26 replies to this topic

[Tim007]

Ulrich Matthes First Lined Up
to Play Le Chiffre

_{Only after rejection, EON hired Mads Mikkelsen}

[mkkbb]

Whoa, he looks very villainous. But i'm just as happy with Mads playing Le Chiffre.

[MrDraco]

straight up creepy.

[Trident]

Great find, Tim!

Matthes looks really, really creepy. I shudder when I think what he would have made of the role. But then again, my first choice for LeChiffre would have been J

[Tim007]

What I personally find most interesting is the fact that Mikkelsen will only have a shooting time of 30 days.

Anyway, maybe we're going to see Matthes in another future Bond flick. Definately a great character actor. Would finally have been a really great German Bond villain after such a long time. John as Ouromov and Otto as Stamper couldn't live up to my expectations, unfortunately.

Also interesting: This is the fourth German actor we know of that EON approached. Imagine he'd have accepted the role. Only French and Germans as villains...

[Stax]

He would have been great. DOWNFALL was an amazing film. More like an "end of the world" movie than a straightforward WW2 drama. He was great in it, too. I sure hope they come back to him for another role down the line. He reminds me a bit of Henry De Silva

[o07hmss]

I love this actor! Though this is the creepiest pic they could ever choose of him! As Goebbels he was realy great in 'Der Untergang' ('The Downfall'). And for CR: I'm used to Mikkelsen now. Mikkelsen is LeChiffre. And Craig is Bond.

[Judo chop]

That guy looks more than a little cuckoo.

[JimmyBond]

I imagined Le Chiffre looking a bit more refined than that.

[WC]

I imagined Le Chiffre looking a bit more refined than that.

Agreed. In fact, I always pictured Le Chiffre as a sort of Drax type. Cultured, refined - practically a villain unto himself.

[killkenny kid]

I imagined Le Chiffre looking a bit more refined than that.

Agreed. In fact, I always pictured Le Chiffre as a sort of Drax type. Cultured, refined - practically a villain unto himself.

same here.

[Qwerty]

Haven't seen much with this actor, but I think he definitely looks the part for a Bond villain. Perhaps in a future film.

[stromberg]

I had a feeling a while ago that, if they were going to cast a German villain or henchman, they might want to get someone from the 'Downfall'cast, as it was a German movie that had some international attention. Even gave Matthes a thought, but there's something I just don't like about him as an actor - but have to admit that I didn't see him in that many films, even though he does a lot of TV work (like every German actor).
Glad we ended up with Mikkelsen.

[007forever]

Enough said....simply put, CR is not as important for him as his theatre project...

God, i can not accept that CR was a baby that no one wanted....that's why you got all these 2nd grade actors and actress.....

Don't get me wrong, i still have 100% faith in it....just not the way i would have liked...

[tdalton]

This actor looks like he could have made a very good Le Chiffre. Perhaps EON will be able to get him for a future Bond film.

[MrDraco]

Meth (Cough) Meth lol i'm kidding though he looks like he gets really really good X...

[db077]

God, i can not accept that CR was a baby that no one wanted....that's why you got all these 2nd grade actors and actress.....

I would hardly consider Craig or Mikkelsen 2nd grade actors!

And I don't think your faith will be misplaced. I am really looking forward to this movie and can't wait until November!

Edited by db077, 23 March 2006 - 05:37 AM.

[Trident]

Enough said....simply put, CR is not as important for him as his theatre project...

No, I don't think he looked at CR as "not as important". If he has signed a contract, he can't get out of it just for the fun of being in a Bond movie. For one thing, he'd have to pay a considerable penalty for breaching the contract. And then, arguably even more serious, such a move would damage his reputation as being a reliable part in any production. After all, nobody wants to work with an actor who is known for backing out of an engagement. It was the same reason Brosnan couldn't take over the first time he was approached. Even if money wasn't an item here (and it certainly is, not that many actors have enough funds to risk being sued for breaking of a contract) most actors would avoid stepping out on a production without the ok of their producers. After all, they want to be cast again in the future. I'm sure Matthes would have loved to take the chance with CR but in showbizz one just has to live with missed chances too.

[Dr. Noah]

Enough said....simply put, CR is not as important for him as his theatre project...

No, I don't think he looked at CR as "not as important". If he has signed a contract, he can't get out of it just for the fun of being in a Bond movie. For one thing, he'd have to pay a considerable penalty for breaching the contract. And then, arguably even more serious, such a move would damage his reputation as being a reliable part in any production. After all, nobody wants to work with an actor who is known for backing out of an engagement. It was the same reason Brosnan couldn't take over the first time he was approached. Even if money wasn't an item here (and it certainly is, not that many actors have enough funds to risk being sued for breaking of a contract) most actors would avoid stepping out on a production without the ok of their producers. After all, they want to be cast again in the future. I'm sure Matthes would have loved to take the chance with CR but in showbizz one just has to live with missed chances too.

Hey, supposedly the first time they approached Dalton for TLD he had a theatrical commitment, too.

[Skudor]

Clearly they had a clear idea of what they wanted... I some similarities between Ulrich and Mads.

[Trident]

Clearly they had a clear idea of what they wanted... I some similarities between Ulrich and Mads.

In fact I find Mikkelsen to look very much like a younger version of the same type (and maybe not as fataly ill as Matthes can look at times). To me Mikkelsen comes a bit closer to my idea of what LeChiffre would look like today. In the book he is more or less a mix of the late Aleister Crowley and the Gerd Fr

[SecretAgentFan]

Matthes would have been a great LeChiffre. But Mikkelsen will be just as good. And obviously Matthes refusal wasn

[Forever007]

He defintely looks like someone up to no good. However, he looks like a one punch minute steak for 007. I'm happy with who EON chose as he looks like a more formidable opponent.

[Trident]

[quote name='SecretAgentFan' post='535910' date='23 March 2006 - 13:30']Matthes would have been a great LeChiffre. But Mikkelsen will be just as good. And obviously Matthes refusal wasn

[DamnCoffee]

He looks like Johnny Rotten.

[Publius]

He'd make a great Largo-type villain from The Organization. Maybe even first in command.

[Flash1087]

I could see him as a Largo type. As frightening looking as he is, I can't see him as the head of The Organization (or even LeChiffre, who demands a certain kind of class in his appearance), but if he were to play some kind of unbalanced assassin, or maybe a Largo-esq gun-for-hire brought in on some mad scheme, he'd be perfect.