Clive Owen confirms he was never in contention for Bond role

JamesPage

Clive Owen has put to rest any rumours that he was in contention for the role of James Bond after Pierce Brosnan was retired following "Die Another Day" in 2002.

In an interview with the Independent to promote his new movie "Killer Elite", the paper reminds readers that there was plenty of speculation that Owen was destined to take on the James Bond mantra before Daniel Craig landed the tuxedo.

But he says the story was all media hype. "It was never on the radar. There was nothing to it. I'd done a film, Croupier, where I'd worn a tuxedo and there was nothing more than that."

When asked whether he would ever take on the role, though, he's very careful to give a vague response and not rule the possibility out.

Click here to read the entire interview.

shadowonthesun

Well, that's good, because he would have made for a very weak James Bond.

AShadowFromThePast

do you have any facts?

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

shadowonthesun said:
Well, that's good, because he would have made for a very weak James Bond.

You just harassed @AShadowFromThePast in a Bond 23 thread for speculation, and yet you just did the same thing @shadowonthesun. Does someone have the Nixon disorder and live on hypocrisy?

nick_007

Perhaps we shouldn't get into this in every thread. Let's stay on topic, eh? :)

shadowonthesun

Yes. and it's my belief that Clive Owen would have made for a very weak James Bond. I've seen THE INTERNATIONAL, which was basically just Owen trying to be Daniel Craig. There's a shot in CASINO ROYALE where Bond flicks away a set of keys with a sort of casual arrogance. Owen does something similar in THE INTERNATIONAL, flicking away an earpiece that he used to eavesdrop on someone. He, too, was going for that casual arrogance ... and he came off looking constipated.

I just get the feeling that Owen tries way too hard to be badass, and is constantly miscast because he always comes across as weak and insipid. EON dodged a very large bullet by not casting him.

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

shadowonthesun said:
Yes. and it's my belief that Clive Owen would have made for a very weak James Bond. I've seen THE INTERNATIONAL, which was basically just Owen trying to be Daniel Craig. There's a shot in CASINO ROYALE where Bond flicks away a set of keys with a sort of casual arrogance. Owen does something similar in THE INTERNATIONAL, flicking away an earpiece that he used to eavesdrop on someone. He, too, was going for that casual arrogance ... and he came off looking constipated.

I just get the feeling that Owen tries way too hard to be badass, and is constantly miscast because he always comes across as weak and insipid. EON dodged a very large bullet by not casting him.

If Owen would've been a bullet then Moore is a ballistic missile.

shadowonthesun

But at least Moore could carry the role. He wasn't slimy and insipid the way Owen is. Have you ever seen a film with Clive Owen in it where he doesn't make your skin crawl? And if yes, was he comatose for most of that film?

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

I'd rather have Owen as Bond than Moore. Owen would likely fail, but at least I could sit through the film. I can't get more that two hours into the Moore films before I quit watching. I find it a dishonor to the Connery films(DN, FRWL, GF, TB) and Craig films(CR and QoS) that took the character seriously. Like YOLT and DAF I erase Moore from Bond existence.

Agent7F

Well he older then Daniel Craig. I can't understand why some you don't favour him as The Equaliser which the post I did. I think he be good.

DaltonCraig007

A real shame that Owen was not cast as Bond. A phenomenal actor. He'd have been a great Bond. Loved him in 'The International', 'Gosford Park' and 'Children of Men', which are 3 amazing films.

M_Balje

The hype of Clive Owen wanted for James Bond destoy his changes. Stil some of those hype helps Owen in making other movies. I own 7 movies with him, with exeption of The Bourne Identity (nothing to do with Owen that i whant it.) & Shoot 'Em Up (Birthday gift) Clive Owen also be a reasen to make a bit more intresting.

The Bourne Identity (Spy)
Shoot 'Em Up
Children of Men
The International (Spy) Some people feel that this movie be Owen his QOS/Bourne Ultimatum.
Duplicity (Spy)
Beyond Borders. (The title who be big part of the discussion, also because of Martin Campbell and Angelina Jolie. I think this discussion helps in the results Campbell returns.)
Greenfingers

Samuel001

I thought, was almost certain, this was cleared up long ago but clearly people still ask so the rumour sure had some mileage in it.

SharkBait

Well obviously he still wants to be Jimbo in the movies. After Daniel Craig quits and he (Owen) is over 50 years old.

Samuel001

SharkBait said:
We'll obviously he still wants to be Jimbo in the movies. After Daniel Craig quits and he (Owen) is over 50 years old.

He's insane if he thinks he'd have a chance at getting it.

Luds

shadowonthesun said:
Well, that's good, because he would have made for a very weak James Bond.

I find it extremely amusing that a Brosnan fan would consider Owen a weak actor. :-))
If there's one thing Owen wouldn't have done, it's deliver soap opera level over-acting like Brosnan did throughout his tenure, but especially TWINE. Owen is all business, no drama. But that may be what you dislike about the character.

Anyhow, these stories are laughable. Each actor in the past had their supporters, their detractors, would always refrain from making comments about rumors, and now are making more noise about it. It's all about publicity. Bond publicity is always good for an actor, to get others to talk about him, and now more publicity. We have the "I want to be James Bond" stories, the "I'm in discussion to be James Bond" stories, the "I've never been considered to be James Bond", the "I don't want to be James Bond", etc. It'll all pick up again after Bond 23 and rumors that Craig is done.

AShadowFromThePast

All I will say on this matter is Clive Owen would have brought the Dalton/Brosnan Bond back. Fun/gadgets;etc. Daniel Craig's films are more serious and more drama. Clive Owen tries really hard to be a Bond like character. Look at the Pink Panther cameo and the drive series or whatever they were called!! I agree he may not be as good has Craig but then again we all hated on Craig and now praise him. Iv seen alot of Craig films and didn't like him or his acting style but love him in Bond. Iv seen alot of CO films too and think hes a good B movie/The International or Taken kind of actor but never say never ;)

AShadowFromThePast

Oh and sorry for the double post but wasnt Brosnan in his late 49-50s during Die Another Day and the Bond video games? If Clive Owen did film a Bond film he would be 50-51. Still old, but same age as Brosnan..

shadowonthesun

Luds said:
I find it extremely amusing that a Brosnan fan would consider Owen a weak actor. :-))
If there's one thing Owen wouldn't have done, it's deliver soap opera level over-acting like Brosnan did throughout his tenure, but especially TWINE.

The reason why TWINE is one of my favourite films is because it was my first real experience of Bond. I never said it was a particularly good film, only that I have a soft spot for it.

Owen might have been all business and no drama, but at least Brosnan never looked like he made peoples' skin crawl. I can't picture a Clive Owen Bond film without the women looking uncomfortable around him.

Sexpionage

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 said:

shadowonthesun said:
Yes. and it's my belief that Clive Owen would have made for a very weak James Bond. I've seen THE INTERNATIONAL, which was basically just Owen trying to be Daniel Craig. There's a shot in CASINO ROYALE where Bond flicks away a set of keys with a sort of casual arrogance. Owen does something similar in THE INTERNATIONAL, flicking away an earpiece that he used to eavesdrop on someone. He, too, was going for that casual arrogance ... and he came off looking constipated.

I just get the feeling that Owen tries way too hard to be badass, and is constantly miscast because he always comes across as weak and insipid. EON dodged a very large bullet by not casting him.

If Owen would've been a bullet then Moore is a ballistic missile.

amen ..wow that was good as hell haha good one man..very true too

doubleoego

I'm not a big fan of Moore's Bond movies but let's give credit where its due. He kept Bond viable throughout the 70s up to the mid 80s. Sounds to me like he kept a bullet/bomb proof vest on the series.

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

doubleoego said:
I'm not a big fan of Moore's Bond movies but let's give credit where its due. He kept Bond viable throughout the 70s up to the mid 80s. Sounds to me like he kept a bullet/bomb proof vest on the series.

I'm with the group of Connery and Craig lovers because in DN, FRWL, GF, TB, CR, and QoS Bond was perfect. Serious, brutal, and ruthless. I love that about the films, and that is how I like my Bond. I've felt that way even before discovering the novels. So, seeing Moore tarnish that with his porous take on Bond and the lack of actual seriousness I was angered. Everything I loved about the Connery/Craig Bond films is lost in the Moore films, and I should receive a medal if I ever get through one without smashing my face into the wall.

SharkBait

shadowonthesun said:

I can't picture a Clive Owen Bond film without the women looking uncomfortable around him.

I wish I'd look like that and make women around me as uncomfortable as I bet he does. Then I'd be a happy man.

DaltonCraig007

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 said:
I'm with the group of Connery and Craig lovers because in DN, FRWL, GF, TB, CR, and QoS Bond was perfect. Serious, brutal, and ruthless. I love that about the films, and that is how I like my Bond. I've felt that way even before discovering the novels. So, seeing Moore tarnish that with his porous take on Bond and the lack of actual seriousness I was angered. Everything I loved about the Connery/Craig Bond films is lost in the Moore films, and I should receive a medal if I ever get through one without smashing my face into the wall.

It is a misconception that the Fleming novels were 'serious, brutal and ruthless'. Even the MR novel reads more like Moore-serious (FYEO, TMWTGG, LALD) than Craig's films. Dare I say whenever I read a Fleming novel, I instantly picture a Moore-type adventure with Moore as Bond. Craig Bond and CR/QOS bare no ressemblance to the spirit of the novels. I always thought Connery and Moore were the closest to the Fleming spirit, with Dalton 2nd.

Sexpionage

I read awhile back in a article on Mi6 that stated Fleming saying if you read the books and enjoyed them, Dr.No the movie wont be all that enjoyable for you... Fleming was passively saying that he was somewhat disappointed with the movie, now if Fleming was disappointed with Dr.No, could you imagine his personal opinions on the Moore Era? oh my gosh he would say "what the hell have they turned my character in??... its very laughable to see DaltinCraig write that Moore's films remind him of the books, that's the most silly thing I have read on these forums, no offense daltoncraig...

DaltonCraig007

Sexpionage said:
its very laughable to see DaltinCraig write that Moore's films remind him of the books, that's the most silly thing I have read on these forums, no offense daltoncraig...

Just my opinion. Never said you had to agree with it.

SaintMark

Clive Owen for 007 would have led to a similar path as was taken with DC, I don't think CR would have been very different. QoS perhaps would have been different (one can hope).
All Bondperformers are somehow part of their own times, and the average Bondmovie is still very watchable and not so outdated as some of their competition from those days.

People should stop complaining about the different performers they all made valid movies for the franchise. Sean Connery is a brilliant 007, Roger Moore is a brilliant 007, George Lazenby did one exceptional 007 movie and could have been brilliant, Tim Dalton did deliver a decent performance, Pierce Brosnan brought the series back in some excellent movies and Daniel Craig began brilliant lets hope he gets a chance to improve on that turd of second movie. Never before has a 007 performer been weighted down with such a terrible outing. I sincerely hope that the next 007 outing has the brilliance of the first 3/4 of CR.

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

SaintMark said:
Clive Owen for 007 would have led to a similar path as was taken with DC, I don't think CR would have been very different. QoS perhaps would have been different (one can hope).

The problem with QoS wasn't with the acting, it was great, it was the so called rushed script that the film had due to the Writer's Strike. I see no problem with the film, and love it for what it is, not a CR clone, and that is fine. When one doesn't compare it to CR its gem shines through. To all that don't like it, we could have gotten something much, much worse.

SaintMark

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 said:
When one doesn't compare it to CR its gem shines through. To all that don't like it, we could have gotten something much, much worse.

Nope it could not have been much worse, that is just you polishing the untruth. It is just a pretentious piece of filming that could have been better in the hands of decent director. Forster just isn't the kind of director that should make big budget actioners.

But I still believe that as an actor Owen would have given a different imput had QoS been his second 007 movie. Him and Craig are different people. I say that CR would have been similar simply because EON were locked into a different course in which 007 was going a different route. Otherwise they would have stuck with Pierce he did deliver the audiences and they were pleased with him.

0BradyM0Bondfanatic7

Just because you change the Bond doesn't mean you will change the film. If your film is crap, one actor won't change it. Craig is brilliant and people still complain(hitting close to home?).

SharkBait

I also want to say to sftp, who said prior CR everyone hated Craig. This isn't true. I wasn't very familiar with the actor before CR. I had only seen him in Tomb Raider and Road to Perdition. But after the announcement I was willing to give him a try. I also watched Layer Cake right after the announcement and was sold that he'd make a great Bond. I never hated him. I just hadn't seen him in all that many movies.

edit: also, to me, both Craig and Owen are similar. With their facial, carved from the rock, features at least. I also have nothing against Owen. He would've probably made very similar Bond as Craig did. Only there wouldn't have been any complaints about the color of his hair.

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