Is this the new "Q"?
#1
Posted 07 December 2008 - 04:08 PM
Philip Madoc is on Q to be James Bond star
PHILIP MADOC has been tipped to fill the shoes of James Bond gadget boffin Q in the next 007 movie.
Current Bond Daniel Craig has revealed he wants the role, made famous by Welshman Desmond Llewellyn, revived. And the heavyweight Welsh actor has been named by leading 007 expert as perfect for the role alongside Craig’s more serious Bond.
The character of Q last appeared in 2002’s Die Another Day, when he was played by Fawlty Towers star John Cleese. But Bond devotees complained Cleese’s Q failed to match the high standards set by Newport-born Llewellyn, who appeared in a record-breaking 17 Bond movies.
Craig, who starred in Casino RoyaleCORR and Quantum of Solace, said: “I’d love to see Q come back. But we should give Q to a good actor. Q has been done brilliantly and with great humour, but we have to find a way to bring Q into it properly.”
Graham Rye, the editor of online 007magazine.co.uk, said Craig’s comments revealed the affection bond fans still have for with which Llewellyn’s character is still held by Bond fans.
He said: “It’s a testament to Desmond’s portrayal of the character because Q was a character everybody expected to see in those movies and they really enjoyed his take on the role. You will never replace Desmond – he was a one off. He was so charming in the role and he was beloved by the audience.
“One of the things I always remember him telling me was that, wherever he went, whatever country he was in, he could talk to anybody of any age or any class.
“The one thing they had in common was Bond, and everyone recognised him as Q.”
Llewellyn was known to millions as the mastermind behind 007’s arsenal of secret weapons. He played the eccentric genius with a love of crazy gadgets until his death at 85 in 1999.
“There was this irascible quality. He never really got on with Bond and was quite disdainful of him,” said Rye.
“He was the only person that would boss Bond about. Sometimes it was like watching a schoolteacher treating a naughty pupil.
“The whole thing about the Bond/Q relationship was that Bond held the gadgets in disdain and didn’t think he really needed them, and Q held Bond in disdain because Bond didn’t give him and the gadgets the respect he thought they deserved.”
Rye said that whoever followed Llewellyn and Cleese into the role would have difficulty emulating Llewellyn’s enduring popularity.
“It was a very special part and Desmond thoroughly loved playing Q because he became synonymous with the role,” said Rye, who became friends with Llewellyn during the latter part of his career.
“It did affect him for other work because he became typecast, but he made the role his own and there wasn’t really anyone who could take over.“There’s no problem reintroducing Q into the films, as long as it’s done in the same serious fashion the two Daniel Craig films have taken.
“I don’t think it worked having somebody camp it up like John Cleese did; that wasn’t my kind of thing. It was too comedic, too broad and too much slapstick.
“One would imagine it would be a well-established, elderly actor, perhaps a Shakespearean actor.”
Rye said 74-year-old Madoc, best known for the title role in the BBC Wales drama The Life and Times of David Lloyd George, would be perfect in the role.
Rye said: “He’s a good actor and he’s got the necessary gravitas, a man who would know everything about anything.”
And Rye said if casting executives were seeking an actor in the same mould as Llewellyn, they should look at former Waiting For God star Graham Crowden.
Rye said of the 86-year-old Scotsman: “He’s a great actor and the kind of guy who could project the right image, but perhaps he’s a little too old.”
#2
Posted 07 December 2008 - 04:28 PM
#3
Posted 07 December 2008 - 04:50 PM
#4
Posted 07 December 2008 - 04:53 PM
Richard Wilson best known for "One Foot in the Grave".
Great actor!
#5
Posted 07 December 2008 - 05:00 PM
Could we at least call this what it is. Madoc is this Graham Rye guy's choice for Q, nothing more.
Agreed.
I somewhat disagree with Rye. If they reintroduce Q, they should not do what they did before and try to copy Llewlyn.
#6
Posted 07 December 2008 - 05:03 PM
Good point.Could we at least call this what it is. Madoc is this Graham Rye guy's choice for Q, nothing more.
He is, but too old to be Q, as are Rye's two suggestions.Not bad but I think this guy could do it better,, talk about a dry sarcastic wit..
Richard Wilson best known for "One Foot in the Grave".
Great actor!
#7
Posted 07 December 2008 - 05:08 PM
..god help us all if 70 is now over the hill to play a "seasoned" Quartermaster.
#8
Posted 07 December 2008 - 05:26 PM
#9
Posted 07 December 2008 - 05:31 PM
While we're naming names and posting photos here's my choice: Colin Baker
That's right, Dr Who no. 6. He's an incredibly underrated actor, a familiar face but not so well known as to dominate the screen, we know he can play an eccentric genius and isn't likely to be tied up with other projects. And at 65 he shouldn't fall into the too old category.
#10
Posted 07 December 2008 - 05:47 PM
..god help us all if 70 is now over the hill to play a "seasoned" Quartermaster.
It's not about being over the hill, but about casting an actor of an age less likely to succumb to "death by natural causes" before they can have a good run in the series.
#11
Posted 07 December 2008 - 05:53 PM
a) the character brings something new/different/interesting to the new storyline and
b ) it was played as straight as possible without clownish ado and stale jokes.
Mind you, that doesn't mean there cannot be humour and that humour cannot relate in some way to Q. But it shouldn't be a lacklustre and-now-owlish-Q-with-outlandish-gadgets-scene-prepare-your-shopping-list-for-christmas effort.
Likewise I don't really see the need for a return to gadgets. Most of our mobiles today have all the features Bond would ever feel a need for (apart from plain old shooting; and that you still do best with a plain old gun).
#12
Posted 07 December 2008 - 05:55 PM
..god help us all if 70 is now over the hill to play a "seasoned" Quartermaster.
It's not about being over the hill, but about casting an actor of an age less likely to succumb to "death by natural causes" before they can have a good run in the series.
Cant people in their 70's be healthy and live a long time?
So they sign a 70 yr old up for say 4 films that film every two years (ish)..there are tons of very agile 80 yrs old around..
ageist statement by Rye
and the change of my subtitle: my original one wasnt a dig at Welsh people in fact it was a glorious statement!
Edited by danslittlefinger, 07 December 2008 - 05:56 PM.
#13
Posted 07 December 2008 - 06:18 PM
I changed that just to clarify where these suggestions came from (the initial subtitle wasn't offensive at all - I thought it was just worth clarifying that these weren't official suggestions by anyone associated with the films).and the change of my subtitle: my original one wasnt a dig at Welsh people in fact it was a glorious statement!
I wouldn't call it an ageist statement - heck, I made the same statement a few posts up. It's not only a matter of agility but plausibility. I know Dench is now 73, but I daresay she's approaching the tail end of her run as M. Introducing a Q who's already in his 70s would not only be implausible, but could actually evoke the memory of Llewellyn. If Eon decide to bring back the character, I think they'd want a complete and utter overhaul.Cant people in their 70's be healthy and live a long time?
So they sign a 70 yr old up for say 4 films that film every two years (ish)..there are tons of very agile 80 yrs old around..
ageist statement by Rye
#14
Posted 07 December 2008 - 06:39 PM
Who could do it????????
Michael Caine
Bill Nighy
Anthony Hopkins
Michael Gambon
#15
Posted 07 December 2008 - 06:40 PM
So why not a Q in his 70's? But we'll see I guess.
re: the change of subtitle : fair enough!
#16
Posted 07 December 2008 - 06:49 PM
I don't think so either. Unless her character's departure is part of a storyline.Well that's a good point, Dench is 73 but I really dont think she will leave as M until Craig does his run.
#17
Posted 07 December 2008 - 06:53 PM
As for Q, what would be the use ? My phone can do all the thing Q showed to Bond in episodes 2-20.
#18
Posted 07 December 2008 - 07:22 PM
Never thought it was, I'm just happier now it's is being presented as opinion and speculation. I only mentioned it because I assumed you changed it yourself, didn't realise it was an admin decision.and the change of my subtitle: my original one wasnt a dig at Welsh people .......
But, Dench was 61 when she first took the role and Llewelyn as 50. Right now it think it would be unrealistic to cast someone with a view to them playing the role for the next 30 years, but you do need to find some middle ground. I think early 70's is fine, especially in this day and age, if, hypothetically, you were to suggest and 80+ actor that would be pushing it.Well that's a good point, Dench is 73 but I really dont think she will leave as M until Craig does his run.
So why not a Q in his 70's? But we'll see I guess.
Edited by Vanya86, 07 December 2008 - 07:24 PM.
#19
Posted 07 December 2008 - 07:26 PM
Never thought it was, I'm just happier now it's is being presented as opinion and speculation. I only mentioned it because I assumed you changed it yourself, didn't realise it was an admin decision.and the change of my subtitle: my original one wasnt a dig at Welsh people .......
But, Dench was 61 when she first took the role and Llewelyn as 50. Right now it think it would be unrealistic to cast someone with a view to them playing the role for the next 30 years, but you do need to find some middle ground. I think early 70's is fine, especially in this day and age, if, hypothetically, you were to suggest and 80+ actor that would be pushing it.Well that's a good point, Dench is 73 but I really dont think she will leave as M until Craig does his run.
So why not a Q in his 70's? But we'll see I guess.
Good points, all of them.
#20
Posted 08 December 2008 - 06:03 AM
But Q is Maj. Boothroyd. From Dr. No with Peter Burton through The World Is Not Enough with Desmond Llewelyn, the series' gadgetmeister has been the same character. In Dr. No, Burton's character is called Maj. Boothroyd as is Llewelyn's in The Spy Who Loved Me, not to mention that Llewelyn is called Q throughout the series, hence Boothroyd is Q.I think they should make Q Major Boothroyd from now on, make him a really hard , he won't take none of Bond's cheek.
Only John Cleese's Quartermaster in Die Another Day was not Maj. Boothroyd since he also appeared in TWINE alongside Llewelyn's Q.
My choice for the new Q would be Hugh Lawrie.
#21
Posted 08 December 2008 - 06:25 AM
#22
Posted 08 December 2008 - 07:30 AM
As for Q, what would be the use ? My phone can do all the thing Q showed to Bond in episodes 2-20.
It can help you breathe underwater?
me.
#23
Posted 08 December 2008 - 09:25 AM
Oh, wait, that's right ... it doesn't.
#24
Posted 08 December 2008 - 09:52 AM
Edited by Bradley De La Cloche, 08 December 2008 - 09:54 AM.
#25
Posted 08 December 2008 - 11:58 AM
Exactly.Could we at least call this what it is. Madoc is this Graham Rye guy's choice for Q, nothing more.
And a rather staid suggestion at that. I don't think Graham Rye has clicked that James Bond films didn't drift since 1969. They changed. As did cinema and the world. To pine for an era that seriously ended 40 years ago is a tad desperate.
God no.Appreciate the change in heading. To be fair my comment was directed more at the article itself, whoever wrote it had no right to proclaim “Philip Madoc is on Q to be James Bond star ” based on nothing more than someone on the internet's personal preference.
While we're naming names and posting photos here's my choice: Colin Baker
That's right, Dr Who no. 6. He's an incredibly underrated actor, a familiar face but not so well known as to dominate the screen, we know he can play an eccentric genius and isn't likely to be tied up with other projects. And at 65 he shouldn't fall into the too old category.
He's not a familiar face to anyone other than DOCTOR WHO fans.
And since when did Q have to be played as an eccentric genius?
#26
Posted 08 December 2008 - 12:13 PM
If the movies were a one off, fair enough, but the next Q (like M or Moneypenny) should be chosen with the idea in mind that they will be regulars in the series for a good long while. They should be looking for someone around 50-60, someone who could concievably be around for four or five films.
Edited by jamie00007, 08 December 2008 - 12:14 PM.
#27
Posted 08 December 2008 - 01:30 PM
Why not cast someone like McBurney, or... the great Bill Nighy?
Nighy is not Sixty yet, he can be fussy and cool at the same time. He has my vote!
#28
Posted 08 December 2008 - 01:44 PM
The character doesn't even need to return. Not if its just the fans who need appeasing.
#29
Posted 08 December 2008 - 01:50 PM
Whoever would get cast in this role would not be "Q like" at all - not if that role was anything like the changes made since 2006. Just because someone was "like Q" in one film does not make them a shoe-in.
Not suggesting that anyone is a shoe-in for anything, just that a Q like character in another film gave me some ideas for a new casting approach in the Bond series.
#30
Posted 08 December 2008 - 01:59 PM