143 replies to this topic

[Trip_Aces]

Big Red Grant fan here, especially his literary incarnation. Always seemed the most psychotic character Fleming ever came up with. (Trip, I'd love to hear your thoughts on FRWL, as it's my second favorite of the original novels!) I'd be all for a PTS focusing on a baddie, hopefully one so out of sync that even his employer can't handle him!

Big Red Grant fan here, especially his literary incarnation. Always seemed the most psychotic character Fleming ever came up with. (Trip, I'd love to hear your thoughts on FRWL, as it's my second favorite of the original novels!) I'd be all for a PTS focusing on a baddie, hopefully one so out of sync that even his employer can't handle him!

I'll definitely let you know what my thoughts are on FRWL - I must say, so far, so good and I'm just now getting to the second half of the novel!

A henchman that's on a short leash of the villain could be awesome: so insane that even his employer's afraid of him. Only drawback would be the inevitable comparisons to TDKR's Bane (which is the only villain in recent memory that's on that level).

[Guy Haines]

I agree with Call Billy Bob about Grant. There weren't many moments in the films when you wonder if Bond really has "had it", but the scene when "Captain Nash" is revealed to be Grant and has Bond seemingly at his mercy is one. Robert Shaw's performance is brilliant. I would very much like to see a henchman in the style of Grant - quiet, seemingly normal looking but hinting throughout the film of the psychotic, before revealing his true menace. "Grant-like" henchmen have been tried in the past but have never quite carried it off compared with the original, in my view.

 

I hope when it comes to casting this new henchman, instead of sending out a call to well built ex-sporting types hoping to break into films the producers look to cast a good experienced actor who has looks, physicality and acting ability to carry off the part. 

[john.steed]

I agree with Call Billy Bob about Grant. There weren't many moments in the films when you wonder if Bond really has "had it", but the scene when "Captain Nash" is revealed to be Grant and has Bond seemingly at his mercy is one. Robert Shaw's performance is brilliant. I would very much like to see a henchman in the style of Grant - quiet, seemingly normal looking but hinting throughout the film of the psychotic, before revealing his true menace. "Grant-like" henchmen have been tried in the past but have never quite carried it off compared with the original, in my view.

 

I hope when it comes to casting this new henchman, instead of sending out a call to well built ex-sporting types hoping to break into films the producers look to cast a good experienced actor who has looks, physicality and acting ability to carry off the part. 

 

 

Certainly things worked out very well in FRWL with the casting of the better than good established actor Robert Shaw. However things also worked out brilliantly in the casting of Harold Sakata as Oddjob even though his only previous experiences as an actor came a pro wrestler. These two different actors each worked so well because their skills meet the demands of the script with the role of Grant requiring a far better actor but that of Oddjob needing a more imposing physique. In the end, though Shaw and Sakata were very different actors, their characters are two of the most memorable villains in Bond history. 

 

So, without knowing the script, I do not know how Bond 24's creators should approach the casting of a henchman. However, as a Bond fan, if the new character was anywhere near as memorable as either Grant or Oddjob, I would be very happy.   

[DLibrasnow]

I think we would all be happy, but they've been trying for almost 50 years to recapture that magic with varying degrees of success.

Thinking about it in "For Your Eyes Only" they tried for a double with Locque in the Grant role and Kriegler in the Oddjob role. Of course we never had the Locque/Bond fight and the fight between Kriegler and Bond in the monastery was so short that it was hardly memorable.

Overall I'd like a return to the really good well-staged fight scene between the henchman and Bond. 

[SecretAgentFan]

I would love a Red Grant-type, having a final confrontation with Bond.

[Shrublands]

I think there is going to be a move for well staged fights and an interesting fresh approach. This chap (Olivier Schneider) is a new addition to the Bond team and he is apparently already woking on fight choreography for Bond 24. 

 

 

Here is a link to his website with news that he is currently working on Bond 24

 

http://www.olivierschneider.com/en

[Turn]

I think they have the ideal guy right there.

[Call Billy Bob]

Agreed! Looking forward to some tough as nails action in the new film!

[bondjames]

Agree about FRWL. Given when that movie was made, it was an unquestionably brilliant fight scene and Grant was exceptional as a villain. Quiet menace indeed.

 

I think from a more recent fight perspective, I like the 006/007 matchup at the end of Goldeneye. It was physical, brutal and one of the best post-Grant fights. I also like the Obanno/Bond fight on the stairs of the hotel in Casino Royale. Also extremely brutal and superbly choreographed. Both of these movies were directed by Martin Campbell, so he gets it when it comes to doing fight scenes.

 

Quantum of Solace had potential, but the bloddy editing messed it up. The fight scenes in Skyfall were absolutely pathetic and disgraceful compared to Craig's first two movies, particularly the fight in the Asian Casino, which a 10 year old could have choreographed better. It looked like something out of a pg rated children's movie.

 

In terms of villains, I agree that it would be better to get a good actor who exudes quiet menace a'la Grant. Someone physical could also work. If you watch the Girl Who Played With Fire, there is a thug there who is quite scary and imposing.

[The Dove]

Ahh.. Yes the guy who played Ronald Niedermann in " Fire" and "Hornet's Nest".. He'd certainly be a great choice for a henchman.. Sort of a combo between Jaws and Red Grant..

[Guy Haines]

The "iconic henchman" may have been cast. The "Latino Review" claims that Dave Bautista, an ex-WWE wrestling star who appeared in "Guardians Of The Galaxy" has landed the role. This appeared on the James Bond MI6 website.

[The Dove]

Have never heard of him or seen any of his films myself but DAMMNN!! Poor Daniel Craig is in for a rough time!! I approve!!

[Shrublands]

The "iconic henchman" may have been cast. The "Latino Review" claims that Dave Bautista, an ex-WWE wrestling star who appeared in "Guardians Of The Galaxy" has landed the role. This appeared on the James Bond MI6 website.

 

Yes, here is a link to the original report at Latino Review.

http://www.latino-re...role-in-bond-24

[x007AceOfSpades]

I'm actually quite excited for this. I wonder if that's the reason he's grown his hair and beard out. He's a big guy, no doubt about that, and I think Craig is in some trouble. 

[sharpshooter]

The guy has a massive body. I'm on board with his casting. Fingers crossed for some hard hitting encounters. 

[Agent 76]

interesting casting. Batista is a beast!

[Vauxhall]

Not sure how good his acting will be, but he's enormous, so definitely a physical challenge. 

[seawolfnyy]

This could be a great casting I think. Batista could definitely be menacing Oddjob/Jaws type. Good one if it's to be believed.

[sharpshooter]

With the team slowly coming together, we could expect to see a press conference sometime soon I think.

[GalaSilva]

With the team slowly coming together, we could expect to see a press conference sometime soon I think.

I think we'll have it at the end of next month because from what I can remember, the Skyfall conference was about a week before they started filming. 

[Agent 76]

With the team slowly coming together, we could expect to see a press conference sometime soon I think.

Really hope so.

 

Every Bond movie is an event, and the press conference is always great to watch.

[Matt_13]

He was very enjoyable in Guardians. He is a physical presence which is what I think they wanted. I admit, I was holding out for a more unusual choice, but Bautista seems like a class act and he has a likeable nature that Richard Kiel also possessed. In all, right move and the first bit of legitimately exciting casting.

The bigger question now is whether Hinx is a placeholder or the actual name of the villain.

[GalaSilva]

The bigger question now is whether Hinx is a placeholder or the actual name of the villain.

I don't see why it would be the real name because no other character name has been announced and to be honest, it's a crap name so I'm hoping it's just a placeholder. 

[Vauxhall]

Hadn't realised that Bautista's character in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY was called Drax. An omen from classic Bond.

[Shrublands]

 

The bigger question now is whether Hinx is a placeholder or the actual name of the villain.

I don't see why it would be the real name because no other character name has been announced and to be honest, it's a crap name so I'm hoping it's just a placeholder. 

 

 

 

One casting notice used the name 'Miranda Frost' which is obviously a placeholder name.

So I'd say that Hinx is also.

[Vauxhall]

 

 

The bigger question now is whether Hinx is a placeholder or the actual name of the villain.

I don't see why it would be the real name because no other character name has been announced and to be honest, it's a crap name so I'm hoping it's just a placeholder. 

 

 

One casting notice used the name 'Miranda Frost' which is obviously a placeholder name.

So I'd say that Hinx is also.

 

 

DIE ANOTHER DAY references designed to bring us all out in a cold sweat.

[bondjames]

I have to admit I'm underwhelmed by the choice of Bautista (if it is in fact him). I haven't seen Guardians but I'm familiar with his 'acting' on WWE.

 

He's definitely intimidating, but I was hoping for a less thugish physique to go up against Craig's Bond, especially since Craig himself is pretty gut. Perhaps someone taller and leaner would provide a more suitable contrast to Craig's sometimes bulging out of his suit frame. It was different during Connery and Moore's time, when they were reasonably lean, so a brute was a good contrast.

 

Anyways, let's see if this is confirmed.

[Shrublands]

 

 

 

The bigger question now is whether Hinx is a placeholder or the actual name of the villain.

I don't see why it would be the real name because no other character name has been announced and to be honest, it's a crap name so I'm hoping it's just a placeholder. 

 

 

One casting notice used the name 'Miranda Frost' which is obviously a placeholder name.

So I'd say that Hinx is also.

 

 

DIE ANOTHER DAY references designed to bring us all out in a cold sweat.

 

 

Yes, with all the frozen locations it's clearly going to be a remake.

[Yellow Pinky]

I thought that Bautista was the breakout performance in Guardians of the Galaxy, even more so than Chris Pratt, who nailed it himself.  Sure, he was physically intimidating (the man is HUGE!), but he displayed some real acting chops, especially in his deadpan humor.

That said, I think his performance in Riddick is probably a better indicator of where he would go as a Bond henchman, and he was memorable in that movie, too.

I agree with those who were hoping for a more unique henchman, but Bautista certainly brings a lot of menace and an imposing physical presence  to the role, if it is indeed confirmed as true.

At the very least he will be an enormous improvement over Elvis in QoS!

Edited by Yellow Pinky, 13 October 2014 - 02:46 PM.

[Matt_13]

Right, no matter how we look at it, this is the best henchman casting news we've had in a very long time.