155 replies to this topic

[dinovelvet]

Pacino of the 70/80's - I'm all for it

Pacino of the 90's - erm...no

Overall i'm not a fan of the idea. Mainly because it will take away any anticipation for the character. I doubt Pacino will raise his game considering he hasn't done so for anything (inc. Merchant of Venice) for over 15 years now.

Well I don't agree with that! In the last 15 years he's done Heat, Donnie Brasco, The Insider, and Angels in America, all of which were IMHO, as good as anything he's ever done (and 3 out of 4 of those roles don't feature much shouting, either!). I've seen a lot of people in this thread assuming he will do "shouty" if he played a Bond villain, but he still does a lot of subtle work, it just doesn't get as much attention as when he does the shouting routine.

Speaking of which, I think Anthony Hopkins would make the best ever villian ever ever ever ever in a Bond film. If we're going to go down that route he'd be my choice. I just saw Fracture the other night and was amazed at how the old man still got it

But we already know Hopkins' "villain performance" inside and out. There's nothing new or interesting to see there, for me it'd be the ultimate ho-hum generic casting. Same with the other suggestions that have been made in this thread - Rickman, Malkovich, Oldman, Irons etc. We've all seen their villain routines before.
I do like the Frank Langella idea though, and (very) early word is that he'll be an Oscar contender in '09 for Frost/Nixon. If EON could lock him down now for a cameo in 22 and the main villain in 23 that'd be a major scoop!

[Colossus]

Bit off topic, but that last part about Scorsese and De Niro I don't agree with. Two insecure geniuses holding each other's hand, both of them helping the other to articulate his talent and vision.

Oh definitely, they're a great team. However seeing DeNiro in some non-Scorsese stuff like 1900 or Last Tycoon he pretty much works in two gears throughout. His costars show more devotion (and this is the 70s we're talking when he's considered in his prime), still DeNiro is one of the best when he's on all cylinders like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, King of Comedy.

[Mr. Blofeld]

I do like the Frank Langella idea though, and (very) early word is that he'll be an Oscar contender in '09 for Frost/Nixon. If EON could lock him down now for a cameo in 22 and the main villain in 23 that'd be a major scoop!

Didn't he play Skeletor in Dolph Lundgren's Masters of the Universe?

[sharpshooter]

This would be exciting if it is true actually...

[jaguar007]

I'm still waiting for the "Sean Connery to be villian" rumor to get going.

[Qwerty]

I'm still waiting for the "Sean Connery to be villian" rumor to get going.

It'd be nice to avoid that one for just one Bond film.

[tdalton]

Pacino of the 70/80's - I'm all for it

Pacino of the 90's - erm...no

Overall i'm not a fan of the idea. Mainly because it will take away any anticipation for the character. I doubt Pacino will raise his game considering he hasn't done so for anything (inc. Merchant of Venice) for over 15 years now.

Well I don't agree with that! In the last 15 years he's done Heat, Donnie Brasco, The Insider, and Angels in America, all of which were IMHO, as good as anything he's ever done (and 3 out of 4 of those roles don't feature much shouting, either!). I've seen a lot of people in this thread assuming he will do "shouty" if he played a Bond villain, but he still does a lot of subtle work, it just doesn't get as much attention as when he does the shouting routine.

Speaking of which, I think Anthony Hopkins would make the best ever villian ever ever ever ever in a Bond film. If we're going to go down that route he'd be my choice. I just saw Fracture the other night and was amazed at how the old man still got it

But we already know Hopkins' "villain performance" inside and out. There's nothing new or interesting to see there, for me it'd be the ultimate ho-hum generic casting. Same with the other suggestions that have been made in this thread - Rickman, Malkovich, Oldman, Irons etc. We've all seen their villain routines before.
I do like the Frank Langella idea though, and (very) early word is that he'll be an Oscar contender in '09 for Frost/Nixon. If EON could lock him down now for a cameo in 22 and the main villain in 23 that'd be a major scoop!

I agree with all of your points here. Watching Al Pacino go toe-to-toe with Daniel Craig's Bond would be simply amazing. I'm assuming, though, that this would happen in Bond 23 as Pacino appearance, if this rumor somehow turned out to be true, would most likely be a small part in QoS that would more than likely be expanded on in Bond 23. Pacino's body of work speaks for itself, and I think that him appearing with Daniel Craig in a Bond film would be reminiscent of Heat in a way, except this time with the tables reversed and Pacino playing the villain instead of the good guy, with two extraordinarily talented actors going against each other in what would most certainly be a very emotional storyline.

I would think that EON would be hard pressed to ever top a Bond film that was directed by Marc Forster, written by Paul Haggis, and starred Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright, and Al Pacino. Honestly, I'm excited just thinking about the possibilities that would be in store for QoS or any subsequent films if EON could lane an all-time great actor like Al Pacino. The more and more I think about it, the more and more I want this rumor to be true (although I'm sure that it won't happen).

[coco1997]

You make many, many great points, tdalton, but I just really doubt the validity of this rumor. It just screams BS when I wish it didn't.

[tdalton]

You make many, many great points, tdalton, but I just really doubt the validity of this rumor. It just screams BS when I wish it didn't.

I seriously doubt the validity of the rumor as well. Either way, though, it's something rather interesting to discuss, and the fact that we're even able to take seriously the idea of Pacino even possibly being involved in a Bond film shows how far the series has come in such a short period of time.

[DanMan]

Didn't Jeffrey Wright co-star with Pacino in Angels In America? Perhaps his involvement in QOS helped lure Pacino in.

[ronbond]

I really hope this turns out not to be true, because Pacino just doesn't strike me as an actor who would fit convincingly in the Bond universe. Too well identified with The Godfather and Scarface. For that matter, why does the big boss have to be a man? Why not a woman, maybe someone like Helen Mirren? She has the acting chops to be able to pull it off.

[bleary_25]

Didn't Jeffrey Wright co-star with Pacino in Angels In America? Perhaps his involvement in QOS helped lure Pacino in.

Yes there were in Angels in America together - did a lot of great scenes together.

Pacino is hit and miss for me these days, but a cameo appearance of the head of the organisation intrigues me... particularly as a lead in for Bond 23.

[Skudor]

Putting aside for a second the fact that this is almost certainly a baseless rumour, has anyone considered that a cameo by Pacino is nothing like Pacino acting out a properly fleshed out main character in a movie? A few minutes of screen time will just be Pacino on screen - it wouldn't feel like a character as he would overshadow it. That's why this is an absolutely awful idea. And thankfully just a baseless rumour.

[mccartney007]

I'm either too drunk or too bothered to read the opinions, but I would love Al Pacino as a villain in a Bond film. Will it happen? No, but I've always got the best comic strip film ever made: DICK TRACY

[bond_azoozbond]

Accept here!!

[Jim]

Accept here!!

Merged with every other bloody thread about this thing. Hoo-HAH! and all sorts of other boggly-eyed, shouty, past-it, one-note betelephoned-in performance tosh.

Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.

[Skudor]

For what its worth, I noticed two things:

1) This new article from 'digital spy' mentions 'secret talks in LA' - something not in the original letter. Fabrication or sign of a different source?

2) The original AICN source was working on dismantling sets. Would this person really really know this sort of stuff? I doubt it.

[Shrublands]

1) This new article from 'digital spy' mentions 'secret talks in LA' - something not in the original letter. Fabrication or sign of a different source?

Actually this new article did not originate with Digital Spy, very few things do, it comes from the British tabloid The Mirror and has subsequently been picked up by others, most are giving the source as The Mirror who, in fact obviously based it on the earlier story on AICN.

http://www.mirror.co...89520-20318675/

Interestingly, it was written by our old friend Fiona Cummins, remember her at the press conference to unveil Dan as the new Bond? She asked the first question

[bonds_walther]

I'm not sure what to make of this 'rumour'. It might work, but then it might not. Let's see how it plays out.

[dinovelvet]

[quote name='Shrublands' post='838557' date='15 February 2008 - 01:45']http://www.mirror.co...89520-20318675/

Interestingly, it was written by our old friend Fiona Cummins, remember her at the press conference to unveil Dan as the new Bond? She asked the first question

[WC]

I don't know who will be the big boss, but with all these names like Mr White, Mr Green and maybe a whole host of other colours, perhaps the organisation will be called SPECTRUM

[Vauxhall]

I don't know who will be the big boss, but with all these names like Mr White, Mr Green and maybe a whole host of other colours, perhaps the organisation will be called SPECTRUM

Who remembers Captain Scarlet?!

[dodge]

Just found this:

http://www.nzherald....jectid=10492645

Al Pacino set to play Bond villain
11:14AM Friday February 15, 2008



Al Pacino
Al Pacino is set to play James Bond's nemesis in the new 007 spy movie 'Quantum of Solace'.

The legendary actor is believed to be making an appearance as the head of the terrorist group in the latest instalment of the British spy franchise.

A source revealed: "Al Pacino has been approached about playing a Bond bad guy. It will be a brief but extremely important role. Movie bosses are hoping he will be the best Bond villain yet."

Pacino is expected to film his scenes at London's Pinewood Studios in April or May.

In the movie, starring Daniel Craig as the British super spy, Bond is hunting down the terrorists responsible for the death of his love Vesper Lynd.

Pacino, 67, will follow in the footsteps of stars including Christopher Walken, Christopher Lee and Robert Carlyle who have all portrayed a Bond nemesis.

Earlier this month, it was claimed Amy Winehouse was set to write and perform the theme tune for the hotly-anticipated film.

The movie - based on the books of author Ian Fleming - is to be released on November 7, 2008.

Can we assume now, pretty please, that this is in the bag?

[Fro]

AICN has yanked the original article, so it looks like the Mirror and those who copy from it will have egg on their faces.

[Jim]

Just found this:

http://www.nzherald....jectid=10492645

Al Pacino set to play Bond villain
11:14AM Friday February 15, 2008



Al Pacino
Al Pacino is set to play James Bond's nemesis in the new 007 spy movie 'Quantum of Solace'.

The legendary actor is believed to be making an appearance as the head of the terrorist group in the latest instalment of the British spy franchise.

A source revealed: "Al Pacino has been approached about playing a Bond bad guy. It will be a brief but extremely important role. Movie bosses are hoping he will be the best Bond villain yet."

Pacino is expected to film his scenes at London's Pinewood Studios in April or May.

In the movie, starring Daniel Craig as the British super spy, Bond is hunting down the terrorists responsible for the death of his love Vesper Lynd.

Pacino, 67, will follow in the footsteps of stars including Christopher Walken, Christopher Lee and Robert Carlyle who have all portrayed a Bond nemesis.

Earlier this month, it was claimed Amy Winehouse was set to write and perform the theme tune for the hotly-anticipated film.

The movie - based on the books of author Ian Fleming - is to be released on November 7, 2008.

Can we assume now, pretty please, that this is in the bag?

Until there's confirmation, assume away.

"...is believed to be..."
"...[a] source..."
"...movie bosses..."

Say hello to my leedle friend - vagueness.

[Shrublands]

Can we assume now, pretty please, that this is in the bag?

No, that

[Vauxhall]

AICN has yanked the original article, so it looks like the Mirror and those who copy from it will have egg on their faces.

It's still there through the direct link.

[tdalton]

It'll be interesting to see how, or if, EON will respond to this rumor as it becomes more widespread. I think that it would be easier to ignore a rumor when it involves the more unknown actors that the Bond franchise is known for casting, but as more and more "news" outlets pick up the story of an actor of such high status as Al Pacino possibly being in a Bond film, it's a rumor that might have to be addressed. And this is rumor that is making the rounds. A quick Google search shows that the more than the Bond fan community has picked up on this.

[Publius]

I sincerely hope this isn't true. Pacino is a great actor and all, but I much prefer when they cast relative unknowns, since I can envision the character instead of the person playing him/her.

[HildebrandRarity]

Just found this:

http://www.nzherald....jectid=10492645

Al Pacino set to play Bond villain
11:14AM Friday February 15, 2008

Earlier this month, it was claimed Amy Winehouse was set to write and perform the theme tune for the hotly-anticipated film.

The movie - based on the books of author Ian Fleming - is to be released on November 7, 2008.

Can we assume now, pretty please, that this is in the bag?

Full of facts, that article. How old are you, my friend?

It'll be interesting to see how, or if, EON will respond to this rumor as it becomes more widespread.

They'll ignore it like they've always done. And this one is not as big a rumour as on previous productions.

They're laughing at this right now given how utterly dumb the idea is...Indeed, they're licking their chops at how they're gonna line their pockets given all this free publicity.

When you get free publicity, you let it ride all the way to the bank.