1519 replies to this topic

[crashdrive]

McGregor isn't tough enough to play Bond. In 'Down with Love' he does play a classy womanizer, but I don't think he would be believable as a tough-as-nails assassin/ secret agent. And besides, he's too short to play Bond and didn't seem to be very interested in playing the character. The Calgary Sun spoke with Ewan McGregor recently. He's heard a murmur that he would be a good candidate to play James Bond when Pierce Brosnan retires:

"I don't want to hypothesize as to what I might do if the offer came. I'd have to wait until they actually approached me. I went through the same kind of angst and decision making when George Lucas came to me for Star Wars. I think playing Bond would be an even greater commitment. They turn them out closer together than George does the Star Wars films and it appears to me that Pierce spends as much time promoting those films as he does making them."

"These Star War movies are so difficult to make. There are so many special effects in them and that means a lot of blue-screen work. They're really tedious to make. There's a great deal more fun for me in making a movie like Down With Love."

[OK Connery]

Some personal thoughts on the poll's nominees:

Hugh Jackman: He's definitely good looking, fit, charming and can handle action. The biggest problem is the that he's going to be way too popular in the next couple years. Look at all the previous Bonds; They may have had careers before playing Bond, but they weren't stars. I really can't see EON signing on someone who will treat this as just another multi-picture franchise deal. They'll want someone who be willingly identified with one action hero (theirs) for at least a decade. The man who is starting to become a household name as a superhero and monster hunter brings with him baggage that EON might not want.

Clive Owen: I like him and think he's make a fine Fleming-esque Bond. Except with this King Arthur film coming up, he too might become too big a star for EON. Also, he might seem to `quirky'-looking for maximum demographic appeal, if I may be so cynical...

Hugh Grant: Can this man handle action? Well, he did once cut someone in half with a really big sword, and I think that's the only bit of violence he ever pulled off that seemed intentionally funny...

Jude Law: Handsome, Tough, Charming...makes him a good fit until you realize the odds of a full-fledged movie star and Oscar nominee deciding to be the next James Bond is next to zero...

Ewan McGregor: Handsome, witty, but not suave, and certainly doesn't have the hard edge 007 needs...

Colin Salmon: It would too confusing on any number of levels, and the first film he'd do would be disrupted by trying to explain the sudden and radical shift...

Christian Bale: Right age, right height, right everything really. Except for the fact I just can't see it right now. Maybe once the hunt for the next Bond officially begins, is when he'll be old enough for me to actually begin to see him as 007-material. As it is right now, the next five years are going to be interesting to see if he would be able to grow in the part. By default, he's really my choice for now...

Colin Farrell: Sorry but he's just too skeevy-looking and skeevy-acting to be taken seriously as an suave superspy...

Dominic West: Haven't seen anything he's in, so I can't comment except on his looks, really. He looks quite handsome and suave, but the photos I've seen so far he looks bland. Nothing perhaps a few more years might undo, giving him some age-lines to add some character to his face.

Robbie Williams: Robbie, give it up. You never had a chance, and you'll never will.

[Dr.Carl Mortner]

What??? No Jason Statham? Jason's the man!!!

[crashdrive]

OK Connery, you and I are in full agreement. My top five candidates for the role at this stage are Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Dominic West, Gerard Butler & Jack Davenport.

Jackman at the moment is still the most likely candidate for the role. He has stated in interviews he would love to play Bond and he was even approached by EON. But I have to agree that Jackman's star is rising too high for EON to still catch him. Time will tell.
Bale is also my second choice by default. One of the few actors who fits the Bond statistics (age, height, place of birth, experience, look). But he might not be interested in signing on to a three picture deal. And I'm still having trouble seeing him as Bond.
West is my own personal suggestion. An actor who is making a name for himself in quality work as HBO's "The Wire" (according to 'Time Magazine' the best show on television) and Mike Newell's "Mona Lisa Smile" starring Julia Roberts. Fits the Timothy Dalton mold, but also has a gift for comedy (he got rave reviews for his play "Design for Living" a few years back). I included another picture below and don't forget to check out my 'West as James Bond' photomanipulation (click on the link "Future Bond choice: Dominic West)

Butler is also a star on the rise. He co-stars alongside Jolie in "Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" and alongside Paul Walker in Richard Donners "Timeline". Joel Schumacher hired him to play The Phantom in the movieadaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webbers "The Phantom of the Opera". He also fits the statistics, but, like Owen and Jackman, he might be a little too famous for Eon.
Davenport is also very much like Timothy Dalton, but with the talent for comedy. I'm not sure he's tough enough, but this may change with time. He does have the right age, look, height, place of birth and resume to play Bond. A little action experience wouldn't hurt though.

As for Stratham, he's just not Bond material. Not suave enough or good-looking.

[rdh007]

This is my first post, I hope I don't break some sort of protocol. I have to agree with some of OK Connery's list. I just voted for Christian Bale simply because he has the looks, the chops, and is in the right (realistic?) price range for a new James Bond. (Bond by default) He is also younger, and I believe the franchise should head that way so that the end of the actor's run comes at 50, not 60. Gerard Butler might have to be next in line. I like Clive Owen, but I don't think he appeals across demographics, and that vote would be based on the BMW movies, not full length features. I like Jackman, but he brings a lot of other high profile roles, his money demands would be high, and by the time Brosnan is done, Jackman will be too old to do more than a few movies. (No way he's only 34, I'd bet closer to 39) I'd like to see Hugh do something like Bond, though, as it might be neat to speculate on what kind of job he'd have done. Of course, Brosnan will do at least a sixth Bond, so this is well down the road.

[JimmyBond]

Believe what you want about Jackman, but he was born in 68, doing the math, that puts him at about 35. If Brosnan only does one more film, EON will be looking for their next Bond in about 4 years, Jackman will be the perfect age.

Plus, I imagine if he really wants the role, he will take a pay cut. After all, Brosnan did that back in 95 on GE.

[Sick Sense]

I think We've skipped over one who seems very fit for the job of Bond. Eric Bana. He is in BlackHawk Down as Hoot, and we weill see him playing the Hulk soon enough.

[crashdrive]

Bana doesn't really strike me as the Bond type. He does not have the style, nor the suave good looks. He's a damn fine actor, but he's better suited playing other parts.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

at this rate we are not going to find a new james bond, there is just nobody out there....i know lets give it to tobey maguire, he did spiderman lets let him play bond to

[crashdrive]

What are you talking about? There are several actors more than suited to take over: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Dominic West, Gerard Butler & Jack Davenport. I know you like Jackman, Bale & Butler.

[JimmyBond]

I think Bean auditioned for the role during Goldeneye. Before he was cast as the villian that is. I think he'd make a fine Bond. And hell, we've had Joe Don Baker go from villian to ally. Why can't we have Bean go from villian to Bond? That would be interesting.

My first choice is still, Jackman of course

[Sick Sense]

My one and only choice is still Eric Bana, he's perfect.

[Sick Sense]

dont click it, it doesnt work

[BONDFINESSE 007]

Originally posted by crashdrive
What are you talking about? There are several actors more than suited to take over: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Dominic West, Gerard Butler & Jack Davenport. I know you like Jackman, Bale & Butler.

i do but do they have a good solid chance? jackman, bale, and butler???

[the007JamesBond]

Stop to discuss about wrong topics...

I would to say why, that Sean Connery is non-real Bond he has the brown eyes. And Pierce is real Bond, that he has got the scar on his right lips, who wrote in roman-novel books.

I've voted to Hugh Jackman, he is perfect to Bond. But it is that a problem with Hugh Jackman, he spoken not english-american accent and his language australian and his parents are English, he lived too long in Australia. He has wrote only left hand, his eyes are haselbrown-green and his hair middlebrown, but it is perfect to look of him.
Did you know, that George Lazenby is horrible bad spoken in wrong english accent.
I think, Hugh Jackman need to carry a hearing aid on the his ear, that speak exactly in language. I've saw the movie "Password Swordfish" on the behind the scenes, that I see. But he played in X-Men as Wolverine and hasn't no problem with speak in good english. I wondering....

What did you think about Hugh Jackman? Left hand, no scar in the skin and....

[booyeah_]

Originally posted by JimmyBond
I think Bean auditioned for the role during Goldeneye. Before he was cast as the villian that is. I think he'd make a fine Bond. And hell, we've had Joe Don Baker go from villian to ally. Why can't we have Bean go from villian to Bond? That would be interesting.

My first choice is still, Jackman of course

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Sean Bean would make a great Bond. As you said, JDB did it, why can't Sean Bean? If unfortunately Bean is not selected, I would prefer Clive Owens being selected.

Edited by booyeah_, 02 January 2004 - 12:33 AM.

[White Tuxedo]

I'd vote Clive Owen myself, but I'd make very different Bond movies.

But, honestly, I can't stand Hugh Jackman. I'm not a big X-Men fan, but he's okay in those. But as Bond? NO WAY IN HECK!!!! I don't EVER want him to be James Bond.

[crashdrive]

What are you talking about? Clive Owen doesn't write the screenplays so you can't possibly say that his movies will be more 'Dalton-esque' because he stars as Bond. EON has to take into account audience expectation. That means Owen's films will be in the same vain as Brosnan's.

Personally, I don't think Owen is right for the part. He just doesn't have the looks of a Bond actor. All of the Bond actors have been extremely handsome in the past. I have a feeling EON thinks appearance is as imporant (if not more) than acting talent. If not, why do you think Lazenby (a model with no acting experience) got the job?


Clive Owen in 'Second Sight' (2000)

Owen is a great actor, but I don't think the best actor should play Bond, but the most suitable candidate. By casting Owen, I'm sure EON is going to lose a large portion of their audience. Think of all the men who would want to be like Bond. I'm sure many of them feel that Owen is as handsome as they are. And don't forget the woman who love the Bond films because Brosnan is so dreamy. I doubt they are going to love Owen. I think the following actors look the part, but are also talented enough. I don't see what your problem is with Jackman. He's a gifted actor who is humble and very handsome. Audiences and fans will love him, I'm sure.
http://forums.comman...=&postid=126823 http://forums.comman...=&postid=126825
Hugh Jackman, Dominic West & Gerard Butler

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

By casting Owen, I'm sure EON is going to lose a large portion of their audience. Think of all the men who would want to be like Bond. I'm sure many of them feel that Owen is as handsome as they are. And don't forget the woman who love the Bond films because Brosnan is so dreamy. I doubt they are going to love Owen. I think the following actors look the part, but are also talented enough. I don't see what your problem is with Jackman. He's a gifted actor who is humble and very handsome. Audiences and fans will love him, I'm sure.

Of all the "candidates" often mentioned, Jackman seems to be the most similar to Brosnan, and that could hurt his chances of landing the role. Look back over the history of the Bond series, and you'll find that each new 007 has been very different to his predecessor, in terms of both looks and approach to the part. No doubt this is a deliberate policy on the part of the filmmakers, intended to keep the franchise fresh and ensure that people don't complain that an actor is a poor imitator of the previous guy. Lazenby was nothing like Connery, and neither was Moore. Dalton bore no resemblance to Moore, and Brosnan bore no resemblance to Dalton. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that Jackman may be too Brosnan-like to be hired.

At any rate, I hope so.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
At any rate, I hope so.

Well, I think this is more a coincidence than policy on the part of EON. I find it to be most unlikely that EON in the past have not hired their first choice just because he was too much like the last guy. And personally I always thought Lazenby got the job, because he was very much in the same vain as Connery. Brosnan back in the early eighties was also very much like Roger Moore, only younger. I don't think this theory of yours is accurate. And even if Jackman was too much like Brosnan (I personally don't agree) I don't see why this would be a problem. Back in the eighties, Roger Moore devided Bond fans. A lot of fans loved Roger, but others wanted Bond to be more serious. Brosnan however is an allrounder. I don't know anyone who doesn't love what Brosnan did for the series and I think EON is very eager to find an actor who could continue on the same foot.

One of these actors is Dominic West who is rapidly gaining momentum. Read the following article from Elle. I also included a picture of Dominic West where he looks more Bondian than in the 'GQ' photoshoot. Let me know what you think.

[crashdrive]

Do you still feel this guy is the best choice of the bunch??

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

I don't know anyone who doesn't love what Brosnan did for the series and I think EON is very eager to find an actor who could continue on the same foot.

One of these actors is Dominic West who is rapidly gaining momentum. Read the following article from Elle. I also included a picture of Dominic West where he looks more Bondian than in the 'GQ' photoshoot. Let me know what you think.  

Better West than Jackman, crashdrive. Better Robbie Williams than Jackman. Well, okay, maybe not, but I'm not a Jackman fan, as I'm sure you've gathered.

Originally posted by crashdrive

Do you still feel this guy is the best choice of the bunch??

Yes.

[crashdrive]

May I ask why you really (really) don't want to see Jackman as Bond? I mean, he's everything you could want from a Bond actor. He's talented, perfect height and appearance. His parents are English born. He has both action experience and he has charisma to boot. What's not to like?

[BONDFINESSE 007]

butler seems to me to be pefect for the part, but most likely wont get it, oh well here is hoping anyway

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

May I ask why you really (really) don't want to see Jackman as Bond? I mean, he's everything you could want from a Bond actor. He's talented, perfect height and appearance. His parents are English born. He has both action experience and he has charisma to boot. What's not to like?

Look again at the above photo you provided, crashdrive, in which he's holding a cigarette. He looks like an Aussie backpacker. Go on a pub crawl in London some time, and you'll see a dozen Australian bartenders just as good-looking and "Bondian" as Jackman. Quite what's so special about him I don't know.

He's too much the "pretty boy", the populist choice. He's too big a star, and his casting would overwhelm the Bond role in much the same way as Mel Gibson's would have done had he played 007 in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS. He's also too muscular (judging by photos I've seen of him as Wolverine). Bond should be fit, of course, but shouldn't have arms like Rambo's.

Charisma? Sitting through SWORDFISH, I struggled to stay awake whenever Jackman was onscreen, even when Halle Berry's tits were sharing the scene. I thought he was as dull as ditchwater in X-MEN, too.

I don't care if his parents are English, Irish, French or Japanese. Like Brosnan, he's an Americanized B-movie actor. He's prone to looking ridiculous (check out that longhaired wig he's been sporting recently; okay, I know he wouldn't wear it for Bond, but still....), and I don't think he looks very bright. I hope Bondpurist won't mind my quoting something he wrote on another thread I've just been looking at(http://forums.comman...ls&pagenumber=1): "Jackman always has a mindless grin that looks like someone just removed his brain through his nostrils." He looks like David Beckham's dumber brother, to my mind.

Basically, I think he's all wrong for Bond.

[Roebuck]

Originally posted by Loomis
He's too much the "pretty boy", the populist choice.

While I take your point Loomis, those were almost exactly my first impressions of Brosnan (which I may have said before in this thread).
Pierce was a compromise for the fans who wanted a return to the easy charm and light touch of the Moore years and those who'd been keen to see the series continue with the harder edge reintroduced by Dalton. That's clearly succeeded for EON and I would imagine they'll look for someone in the same mould to replace him when the time comes. Of the actors that right now appear to be in frame for the new 007, Jackman is probably the one who comes closest to fitting that bill.

Not everyone's idea of the perfect Bond, but a reasonable compromise.

[JimmyBond]

Loomis,

I think you should watch "Kate and Leopold" before you write off Jackman. I too thought he lacked charisma for the role, and was too gruff, but in "Kate and Leopold" Jackman is very charming, and very very Bond like.

[crashdrive]

Well, in 'Someone Like You' he does play a regular guy, so in the picture I linked to earlier, it's not surprising he looks like one. But give the guy a tux and he'll knock you out cold (well, maybe only the women). At least he looks a lot better than say Owen who couldn't even get a job as a bartender.

You are absolutely right that Jackman is like Brosnan and look how well he turned out. Hugh's a long way from reaching Mel Gibson status. Jackman is still not a household name. With films like 'X-Men' and 'Van Helsing' he only reaches a small demographic. Especially adults over 25 have no idea who Jackman is. James Bond is bigger than Jackman could ever become, so I doubt he would overwhelm the role.

As for his muscles and longhaired wig, have you taken into consideration that he looks like that because he's busy making 'Van Helsing'? Normally he doesn't look muscular, but lean and fit. See the picture below.



I thought he oozed charm in 'Swordfish', but that film (and especially his character) was poorly written. But you gotta agree that he stole every scene he was in in 'X2'.

As for his intelligence, he graduated from University of Technology at Sydney Bachelor of Arts (Communications) with a journalism major. I don't think he looks any less intelligent than say Sean Connery. He just plays blue-collar types most of the time.

The way I see it, you are almost making up reasons why he's not right for the job, but if you look at his statistics, there's no denying Jackman has what it takes to take over. But it's obvious you really don't want to see him, so I guess we have to agree to disagree.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

The way I see it, you are almost making up reasons why he's not right for the job

Okay, you got me. I was more interested in reading the defences than I was in attacking. That new pic is much more Bondian, crashdrive, in fact it's by far the most Bondian image I've seen of Jackman. I haven't seen KATE AND LEOPOLD or X2, so I can't comment on his performances in those films.

Originally posted by crashdrive

Owen who couldn't even get a job as a bartender.

Hmmm.... I don't know about that.

Yeah, I guess Jackman might by okay. If it were up to me, I'd still cast Owen over Jackman, but I guess my attitude towards Jackman has softened, ever so slightly.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

Originally posted by crashdrive
Well, in 'Someone Like You' he does play a regular guy, so in the picture I linked to earlier, it's not surprising he looks like one. But give the guy a tux and he'll knock you out cold (well, maybe only the women). At least he looks a lot better than say Owen who couldn't even get a job as a bartender.

You are absolutely right that Jackman is like Brosnan and look how well he turned out. Hugh's a long way from reaching Mel Gibson status. Jackman is still not a household name. With films like 'X-Men' and 'Van Helsing' he only reaches a small demographic. Especially adults over 25 have no idea who Jackman is. James Bond is bigger than Jackman could ever become, so I doubt he would overwhelm the role.

As for his muscles and longhaired wig, have you taken into consideration that he looks like that because he's busy making 'Van Helsing'? Normally he doesn't look muscular, but lean and fit. See the picture below.



I thought he oozed charm in 'Swordfish', but that film (and especially his character) was poorly written. But you gotta agree that he stole every scene he was in in 'X2'.  

As for his intelligence, he graduated from University of Technology at Sydney Bachelor of Arts (Communications) with a journalism major. I don't think he looks any less intelligent than say Sean Connery. He just plays blue-collar types most of the time.

The way I see it, you are almost making up reasons why he's not right for the job, but if you look at his statistics, there's no denying Jackman has what it takes to take over. But it's obvious you really don't want to see him, so I guess we have to agree to disagree.

i would not mind jackman, but theres a few guys i would look at ahead of him, but i think he could do the part well:)