179 replies to this topic

[marktmurphy]

Just saw that. Wasn't Dench confirmed?

Well, the article says, she was confirmed but is now replaced. Can all be, but does it make sense to recast with an actor almost as old?

So, for the avoidance of doubt, are you accepting this tabloid rumour as true or not?

Is it me or is 'Avoidance Of Doubt' a more Bondy title than Quantum of Solace?

[Germanlady]

Here another one - guess this sits better and makes more sense. If I read through the comments, we might as well as put ALL articles in the tabloid trash bin to ensure others, we don't post something as a fact. I like the sound of this much better. Not ready to let Judi go just yet.

http://www.rte.ie/te...01/finneya.html

According to the Daily Mail he joins fellow Brits Daniel Craig, Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes, as well as Spaniard Javier Bardem, in what could be the most talented cast in the history of the franchise.

Finney, 75, will play a high ranking intelligence official, with powers that the Mail speculates include supervisory duties over M, played by Dench.

[Captain Tightpants]

"According to the Daily Mail ..."

The article is just written off the Daily Mail article. In the absence of their own source, they've trusted the Daily Mail. It's like when a newspaper runs an article from Reuters - they might not have their own correspondant in place (because maybe it's too expensive or too difficult to send one of their own journalists out to cover the story), so the paper buys a story from Reuters and runs it as their own (with full credit to the appropriate journalist, of course). RTE probably don't have their own correspondant who can cover BOND 23, so they credited the Daily Mail with the story sicne the Daily Mail ran it first. There's nothing wrong with the practice, it just means that they hvae to trust the publication they're writing off.

That's the thing with this Finney article: every subsequent story on the matter can be traced back to The Daily Mail. Nobody else seems to have their own way of verifying the subject. This could be good or bad; if the Daily Mail is right about Finney, then everyone who ran the stories is right. But if they're not ... well, it can be embarrassing. Look at what happened with that article from Blic that claimed BOND 23 would be CARTE BLANCHE - a dozen websites picked it up, and then got egg on their face when EON put out a blanket "no".

If these Finney stories are true, it's going to be an intersting role. Both CASINO ROYALE and QUANTUM OF SOLACE make it pretty clear that M is in control of MI6 - she doesn't have a boss. She reports directly to the Prime Minister (or the Foreign Secretary, when the PM is upset). It's sounding like Finney is a career politician who uses his clout to influence M and MI6. It could be a way to separate Bond and M; one of the common complaints about M is that she is too involved, and that Bond should be allowed to work on his own. One way to free him up is to write it into the story - to have M distracted by dealing with Finney so that she can't hold Bond's hand.

[AndrewBond]

Has it occured to anyone that Finney might be playing Q? Q is technically a "high-ranking intelligence official", but by giving that vague description, it allows the press (aka the tabloid source) license to run wild while still being technically accurate. Then, when it's announced at the press conference, everyone oohs and aahs and even more discussion begins.

Think about it: it would make sense as he's the last announced, as Daniel Craig himself told us to "wait and see" about a month ago. Finney is also announced for Bourne 4, and "M's superior" would be too similar a role; EON doesn't need more Bourne comparisons. Finney fits the mold of Q perfectly, and it's a small but amusing role for an actor who's been out of the game for the last few years. Yes, he's quite old to be cast in a recurring role, and not at all groundbreaking, but at the same time, we know EON has been hesitant to cast a new Q, so it makes sense to have this conservative choice for the 50th anniversary. The anniversary is the reason I'm confident there's a Q, along with the fact that Quantum of Solace was poorly received by the general public and was followed by a four year hiatus where Bond was once again declared dead. EON will want to present as many traditional and popular Bond elements while still being able to make a Bond film that is good and original, and this is one of the best ways to do it.

[DamnCoffee]

I honestly had a thought last night about the idea of M being killed off at the end of BOND 23, and getting replaced by another actor. Alan Rickman kept coming up in my head, and then I look at this thread for the first time in days and what do ya know. :')

[Shrublands]

Has it occured to anyone that Finney might be playing Q?

Q is not what anyone would call a “Foreign Office mandarin with powers over the Secret Intelligence Service”.

[Royal Dalton]

Well, since Albert Finney's going to be in it, how about Tom Courtenay as Q?

Come on, Eon. There's still time to cast him!

[Shrublands]

Well, since Albert Finney's going to be in it, how about Tom Courtenay as Q?

Come on, Eon. There's still time to cast him!

The bathtub scene should be great.

[AndrewBond]

Q is not what anyone would call a “Foreign Office mandarin with powers over the Secret Intelligence Service”.

Obviously. I'm just saying that perhaps this is exactly the kind of tit-for-tat that Col Sun was talking about. Bigmoye wanted to reveal something, EON gave him Albert Finney, said he worked for the Intelligence Service, and Bigmoye ran with it, naming a part similar to the scene from QoS where M gets lectured by that official.

[Captain Tightpants]

Bigmoye ran with it, naming a part similar to the scene from QoS where M gets lectured by that official.

It makes far more sense for Finney to play this role, though. If Downing Street isn't impressed with the way M has been running things, they may appoint someone to oversee the entire thing and report back as an "independent observer".

Finney himself is 75, and has spent the past few years battling pancreatic cancer. I seriously doubt he would be Q - in fact, he'd be more likely to do a one-off appearance, like the aforementioend Foreign Office heavyweight.

[DaveBond21]

Bigmoye ran with it, naming a part similar to the scene from QoS where M gets lectured by that official.

It makes far more sense for Finney to play this role, though. If Downing Street isn't impressed with the way M has been running things, they may appoint someone to oversee the entire thing and report back as an "independent observer".

Finney himself is 75, and has spent the past few years battling pancreatic cancer. I seriously doubt he would be Q - in fact, he'd be more likely to do a one-off appearance, like the aforementioend Foreign Office heavyweight.

Everyone knows that all British foreign office officials are under 40.



---

[Napoleon Solo]

So title Skyfall, check. Cast includes Fiennes and Finney, check. Cast includes Harris, check. Harris playing Eve, that implies not playing Moneypenney (call that wrong unless they've turned Moneypenny into field operative Eve Moneypenny).

I haven't seen pictures yet. Did Craig shave off the beard?

[Pussfeller]

Blitz Bubblebobble, I'm so sorry I ever doubted you.

[Jim]

Bez Binglebog is lovely.

[Jim]

Thread title adjusted, with much sackcloth and ashes on my part for ever doubting it. I shall be asking myself some very searching questions later.

[Zorin Industries]

I haven't seen pictures yet. Did Craig shave off the beard?

Yes. But Judi has kept hers.

[Leon]

So title Skyfall, check. Cast includes Fiennes and Finney, check. Cast includes Harris, check. Harris playing Eve, that implies not playing Moneypenney (call that wrong unless they've turned Moneypenny into field operative Eve Moneypenny).

I haven't seen pictures yet. Did Craig shave off the beard?

He did, though he has a little stubble in the conference. His hair is also almost properly buzz-cut! This will be the shortest hair Bond has ever sported o.O

[David Schofield]

So title Skyfall, check. Cast includes Fiennes and Finney, check. Cast includes Harris, check. Harris playing Eve, that implies not playing Moneypenney (call that wrong unless they've turned Moneypenny into field operative Eve Moneypenny).

I haven't seen pictures yet. Did Craig shave off the beard?

He did, though he has a little stubble in the conference. His hair is also almost properly buzz-cut! This will be the shortest hair Bond has ever sported o.O

Yeah, but that's so the toupee goes over it so much easier.

[DamnCoffee]

So title Skyfall, check. Cast includes Fiennes and Finney, check. Cast includes Harris, check. Harris playing Eve, that implies not playing Moneypenney (call that wrong unless they've turned Moneypenny into field operative Eve Moneypenny).

I haven't seen pictures yet. Did Craig shave off the beard?

He did, though he has a little stubble in the conference. His hair is also almost properly buzz-cut! This will be the shortest hair Bond has ever sported o.O

Thing is, if they're filming later on today, then I doubt Craig will have a full beard for the movie. Maybe just a stubble.

[Leon]

So title Skyfall, check. Cast includes Fiennes and Finney, check. Cast includes Harris, check. Harris playing Eve, that implies not playing Moneypenney (call that wrong unless they've turned Moneypenny into field operative Eve Moneypenny).

I haven't seen pictures yet. Did Craig shave off the beard?

He did, though he has a little stubble in the conference. His hair is also almost properly buzz-cut! This will be the shortest hair Bond has ever sported o.O

Yeah, but that's so the toupee goes over it so much easier.

Haha, though it's even shorter than Connery's without the toupee!

[Pussfeller]

I for one welcome our crew-cutted, hobo-bearded 007. And I doubt if he'll be unshaven for more than a few scenes. What's really surprising is that we've never seen Bond with scruff before, even for one scene, even during the heyday of designer stubble.

[Captain Tightpants]

What's really surprising is that we've never seen Bond with scruff before, even for one scene, even during the heyday of designer stubble.

I see you've clearly forgotten DIE ANOTHER DAY.

A luxury few of us seem to have.

[Leon]

He may well just be shaving before he starts filming to keep his skin as smooth as possible.

[Bunyon Snipe]

Finney as the new Blofeld, Javier Bardem will play the main villain, his Number Two...
I think!

Or Maybe Fiennes as Blofeld?

[Pussfeller]

Finney's role hasn't been spelled out, but I don't think he's playing a villain.

[Vauxhall]

Finney's role hasn't been spelled out, but I don't think he's playing a villain.

I see him as being a senior figure in the British government, or a "shadowy" figure from M's past. I think his role and actual screen time will be fairly short though.

[thecasinoroyale]

My theory on the mystery and secrecy of Albert Finney, which to me if he was playing a superior or something he would be labelled or known as (for example) - Albert Finney as Dalton, Head of Foreign Security (something like that).

I think that he will be playing the new M.

With what we heard today about 'Skyfall' being emotionally linked to something in the film, and the synopsis about M's past, I think that during the film either Judi Dench's M is killed or taken off duty, rocking MI6 and maybe leading to even more of a character development tool for Bond, but also maybe scaring Eve (Harris) off duty to becoming a secretary, aka Miss Moneypenny.

I think Judi Dench's M is now in her final film in a story that could shock as well as deliver the suspense and twists like 'Casino Royale'. Albert Finney is drafted in as the new M for Daniel Craig, be it for just this film until the MOD appoint a new Head, or simply like Bernard Lee did, appear for a few minutes of the films and then be done.


That's my idea anyway! Can't wait to find out.

[DamnCoffee]

You have to remember though, that Finney is almost 80. Why cast someone so old for the part? If he is the new M, just expect it for this film. The guys getting on. Every Bond film is 2+ years apart. Don't expect the poor guy to stick around for a while.

[thecasinoroyale]

That's what I was thinking Mharkin. He's too old to pop up onver the next 3/4 films.

Maybe he just fills in for M and we will get another male M next time. (If Judi Dench is even out!)

[Skudor]

Hmmm so May be Ben W is the new M :-)