been lessened with a name or two among the supporting cast. This might have resulted in a more unbalanced film artistically, but makes more sense commercially. Actors with the level of fame of a Christopher Walken or a Halle Berry could have provided a safety net.

As things stand, the untraditional nature of this film is a risky strategy. There is no star wattage in the cast. Craig, Green, and Wright are bravely cast, but are quirky and unconventional. There is no Q or Moneypenny. Judi Dench is back, but her appearance is contradictory in terms of the reboot. Maybe the gamble will pay off, but as a natural worrier please indulge me while I fret a bit.

[Niwram]

So...will there be a press conference?

[DLibrasnow]

Yes, Felix was black in NSNA, but this film was not made by Eon. I am surprised that Eon would nick an idea from their rivals, as opposed to being trend setters. CR represents the last time Eon will have some original Fleming material to work from, and they will try to make the most of this. In this light, your claim that the film has nothing to do with the novels is mistaken. Fleming was a bit of a racist. Have you read Live And Let Die? He would never have turned Leiter black.

Yes, Fleming was a racist and yes he did describe Leiter as white, but as a fan of Never Say Never Again I'm extremely happy with the casting of Leiter in this movie.

when you google Green's images one of the first pics that comes up can only be described as gynaecological. Just think of the number of people who will be looking at this in the next few days! I'm not sure about her face, but she has cute nether regions.

Yes, Green didn't leave much to the imagination in THE DREAMERS, spending a large part of the movie naked. I think she will be great as Vesper.

[Mr. Larsen]

Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre. That ROCKS.. His brilliant danish actor.

[marktmurphy]

Yes, Felix was black in NSNA, but this film was not made by Eon. I am surprised that Eon would nick an idea from their rivals, as opposed to being trend setters.

There's no reason to think they have. If you think they've gone for stunt casting and have cast Wright because of his skin colour (not because the part demanded it, but just for the soundbite), then feel free to say it.

[double-O-Durg]

Overall Im happy with the cast, little niggles about continuity with Felix - altho if he has his LTK injuries then i can forgive them. If not then why call him Felix at all??

[spynovelfan]

Overall Im happy with the cast, little niggles about continuity with Felix - altho if he has his LTK injuries then i can forgive them. If not then why call him Felix at all??

Why call any of the others Felix? What did they have in common other than being CIA agents who were friendly with Bond?

[Captain Grimes]

I'll echo almost everyone else: these is brave, brilliant casting. All of these seem like serious actors who do solid work. I've seen Wright in Syriana and Broken Flowers--two very different roles, and in both cases he stole the show.

[DLibrasnow]

Overall Im happy with the cast, little niggles about continuity with Felix - altho if he has his LTK injuries then i can forgive them. If not then why call him Felix at all??

Why call any of the others Felix? What did they have in common other than being CIA agents who were friendly with Bond?

There was even discussion that Chuck Lee was originally going to be Felix Leiter, but they decided to take advantage of the fact that San Francisco has one of the largest American Chinatown's and (in a bizarree move) cast a British Chinese actor to play an American Chinese agent.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Can't we just call Mads Mikkelsen's character Mads Mikkelsen? He even sounds like a Bond villian!

[DLibrasnow]

LOL....Good point Tarl.

[Seannery]

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.

Green sounds like a real casting coup, too. As with Craig, she was clearly a rising star on her way up to great things when Eon nabbed her (just as I hadn't heard of Craig before LAYER CAKE and the Bond rumours of early last year, I hadn't heard of Green until the recent Vesper rumours, but anyone who lands a leading role in a Bertolucci film must be pretty darn talented, with plenty of screen presence). Seems Green is a serious and acclaimed actor who's really going places, like Craig. And also like Wright. Never heard of him either, but he also appears to be very much on his way up in the biz, with some real critical kudos under his belt.

I liked Giancarlo Giannini in HANNIBAL. Again, a very respected actor, and I gather he's a huge star in Italy, working with great directors like Visconti and Lina Wertmuller.

If CASINO ROYALE is attracting people like this (and Craig), then maybe, just maybe, the script really and truly is as terrific as "they" say.

Ah Loomis, ever the super optimist. Neither Eva or Craig were rising STARS before CR--they have some visibility and heat BUT not that much my friend. They are not a sign that the script is so good that it attracted these super hot rising actors BECAUSE they are not that hot. The script may be good but signing this cast doesn't tell us.

That said I like the cast--Jeffrey Wright is very talented and I already have praised Eva and Mads. Giancarlo is talented and the rest of the cast visually looks right. Nice to finally have this decided. BUT Loomis I must add this cast is no guarantee of big box office BECAUSE it all comes down to Danny Craig--he's the clear focal point of this cast. CR will sink or fall with this risky unconventional Bond. I'm not sure which way it will go.

I think I will like CR but i'm not sure the general public will--like I said elsewhere Casino Royale may be a fanboy's dream and a general audience's yawn. Maybe not but I see that potential. That said i'm still pysched to see it.

One last quibble Loomis--no the casting doesn't remind me of Bourne BUT instead of the traditional Bond way of a lot of international and relatively unknown names. The spy genre didn't start with Bourne.

[Genrewriter]

Ah, what a nice surprise to wake up to. Great news.

[Judo chop]

So what does everyone think of Jeffrey Wright? Here's a few pictures:









I was surprised at first, but I'm starting to think it was an inspired choice. He has an intense look, and seems to be a bit of a chameleon, judging by his roles.

I'm still trying to decide whether I want to see him cleanly shaven, bearded, or somewhere in between as Felix...

[Tarl_Cabot]

I have no hang up over Felix Lieter or Jeffry Wright...I'll give this guy a chance. He may just be such a good thespian I'll forget all about the thug role he played in the turgid Shaft.

[Carver]

Great news, we finally have a cast! I've already said what I think about Wright on the "black Felix" thread, so I'll use this to say what I think about Eva Green and Giancarlo Giannini. When I heard that Green was rumoured for the role, I put her alongside my favourite, Rose Byrne, for the role. I've yet to see her act, but I reckon she has got the look for Vesper, and she is one very beautiful lady. She's not in the outwardly "sexy" look that we had with Sophie Marceau and Britt Ekland, I see Green more as a mysterious beauty, which is what Vesper is. Giancarlo Giannini is also a very good choice. I've never heard of him before, but doing some research and he has almost the exact look I had in mind for Mathis. I think he'd be great. I'm so excited about this film now

[Loomis]

Ah Loomis, ever the super optimist. Neither Eva or Craig were rising STARS before CR--they have some visibility and heat BUT not that much my friend.

So, then, what's your definition of a rising star? How, exactly, did Eva and Craig not qualify as exciting talent on their way up? Eva had been cast as a lead by the legendary Bertolucci, and had had a high profile role in KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, a big budget film by the successful and respected Ridley Scott. Craig had done ROAD TO PERDITION, SYLVIA, LAYER CAKE and so on, and had MUNICH and a role alongside Nicole Kidman in the pipeline. Both had garnered plenty of acclaim.

I mean, I'm not saying they were just two steps away from being Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the king and queen of the whole wide world, but, c'mon, credit where it's due. Why downplay their successes? Let's pretend, say, Cavill is the new Bond - what's he done? A direct-to-DVD HELLRAISER flick and a couple of other things. And I'm not knocking Cavill - he's evidently talented, and has achieved more than most 22-year-old (or however old) actors, but why is it so inaccurate to dub the likes of Craig and Green rising stars?

[DLibrasnow]

So, then, what's your definition of a rising star? How, exactly, did Eva and Craig not qualify as exciting talent on their way up? Eva had been cast as a lead by the legendary Bertolucci, and had had a high profile role in KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, a big budget film by the successful and respected Ridley Scott. Craig had done ROAD TO PERDITION, SYLVIA, LAYER CAKE and so on, and had MUNICH and a role alongside Nicole Kidman in the pipeline. Both had garnered plenty of acclaim.

Quite right Loomis. A great post as always. You know there are some CBners that when you see they have replied to a thread, you hsve to check it out - Loomis is one of those!

[Loomis]

Why thank you, Darren. You and Seannery are both in the category of people-whose-new-posts-I-always-read, along with several other folks on CBn.

[Seannery]

Ah Loomis, ever the super optimist. Neither Eva or Craig were rising STARS before CR--they have some visibility and heat BUT not that much my friend.

So, then, what's your definition of a rising star? How, exactly, did Eva and Craig not qualify as exciting talent on their way up? Eva had been cast as a lead by the legendary Bertolucci, and had had a high profile role in KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, a big budget film by the successful and respected Ridley Scott. Craig had done ROAD TO PERDITION, SYLVIA, LAYER CAKE and so on, and had MUNICH and a role alongside Nicole Kidman in the pipeline. Both had garnered plenty of acclaim.

I mean, I'm not saying they were just two steps away from being Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the king and queen of the whole wide world, but, c'mon, credit where it's due. Why downplay their successes? Let's pretend, say, Cavill is the new Bond - what's he done? A direct-to-DVD HELLRAISER flick and a couple of other things. And I'm not knocking Cavill - he's evidently talented, and has achieved more than most 22-year-old (or however old) actors, but why is it so inaccurate to dub the likes of Craig and Green rising stars?

Yes I concede they are moving up but rising stars is hyperbole. I give them their props but they definitely could use Bond more than Bond them--so them signing isn't a sign they did it because the script is great. The movies they did were in small ensemble roles and/or modest box office producers. Eva especially isn't much known and before CR Craig wasn't either. That's not disrespecting them. I'll give you that Craig is higher in this respect than Cavill but that doesn't make him a rising star. With this cast Craig is the focus and the film will sink or rise on him. He doesn't have the momentum of Jackman or even your boy Owen and is less tradionally Bondian than them and others so we have a risk. It may pay off--he has to ignite the screen as 007 and get past his unconventionality.

[trumanlodge89]

my favorite part about this casting announcement is that it really cleans up all the stickies on top of the casino royale board!!

[Seannery]

So, then, what's your definition of a rising star? How, exactly, did Eva and Craig not qualify as exciting talent on their way up? Eva had been cast as a lead by the legendary Bertolucci, and had had a high profile role in KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, a big budget film by the successful and respected Ridley Scott. Craig had done ROAD TO PERDITION, SYLVIA, LAYER CAKE and so on, and had MUNICH and a role alongside Nicole Kidman in the pipeline. Both had garnered plenty of acclaim.

Quite right Loomis. A great post as always. You know there are some CBners that when you see they have replied to a thread, you hsve to check it out - Loomis is one of those!

Dlib I agree--Loomis AS USUAL with a strong post. I don't agree with it all but undeniably strong it is.

Why thank you, Darren. You and Seannery are both in the category of people-whose-new-posts-I-always-read, along with several other folks on CBn.

Thank you Loomis--back at ya!

[WC]

Yes, Fleming was a racist and yes he did describe Leiter as white, but as a fan of Never Say Never Again I'm extremely happy with the casting of Leiter in this movie.

Slightly off topic here, but related. I'm just curious. If an author describes a character in a novel as being specifically white as opposed to another colour, would people think that it's being racist or exclusive?

And should an author give specific physical descriptions or should they just allow the reader (and film maker) to make their own interpretation?