1519 replies to this topic

[rafterman]

I voted for none of the above....I really don't think any of these guys is ready for it, nor would they even be hired...

[Mister Asterix]

Amen, Brother Freemo. Amen. If this Bond fellow isn't the same guy in Tomorrow Never Dies as he is in Thunderball then why am I watching this series?

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
I voted for Hugh Grant on this poll, as I suspect zencat and Blue Eyes did too. I agree with zencat that Brosnan has at least two more Bond movies in him, though.

I also think Brosnan will probably quit after Bond 22.
I'm curious whether or not you guys realise Grant chances are very slim (from my point of view practically non existent). If so, what's the point in voting for him? Oh well, the poll does say who should play Bond, not who will.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

Oh well, the poll does say who should play Bond, not who will.

Exactly.

And, yes, I am aware that Grant's chances are slim. Very slim. But perhaps not entirely nonexistent.

I'm pleased to see Clive Owen doing so well. Given that he would seem to be "the media"'s number one choice to take over from Brosnan, and given that hardcore fans (i.e. us) are also rooting for him, perhaps he has a very good chance indeed.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
perhaps he has a very good chance indeed.

I can't help but thinking, had West made the BMW films instead of Owen, Dominic would be the media's and the fans number one choice.

I'm glad to see Jackman is gaining momentum very rapidly. Of the popular choices, he's the only one I could see as Bond.

[Loomis]

I have to admit, I've never seen either Owen or West act. I've only ever seen photos. But I kind of like the idea of Owen playing Bond as I feel he'd be a rather "Daltonesque" choice (and I like Dalton), not to mention a real antidote to Brosnan (whom I have nothing against, but if anything is the spice of the Bond series, it's variety).

But I'm not particularly pushing for anyone. I've mentioned on a couple of other threads that I think Hugh Jackman is the most likely candidate, but I won't be especially thrilled if he gets the role or disappointed if he doesn't. As far as I'm concerned, it's the films that matter far more than the actor playing 007 (although I don't propose to debate here the extent to which the actor playing 007 influences the content of the films).

So I don't really care whether the next Bond will be Christian Bale, Jack Davenport, Hugh Grant, Hugh Jackman, Clive Owen or Dominic West, or none of those actors.

[Mister Asterix]

Originally posted by Loomis (edited)
...and I'm not even going to bother trying to explain that "I'm not racist, but....". ...

I’ll go further than saying ‘I’m not racist, but...’, Loomis. I'd go as far to say that people who think it’s alright for Bond to be black but not for John Shaft to be white whould take a harder look at the question of whether they are racist themselves. No, I won’t say they are racist, because that is a harsh word and there are many different reasons for people’ thoughts. However, James Bond—like John Shaft—has a history which has moments where his race is very important to how the key events of his ‘life’ transpired. So to change either Bond’s or Shaft’s race is making a major change to character; a change major enough to say it is a different character and should have a different name. And a different movie series.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
As far as I'm concerned, it's the films that matter far more than the actor playing 007 (although I don't propose to debate here the extent to which the actor playing 007 influences the content of the films).

Don't worry, I won't

I love to discuss casting. Before Tobey Maguire was cast as Peter Parker, I used to love finding suitable original choices for the job. Same with James Bond. Unfortunately, it's a difficult and often useless subject to talk about, since we don't even know when Brosnan will step down. Maybe Jackman and Owen will be too expensive three years from now. Maybe Northam and Grant will be too old. We have no idea how some actors will age or whether they would even agree to sign a three picture deal.

I'm always very intrigued how people think. Why so many people vote for Owen without ever seeing him in anything. I find it fascinating how someone could prefer Clive Owen over Dominic West based on pictures, since I think a lot of people would vote West instead of Owen because he 'looks' more like a James Bond actor. He has an edge over West because he played in the very Bondian 'BMW Films'. I don't think Owen is more 'Dalton-esque' than someone like West. Like you said; it's the films that matter far more than the actor . In other words, if Owen got the part, I don't think the film would be more an antidote to Brosnan then if West were to play Bond. It all depends on the writing.

[Loomis]

Mister Asterix,

Also, you couldn't all of a sudden cast a black actor as Bond after 40 years of the character in the films being white without having to deal with "the race thing". It would become An Issue, which would inevitably overshadow both the making of the new film and its content. It would be impossible to have a black 007 without the script making references to his colour, be they big references (for example a villain tries to bait Bond by using the "n" word) or small ones (a Bond girl makes a quip along the lines of "I hear that once you've tried black you never go back"). I guess you COULD have a black actor as Bond and a script in which there were no references whatsoever to Bond's colour, but then the whole enterprise would come across as an exercise in Making A Statement.

In much the same way, I don't think Rupert Everett stands a chance of being cast as Bond, because trying to market an openly gay man as the cinema's number one icon of rampant heterosexuality would almost certainly turn out to be more trouble than it was worth. Journalists would never tire of asking Everett how it felt to be the first queer guy to play 007, there would be endless jokes about whether the series would now have "Bond boys", and so on.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

I'm always very intrigued how people think. Why so many people vote for Owen without ever seeing him in anything. I find it fascinating how someone could prefer Clive Owen over Dominic West based on pictures, since I think a lot of people would vote West instead of Owen because he 'looks' more like a James Bond actor. He has an edge over West because he played in the very Bondian 'BMW Films'. I don't think Owen is more 'Dalton-esque' than someone like West. Like you said; it's the films that matter far more than the actor . In other words, if Owen got the part, I don't think the film would be more an antidote to Brosnan then if West were to play Bond. It all depends on the writing.

To be honest, I'd never even heard of Dominic West until very recently. In fact I think the first time I knew of the guy's existence was when I read one of your posts, crashdrive! So that's the only reason why I "prefer" Owen to West.

As to why I like Owen, several months ago there were a number of threads on this site discussing who might be the next Bond, which I tended not to contribute to at the time but nonetheless used to read avidly, since back then I'd never really considered who might take over from Brosnan. These threads all seemed to boil down to "Jackman Versus Owen", and in those days there was a member of these forums who used to argue passionately in favour of Owen. This is where I get the Owen and Dalton connection, as the member I'm referring to was a hardcore Dalton fan, in fact perhaps the planet's number one Dalton fan.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
So that's the only reason why I "prefer" Owen to West.

Okay, but again, don't you agree it doesn't matter who is cast as James Bond; It all depends on the writing? You've said it yourself. Then why do you still feel there is a Owen/ Dalton connection? Don't you think an actor like West could just as easily become a Dalton-esque actor if the writing is in the same style as 'The Living Daylights'?
I find it difficult to understand how the fact that you know Owen longer than West is the reason you prefer Owen, eventhough you have seen only pictures of these two actors. Why is that?

I also would you like you to look at the pictures I linked to in my previous message. Do you still feel Owen 'looks' more like a Bond actor than West? I'm just trying to figure out what gives Owen that edge over someone like West.

[zencat]

Originally posted by crashdrive
I've obviously voted for Dominic West, still I find the selection of this poll to be quite odd. No serious candidates like Jeremy Northam ('The Net', 'The Winslow Boy' & 'Enigma'), Gerard Butler ('Reign of Fire', 'Timeline' & 'Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life'), Ioan Gruffudd ('Hornblower', '102 Dalmatians' & 'Black Hawk Down'), Colin Wells (left) ('Titus', 'CI5: New Professionals' & "Crossroads") & James Purefoy ('A Knights Tale', 'Resident Evil' & 'Maybe Baby'), but instead a singer with no acting experience (Williams), a coloured man already playing an important role in the franchise (Salmon; hell why not include Judi Dench?), an Academy Award nominee who will never sign a three picture deal and doesn't look the part (Law), a romantic leading man and the hottest British actor who will also not sign a three picture deal (Grant) and the new bad boy in Hollywood who can't give an interview with cursing (Farrell)....

....but I can't complain, at least I've got West

Sorry, maybe I wasn't the best person to make up this poll. I've never been much for the "who's going to be the next Bond" because I think it's WAY off. These aren

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

Okay, but again, don't you agree it doesn't matter who is cast as James Bond; It all depends on the writing? You've said it yourself.  

Yes, I agree. I stand by what I wrote.

Originally posted by crashdrive

Then why do you still feel there is a Owen/ Dalton connection?  

Because I don't see a contradiction in writing that "it doesn't matter who is cast as James Bond" and writing that X, Y or Z actor might be "Dalton-esque" or "Moore-esque". There'd only be such a contradiction if I stated that the series should be aiming to get a Dalton or Moore type every time out.

Originally posted by crashdrive

Don't you think an actor like West could just as easily become a Dalton-esque actor if the writing is in the same style as 'The Living Daylights'?  

Quite possibly. I don't wish to give the impression that I'm pushing for Owen at the expense of West. I've tried to make it clear that I'm not particularly "pro" or "anti" any actor. I'm sure that West could be just as Dalton-esque as Owen.

Originally posted by crashdrive

I find it difficult to understand how the fact that you know Owen longer than West is the reason you prefer Owen, eventhough you have seen only pictures of these two actors. Why is that?

Simple. I'm just more familiar with the face and name of Clive Owen. I've seen more photos of him. I didn't even know of Dominic West's existence until the other day and I've only seen one or two shots of him. Now, I realise that that's not really an objective way of deciding who might be the better man to play Bond, but at this stage, going by my very limited experience of both men, I'd have to suggest Owen over West. Then again, I repeat that I don't "prefer" Owen. I don't support any actor in particular.

Also, as I mentioned above, I have been following the lengthy fan discussions of Owen, who is tipped as the "media"'s choice. I know that Owen has played "Bond types" in CROUPIER, THE BOURNE IDENTITY, etc. And then there's his BMW ad. So I'm much more familiar with Owen's track record, even though I've not personally seen any of it. As far as I'm aware, there has been no similar fan discussion of West.

Originally posted by crashdrive

I also would you like you to look at the pictures I linked to in my previous message. Do you still feel Owen 'looks' more like a Bond actor than West? I'm just trying to figure out what gives Owen that edge over someone like West.  

From the pictures you have provided, I'd say that West looks more Bondian than Owen. But what do I mean by "Bondian"? Well, West seems more conventionally handsome. Mind you, that said, I'd say that Owen looks more of a hard, cold, ruthless killer type than West. Also, we have a "pro-West" chap selecting the pics here.

[Mister Asterix]

Perhaps we should change the last entry in the poll to: ‘None of the above or write-in candidate’.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
I don't wish to give the impression that I'm pushing for Owen at the expense of West.

Fair enough. I'm sure many fans would support West if his profile was higher. He's very much the Dougray Scott type, also a popular fan favorite. To the best of my knowledge I'm the first person ever to suggest Dominic West for the part of Bond. That's why there hasn't been a fan discussion. Goes to show there may be other good candidates for the part none of you have ever heard of.
With the exception of the BMW Films, Owen hasn't really played a Bond type before in a film (just because he wears a tux and walks around in a casino ('Croupier') or carries a gun ('The Bourne Identity') doesn't mean he plays a Bond like character). And I don't think he's the 'hard, cold, ruthless killer type' since he played a contract killer in 'Bourne' and was just too soft and sympathatic to make the character believable.

Even if Brosnan steps down after two Bond films, EON still doesn't have a lot of time to find a replacement. Although there may be a perfect actor outthere, I think West is the best (and probably the most realistic, since Jackman and Owen are on the verge of becoming Hollywood leading men with 'Van Helsing' & 'King Arthur' respectively) candidate out there.

Originally posted by Mister Asterix
Perhaps we should change the last entry in the poll to: ‘None of the above or write-in candidate’.

I agree. My vote goes to Jeremy Northam. Runners-up: Gerard Butler, Jack Davenport, Colin Wells, James Purefoy & Ioan Gruffudd.

[Loomis]

No doubt West is a handsome fellow, but what roles has he played that make you think he might be a suitable Bond, crashdrive?

Would you be against Owen as 007?

BTW, I think Dougray Scott could be an excellent Bond. I remember when he became famous at the time of M:I-2 he waved away suggestions that he might one day don the tux, but he doesn't seem to have made it to the "big league" yet. Who knows? He might change his mind and decide he wants the role of 007. Strikes me as similar to the way Christian Bale has publicly dismissed the idea of playing Bond while making it very obvious indeed that he's angling for the part.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
what roles has (West) played that make you think he might be a suitable Bond?

Like Owen, West hasn't played a Bond like character before. Unlike Owen, he has the look of dashing secret agent. At the tender age of 32, he had an impressive career working with talented directors and highprofile actors. He's young enough to replace Brosnan even if he makes two more Bond films, but he looks old enough to step into the role if Brosnan would step down today (which will probably not happen). If you like Scott, you'll love West. He has a very simular look about him. Very tough yet pure Brit.

Originally posted by Loomis
Would you be against Owen as 007?

Well, if Owen got the job, I would try and stay positive, but I have a feeling he's just not suited for the job. His appearance just doesn't coincide with the look the last five Bond actors have established. He just isn't handsome enough for the part. I have to admit that West also isn't a Brosnan, but Owen isn't even a Dalton. He lacks that square jaw/ rugged look Bond should have. Just compare Clive Owen's GQ Photoshoot with the photoshoot GQ Magazine had with Dominic West; GQ1, GQ2, GQ3, GQ4 & GQ5. I think Dominic looks a hell of a lot better than Owen, which is saying a lot of since Owen is wearing designer suits like Bond and West is wearing... well... something Bond would never wear. Just imagine how West would look in a designer suit.

[Loomis]

Well, from his GQ photoshoot, Owen doesn't look remotely like a good choice for Bond. In fact, he looks like he should be playing a thuggish wide boy in "EastEnders" (apologies to non-Brits who don't know what I'm on about here). Dammit, Owen's no better looking than I am!

West, on the other hand, looks the part of 007 to a far greater degree, although, as I've pointed out to you before, he looks as camp as hell in some of these photos.

But still, the last time I looked, Owen was in the lead in zencat's poll. He's also widely thought of as a potential Bond outside this site. That must say something.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
Last time I looked, Owen was in the lead in zencat's poll. He's also widely thought of as a potential Bond outside this site. That must say something.

Owen is for a lot of people the richest man in the poorhouse. They look at the pictures from 'Croupier', where he wears a tux and leans on a casino table, and watch a BMW Film like 'Ticker', where he drives a fast car and looks cool, and figure; "Well, he's got the suit and the car: he can play Bond." What people tend to forget is that it's not the suit or the car that make Bond. The scene in 'Die Another Day' I loved most is the one where Bond, stripped of his suit and clean shaven look, walks into an exclusive Hong Kong yachtclub. Brosnan makes that scene work. Imagine the same scene with Owen. See what I mean?

[crashdrive]

[quote]Originally posted by zencat
This isn

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

The scene in 'Die Another Day' I loved most is the one where Bond, stripped of his suit and clean shaven look, walks into an exclusive Hong Kong yachtclub. Brosnan makes that scene work. Imagine the same scene with Owen. See what I mean?  

But did Brosnan make that scene work largely because we'd already seen him as Bond in three films by the time of DIE ANOTHER DAY? See what I mean? And we'd already seen him doing "classic Bond" (albeit without the suit) during the pre-credits sequence of DAD. Wouldn't we just as easily have bought Owen in that scene if he'd also been playing 007 for years? I very much doubt that they'd have included scenes of a bearded, bedraggled Bond in the first outing of a new Bond actor.

Anyway, I'm beginning to agree with you on Owen. Look the part he most certainly doesn't. I just find it very curious that he seems to be one of the real frontrunners for so many people (and I don't just mean the handful of members who have picked him in zencat's poll). Why is Owen the name that comes up again and again? It can't just be the BMW ad and CROUPIER, surely? Why aren't people talking about Guy Pearce or Dougray Scott to the same extent?

Maybe Owen just has a damn good publicist.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
I very much doubt that they'd have included scenes of a bearded, bedraggled Bond in the first outing of a new Bond actor. Why is Owen the name that comes up again and again? Why aren't people talking about Guy Pearce or Dougray Scott to the same extent?

If you introduced Brosnan with that scene in 'GoldenEye', I agree it wouldn't have worked, but I don't think Roger Moore would have made that scene believable and Owen also would look ridiculous. Brosnan just has the perfect presence for a scene like that. Just like an actor like Arnold Schwarzenegger can walk into a bikers bar in the nude in 'T2: Judgement Day' and still look cool.

Now you understand my point of view. I'm as surprised as you are fans and the media keep mentioning Owen's name over and over again. The fact that his name is mentioned more often than Scott and Pearce is probably because Scott already declined to play Bond and Pearce is too well known to play Bond. After films like 'L.A. Confidential' & 'Memento', interviewers are not going to ask whether or not Pearce would be interested in playing Bond. Owen on the other hand is only known as 'the guy who is/was a Bond contender'. He's a cult actor with his own following. Not untill people see him in carry his own film will they realise he's just not Bond material. I'm surprised his followers didn't tune out after his role in 'Gosford Park'. I thought it was fairly obvious from that film he doesn't have the right look to play Bond.

[Wade]

Most of the contenders would be way too old by the time Pierce is through with the role. I agree that he'll probably do seven, to even him up with Roger and Sean. Among the current crop, though, I would go with Christian Bale. I know people seem to think he's either too evil (in past roles) or too prissy for Bond. Actually, I think he'd bring a bit more edge to the role than the others would. You wouldn't exactly know where he stood. But he DOES have a sense of humor, which, we have all learned from the Great Unpleasantness (the Dalton years), is VERY important. Otherwise, I'd either go with Jeremy Northam (still too dull) or Clive Owen (too rough around the edges, and even in places in the middle).

[kevrichardson]

Originally posted by Wade
Most of the contenders would be way too old by the time Pierce is through with the role. I agree that he'll probably do seven, to even him up with Roger and Sean. Among the current crop, though, I would go with Christian Bale. I know people seem to think he's either too evil (in past roles) or too prissy for Bond. Actually, I think he'd bring a bit more edge to the role than the others would. You wouldn't exactly know where he stood. But he DOES have a sense of humor, which, we have all learned from the Great Unpleasantness (the Dalton years), is VERY important. Otherwise, I'd either go with Jeremy Northam (still too dull) or Clive Owen (too rough around the edges, and even in places in the middle).

Brosnan will not due Bond 22 . This thing with tieing Connery /Moore with seven Bonds a piece . Is not good for the series . The Great Unpleasantness- Dalton was not give the breaks that Brosnan has . Directors , Scripts ,Locations and above all else big-budgets. All the names mentioned do not have the qualities to become Bond .

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

Now you understand my point of view. I'm as surprised as you are fans and the media keep mentioning Owen's name over and over again. The fact that his name is mentioned more often than Scott and Pearce is probably because Scott already declined to play Bond and Pearce is too well known to play Bond. After films like 'L.A. Confidential' & 'Memento', interviewers are not going to ask whether or not Pearce would be interested in playing Bond. Owen on the other hand is only known as 'the guy who is/was a Bond contender'. He's a cult actor with his own following. Not untill people see him in carry his own film will they realise he's just not Bond material. I'm surprised his followers didn't tune out after his role in 'Gosford Park'. I thought it was fairly obvious from that film he doesn't have the right look to play Bond.  

Yes, I totally understand your point of view, crashdrive. We're really talking a poorhouse if Owen is one of the richest men in it! Then again, maybe, just maybe, Owen has hidden away inside him the same sort of magic that a certain Scottish ruffian once had. I still think I'd go for Owen over, say, Law or McGregor.

As for Scott declining to play Bond, I don't believe he was ever actually offered the role. As far as I can remember, he said in a number of interviews around the time of M:I-2 that he wouldn't be interested. Who's to say he won't change his mind, or that he hasn't already changed it? And his career doesn't seem to have taken off, so....

As for Pearce being too well-known to play Bond, I disagree. So what if he was in L.A. CONFIDENTIAL? He's hardly a megastar. How much did MEMENTO take at the box office? Anyway, surely he's no more famous than Hugh Jackman, whom you, crashdrive, maintain is a likely candidate?

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
I still think I'd go for Owen over, say, Law or McGregor.

I definately agree, but this has more to do with the fact that Law and McGregor still look like kids to me. Owen at least looks like a man. I'm sure Owen could make a Bond-esque movie, with stunts, action and suspense, but I just can see him play James Bond.

Originally posted by Loomis
I don't believe (Scott) was ever actually offered the role.

An informal approach was reportedly made to Scott's agent by Bond filmmakers, according to SFX Magazine, but the actor passed on the role. He told journalists, "I'm very flattered that people consider me good enough to play James Bond, but I couldn't play that part any better than Sean [Connery] did. To be honest, I am not convinced I am suave enough for the part.

Originally posted by Loomis
Surely (Pearce)'s no more famous than Hugh Jackman, whom you, crashdrive, maintain is a likely candidate?

If Jackman hadn't said in an interview that he would agree to play Bond, I'm sure he would not be a likely candidate. His careerchoices have been very different from Pearce's though. Guy works with some of the worlds best directors and tries to play as many different types of roles as possible. Pearce isn't the type of actor who wants to know five years In advance what his next film is going to be. Films like 'X Men 1 & 2' and 'Van Helsing' prove that Jackman however can be persuaded to sign on for a multi-picture deal.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by crashdrive

An informal approach was reportedly made to Scott's agent by Bond filmmakers, according to SFX Magazine, but the actor passed on the role. He told journalists, "I'm very flattered that people consider me good enough to play James Bond, but I couldn't play that part any better than Sean [Connery] did. To be honest, I am not convinced I am suave enough for the part.

Interesting. Seems Scott was indeed as good as offered the part. But don't forget that Dalton turned down the role more than once years before he finally agreed to play Bond (or so they say). I don't think it's impossible that Scott will be approached again. And who knows? There may come a point when he decides that he would like the role of 007 after all.

Originally posted by crashdrive

If Jackman hadn't said in an interview that he would agree to play Bond, I'm sure he would not be a likely candidate. His careerchoices have been very different from Pearce's though. Guy works with some of the worlds best directors and tries to play as many different types of roles as possible. Pearce isn't the type of actor who wants to know five years In advance what his next film is going to be. Films like 'X Men 1 & 2' and 'Van Helsing' prove that Jackman however can be persuaded to sign on for a multi-picture deal.  

Thanks for the explanation. I now see the difference between Jackman and Pearce. Seems Pearce is aiming to work the more serious side of the street (for want of a better way of putting it), while Jackman is happy with a career in so-called "comic book movies". In any case, I don't really think that Pearce would be great Bond material.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by Loomis
Don't forget that Dalton turned down the role more than once years before he finally agreed to play Bond (or so they say).

I also think it's not impossible EON will approach Scott again, but the situation with Dalton was different. He never declined an offer, because he didn't think he was right period. He turned down an offer because he didn't feel he was right at the time. Scott's comments are pretty final. I definately think Dougray Scott is a more likely (and better) candidate than Hugh Grant, Jude Law, Ewan McGregor, Colin Salmon, Christian Bale, Collin Farrell and Robbie Williams. I personally don't think any of these actors stand a chance.

Originally posted by Loomis
I don't really think that Pearce would be great Bond material.

I agree. As you may have noticed, there aren't many great candidates for the role. Of the ten candidates mentioned in the poll, I think only two (West and Jackman) would be acceptable as James Bond. And since Jackman is still attached to both the 'X Men'- & the 'Van Helsing' franchise, I think West stands a good chance. Even if Brosnan agree to make a total of seven Bond films (which I doubt), West will still be young enough to replace him. And West definately has a sense of humor. Check out '28 Days' to witness his knucklehead charm. The Village People were right all along; "Go West!

[1q2w3e4r]

You do know that Guy Pearce had a break down and has quit making films in the US at the moment and has since returned to making local movies here in Oz.

I voted for Jackman. You really only need to watch Swordfish, Kate and Leopold and Someone Like You to realise he'd be able to do it in his sleep. Sleep as in FRWL, Dr No Connery sleep. Not the farse that was DAF.

[crashdrive]

Originally posted by 1q2w3e4r
You do know that Guy Pearce had a break down and has quit making films in the US

Actually, I did not know that. I guess that means we can definately forget about Pearce. He's not the type of actor who can stands the pressure of a role like Bond.

Originally posted by 1q2w3e4r
I voted for Jackman.

A good choice. He definately has the look and experience to play Bond. Let's just hope he would agree to sign yet another multi-picture deal after 'X Men' and 'Van Helsing'. I'm afraid Jackman will be too busy and expensive. Check out Brit Dominic West ('Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace', 'Chicago', '28 Days' & 'William Shakespeare's A Midsummers Night Dream') as a good alternative choice.