4014 replies to this topic

[sharpshooter]

Sure, I opened my mind and explored Bond #7 candidates, especially with Tom Hiddleston. But that was under the premise Craig was not coming back. But there's a flicker of hope now. So at this point, if Craig doesn't come back my dreams are going to be crushed.

[SecretAgentFan]

Weirdly, while I was in favour of Tom Hiddleston last year I am more and more critical of him.

 

Hmm.  Must have been my urge to get another Bond out there, as fast as possible.

 

But really, Hiddleston´s signature grin and his raised eyebrow would be kind of annoying the more he would use it.  (His embarassing acceptance speech at the Golden Globes yesterday and his Taylor Swift romance also irked me a lot.)

 

Good thing, Craig might gear up for BOND 25.  Now get on with that announcement, Dan...

[Orion]

Certainly at the moment Craig would be the favourite, he seemed keen to continue at his last interview and EON are still keen on him - I think it just really depends on how long financial backing takes, if it takes too long Craig may age out of the role, and those actors who are suited to the role now may not be the best choices when the time comes. Personally I'd like them to get this matter with the studio out of the way soon and have a Craig led Bond 25 then probably recast and go in a different direction for Bond 26, let the Craig era be it's own thing - much like stated influence The Dark Knight Trilogy,

[Dustin]

It's got to be said: the Beeb's adaptation of THE NIGHT MANAGER was a distinctly sexed-up version of the book that aimed to show the leading character as a version of Bond - which the actual Jonathan Pine patently isn't.

Much has been made of the sex change of Burr, which didn't influence the story at all. Much more crucial changes were largely ignored - it's Jonathan who betrays Sophie; she trusted him, but as one of her Majesty's countless little informers he couldn't be trusted and when Sophie pays the price it's entirely on his conscience, changing the whole dynamic of his motivation to go up against Roper.

Other changes were taken in stride, some of them quite clever, others not so much. The decision to give the story a cyclic quality by ending it in Cairo is fine by me. But neither the death of Corcoran nor that of Freddie Hamid appear in the book, they are simply there as fodder for us Bond fans. And the finale has a distinct LTK-aftertaste with Roper carried away and all the good guys cheering. As if the previous drama had been just a big popcorn entertainment. None of that is material from Le Carrè's book.

I don't think this was exactly timed to tally with the lack of development on BOND 24. But it certainly didn't hurt the production to come at this particular time with this particular 'let's do Bond BBC-style' approach.

[tdalton]

Well, after his Golden Globes speech last night, I think we can safely say that Hiddleston has the arrogance necessary to portray Bond.  

[Dustin]

Didn't hear it, seems I missed out there...

[SecretAgentFan]

It was just awkward.  He went on and on about his charitable work in Sudan and then had to share the "anecdote" that aid workers had told him that they had bingewatched "The Night Manager", which in turn made him so proud that his work as an actor could bring joy to these people.

 

Well, the reaction shots from the audience were pretty funny because they obviously asked themselves: why is he going on and on, embarassing himself so much...

[Dustin]

...

[Odd Jobbies]

Harry Lloyd get's some support on MI6, i think he has a potential.

He held his own acting chops in Anthropiod.

 

RE: Hiddleston... I've never been a supporter of him being Bond (though i think he's a good actor and look forward to seeing him, just not as Bond), i think there's a chance we'll hear more speculation when Skull Island is released. From the trailer it looks pretty testosterone heavy and sure i saw Hiddleston running round with a rifle doing the macho male lead thing.

[glidrose]

Ryan Gosling...

(Wonder where the plagiarism part comes from; one would at least have to have a passing familiarity with Fleming's work to pick that rumour up...)

I've started a thread about this in the IF sub forum.

http://debrief.comma...hyllis-bottome/

[SecretAgentFan]

And Mr. Hiddleston actually apologized now for his speech: http://www.vanityfai...den-globes-2017

[KB 007]

Blast from the past:

 

http://debrief.comma...next-james-bond

 

Kind of embarrassing to read posts from my 19 year old self. It looks like I was very anti-Craig, but now I think he's great

[SecretAgentFan]

Wait how embarassing our thoughts will be in another 15 years...

[Orion]

http://comicbook.com...hristopher-nol/

 

Not actually what he says, despite the interviewer trying to guide him into saying it. He points out that saying he wants the role would guarantee him not to be even considered. He talks about Nolan abstractly, mostly in regards to what Craig, Broccoli and Mendes have done over the last decade has been brilliant and would be a tough act to follow, but it's brilliant that they've got the series to a point where having an A-list director suggested doesn't seem as unrealistic as it once did.

[jamie00007]

My wishlist as it stands today:

 

1. Luke Evans

2. Richard Armitage

3. Aidan Turner

4. Karl Urban

5. Richard Madden

 

As much as I love Craig as Bond and enjoy each of his films individually, I havent liked the direction the series has gone as a whole in the post-CR films and its starting to feel a bit stale. At this point I think Im up for a fresh start with a new actor and a return to more traditional Bond films.

[Odd Jobbies]

http://comicbook.com...hristopher-nol/

 

Not actually what he says, despite the interviewer trying to guide him into saying it. He points out that saying he wants the role would guarantee him not to be even considered. He talks about Nolan abstractly, mostly in regards to what Craig, Broccoli and Mendes have done over the last decade has been brilliant and would be a tough act to follow, but it's brilliant that they've got the series to a point where having an A-list director suggested doesn't seem as unrealistic as it once did.

Ah, just posted a link to this story in the Ideal Director thread, but no harm in doubling down, as it indeed belongs here. Reading between the lines this definitely expresses his intention to be Bond (i.e his reason for not wanting to talk about it).

[SecretAgentFan]

Hardy would mean another tenure with three year breaks between films - he definitely would not stop making the films he wanted.

 

So, please, Mr. Hardy - mention it in the press that you want the role badly and have been considered.  (Even if you haven´t been.)

[MISALA1994]

My wishlist as it stands today:

1. Luke Evans
2. Richard Armitage
3. Aidan Turner
4. Karl Urban
5. Richard Madden

As much as I love Craig as Bond and enjoy each of his films individually, I havent liked the direction the series has gone as a whole in the post-CR films and its starting to feel a bit stale. At this point I think Im up for a fresh start with a new actor and a return to more traditional Bond films.

Turner is my choice on that list...

[Agent 76]

Rupert Friend , I say.

[tdalton]

Rupert Friend , I say.

 

Amen to that. 

 

If Turner gets it, that'll be it for me.  Won't even bother with the franchise anymore.  Although I imagine saying that has probably skyrocketed him up to the top of a few peoples' lists.  

[JohnnyWalker]

My wishlist as it stands today:

1. Luke Evans
2. Richard Armitage
3. Aidan Turner
4. Karl Urban
5. Richard Madden

As much as I love Craig as Bond and enjoy each of his films individually, I havent liked the direction the series has gone as a whole in the post-CR films and its starting to feel a bit stale. At this point I think Im up for a fresh start with a new actor and a return to more traditional Bond films.

I can happily say I don't think any of these will happen.

[Dustin]

For Hardy Bond would be cool - but probably only for one film. He doesn't strike me at all like he would commit on a longer run, probably not even for Nolan.

Someone like Friend to me seems more willing to put his energies over a longer period into Bond, at least for now. But I'm not sure he would be what Eon is looking for. He's already known in agent genre roles and I suspect if Eon have to recast they will want to surprise the audience once more.

[tdalton]

EON also has the track record of going back to actors who have impressed them in the past or that they've had an eye on for some time, as they did with Moore, Dalton, and Brosnan.  Debbie McWilliams' comments on Friend, in addition to CBn's own reporting back around the time of Casino Royale that stated that he gave a very impressive reading for the role, would indicate that, regardless of whether he lands the part or not, he'll at least be one of the names tossed around by EON when the time comes.  That's probably more than can be said about some of the names being thrown about the last few months.

[Dustin]

I suppose - even though this will never be a popular topic - that somewhere deep down in a drawer Eon will always have a plan B - a worst-case scenario for a day Eon has to arrange for a successor in a hurry. In that case they would probably look at people they've already had an eye on before.

Whether they are still available - or willing, or fitting - well, that's another question then. Much time has passed since the production of CASINO ROYALE, perhaps by now their sights are on different faces. Impossible to tell without an idea which studio will end up doing BOND 25. I don't think Cavill is still an option for example.

[SecretAgentFan]

Definitely.  EON will not sit around idly without a plan.  

 

I believe the priority has always been to keep Craig for at least BOND 25 or even more films.  But Craig - despite the infamous quote being just given out of exhaustion - probably told BB that he did not have the urge to do another film too soon.  And with all the additional problems (time marching on, distribution deals unsure, allies like Pascal out of the picture, executive shuffles at possible studios to take over distribution, MGM being MGM) BB definitely did audition others, and Hiddleston must have been on top of their list.

 

But - I do also believe that Hiddleston might have not been what EON really wanted.  Otherwise they could have just moved on with him.  Maybe his audition was not that great, maybe the way he conducted himself with his love life was troubling, or maybe someone just vetoed him.

 

So they probably went back to the idea of waiting for Craig, giving him more time and even producing "Othello" for him, easing him into the decision to go on.

 

As for other candidates - yep, they will definitely test other actors just to have an option to move on.  And history shows that they will go back to people that impressed them.  However, history also shows that they never make that public before the new Bond actually is chosen.  Every actor who gets "outed" as being impressive or having given a great audition is actually out.  And having Debbie Williams (and not BB or MGW) praise Rupert Friend is even more of a sign that EON does not really bother with him; they have removed themselves from him by giving Williams the quote.

 

And as for Cavill - he has become Superman in the meantime, and that was the end of it.  Only if he had established himself as a great performer in small films, like Craig, he probably would have remained on EON´s radar.

 

I also believe that EON needs and wants to surprise with a new Bond actor.  After Daniel Craig it would otherwise be considered a disappointment if EON chose a known actor who has played a secret agent before.  The time of announcing a Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan is over.  The next Bond actor must be a total surprise, fresh and without baggage.

[Odd Jobbies]

For Hardy Bond would be cool - but probably only for one film. He doesn't strike me at all like he would commit on a longer run, probably not even for Nolan.

Hardy's expressed his eagerness to do another Mad Max (of which Miller has mentioned a trilogy), so he's definitely not against a franchise.

 

The issue is weather that's a franchise too many. But for Hardy's acting chops i could live with him as Max and Bond.

 

Certainly it's true that he'd be busy between Bond movies, but the same can be said for Craig and Brosnan, the difference being that Hardy's will be much higher profile because his virtually peerless acting talent and cinematic gravitas is now so broadly recognised and respected. As Craig would say, 'That's a high class problem'.

 

Should Nolan get the nod i can absolutely see him approaching Bond as he did Batman, with themes characters and story for a trilogy and i also see Hardy being convinced by Nolan to commit by the same token that Miller convinced him.

 

 

 

RE: Friend - his work has been so impressive on Homeland that he'll certainly get another read for the part if Craig steps aside. I think he'd do a great job and doubtless continue this darker vein they are in.

 

But i think he'd have competition in Dan Stevens who i'd also bet on getting a read (after his work in The Guest). And should they want to further crowbar a little caddish wit into the role i think Stevens might handle that slightly better than Friend. IMO his performance in The Guest makes Stevens the best choice; the combo of menace and charm was perfect for Bond.

 

Turner can also handle the wit as well as the menace, but his chops aren't quite up to that of Friend and Stevens (at least not in roles i've seen; The Romantics, The Hobbit, the Agatha Christie mini-series).

 

Right now they're my final 4. It all depends upon who brings their best game for the reading - any of them could nail it.

[SecretAgentFan]

It´s rather improbable that Hardy will return for another Mad Max - rumour has it George Miller had the worst time with him on set, another reason why the film featured relatively little Max and made Furiosa the real center.  Of course, now the film has garnered so much positive attention, Hardy publicy says he would be open to another one.

 

But the fact that Miller (in his 70´s) will not commit to another Mad Max film points to another obstacle: the shoot was a nightmare, and why would he want to put himself through that again, at that age?  Also, no sequel will ever be greeted with that much enthusiasm.  AND - the main problem:  the film did not that well at the world wide box office.  It actually underperformed.

 

So, in that regard Hardy would be free for Bond.  But would EON want to put up with an even moodier actor?

 

I hope not.

 

Of course, I´m not a Hardy fan at all and consider him a one-trick pony with a very limited acting range and no charme or sense of humour.

[univex]

I´m not a Hardy fan at all and consider him a one-trick pony with a very limited acting range and no charme or sense of humour.

 

This, all of it.

 

And I´m retracting my support for Hiddleston. Right now, I have no ideia who could play Bond in the future. Turner perhaps, with  little more curriculum by then, who knows?

[Dustin]

On the topic of 'difficult' actors: as artists actors are always at risk of coming across as moody, diva-like and countless other more or less tactful code phrases for just making an arse of themselves. Eon as a 50+ years operation has had their fair share of experience with giant/sensitive/tricky egos. The one thing they need less than another MGM disaster would be a difficult lead actor.

As much as one can guess from what we hear the previous Bonds always used to be aware how their act is a team job. With the notable exception of Lazenby, who was admittedly full of himself and had next to zero experience in the film business.

I'm fairly sure their bad reputation has prevented both Oliver Reed and Lewis Collins from coming closer to the role. In the interest of the series as a whole that surely was the right decision and one hopes they keep that course - even if it means to skip on an acting genius which admittedly doesn't happen all that often.

[Odd Jobbies]

I'm fairly sure their bad reputation has prevented both Oliver Reed and Lewis Collins from coming closer to the role...

 

Collins defo, but according to something i've seen in a doco (i'm sure it was one of the JB dvd extra docos) Reed lost out because he got into a bar fight in the midst of casting and the facial scaring he was left with on his left cheek made him a little too villainous in appearance. Their loss.