199 replies to this topic

[Zorin Industries]

Michael Sheen shuts down Bond 23 villain rumours

Unsurprisingly, no truth to Ernst Stavro Blofeld rumours

A few media outlets are reporting today that Michael Sheen (scribe Peter Morgan colleague and creative muse) is being "rumoured" to be playing one ERNST STAVRO BLOFELD in BOND 23.

This is utter speculation of the highest order, but there is something potentially very apt and appropriate about this take on a rumour - even if it's not going to happen. Sheen is one of the next generation of British acting greats. He will be up there in time with the likes of Olivier, Gielgud, Richardson and Matthew Marsden (okay, maybe not that last one). Obviously he has a superb body of films (I'd recommend the lesser known and whimsical English road movie HEARTLANDS, and stunning Kenneth Williams biopic FANTABULOSA as well as anything else he has done).

If this were announced tomorrow as fact, I would then say this is a solid development. Bringing back BLOFELD is bold. It needs an actor to carry that very arched character reintroduction. I would imagine there would be no Mao suits or piranha tanks but a Persian cat or two could work in the right context. Sheen is certainly the heavyweight Daniel Craig needs in a nemesis - and would no doubt be lobbying for.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

Michael Sheen is definitely one of the best actors around, but I don't want them to bring Blofeld back. I think we should just put him to bed and start a fresh, given that the whole Blofeld trilogy was kind of his own seperate story. Quantum should definitely have a Blofeld-like figure, and if he's played by Sheen, then that would be superb. Loved him in Underworld, The Queen and when he played Nero in a series for the BBC. Fantastic actor.

P.S. I don't have sany problems with Matthew Marsden, but of course he's not in the same league!

[blueman]

Sheen as Blofeld, interesting. Would not be opposed to a new incarnation of Blofeld (would welcome it more in fact than a new Q...).

[Orion]

Sheen is well known for playing Tony Blair and this got me thinking, what if the head of Quantum turns out to be the British Prime Minister? Quantum Of Solace did show that Quantum had numerosu operatives within the British Government, and the Prime Minister was mentioned in Casino Royale, so if it is revelaed that the head of Quantum had maneuvered him self into that position it would seem like it was really seeded in in the previous two films.

[Zorin Industries]

Close but no cigar.

Bond films work five minutes in the future and two miles left of reality. A villain would never be the current Prime Minister as that brings a different realism to proceedings that are a gamble to make work, the film could get certain people into trouble and puts the whole project on the line as one change of circumstances prior to the film's release could damage the film. That's why I think these "Middle East" and "Afghanistan" rumours for BOND 23 are just rumours. Is a Bond film really going to point fingers at Middle Eastern villains in the current climate? If the Middle East angle WAS true in the long run, then I would put money on the villain/s being non-Middle East but based or making deals in such a clime.

It's the same reason you would never see a 747 blown up in a Bond film (okay MOONRAKER did it and LICENCE TO KILL hinted at it, but they were 30 and 20 years ago respectively) as one air-traffic incident prior to release renders the film tasteless, in an editing quandary and there can be such a thing as bad press. Bond operates in a slightly different world to that.

[Pierce - Daniel]

Sheen as Blofeld?
Brilliant.
Firstly....Sheen is a great actor, he is an awesome character actor, he's very good at playing real life people to point that his portrayals are not impressions but actual characters. He is really a very good actor.

Secondly....I may be in the minority with this view but we need Blofeld back, don't we? Young really set the bar with the paranoia of his villian in FRWL and TB, while the actors who played him were all great in there own ways. But the ending of DAF left alot to be wished for. And at no point did we really ever see Bond put Blofeld in a wooden box. He's never been killed onscreen. And i mean this is James Bond, he has to kill blofeld, but so far as been denied that chance.

I say bring Blofeld back. No cat stroking, Make him Sheen. Make him the head of Quantum. Simple as, end of.

Edited by Pierce - Daniel, 16 June 2009 - 11:16 AM.

[Orion]

Close but no cigar.

Bond films work five minutes in the future and two miles left of reality. A villain would never be the current Prime Minister as that brings a different realism to proceedings that are a gamble to make work, the film could get certain people into trouble and puts the whole project on the line as one change of circumstances prior to the film's release could damage the film. That's why I think these "Middle East" and "Afghanistan" rumours for BOND 23 are just rumours. Is a Bond film really going to point fingers at Middle Eastern villains in the current climate? If the Middle East angle WAS true in the long run, then I would put money on the villain/s being non-Middle East but based or making deals in such a clime.

It's the same reason you would never see a 747 blown up in a Bond film (okay MOONRAKER did it and LICENCE TO KILL hinted at it, but they were 30 and 20 years ago respectively) as one air-traffic incident prior to release renders the film tasteless, in an editing quandary and there can be such a thing as bad press. Bond operates in a slightly different world to that.

I think you're probably right, i seem to recall on one of the DVD documentaries that Cubby always wanted the Bond films to stay away from the real world politics as much as possible, and wasn't Tomorrow Never Dies changed when they thought that the plot may be too close to a real event? (the handing over of Hong Kong from a British Dependant Territory to the People's Republic of China). I still think it'd be a great idea though.

Edited by Orion, 16 June 2009 - 11:19 AM.

[Zorin Industries]

This is all heavily rumoured right now and probably too early in the game to be remotely even viable - but I am running with this as it is a strong, bold idea that is highly appropriate to the Craig era and the lore of the character and his world.

[bond 16.05.72]

Sheen is well known for playing Tony Blair and this got me thinking, what if the head of Quantum turns out to be the British Prime Minister? Quantum Of Solace did show that Quantum had numerosu operatives within the British Government, and the Prime Minister was mentioned in Casino Royale, so if it is revelaed that the head of Quantum had maneuvered him self into that position it would seem like it was really seeded in in the previous two films.

We've had enough with Bond ripped off Bourne and if you went down this road you'd have people crying 24 rip off and rightly so!

No I don't want Blofeld, yes Sheen as a villain but something new, Blofeld's from the previous era, please lets not recycle the past.

[Zorin Industries]

I hate to say it but, since Mr Craig took over, "recycling the past" has been high on the priorities. Though the clincher lies in HOW you recycle the past. Quantum's sway over the world is - from where I am standing - fairly reminiscent of Mr Stav-Blo's wiles. A completely reimagined, reinvented and re-pointed BLOFELD could work stunningly well. I'm not saying it should be and I'm only buying into a baseless rumour for now (and one that has hasn't even covered the blurred rights and legalities to even use the character again), but Sheen as a Bond villain feels very apt right now. Heck he can play him as a mix of Brian Clough, Tony Blair and Kenneth Williams. I'd go....

"Young man, get out there now and kick the ball into some People's Princess's face before I give you a large one up the ****!!""

[Orion]

Sheen is well known for playing Tony Blair and this got me thinking, what if the head of Quantum turns out to be the British Prime Minister? Quantum Of Solace did show that Quantum had numerosu operatives within the British Government, and the Prime Minister was mentioned in Casino Royale, so if it is revelaed that the head of Quantum had maneuvered him self into that position it would seem like it was really seeded in in the previous two films.

We've had enough with Bond ripped off Bourne and if you went down this road you'd have people crying 24 rip off and rightly so!

No I don't want Blofeld, yes Sheen as a villain but something new, Blofeld's from the previous era, please lets not recycle the past.

24 hardly created the corrupt Governemnt leader angle did it? It is a very common plot device in the spy genre. If you want ripping off it'd be closer to the Doctor Who Series 3 Finale where The Master gets himself elected as Prime Minister, as in what i suggested he was head of Quantum before getting himself elected as Prime Minister, whilst the President in 24 was just deluded enough to believe what he was doing was for the good of the country.

[Zorin Industries]

Sheen is well known for playing Tony Blair and this got me thinking, what if the head of Quantum turns out to be the British Prime Minister? Quantum Of Solace did show that Quantum had numerosu operatives within the British Government, and the Prime Minister was mentioned in Casino Royale, so if it is revelaed that the head of Quantum had maneuvered him self into that position it would seem like it was really seeded in in the previous two films.

We've had enough with Bond ripped off Bourne and if you went down this road you'd have people crying 24 rip off and rightly so!

No I don't want Blofeld, yes Sheen as a villain but something new, Blofeld's from the previous era, please lets not recycle the past.

24 hardly created the corrupt Governemnt leader angle did it? It is a very common plot device in the spy genre. If you want ripping off it'd be closer to the Doctor Who Series 3 Finale where The Master gets himself elected as Prime Minister, as in what i suggested he was head of Quantum before getting himself elected as Prime Minister, whilst the President in 24 was just deluded enough to believe what he was doing was for the good of the country.

And the machinations of that DOCTOR WHO finale did feel a bit forced, desperate and - whilst it poses a real conundrum for the heroes - it is ultimately redundant storylining. I personally would much rather see a Quantum villain (they are not finished just yet) who has the sway of a PM, but not the profile. That makes it more intriguing, dynamic for the story and creates a journey for everyone.

[Orion]

Sheen is well known for playing Tony Blair and this got me thinking, what if the head of Quantum turns out to be the British Prime Minister? Quantum Of Solace did show that Quantum had numerosu operatives within the British Government, and the Prime Minister was mentioned in Casino Royale, so if it is revelaed that the head of Quantum had maneuvered him self into that position it would seem like it was really seeded in in the previous two films.

We've had enough with Bond ripped off Bourne and if you went down this road you'd have people crying 24 rip off and rightly so!

No I don't want Blofeld, yes Sheen as a villain but something new, Blofeld's from the previous era, please lets not recycle the past.

24 hardly created the corrupt Governemnt leader angle did it? It is a very common plot device in the spy genre. If you want ripping off it'd be closer to the Doctor Who Series 3 Finale where The Master gets himself elected as Prime Minister, as in what i suggested he was head of Quantum before getting himself elected as Prime Minister, whilst the President in 24 was just deluded enough to believe what he was doing was for the good of the country.

And the machinations of that DOCTOR WHO finale did feel a bit forced, desperate and - whilst it poses a real conundrum for the heroes - it is ultimately redundant storylining. I personally would much rather see a Quantum villain (they are not finished just yet) who has the sway of a PM, but not the profile. That makes it more intriguing, dynamic for the story and creates a journey for everyone.

I love that DW finale myself, easily my favourite of the four but i digress.

So ideally you'd like to see an expansion of the Guy Haines chracter introduced to us on QOS. I agree that would be very good, having these governments beign controlled by Quantum without their realsing thet are being manipulated, which is pretty much set up and put into motion in QOS. Michael Sheen would suit that sort of character very well, he comes across as having the sort of natural charm that makes people trust him immediatly.

[tdalton]

I really hope that they never bring Blofeld back. The film version of that character was so cartoonish that it would be ridiculous to bring the character back. Even if they made him the most ruthless villain they possibly could, it would still be them bringing back a ridiculous, cartoonish villain from the franchise's past. Bond should be moving forward, not going back to fight a foe that he's already dealt with (and a foe that wasn't even all that great to begin with).

Also, if they brought back Blofeld, then I think that at some point they'd have to have some sort of remake of OHMSS in order to bring about the conclusion to Bond's involvement with Blofeld. I don't think that they could bring the character back only to have Bond deal with him like any other villain, there would have to be some personal motivation (or even a vendetta) involved for Bond to ultimately take down Blofeld.

[Zorin Industries]

Michael Sheen would suit that sort of character very well, he comes across as having the sort of natural charm that makes people trust him immediatly
...which is why he plays Tony Blair so well and so many times (!)

I'm not sure a governmental villain is that necessary. We have had Tim Pigott Smith who could well return. The film has to end with the villains being uncovered and eliminated. Bond films need that closure and I am not sure how many new Bond films will end with the Quantum conundrum left wide open again. An inadvertent Quantum trilogy sits well in my book. If the government are too involved the audience will never buy that BOND has stopped Quantum once and for all.

Regarding DOCTOR WHO, I found John Simm (who incidentally I have worked with before) a tad irritating as The Master. Derek Jacobi was a lot more intriguing. It was - like all the WHO finales - a bit overwrought and felt like a reunion special of characters who hadn't left yet.

[Quantumofsolace007]

What i doon't get is everyone wanting to go back in time. Blofield was fine for the 60's not today. let's move foward with new ideas and new devlopments.

[tdalton]

What i doon't get is everyone wanting to go back in time. Blofield was fine for the 60's not today. let's move foward with new ideas and new devlopments.

Completely agreed.

The franchise needs to move forward, and create its own big supervillain (if they decide that Craig's Bond needs one, which I don't think he does) for Bond to deal with, rather than going back and bringing back a character from the past 20 films (and one that, IMO, wasn't even that great to begin with).

[zerominus]

One report says he's in line to play Ernst STAVROS Blofeld, not Stavro - perhaps he's living in Greece now! On a more serious note, isn't the use of this particular character still a bit of a legal can of worms?

Edited by zerominus, 16 June 2009 - 12:20 PM.

[Orion]

Michael Sheen would suit that sort of character very well, he comes across as having the sort of natural charm that makes people trust him immediatly
...which is why he plays Tony Blair so well and so many times (!)

I'm not sure a governmental villain is that necessary. We have had Tim Pigott Smith who could well return. The film has to end with the villains being uncovered and eliminated. Bond films need that closure and I am not sure how many new Bond films will end with the Quantum conundrum left wide open again. An inadvertent Quantum trilogy sits well in my book. If the government are too involved the audience will never buy that BOND has stopped Quantum once and for all.

Regarding DOCTOR WHO, I found John Simm (who incidentally I have worked with before) a tad irritating as The Master. Derek Jacobi was a lot more intriguing. It was - like all the WHO finales - a bit overwrought and felt like a reunion special of characters who hadn't left yet.

I'd agree with you there, i don't think a governmental villain is needed either, it's just something i'd like to see as it's something Bond has never really done, as everytime they've shown a governemnt the governemtn body as a whole has tended to be doing the right thing at all times, as the producers seem very careful not to upset the respective governemtns they are portraying.

In regards to DW, i found Simm's portrayl to be perfect opposite Tennant's Doctor, as he played it as this is how The Tenth Doctor would be if he was evil. I get what you mean about the finale's bringing people back for no-reason, but i think season 3's finale is probably the least guilty of this (Capt. Jack being the only returnee) and i've always liked the OTT elements of RTD's finale's. Makes me very interested to see how Moffat will handle them actually, if he'll go the same way of throwing everything but the kitchen sink at them, or go for something smaller but more heartfelt.

[Zorin Industries]

What i doon't get is everyone wanting to go back in time. Blofield was fine for the 60's not today. let's move foward with new ideas and new devlopments.

Completely agreed.

The franchise needs to move forward, and create its own big supervillain (if they decide that Craig's Bond needs one, which I don't think he does) for Bond to deal with, rather than going back and bringing back a character from the past 20 films (and one that, IMO, wasn't even that great to begin with).

Yet everyone is quite happy for a redundant quartermaster or secretary to be shoehorned into every film made now? I know what you are saying but Craig does indeed deserve his own supervillain - as does the series as there has not been one since 1971. Maybe that is for good reason, but I think the whole Craig era has been a clever mix of the old and the new. These are James Bond films - with the retro statement of a title sequence, title song, set pieces, tailored glamour, travelogue photography and the smallest of knowing winks at the audience that it is all for fun. Unless MR WHITE is the villain (and maybe he still is - the real boss could be a long dead adversary with a whole will and testament of global criminality that MR WHITE has to oversee), Craig's two films to date have put up major signposts to a greater, bigger villain than we are used to.

[Loomis]

He will be up there in time with the likes of Olivier, Gielgud, Richardson and Matthew Marsden (okay, maybe not that last one).

Indeed. Marsden's performance as Schoolboy in RAMBO was one of last year's cinematic highlights.

Would you consider me crazy if I suggested that Sheen might actually make a decent Bond?

[tdalton]

What i doon't get is everyone wanting to go back in time. Blofield was fine for the 60's not today. let's move foward with new ideas and new devlopments.

Completely agreed.

The franchise needs to move forward, and create its own big supervillain (if they decide that Craig's Bond needs one, which I don't think he does) for Bond to deal with, rather than going back and bringing back a character from the past 20 films (and one that, IMO, wasn't even that great to begin with).

Yet everyone is quite happy for a redundant quartermaster or secretary to be shoehorned into every film made now?

I have absolutely no desire to see Q and Moneypenny return to the franchise. Those are two characters that should never (ever) make another appearance in a Bond film.

[Zorin Industries]

He will be up there in time with the likes of Olivier, Gielgud, Richardson and Matthew Marsden (okay, maybe not that last one).

Indeed. Marsden's performance as Schoolboy in RAMBO was one of last year's cinematic highlights.

Would you consider me crazy if I suggested that Sheen might actually make a decent Bond?

Yes. You are crazy. "Nurse!?"

Sheen doesn't have the physical stature for BOND. And he is tiny (or he was when I last saw him in the flesh).

[Jim]

Yet everyone is quite happy for a redundant quartermaster or secretary to be shoehorned into every film made now?

Quite.

I know what you are saying but Craig does indeed deserve his own supervillain - as does the series as there has not been one since 1971. Maybe that is for good reason, but I think the whole Craig era has been a clever mix of the old and the new. These are James Bond films - with the retro statement of a title sequence, title song, set pieces, tailored glamour, travelogue photography and the smallest of knowing winks at the audience that it is all for fun. Unless MR WHITE is the villain (and maybe he still is - the real boss could be a long dead adversary with a whole will and testament of global criminality that MR WHITE has to oversee), Craig's two films to date have put up major signposts to a greater, bigger villain than we are used to.

Although I still think people are putting two and two together and making all sorts of silly speculations, this Sheen person becoming Blofeld (how we arrived at either of these I am still unsure save that he has found gainful employment before) offers up some potential if they run Blofeld as the passionless facilitator of other people's terrorism as is suggested by the biography given in Thunderball the novel.

The other thing suggested by Thunderball the novel is that both the SIS and the CIA have bought information from SPECTRE in the past for their own purposes - this is an untapped storyline and a great shame that we've had to be so boo hiss villain in the past - which would fit in very nicely with the politically grey mood of Quantum of Solace.

[Safari Suit]

Yet everyone is quite happy for a redundant quartermaster or secretary to be shoehorned into every film made now?

Quite.

But not "everyone" is happy for those characters to come back, around here the idea seems to have met as much opposition as support, so I think using that to justify the return of Blofeld is something of a fallacy, though I see where you're coming from. It's a different matter anyway as they are fairly minor characters and Blofeld would be a large part of the focus of the film. I'm not sternly opposed to the return of Blofeld, but I have to say upon being faced with the idea I'm not mad keen. I know this wont be the "Blofeld we all know and love" but even so why not simply cast Sheen as the head of Quantum or SPECTRE or whatever but have him named something other than Blofeld?

Anyway, I need to check this Fantabulosa! thing out.

[Loomis]

Sheen doesn't have the physical stature for BOND.

Some gym work and protein shakes'll sort that out.

And he is tiny (or he was when I last saw him in the flesh).

Yeah, well, so are Pacino and Stallone. Not that they're playing Bond, of course, but you get the idea.

[Zorin Industries]

Yet everyone is quite happy for a redundant quartermaster or secretary to be shoehorned into every film made now?

Quite.

But not "everyone" is happy for those characters to come back, around here the idea seems to have met as much opposition as support, so I think using that to justify the return of Blofeld is something of a fallacy, though I see where you're coming from. It's a different matter anyway as they are fairly minor characters and Blofeld would be a large part of the focus of the film. I'm not sternly opposed to the return of Blofeld, but I have to say upon being faced with the idea I'm not mad keen. I know this wont be the "Blofeld we all know and love" but even so why not simply cast Sheen as the head of Quantum or SPECTRE or whatever but have him named something other than Blofeld?

Anyway, I need to check this Fantabulosa! thing out.

Yes do. It crops up on BBC4 from time to time. It's quite a bleak piece but a very good look at Williams (whose real life was bleak). I would also recommend - though Sheen is not in this one - COR BLIMEY, a drama looking at the Carry On films that captured effectively the whole Pinewood / 1960's vibe.


I am not that for BLOFELD returning. But the fantasy casting of Michael Sheen changes the parameters of the notion (which is all it is) into something possibly good. Not that that will be where BOND 23 is heading at all. I just wanted to open up the discussion.

[Safari Suit]

I did see Cor Blimey! when it premiered, and remember finding it generally engaging and endearing. I am not a Carry On fan per say, but they are an important part of the history of British comedy, and many of the Carry On alumni (including William) did fabulous work elsewhere (Hancock, Round the Horn etc.)

I too find the idea of Sheen being a Bond film exciting, but if I were to choose between him playing an original character or playing Blofeld, be it with Persian cat or without, I would go with the former, although I will be perfectly willing to accept the later, and following that wait and see.

[Simon]

I'm not saying it should be and I'm only buying into a baseless rumour for now (and one that has hasn't even covered the blurred rights and legalities to even use the character again), .................

Now that everything Bond is under the EON umbrella, are there such rights issues today?

Wondering if now the only issue would be whether following Quantum's 'large organisation' storyline, that Blofeld / Spectre would be the way to go.

...if we're dissecting baseless rumours.

[DamnCoffee]

I think Michael Sheen is a brilliant actor. I loved his work on the Kenneth Williams biopic. He made a great Tony Blair, too.

I know the man has a wide range of acting talents, and I would welcome him to the franchise. BUT I haven't seen him act threatening, which I think he would be able to pull off.