4014 replies to this topic

[Cody]

BMD used to be Badass Digest. One of the most reliable sites out there for this sort of thing.

[plankattack]

To my mind Oscar winning Mendes was critically  in a different league to the captains of Brossa's ships, but it sounds like we'll have to agree to disagree on that, as well as everything else in this topic including the idea that Craig should blindly accept anything Eon toss him like a grateful lap dog.

 

 I'll actually raise you on that and say that Mendes was critically in a different league to anyone who had directed a Bond (too young to know how Lewis Gilbert was critically regarded in '67 after the success of Alfie    ).

 

But I'm completely with you on this notion that being Bond is enough and an actor should thank his lucky stars and proceed as required by filmmakers/fans/media.

 

I don't think there is a lead actor on the planet who hasn't said "show me a script first" and so why whoever Bond is should somehow not have that right is beyond me. If one believes half of what's been written about SP script process (and for different reasons QoS's script issues), DC or his replacement would be off his head to not ask a producer where things stood and where are they going script-wise before signing up for an 8 month stint that also closes off other career choices.

 

I'm a fan of this franchise and this franchise alone but this isn't the 70s - if you're an actor there are so many more opportunities out there if anchoring/being tied to a series is your thing, so "But this is Bond" as an attitude is unrealistic from a workforce perspective. Actor #7 is next, and from a creative standpoint, the onus is on EON to entice an actor with interesting work because the series has pretty much pushed out in every direction possible.

 

Pure speculation, but I'm sure Affleck was lured to Batman with the sense that there might be more to the job than just donning the cape. And lo and behold, he's writing/directing one. All I'm saying is that IMHO we are getting close to Bond being another gig, rather than "the gig," if we're not there already.

[Harmsway]

BMD used to be Badass Digest. One of the most reliable sites out there for this sort of thing.

Yeah, they have pretty good rumor mill sources.

[Odd Jobbies]

 

BirthMoviesDeath has been able to confirm that Tom Hiddleston is in "advanced talks" to take over as Bond. Hiddleston wants the job, but has yet to receive an official offer.

 

...apply the lessons Vincent Chase and Ari Gold taught us back on Entourage: Eon might be talking to other actors in an attempt to catalyze a response from Craig.  

 

Well they went as far as sacking Brolin the day before Octopussy started shooting because Moore had finally taken their offer.

 

Best line in the article: "There are, historically, three varieties of Bond casting: actors not terribly well-known when cast (Sean Connery/Timothy Dalton/Daniel Craig); popular favorites/household names (Roger Moore/Pierce Brosnan); and George Lazenby."

 

Ok, you win win funniest post of the day - superb

 

To my mind Oscar winning Mendes was critically  in a different league to the captains of Brossa's ships, but it sounds like we'll have to agree to disagree on that, as well as everything else in this topic including the idea that Craig should blindly accept anything Eon toss him like a grateful lap dog.

 

 I'll actually raise you on that and say that Mendes was critically in a different league to anyone who had directed a Bond (too young to know how Lewis Gilbert was critically regarded in '67 after the success of Alfie    ).

 

But I'm completely with you on this notion that being Bond is enough and an actor should thank his lucky stars and proceed as required by filmmakers/fans/media.

 

I don't think there is a lead actor on the planet who hasn't said "show me a script first" and so why whoever Bond is should somehow not have that right is beyond me. If one believes half of what's been written about SP script process (and for different reasons QoS's script issues), DC or his replacement would be off his head to not ask a producer where things stood and where are they going script-wise before signing up for an 8 month stint that also closes off other career choices.

 

I'm a fan of this franchise and this franchise alone but this isn't the 70s - if you're an actor there are so many more opportunities out there if anchoring/being tied to a series is your thing, so "But this is Bond" as an attitude is unrealistic from a workforce perspective. Actor #7 is next, and from a creative standpoint, the onus is on EON to entice an actor with interesting work because the series has pretty much pushed out in every direction possible.

 

Pure speculation, but I'm sure Affleck was lured to Batman with the sense that there might be more to the job than just donning the cape. And lo and behold, he's writing/directing one. All I'm saying is that IMHO we are getting close to Bond being another gig, rather than "the gig," if we're not there already.

 

Well put.

[hoagy]

The newest reported rumor says that Jamie Bell is in talks.  He currently is working with Barbara Broccoli on something else, so perhaps this sort of rumor was bound to get started.  But...please...as with the Damian Lewis rumors, really ?  And if the producers actually WERE to consider Lewis or Bell, shame on them !

[Surrie]

Despite all that's been said today - I still want Craig back. Especially if it means Hiddleston is out of the running!!

[Gay Bond]

 

 

I know this might be the wrong crowd, but is it possible that no-one is hired for Bond 25 becuase they legally can't? You might recall Sam Mendes "consulting with an eye to direct" job on the unititled Bond 23 when EON really wanted to get started but culdn't hire anyone as Sony werent on board yet, as we're now back at the stage again, theres every chance EON have everyone in place un-officially but can't actually hire them unti MGM get themselves a new partner.

 

I guess it´s different since it´s not a question of legal rights but "merely" a question of financing.

 

Of course, nobody can be hired at this point since this question has to be answered.  But you´re right: EON will definitely plan ahead.  And the reports of a meeting with Mendes and Hiddleston at least indicate that EON is contemplating how to move on.  I would not be surprised if Mendes indeed returns - with or without Craig.

 

Well given the options seem to be (according to wild speculation) writing a finale for Craig's Bond or introducing a new one, I can see Mendes being game for either of those story hooks. 

 

If the rumours are true about Craig first wanting to see the script before signing on, then that places EON in a difficult spot because I would think the writers would prefer to write a different script for another Craig film than for one that introduces a new Bond actor. I'm not suggesting that they'd reflect the different actor as a different character or anything as explicit as that - just that with a new actor on board, the story might need to be more of a break from the past in the way that GE and CR were.

[hoagy]

As a practical matter, once the actor changes from Daniel Craig, whether in the next film or later on, the next film after Craig would be a re-boot.  Perhaps not as explicitly as was CR, but it would be new.  It would be awkward, at best, to have another actor step and supposedly be living and working in the same timeline of events and relationships which have been portrayed in Craig's 4 films as Bond.

 

Whenever it occurs, to just have the next Bond show up for an assignment and go on with it, in the one-adventure-at-a-time manner, would leave too many open questions.  Such as:

 

Bond quit at the end of SF, so what is going on ?  At the very least, he was taking some sort of break, and was not leaving alone.

 

   Speaking of which, Bond was in a committed relationship at the end of SF -- however brief it may have been ongoing at that point -- so, what is going on ?  Even when Lazenby's Bond shifted back to Connery's Bond, the pre-titles sequence had Bond chasing down Blofeld...you know, the guy who'd killed Bond's beloved one and only ever wife just two years before.  She was not mentioned, but they did address the situation, however sparingly.

 

Bond just accomplished the capture of Blofeld at the end of SF, so that's it ?  Blofeld is locked up, and no longer will serve as villain ?  Unlike that time that Dr. Evil (and Mini-Me, together) were in prison, Blofeld's captors and jailors would not allow visits or messaging so he'd not be able to control his minions from captivity.  But he was a BIG DEAL.  A Big Deal in the books, in the earlier films, and -- since he was the unseen puppeteer -- a Big Deal in Craig's prior 3 Bond films.  You don't build up a Master Villain like Blofeld, Moriarty, Darth Vader, and brush them off after just one appearance.

 

The bottom line is that with a new actor, a number of things would have to be new.  They still can have the same actors portray M and Moneypenny.  That worked before, with the same actor portraying M but clearly with a new Bond, starting with CR.  And not to say that someone assumes the Bond name --- that horrid proposal...  No.  A new life story, etc.  It was fine and could be so, again.  (I've written before that the next change of actor would provide a fine opportunity for two or three in-period 1950s-60s Bond films, before moving on to the next new actor, set again, in the same timeframe as the release of the films.  Of course, that "present-day" would be quite significantly into our future.)

[sharpshooter]

 

BirthMoviesDeath has been able to confirm that Tom Hiddleston is in "advanced talks" to take over as Bond. Hiddleston wants the job, but has yet to receive an official offer.

 

There are a couple ways to parse this news. One is to take it at face value: Daniel Craig is out, the role of 007 is open, and it may very well be Hiddleston’s for the taking. Another is to apply the lessons Vincent Chase and Ari Gold taught us back on Entourage: Eon might be talking to other actors in an attempt to catalyze a response from Craig.  

 

I like to defend Craig wherever possible, given his great work in the role. But I'm pleased if they've settled on Hiddleston if the role is vacant. He seems like the ideal successor to me. 

[SecretAgentFan]

Also, he seems to WANT the job.

 

It´s time for an actor like that.

[sharpshooter]

Also, he seems to WANT the job.
 
It´s time for an actor like that.

Thumbs up.

[TheREAL008]

Indeed. Ig Daniel is out, I hope Hiddleson lands the role.

[Odd Jobbies]

Well if they're narrowing things down to their final auditions i hope Dan Stevens is in there. If you haven't seen The Guest, then you won't fully appreciate why he's (imo) the best contender.

 

I thought he was committed to lead Noah Hawley's (Fargo writer) X-Men tv spin-off series Legion (a series shoot negating his availability). But according to IMDB its a tv movie  and it's already in post.

 

Interestingly Stevens has nothing else pre-production or production according to the site, which is odd for an in demand actor on the rise. I wonder if he's keeping himself free for something in particular

[jamie00007]

I never much liked the idea of them creating story arcs spanning several movies (in the case of Craig, his entire era). They've painted themselves into a corner somewhat, no other actor can pick up where Craig has left off unless they were to cast an older actor to play Bond the same way as Craig, which I think would be a recipe for disaster. In some ways it might be best if the whole Craig era is its own self-contained thing, it ended the right way with him finally getting the girl and driving off into the sunset as it were. But my problem there is that means the SPECTRE and Blofeld return has been totally wasted unless they want to reboot them too, but I cant see them doing that any time soon. It also means that that Bond character never actually did a whole lot in the way of being a 00 that wasnt "personal" and he spent most of his career as a rogue agent.

[Dustin]

Well, wait for it...

Let's say another actor takes over - maybe even one we haven't even discussed yet - and just starts out in the ordinary way as if nothing has happened. This is not impossible, this used to be the standard approach prior to Brosnan. Now BOND 25 deals with whatever, it's a success and the powers that be push on. At some point they just reintroduce Spectre and/or Blofeld much the way they did in the past. What would stop them? The general audience would not mind that much; they swallowed Dench as two different incarnations of M, they were fine with Bond meeting Blofeld two times for the first time. They will also go along with a future that has the Craig era as both a self-contained story and using elements of it in another story.

The only ones who are going to warp their minds are people like us...

[Orion]

You mean the people who hated the DB5 in Skyfall being the Goldfinger one rather than Casino Royale's?

 

Yeah...I don't think general audiences would even notice let alone care

[sharpshooter]

Indeed. Ig Daniel is out, I hope Hiddleson lands the role.

Definitely. Tom wouldn't be a leap of faith. He's ready made for the role. If Craig is lining up a host of other films, taking up his time and pushing back Bond, the powers that be should take the hint and move on.

[SecretAgentFan]

Well, wait for it...

Let's say another actor takes over - maybe even one we haven't even discussed yet - and just starts out in the ordinary way as if nothing has happened. This is not impossible, this used to be the standard approach prior to Brosnan. Now BOND 25 deals with whatever, it's a success and the powers that be push on. At some point they just reintroduce Spectre and/or Blofeld much the way they did in the past. What would stop them? The general audience would not mind that much; they swallowed Dench as two different incarnations of M, they were fine with Bond meeting Blofeld two times for the first time. They will also go along with a future that has the Craig era as both a self-contained story and using elements of it in another story.

The only ones who are going to warp their minds are people like us...

 

Exactly.

 

Personally, I don´t need to see Spectre return for a few movies.  I´d rather see them create new villains and stop the hommages to previous movies.  

 

Start fresh with a new Bond actor.  Let the Craig era be a contained arc.  And at some point use Spectre in a new way.

[Orion]

As much as I love the idea of Hiddleston in the role (he would DEFINITLY be my no.1 choice for Bond 7) Does anyone else think that, if they are as far along as contract negotiations, we'd have heard more than just tabloid speculation? Shouldn't we also have heard some rumblings regarding directors and writing staff? If Mendes was alreday on board for Bond 25 wouldn't MGM be shouting it from the rooftops to drum up interest and increase the worth of the product they are currently trying to get a studio to buy into?

[Agent 76]

As much as I love the idea of Hiddleston in the role (he would DEFINITLY be my no.1 choice for Bond 7) Does anyone else think that, if they are as far along as contract negotiations, we'd have heard more than just tabloid speculation? Shouldn't we also have heard some rumblings regarding directors and writing staff? If Mendes was alreday on board for Bond 25 wouldn't MGM be shouting it from the rooftops to drum up interest and increase the worth of the product they are currently trying to get a studio to buy into?

But of course, until the day of the official press conference to present the new Bond, it'll be tabloid and fan speculation non-stop. For a high-profile role like this one, these are the rules of the game, and we all make our wishes and predictions. 

 

Tom Hiddleston, Dan Stevens, Rupert Friend, Henry Cavill. I would screentest these for a start

 

PS: Do you think because Cavill currently is contracted to WB, that makes rules him out of the running for the spot? 

[Dustin]

As much as I love the idea of Hiddleston in the role (he would DEFINITLY be my no.1 choice for Bond 7) Does anyone else think that, if they are as far along as contract negotiations, we'd have heard more than just tabloid speculation? Shouldn't we also have heard some rumblings regarding directors and writing staff? If Mendes was alreday on board for Bond 25 wouldn't MGM be shouting it from the rooftops to drum up interest and increase the worth of the product they are currently trying to get a studio to buy into?

MGM's first line of attack would be to point out that Craig is Bond, the actor whose films had the biggest b.o. and whom critics and audiences loved in the role. This is the current state of affairs as far as they are concerned - and also the best possible light they can present their property in.

After this I think any studio interested in a deal would also likely want to have a word in what possible candidates to look at next. That can include the ones we heard about already, but that could also mean a number of other faces. Now the phrasing 'advanced talks' could mean a lot but from a purely factual point-of-view you would doubtlessly already be in advanced talks when you make an appointment for a screen test, without any other details discussed yet. And numerous people already did those. It's quite possible we'll hear of other actors meeting with Eon's top brass.

[univex]

 

Indeed. Ig Daniel is out, I hope Hiddleson lands the role.

Definitely. Tom wouldn't be a leap of faith. He's ready made for the role. If Craig is lining up a host of other films, taking up his time and pushing back Bond, the powers that be should take the hint and move on.

 

 

This ^ 

Absolutely.

Start fresh with a new Bond actor.  Let the Craig era be a contained arc. 

 

And this ^

[univex]

Also, he seems to WANT the job.

 

It´s time for an actor like that.

Yes, pretty tired of the "this is bellow me" attitude, and then he goes on to make Golden Compass, Cowboys and Aliens, Dreamhouse, Tintin, ... I like Daniel, and I´ve always defended him, specially because of the work and discipline he brings to the role. But it was always clear that the Bond machine was painful for him. Like it was for, say, Sean. Hiddleston would take a far more polite approach to it. But in the end, its because I like Daniel that I want his era to be a contained arc, brilliantly finished with that DB5 scene in SP.

[Gay Bond]

If Mendes was alreday on board for Bond 25 wouldn't MGM be shouting it from the rooftops to drum up interest and increase the worth of the product they are currently trying to get a studio to buy into?

Mendes has now confirmed he is not returning.

[Syndicate]

Ok with all the stuff out there, what is official, just guess and what just plain junk news on Daniel Craig. I'm still hoping that Daniel Craig just want to relax some do some other movie(s). Then get back to playing sometime in 2018, well at least the movie come sometime then. I see it this way that he wants be like Pierce Brosnan who was able do other movies will still doing Bond. He don't want to be like Roger Moore who didn't any other movies will playing Bond, and the same with Sean Connery. He also don't want to be just be known for playing Bond.

 

Anyway hopefully he will do at least the same amount of Bond movies like Sean Connery and Roger Moore, be he really end it.

 

Sorry IF I'm late on this since all of you have already been talking about it. When the stuff came out.

Edited by Syndicate, 29 May 2016 - 05:56 AM.

[sharpshooter]

Mendes has now confirmed he is not returning.

Now we just need Craig to outline his position. I imagine it's similar to what Mendes just said. And Craig has called Mendes 'the only man for the job' in the past. 

[Thevan7F]

It can any actor if he black or white but no woman in the lead & none 5th Bond Pierce Brosnan son to take over when one of them said he'll bring back bond to the Brosnan family. I said in his Birthday post now I say for last time. No more Brosnans for Bond. Lastly if new actor take over in Bond 25 I won't care I finish with the Bond Franchise for good for some reason.

[Matt_13]

Guess that's the end of Mendes' contributions. I appreciate everything he gave us (the good and the bad). Time for some new blood.

[SecretAgentFan]

Kudos to Mendes for at least giving his statement now.

 

Now, since I´m obviously having too much time on my hands - what can we draw from that statement?

 

Was Mendes just a facilitator for the meeting between BB and Hiddleston?  Was he there and plans fell through?  For him?  Or for him and Hiddleston?  Or was it just a meeting by chance, three people in the same restaurant, just saying hi to each other?

 

Craig did state before that Mendes was the one director he wanted to come back for as Bond.  WIth Mendes out of the picture, will Craig´s "no" be final now?

 

So many possibilities...

 

 

Oh, one more thing:  I think it is very interesting that Mendes claims that BB is the ONLY person who will decide who is going to be Bond.  No MGW involved anymore?

[Orion]

Kudos to Mendes for at least giving his statement now.

 

Now, since I´m obviously having too much time on my hands - what can we draw from that statement?

 

Was Mendes just a facilitator for the meeting between BB and Hiddleston?  Was he there and plans fell through?  For him?  Or for him and Hiddleston?  Or was it just a meeting by chance, three people in the same restaurant, just saying hi to each other?

 

Craig did state before that Mendes was the one director he wanted to come back for as Bond.  WIth Mendes out of the picture, will Craig´s "no" be final now?

 

So many possibilities...

 

 

Oh, one more thing:  I think it is very interesting that Mendes claims that BB is the ONLY person who will decide who is going to be Bond.  No MGW involved anymore?

I go for - Tabloid journalist made it up and it never happened. Hiddleston (as much I love him for the role) is probably going to turn out to be to Bond 7 what Clive Owen was to Bond 6