190 replies to this topic

[thecasinoroyale]

I suppose someone needs to be in 'M's position, but even higher up as she always reports to the Government officials, but never seen having a dressing down, just disagreements.

Maybe Fiennes will, in effect, be 'M's boss, rather than fellow superior in the Government.

[Luigi Ferrari]

http://moviesblog.mt...tm_medium=feed

Ralph Fienes: Bond character 'doesn't qualify as a villain'.

Ralph Fiennes has long been known for his portrayals of pure evil. With a Nazi, the darkest wizard of our time and literally the lord of the underworld in "Wrath of the Titans," Fiennes has certainly carved out a niche for himself, but for his mysterious role in the upcoming James Bond film, "Skyfall," he might be saying goodbye to the baddie roles for a while.
We spoke with a bearded Fiennes while he was promoting "Wrath of the Titans," and he very briefly shed some light on his character, the vaguely described "government agent."
"I don't think that qualifies as a villain," Fiennes said. "I think that my villain days are coming to an end, I think."

While this may be nothing more than an indication of which side of the good and evil spectrum Fiennes will fall on for "Skyfall," it's more interesting when considered alongside recent rumors about the character.

Possible spoilers ahead, but mostly wild speculation!
As mentioned before, the Daily Record referred to Fiennes' character obliquely as a "government agent," but Movieweb (via Screenrant) shared word from an "insider" that Fiennes is set to take over for Dame Judi Dench as Bond's boss in MI6, M.
The little we do know about the plot of "Skyfall" tells us that Dench's M will play a bigger role this time around, as a secret from her past comes back to haunt her and Bond. If this secret results in lady M's final bow, it only makes sense that an actor of the same caliber step in to fill the void.
Dench has been M since all the way back in 1995 when Pierce Brosnan debuted as 007 in "GoldenEye."

Edited by Luigi Ferrari, 26 March 2012 - 05:29 PM.

[Shrublands]

I think the M rumour may well be true. It would be nice to see Fiennes as a new sort of M, a more morally ambiguous character with a Machiavellian approach to his job perhaps.

[007jamesbond]

can someone tell me what he said in the video.........?

[Pussfeller]

can someone tell me what he said in the video.........?

Just this: "I don't think that qualifies as a villain. I think that my villain days are coming to an end, I think."

[glidrose]

Do we know for sure that Fiennes will be the new M or is this just fanboy rumour/wishful thinking? I'll believe it when I see it.

What's in it for Fiennes to take a minor role? For all we know Fiennes could be playing the PM or some other high ranking Minister.

[Captain Tightpants]

What's in it for Fiennes to take a minor role?

Maybe he likes the idea of having an ongoing role the way he did with Voldemort, but doesn't want to commit to a large role. If the films have less involvement of M starting with BOND 24, then Fiennes would be free to pursue a lot of extra projects whilst regularly coming back to a character he likes.

[Pussfeller]

No idea whether it's true, but it would be an excellent way for him to un-typecast himself. Or perhaps to re-typecast himself.

[Captain Tightpants]

I think the film will end in such a way that it leaves the door open for Fiennes to return to the role, but if he does not, then BOND 24 can easily be written in such a way that his departure is not a glaring retcon. For example, temporarily appointing him as the head of MI6. That way, if Fiennes returns, then the character was evidently offered a more-permanent role in the agency. If he does not, then the character was evidently not kept on. Either way works without interrupting the continuity.

[Peckinpah1976]

Fiennes also seems to like taking on roles simply because they interest him; he recently turned up in off-beat BBC comedy Rev for all of two minutes and we do know that he is something of a Bond fan. It also could be that on future films Eon are willing to pay him a premium if it is just a few days work, so that they've got someone of similar stature to Dench stepping into the role.

Edited by Peckinpah1976, 30 March 2012 - 06:38 AM.

[S K Y F A L L]

I feel like the last few posts really made some good points.
I was wondering if Ralph Fienne's isn't playing the new M, it would be pretty disappointing to me. I can't think of anyone who would do a better job. Judi Dench is 77 years old and Skyfall seems like it will be really focused on her role, almost like one last hurrah.
I can't imagine the producers not thinking a head about who will be replacing her and how and if it will be explained in the films.

[Vauxhall]

I watched IN BRUGES today, and while I trust Ralph Fiennes' character in that film won't resemble his role in SKYFALL, I do look forward to him being a slightly irritable and difficult to please individual.

[Peckinpah1976]

That shouldn't be too much of a stretch for him...

[S K Y F A L L]

I think this rumor about M if true, which I believe it to be, only puts this rumor to bed. Welcome aboard the Bond family Ralph.

[S K Y F A L L]

I just had to re-post this wicked photo Marketto007 posted in the "Skyfall image thread."

Here' another one, where we can see Ralph Fiennes for the first time.



xxx

[S K Y F A L L]

I'm just guessing but it looks like Fiennes is in the underground bunker we have seen photos of with M in.

[Vauxhall]

I'm just guessing but it looks like Fiennes is in the underground bunker we have seen photos of with M in.

Yep, almost certainly the same scene as they're seen filming in Sam Mendes' first videoblog. Probably a bit of a dressing down for M, I'd imagine.

[thecasinoroyale]

In that photo he reminds me of a young Bernard Lee's 'M' character!

[Pussfeller]

On that point, two items from the French magazine stuck out: the comment that "more than one" classic characters were to be reintroduced, and that SF would focus on the development of MI6, specifically "closing a loop" between the reboot and Dr No. That certainly seems to suggest the reintroduction of a Messervy-style M.

[Aris007]

On that point, two items from the French magazine stuck out: the comment that "more than one" classic characters were to be reintroduced, and that SF would focus on the development of MI6, specifically "closing a loop" between the reboot and Dr No. That certainly seems to suggest the reintroduction of a Messervy-style M.

Well done for translating this.

It'd be very nice to see how Miles Messervy got his post in the first place.

Question remains, will this be a permanent role for Fiennes or just an appearance in SF?

[DamnCoffee]

I think this is Fiennes. If it is, it's nice to see the new M get a bit of gun action. Now I just want to see Judi with an AK47.

Edited by Mharkin, 11 April 2012 - 06:13 PM.

[Matt_13]

So it does appear as though there is a component to this film that delves into the past. Interested to hear more about this.

[Ace Roberts]

OK - since we are in the spoiler section I will ask this question - the scene above of Ralph Fiennes aiming the gun pointing screen right suggests that he is aiming at someone who would be moving either toward the camera or screen left. The scene of Bond entering what appears to be the same hallway (also above) shows his entering and moving screen left. Is there a possibility that Fiennes character is aiming at Bond?

[ggl]

And don´t forget the bullet hole in the wall in Bond´s photo. Who shot him? Silva? or...

[thecasinoroyale]

There are just two things I'm praying for that Fiennes' character DOESN'T end up doing in 'Skyfall' to really take it ahead of the previous films...


1) His character doesn't wind up in too much action out in the 'field' - as the picture shows above with the gun, that's fine because we don't know the context. He could be aiming out of fear to protect himself, or someone else, and doens't really want to use the gun. Not everyone I feel in the Bond universe should be able to pull the trigger so easy and maybe hate the violence around them, which will show a sensitive and passionate side of Fiennes's character...I hope. I don't mind, if he is M's boss, that he's out there but don't turn him into another gun-toting ally.

2) He turns out, as coherent in 'CR' and 'QOS' to be siding with the villains, or has a long streak of corruption, as that's the common idea for high-ranking officials in films, and Bond movies especially, they always seem to turn bad! As Mathis said in 'QOS'..."the heroes and the villains become all mixed up" (to that effect). All good, or all bad. One or the other with no dramatic twists or reasons he's been playing everyone around for the duration of the film.


That's all I ask!

[Vauxhall]

My guess is that the shots of Bond and Mallory aiming their guns with wooden panel backdrops are both set inside the Whitehall office building (probably the Ministry of Defence) at the point where Silva rushes into the building at the end of the London underground chase.

[thecasinoroyale]

Now that I don't mind seeing - a man putting up a defence against his working honour and those around him. Good quality of a man!

Still can't get over the amount of talent we have in this film now we're seeing it all come together...bloody fantastic.

[Shrublands]

It seems that Lizo Mzimba (who did the Skyfall report for the BBC) has joined the MI6 forum (it seems to genuinely be him, but I could be wrong) Anyway, he has had this to add to what we know about Fiennes and Mallory.

Fiennes does indeed play Mallory. He's a Government official with oversight of M's agency. According to an official quote from Fiennes: "On the surface, Mallory has a charm, an old-world courtesy, but underneath, there's a steel there. He is absolutely able to stand up to M and go head-to-head with her."

I can’t help but think it strange that someone who is M’s superior would be made M – effectively, a demotion. Possible I suppose.

[thecasinoroyale]

A demotion, maybe, but possible he takes on the role of 'M' as well as his other duties, so in his eyes and others he's reigning in a wild horse to control for the time being?

[Royal Dalton]

I can’t help but think it strange that someone who is M’s superior would be made M – effectively, a demotion. Possible I suppose.

Yeah, that's right. I'm sure his character is, at the very least, inspired by the similar Nigel Yupland character from the old Bond 17 storyline, who "has no love for the Double-O section."

So, possibly not the new M.