59 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

With the news that Halle Berry shares "above the title" billing (a first for a Bond film) with Pierce Brosnan, at least on the US cover of the novelization, and Blue Eyes' remark in the subsequent thread that a call sheet he'd seen suggested Berry's name would appear third in the credits, I wonder what the order on the final poster will be. I'd guess that the actors whose names will appear on the poster and individually onscreen during the opening credits will be as follows, in the following order:

PIERCE BROSNAN (obviously) as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in....
Starring HALLE BERRY
ROSAMUND PIKE
TOBY STEPHENS
RICK YUNE
WILL YUN-LEE
and JUDI DENCH as M

John Cleese, Colin Salmon and Samantha Bond are dead certs for the opening credits, along with a handful of other supporting actors, but Bond movie tradition dictates that they won't get the screen to themselves and will have to share with other names.
As for whether Berry will end up getting joint above-the-title billing with Brosnan on the poster, that would indeed be a first for the Bond series. It's been suggested that that will be the case only in the US, but surely it would look churlish if her name was denied prominent billing on posters elsewhere in the world?
Anyway, what do you all think?

[Blue Eyes]

Toby Stephens is actually billed second

[Loomis]

I find that amazing, given how much bigger a name (and also currently basking in post-Oscar glory) Halle Berry is. Who's heard of Toby Stephens? Why give the guy second billing?

[1q2w3e4r]

phht. Halle Berry. Yeah she won an oscar and as everyone admits is now over qualified. But NO one should have above the title billing in a Bond film except the actor portraying the character. It's tradition, 40 years standing, if Miss Berry don't like it thats too bad. The films in the can! hehehe

And it kinda sounds wierd, but i've always been of the opinion that the villians name should follow before the girls. I haven't religiously taken notice mind you, but that's the way i feel about it.

[Loomis]

Well, I agree that only the actor playing Bond should have above-the-title billing, but I am very surprised that Halle Berry is getting third billing after Toby Stephens.
According to Bond credits "tradition", the actresses playing the Bond girls (usually two) are normally billed before the villain. The main Bond girl is billed directly after Bond. For example:
TWINE: Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau
TOMORROW NEVER DIES: Pierce Brosnan, Michelle Yeoh
GOLDENEYE: Pierce Brosnan, Izabella Scorupco
LICENCE TO KILL: Timothy Dalton, Carey Lowell
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTRS: Timothy Dalton, Maryam d'Abo

[1q2w3e4r]

Well, that certinally is strange then. I don't watch a lot of the new ones that much. Hmm.

[Morton Slumber]

I am afraid not so Loomis, according to the main titles and posters for the three Brosnan movies the billing goes like this:

Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau (TWINE)
Pierce Brosnan, Jonathon Price (TND)
Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean (GE)

That is, Bond followed by the principal villain.

[freemo]

I thought generaly it was Bond, Main girl, villian, second girl.

I can't say I like this sharing top billing stuff, it's always suppsed to be "[Insert actor here] as Ian Flemings James Bond 007 in...". Obviously this is primarly to do with Halle Berry, but I'm going to suggest something crazy and ask how does this reflect on Broz ? Sorry Pierce fans, buy I could never, ever imagine Connery or Moore as Bond sharing top billing with anyone, oscars or not.

Do I sound negative today ? Sorry if thats the case, but homages and the prospect of shared top billings don't really thrill me that much.

[Morton Slumber]

Originally posted by freemo
I thought generaly it was Bond, Main girl, villian, second girl.

often but not always. For confirmation of the above, look at the films themselves if you don't believe me.

[Little Dog]

Do call sheets always reflect title billing order? If Hale does get 2nd billing (above or below title) could she be a main villain as well as Bond Girl (as in TWINE)?

[Morton Slumber]

Originally posted by Little Dog
If Hale does get 2nd billing (above or below title) could she be a main villain as well as Bond Girl (as in TWINE)?

What do you think of this notion Little Dog

At the End of DAD Bond ends up with the bad girl, not knowing the full story, then... Bond 21

[Blue Eyes]

Little Dog, if you look at a call sheet it says Cast# in one column. Cast Number, Cast Billing. Anything else, keep under your hate please

[Morton Slumber]

Originally posted by Blue Eyes
Little Dog, if you look at a call sheet it says Cast# in one column. Cast Number, Cast Billing. Anything else, keep under your hate please

character name. Jinx?

[Little Dog]

Will do... but I was just wondering anyway. I certainly dont know the answer.

Morten Slumber - interesting notion

[Colonel Moon]

Pierce Brosnan
Toby Stephrns
Hale Berry
Rosamund Pike
Rick Yune
Will Yun Lee
Michael Madsen
Judi Dench
Colin Salomon
Samantha Bond
John Cleese

[Morton Slumber]

Originally posted by Colonel Moon
Pierce Brosnan
Toby Stephrns
Hale Berry
Rosamund Pike
Rick Yune
Will Yun Lee
Michael Madsen
Judi Dench
Colin Salomon
Samantha Bond
John Cleese

"and Judi Dench as M" will undoubtedly appear before Will Yun Lee.

[solitaire]

Halle Berry should have second billing after Bond. She is more than some classic Bond bimbo whose sole function is to bed Bond and look slutty. Why should Tobey Stephens get second billing?,who the hell is this guy anyway......I really would'nt be surprised if Halle put it in her contract that she must have second billing. I certainly hope she did. Only time will tell.

[Blue Eyes]

Toby Stephens is by all means the films main protaginist. You have to realise what was pointed out to me, when Halle signed on she had no Oscar win, she wasn't considered HUGE.

Toby's character could be a lot more fleshed out than Jinx's.

[solitaire]

Originally posted by Blue Eyes
Toby Stephens is by all means the films main protaginist. You have to realise what was pointed out to me, when Halle signed on she had no Oscar win, she wasn't considered HUGE.

Toby's character could be a lot more fleshed out than Jinx's.

Well he may well be the main protagonist,but he certainly won't sell any movie tickets here in the U.S. Which is why i'm sure Halle will get second billing here at least.

[Dunph]

I would consider Mr Stephens one of England's great actors, like Dalton, he's a Shakespearean, and his mum is Dame Maggie Smith, Halle Berry is a name that will get in seats...

....Here's a thought, maybe Stephens turns out to be the main Bond girl?

[Ronnie]

And Madonna???????

Where do u think her name will appear?


She should get a good position, since shes gonna bring a lot of attention to the movie...

[rafterman]

madonna will appear where she belongs-title song peformed by and nothing else...Judi will be very last out of the cast and they may hype Halle in the US, but they won't have two versions of the billing in the film...if Toby's second, he's second everywhere, but wait till you see the poster, I doubt his face will be the giant one right next to Pierce...

[solitaire]

Madonna will have 2 credits,one for the title song and the other for her cameo (no matter how brief). I can't see any resaon for her to bother with a cameo unless she was guaranteed a credit.

[Blue Eyes]

She won't get a credit for her cameo. No cameo in a James Bond film has ever been credited.

[solitaire]

Originally posted by Blue Eyes
She won't get a credit for her cameo. No cameo in a James Bond film has ever been credited.

Well that was before Madonna came into the picture (pun intended). What Madonna wants madonna gets. Old rules don't apply;)

[Blue Eyes]

I'd beg to differ, Madonna or not. Cameo's, by their very nature, are more often then not uncredited.

[rafterman]

cameos don't get credit, they are meant to be surprises and are not true parts, but some famous person stopping by and kind of winking at the audience...you're confusing a role with a cameo...did Stephen Speilberg get a credit for his cameo in Vanilla Sky? no....and he's Speilberg....Madonna's not so big that she'll get billing....come on Sheena Easton's in the FYEO credits and where's her cameo billing? oh yeah......not there...

[Ronnie]

Madonna not as big?

C

[Ronnie]

Besides, she

[JimmyBond]

Are you saying Madonna is a lesbian? I dont think so.