319 replies to this topic

[volante]

Don Warrington. Yes. Well done. I can see him perfectly in the role!

Not that I would like to see Dame Judi Dench leave that is. I love her in that role (in any role come to think of it) but, yes, should she decided to leave after Bond 23, then Warrington would fit the glove perfectly.

Harry Fawkes

Yes, Don Warrington should be concidered.
I've often thought that if they wantedto keep the same M charecter; Julie Walters would be ideal.
But then again Tim Dalton is where I'd like to put my money

[Harry Fawkes]

Tim Dalton! Wow, now that's a great idea Volante! What wouldn't I pay to see that bloody happen!

[jaguar007]

I disagree about Dalton. While he would make an excellent M, having a former Bond as M (or any other role in a Bond film) would take me out of the movie and just invite comparisons between Dalton and the actor playing Bond.

[Harry Fawkes]

I disagree about Dalton. While he would make an excellent M, having a former Bond as M (or any other role in a Bond film) would take me out of the movie and just invite comparisons between Dalton and the actor playing Bond.

Good point there!

[jaguar007]

The recent Star Trek thread that just popped up here made me think that Patrick Stewart could be a good M.

[Aris007]

The recent Star Trek thread that just popped up here made me think that Patrick Stewart could be a good M.

That would be a fine option, but again I think it's a bit too obvious. Also he's quite old to take the part now. I guess we need an actor that's in his middle 50s that can take the role with the departure of Craig or even take it after Dench leaves the boat.

[Frankie]

I think the perfect "Next M" is Anthony Head who plays Uthor Pendragom on Merlin.

He's in his late 50s now and will be in his early 60s when his turn will (reasonably) come.

[x007AceOfSpades]

I strongly support the idea of having a Male "M". I'm also supporting the idea of having Don Warrington as M.

[bill007]

I've gone along with Judy Dench playing "M" simply because there was nothing I could do to change it. Having a bean-counting, pencil-pushing, office clerk female as the MI6 Director never really rung true with me.

I would prefer a male in the role. He would have served as a Commander in the SAS during the Faulklands (1982), had risen to Brigader by the time the 1st Gulf War happened (1991), and had moved into government service/administrative realm during the 2nd Gulf War (2002), where he gained significant experience as a case officer controlling normal agents in the field, but fully aware of the special Double-O branch.

An 'oo-rah-Henry good-ol-boy' aristocrat, of course. But, with a dirtiness about him.

Now, THAT is an "M" I could appreciate.

[Jim]

An 'oo-rah-Henry good-ol-boy' aristocrat, of course. But, with a dirtiness about him.

Blimey. Dirty Henry. Is that the British equivalent of Dirty Harry?

Even more of a departure from the original than having M female.

[bill007]

An 'oo-rah-Henry good-ol-boy' aristocrat, of course. But, with a dirtiness about him.

Blimey. Dirty Henry. Is that the British equivalent of Dirty Harry?

Even more of a departure from the original than having M female.

Dirty Henry

I disagree that it would be more of a departure than a female M. More of the way I remember Bernard Lee, really. But, it is only one's opinion/viewpoint.

[Jim]

The Lee M was no aristocrat; utterly grammar school who outranks Bond militarily but not socially - this I thought fairly fundamental to their relationship.

Interested you want M a soldier rather than a sailor.

[bill007]

Perhaps it was the trappings of M's office which took me to the aristocratic vein of thought. But, I agree with your assessment of the Lee M relationship as it was then.

However, since the current trend (ala CR & QoS) is all about departure (from what once was), and the subject is about a new M replacing the current M, I felt compelled to toss my idea in the ring.

The current warfare is mostly land-based these days. Thus, a soldier M.

[booyeah_]

Not that your suggestion is off-base, but if you are implying Navies whether with aviators, dirt sailors, supplies, or special forces, have a minor role in the world's militaries, then you are off on that.

Don Warrington would be a great choice!

[Binyamin]

It is time for a male M again. And, it is time for an M who has full confidence in Bond, though he doesn't always reveal it. Bernard Lee defending Bond in Thunderball. Yessh.

[TheREAL008]

Casting my vote for Anthony Stewart Head also. He'd be perfect as M.

[Jump James]

Id give head a miss.

The more I think about it the more Don Warrington could just work as an M. Nice idea Stainless Steel Teeth INC. Having seen his form it's quite in his ability to play a contemporary M, but with a bit of the old school flavor.

[Stainless Steel Teeth INC]

I'm glad there've been several nods towards Don Warrington. For anyone who's not familiar with him here's a clip I found during his appearance on 'Strictly Come Dancing' (please forgive the sequins!) that reveals a bit of his personality, charm and most importantly his voice;





I've already mentioned that I think he has a voice that has class & sophistication but I also get the impression he has the natural ability to command respect and not take any cr+p. Having watched QOS again recently, the scene between M & the Foreign Secretary (Tim Pigott Smith) stuck out in the way M was 'almost' subservient during the meeting which felt a little out of character especially after how she has handled high powered individuals (TND's Admiral Roebuck) in the past.

I've enjoyed Judi Dench's portrayal over the last several films but if there is to be a change I now want to see an M who's had a practical understanding of fighting for their country and who also has what it takes to handle the politicos using charm or something tougher... more importantly I want an M you (and Bond) can respect without question.

[TheREAL008]

Don Warrington would be a great choice too. Consider him my first choice and Anthony my second.

[0077]

I'm probably in the minority in saying that a male M should have been cast in Casino Royale.

Dame Judi is a wonderful performer, but she represents the Bronsan years and the producers should have sought out a male for the new M.

Not trying to sound sexist, excuse me if it does.

[DR76]

Dame Judi is a wonderful performer, but she represents the Bronsan years and the producers should have sought out a male for the new M.

Not trying to sound sexist, excuse me if it does.

Sounds like you had every intention of being sexist.

Do the majority of men have a problem with women as authority figures? Sounds like it.

[Frankie]

I'm probably in the minority in saying that a male M should have been cast in Casino Royale.

Dame Judi is a wonderful performer, but she represents the Bronsan years and the producers should have sought out a male for the new M.

Not trying to sound sexist, excuse me if it does.

I was against the Bond re-boot to begin with. But, I voiced this from the very first days of the reboot, if we were to accept the new Bond at the beginning of his 00 career why were we seeing the M who was Bond's boss before. It was stupid times stupid. I do agree with you.

They should have had a new M just like they had a new "rookie" Bond. Has absolutely nothing to do with M's sex.

[jaguar007]

I think the main reason they kept Judi Dench in CR (apart from her being the great Judi Dench) was to have some sort of a connection with previous Bond films. Brosnan had Desmond Llewellyn to keep some connection with earlier films and with Craig, Dench was about the only call (nobody outside Bond fandom remembers Samantha Bond's Moneypenny).

[Frankie]

I think the main reason they kept Judi Dench in CR (apart from her being the great Judi Dench) was to have some sort of a connection with previous Bond films. Brosnan had Desmond Llewellyn to keep some connection with earlier films and with Craig, Dench was about the only call (nobody outside Bond fandom remembers Samantha Bond's Moneypenny).

When you are rebooting the character, you are cutting all connections with the past. Dumb idea to keep the same M who bossed Bond around suddenly be the M that hires the rookie Bond.

[Matt_13]

I would like Dench to leave when Daniel does, if only to go out on a high note. I can't think of any female actress of Dench's caliber to take up the mantel once shes gone, so a male M is pretty much a certainty at this point.

[Stainless Steel Teeth INC]

But looking from it from the other perspective, by replacing M at this point gives the audience a chance to get aquainted with that actor (and their interpretation of the role) for a couple of films. By doing this, when the time comes to recast 007 there will be a smoother (more familiar) transition between the two films just as there was in the past.

Replacing two main roles in one go might be too much of an initial distraction as we'll all be looking at how well they are fitting in (and comparing) rather than just sitting back and enjoying the film.

If they were to recast M with another actress, there is always Helen Mirren or maybe Juliet Stevenson. But I would still like to see a male in the role next.

[Davy]

As long as we get a good actor,I couldn't care less. Since the rea life job is not mae exclusive, it should be open to both sexes in the Bond world too.

[TCK]

I think Casino Royale was a perfect occasion to change M's character, and for two reasons :
- this would have added a singular aspect to Brosnan's era with a same M during the four movies ; until now, any actor who has acted Bond had a M for him only, any.
- and this would have prevented spectators from being a bit lost with this "saga reborns", but with Judi Dench acting M both in the new and the former period.

By the way, I don't know if someone know James Cosmo, even by sight, but I think he would have done a great M for Craig's era, wouldn't he ?



But now I think it's too late, too bad, and I have no idea about who will be able to play M after Dench.

[Frankie]

....., until now, any actor who has acted Bond had a M for him only, any.

This is not correct.

Bernard Lee played M for Sean Connery, George Lazenby, and Roger Moore.

Robert Brown played M to Roger Moore and timothy Dalton.

[Davy]

Brian Cox could be a good M but I think given there's already so many fans against the Bourne-isation of Bond thats a no-go.