Where does Bond go after Craig?

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  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,948
    It's added and added for me; I'm not just talking about the central character but the whole thing. We wouldn't be here talking about Bond if it wasn't for the films.
  • James Bond has grown into such a pop cultural icon that multiple versions can more or less coexist, and yet none of them invalidate the other. Obviously the root of it all comes from Fleming and his writing, but as mentioned above, the films were what took the character to new heights, and the fact that this series has undergone 5 major recastings and is still around to tell the tale is a large reason why. But beyond the films, the comics, post-Fleming novels, video games, and all that other fun stuff has only added more, and more versions of 007 for anyone to pick, choose, and enjoy. For me, I love and adore any version of Bond there is, some more than others perhaps, but that’s okay. For instance, since seeing NTTD, Daniel Craig has been shooting up my rankings for best Bond actor, slowly perhaps, but surely. I’m finally able to look back at his era as a whole, and while some of the films have been extremely disappointing to me, I’ve finally gained the immense appreciation for his take on Bond that others have felt at least since CR, and that’s not to say I’ve always hated Craig’s Bond, because I’ve just about enjoyed him in every single one of these Bond films, it’s just that I had my own personal preferences for other versions of Bond, but now that I can go back and watch his era as a whole, I’ve finally caught on to the hype for him, it’s better late than never I suppose. I’ve also recently started getting into Takao Saito’s James Bond manga after having purchased all 4 volumes, and despite my limited (non exsistent) knowledge of Japanese, the artwork and design for the character and his world has caught my attention more than perhaps some of the other comics featuring Bond have, no offense to Dynamite of coarse.
  • Posts: 1,570
    As I've written, and read, around this website, since we just went through 5 films of a serious, brooding, psychologically intense Bond - and it's been GREAT, and a welcome change-up - I think the series needs a change now. Not as severe as the change to the tone of the Moore films - which actually started in DAF and was a 70s thing and a time-for-a-tonal shift things and not just Moore thing - but shift to more fun, less angst. They've already done the angst, and well, and there seems little point in doing it all over again. Oh, a DIFFERENT version of an angst-filled, intensive story ? I think not. Now, in switching over to less heavy, lighter-hearted adventures, can they have a leading lady carry from picture to another ? a Villain ? a helping agent or someone along those lines ? an over-arcing plotline ? Sure.

    I don't see Tom Hardy because: too short, already played a light-hearted spy in This Means War (in which he was the shorter, less-handsome spy), already playing a psycho-pathically affected (see the films and you'll see what I mean) killer-but-not-really-a-killer in the Venom movies and other Marvel films in which Venom appears. Want to mix the intense Bond with "fun-Bond" and have him a darn-near psycho killer and wreaker of havoc and chaos, when you strip away the cars, clothes, exotic travels, enjoying the best of the best and all that, with fun ? Well, that's his Venom character. I don't see Tom Hardy wanting to play duplicative parts, though, with 69 credits and counting, it's bound to happen.

    I thoroughly enjoyed his Englishman faking to be a German Nazi in Inglorious Basterds (or however it is spelled) and found it very Bondian, but I don't see Michael Fassbender because, believe it or not, he might be aging out once you figure on a plan to have the next Bond make at least three films. He's presently 44. (Good grief I am calling him too old for the part and I see he was born a couple months before I graduated high school WTF how did this happen ?) But if they make them quickly together a la Lord of the Rings and some other films when they made two at a time ? I'm sure he'd want SOMETHING to sink his acting teeth into and I'll address that in a moment.

    Idris Elba could be so cool for it - tall, big, strong, handsome, charming, operates at a Bond-level of cool (check him out setting speed records in that's right a Bentley), is even older than Fassbender but looking quite good.

    So...to what was I referring in terms of getting an actor such as any of these three ? and, I think, this could work for Aidan Turner, as well, and certainly others-- ie, they'll want something on which to stretch their ACTing muscles, but we've already just had Intense and Brooding and now a tonal shift is due...here it is: Playing "light, fun, romantic and exciting" really well takes a great actor, too ! Cary Grant made it look so easy, but as shown in films wherein other actors tried to be like him and did not manage it, it is NOT so easy. Connery did it supremely well, as did Moore, with each at opposing ends of the spectrum, but they both looked great, were cool, handsome and enjoyable. As for needing to play the great acting roles, well, Hardy is in Marvel movies, Fassbender did some X-men movies, and Elba certainly has done some fluff, too - romantic fluff, action fluff, and also has appeared in Marvel movies. They've all also signed on for movie-SERIES, too.

    Bottom line - I think a Tonal Shift is due and do-able, and with a tall, big, handsome, charming actor who would be believable in a fight, believable in confrontations with the villain and others, believable in the flirting and romantic scenes, capable of the intense stuff where it may still fit well, and capable of presenting an adventurous agent chasing bad guys and wreaking havoc. I'd go with someone not so well-known, as were Connery, Lazenby and Craig. Moore and Brosnan were somewhat more known, both thanks to TV roles. Turner has been in a popular TV show, too, but in the age of a shmillion "channels" to watch and seems to me not as known as were Moore and Brosnan. His height ? Let's face it, Craig at 5'10" may be as short as a Bond actor as ever will have been. At 5'10 3/4" (per IMDB), with that last 3/4" Turner at least heads back toward the taller direction. Is his hair receding ? Well, they handled it with Connery, so, fine. I'm not promoting him, just considering. Is he distinctive enough ? It's clear he has fans on here, but Henry Golding is young, handsome, solid and charming, too, and is 6'1 1/4", as was Moore and is Brosnan. For convenience, here are the others: Lazenby and Dalton at 6'1 3/4" and Connery at 6'2".
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 5,978
    slide_99 wrote: »
    The greater the physical distance between Fleming's Bond and the actor playing him, the more you're going to have to alter the character to suit the actor. Alter the character too much and he just doesn't seem like Bond anymore, you might as well just be doing a movie about an original character.

    Craig's casting was a stretch, but only a slight one. The problem with him is that he was only good at playing the young hotheaded Bond of CR and QOS, and seemed rather directionless when he was playing the more "classic" Bond of SF and on

    Generally speaking the easier an actor can be seen playing Bond (tall, handsome, good with action, attractive to women), the better off we are. There's nothing wrong with an "obvious" casting decision. It actually makes the most sense. The whole, "Hey let's cast this guy who looks and behaves nothing like Bond, it'll be more interesting because reasons" mentality is only good for novelty casting and/or parodies.

    Disagree that Craig was directionless, except maybe SP. He was smashing in both SF and NTTD.
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    Posts: 1,430
    Nolan has more or less broken off from his loyalty to Warner Bros, has smartly positioned himself by claiming he'd prefer to be part of the Bond casting process if he directs in past interviews, has a bit of an ego he may want to repair after the complications with Tenet's release and will want to bring as much attention to Oppenheimer as he can considering its potentially small setting and lack of broad audience appeal, and he will be all over the news cycle with that project and potential awards circuit in 2022 and 2023, which is when Eon would be soonest prepared to get moving on a new Bond movie.

    "IF" Nolan is going to direct a Bond movie, it seems the only good odds for it happening are with Bond 26 after he finishes Oppenheimer. The timing could be perfect, Zimmer is already Bond "family" now and would be one less element in the way of a new movie being pieced together quickly, and Nolan has primed a strong group of actor candidates throughout his career, skewing younger including Aaron Taylor Johnson and Robert Pattinson, both featured in Nolan's latest movie Tenet. I'm not a die-hard Nolan fan but I'd honestly be disappointed at the missed opportunity of good odds and timing if it didn't pan out this way. It sounds like there is a ready-made blockbuster Bond movie almost literally sitting on Nolan's lap at the moment.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    edited December 2021 Posts: 7,526
    LucknFate wrote: »
    Nolan has more or less broken off from his loyalty to Warner Bros, has smartly positioned himself by claiming he'd prefer to be part of the Bond casting process if he directs in past interviews, has a bit of an ego he may want to repair after the complications with Tenet's release and will want to bring as much attention to Oppenheimer as he can considering its potentially small setting and lack of broad audience appeal, and he will be all over the news cycle with that project and potential awards circuit in 2022 and 2023, which is when Eon would be soonest prepared to get moving on a new Bond movie.

    "IF" Nolan is going to direct a Bond movie, it seems the only good odds for it happening are with Bond 26 after he finishes Oppenheimer. The timing could be perfect, Zimmer is already Bond "family" now and would be one less element in the way of a new movie being pieced together quickly, and Nolan has primed a strong group of actor candidates throughout his career, skewing younger including Aaron Taylor Johnson and Robert Pattinson, both featured in Nolan's latest movie Tenet. I'm not a die-hard Nolan fan but I'd honestly be disappointed at the missed opportunity of good odds and timing if it didn't pan out this way. It sounds like there is a ready-made blockbuster Bond movie almost literally sitting on Nolan's lap at the moment.

    Welcome! I didn’t realize ATJ was in Tenet.

    I’d be happy to see a Bond film by Nolan. I wasn’t blown away by Zimmer though, made the soundtrack for NTTD more “Zimmer” than “Bond” if that makes sense.

    I'd love to see how he could work his oft-used theme of Time into a Bond film. I could see a Memento-style plot being cool, even telling the events between YOLT and TMWTGG; the film starts with Bond attempting to assassinate M, and works backwards to see how it happened after he went to Russia from Japan.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,948
    After Tenet I just don’t think I’d want him doing it though. I didn’t enjoy that at all. I’d find a Guy Richie film to be more appealing, and I’m not sure he fits either! :)
  • Posts: 1,570
    I think many people find, with TeneT, as enjoyable as it was in its own way, that Nolan Jumped the Shark. Ah, well, bound to happen. I think it reasonable for folks to figure he still can make Superb films, and is not forevermore tainted by that Jump.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,526
    I liked Tenet a lot. I felt like I understood it basically as much as was intended, which was not really much at all. Just went for the ride, experienced it. Really liked it with that lens.
  • If Christopher Nolan signs a three-movie deal to bring about a trilogy of Bond films, Idris Elba will have just enough time. The trilogy can be filmed back-to-back or within one year of each other. Idris Elba and (Tom Hardy too) are the kinds of actors whose presence is charismatic enough to be credible with audiences.

    For example, Elba's acting is such that he can do a good job of making you forget about Will Smith's absence from the recent Suicide Squad movie. A different character from Dead Shot, yes, but going into the movie one could not think about the former precense of Will Smith until Elba flexed his skills.

    Tom Hardy already has experience with Christopher Nolan so if Elba declines, Hardy can do a good job as well.


    Elba has Daniel Craig's blessing from before anyway, but also Daniel Craig would make for a good director as well.
  • KenAustinKenAustin United States
    Posts: 226
    If Christopher Nolan signs a three-movie deal to bring about a trilogy of Bond films, Idris Elba will have just enough time. The trilogy can be filmed back-to-back or within one year of each other. Idris Elba and (Tom Hardy too) are the kinds of actors whose presence is charismatic enough to be credible with audiences.

    For example, Elba's acting is such that he can do a good job of making you forget about Will Smith's absence from the recent Suicide Squad movie. A different character from Dead Shot, yes, but going into the movie one could not think about the former precense of Will Smith until Elba flexed his skills.

    Tom Hardy already has experience with Christopher Nolan so if Elba declines, Hardy can do a good job as well.


    Elba has Daniel Craig's blessing from before anyway, but also Daniel Craig would make for a good director as well.

    No disrespect but none of those you mentioned should come anywhere close to a Bond film. Change my mind.
  • Posts: 12,266
    KenAustin wrote: »
    If Christopher Nolan signs a three-movie deal to bring about a trilogy of Bond films, Idris Elba will have just enough time. The trilogy can be filmed back-to-back or within one year of each other. Idris Elba and (Tom Hardy too) are the kinds of actors whose presence is charismatic enough to be credible with audiences.

    For example, Elba's acting is such that he can do a good job of making you forget about Will Smith's absence from the recent Suicide Squad movie. A different character from Dead Shot, yes, but going into the movie one could not think about the former precense of Will Smith until Elba flexed his skills.

    Tom Hardy already has experience with Christopher Nolan so if Elba declines, Hardy can do a good job as well.


    Elba has Daniel Craig's blessing from before anyway, but also Daniel Craig would make for a good director as well.

    No disrespect but none of those you mentioned should come anywhere close to a Bond film. Change my mind.

    Have to agree I’m afraid. I have little interest in seeing Nolan do Bond, and especially him or anyone else doing a continuity-heavy trilogy after DC’s era.
  • KenAustinKenAustin United States
    Posts: 226
    FoxRox wrote: »
    KenAustin wrote: »
    If Christopher Nolan signs a three-movie deal to bring about a trilogy of Bond films, Idris Elba will have just enough time. The trilogy can be filmed back-to-back or within one year of each other. Idris Elba and (Tom Hardy too) are the kinds of actors whose presence is charismatic enough to be credible with audiences.

    For example, Elba's acting is such that he can do a good job of making you forget about Will Smith's absence from the recent Suicide Squad movie. A different character from Dead Shot, yes, but going into the movie one could not think about the former precense of Will Smith until Elba flexed his skills.

    Tom Hardy already has experience with Christopher Nolan so if Elba declines, Hardy can do a good job as well.


    Elba has Daniel Craig's blessing from before anyway, but also Daniel Craig would make for a good director as well.

    No disrespect but none of those you mentioned should come anywhere close to a Bond film. Change my mind.

    Have to agree I’m afraid. I have little interest in seeing Nolan do Bond, and especially him or anyone else doing a continuity-heavy trilogy after DC’s era.

    Not only that, Hardy doesn't really fit the mold and Elba....um NO
  • BirdlesonBirdleson Moderator
    Posts: 2,161
    None of it.
  • Posts: 15,804
    I had no idea Nolan was this close to actually signing a three picture deal with Eon.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,110
    It seems to me that IFP has been doing almost everything in threes since Raymond Benson. Benson wrote 3 trilogy of novels: The Union Trilogy, Choice of Weapons, and three movie novelizations. Plus three official short stories. Also, Kate Westbrook’s Moneypenny Diaries Trilogy.Then, 3 guest authors, Faulks, Deaver and Boyd. Then, Anthony Horowitz’s trilogy. Now, Kim Sherwood’s Double 0 trilogy. It wouldn’t surprise me if the next Bond actor got a trilogy of movies at least.
  • My only issue with going back to standalone films with formulaic approaches is just that....it will piledrive the series into another DAD and DAF.

    The down to earth, dark, gritty, realistic and less formulaic Bond films tend to age better and retain or increase their prestige. This alone is enough to maintain the franchise as a competitive and viable matter. Given that we no longer live in the era that movies are being made and released within 1 or 2 years at most, each film is a chance to shine and can't be wasted anymore. If that becomes the case, then the series would have to relegate itself to becoming a tv series which the producers have ruled out.
  • 007InAction007InAction Australia
    Posts: 2,353
    When DC became bond they went on a (copied ?) Jason Bourne like styled films from the look (hair cut) to the fighting style, etc Bulldog like ?
    q0ma8ozYaaol1IvdGjBvj3KllyL.jpg

    It worked at the Box office but should bond go back to being a "traditional" bond, like the other fellas......? Cat like ?
    collag_s_647_100915041956.jpg?size=770:433


  • edited January 2022 Posts: 1,280
    When DC became bond they went on a (copied ?) Jason Bourne like styled films from the look (hair cut) to the fighting style, etc Bulldog like ?
    q0ma8ozYaaol1IvdGjBvj3KllyL.jpg

    It worked at the Box office but should bond go back to being a "traditional" bond, like the other fellas......? Cat like ?
    collag_s_647_100915041956.jpg?size=770:433


    The Connery and Brosnan eras were each in a different time period. If you put Brosnan next to Connery for comparison, you will see a watered-down imitation.

    Critics and Brosnan himself were calling out the watered-down approaches from before which were filled with one-liners and gadgets that couldn't save the movie. Craig never tried to imitate Connery or anyone prior to him. He took his own approach in terms of demeanor (despite all the Jason Bourne stuff). But even to this day, the Jason Bourne movies are respected as Paul Greengrass is respected.
  • Posts: 3,279
    If Christopher Nolan signs a three-movie deal to bring about a trilogy of Bond films, Idris Elba will have just enough time. The trilogy can be filmed back-to-back or within one year of each other. Idris Elba and (Tom Hardy too) are the kinds of actors whose presence is charismatic enough to be credible with audiences.

    For example, Elba's acting is such that he can do a good job of making you forget about Will Smith's absence from the recent Suicide Squad movie. A different character from Dead Shot, yes, but going into the movie one could not think about the former precense of Will Smith until Elba flexed his skills.

    Tom Hardy already has experience with Christopher Nolan so if Elba declines, Hardy can do a good job as well.


    Elba has Daniel Craig's blessing from before anyway, but also Daniel Craig would make for a good director as well.

    None of that sounds appealing. No to Nolan, Elba and Hardy.

    I'm hoping we get a complete unknown for the role, with no baggage, and someone like Campbell to return as director. Get rid of P&W, bring in scriptwriters that know how to adapt Fleming properly (another Maibaum) by using all remaining unused material, an uplifting poppy title song, and there you have all the ingredients for a classic Bond film.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,526
    I mostly agree with the peanut gallery here, but I do, maybe masochistically, want to see a Nolan Bond film.
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,195
    I don't really care who is going to play Bond. I am rather interested in where the new Bond will start. Will we have another cycle that starts at Bond gaining his 007 status and ends with his retirement or death or will the new Bond be introduced as an experienced agent? Will there be many emotional relationships - as in the Daniel Craig era - or will this rather be handled in a more subtle way as in the older Bond films?
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    edited January 2022 Posts: 7,526
    GBF wrote: »
    I don't really care who is going to play Bond. I am rather interested in where the new Bond will start. Will we have another cycle that starts at Bond gaining his 007 status and ends with his retirement or death or will the new Bond be introduced as an experienced agent? Will there be many emotional relationships - as in the Daniel Craig era - or will this rather be handled in a more subtle way as in the older Bond films?

    I put all my money on the latter in both cases. I wouldn't be surprised to see a return of Sylvia.
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,195
    I admire your optimism, Mr....? :-)
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,526
    For the purposes of this meeting, this man will only be known to you as 22.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,948
    My only issue with going back to standalone films with formulaic approaches is just that....it will piledrive the series into another DAD and DAF.

    The down to earth, dark, gritty, realistic and less formulaic Bond films tend to age better and retain or increase their prestige. This alone is enough to maintain the franchise as a competitive and viable matter. Given that we no longer live in the era that movies are being made and released within 1 or 2 years at most, each film is a chance to shine and can't be wasted anymore. If that becomes the case, then the series would have to relegate itself to becoming a tv series which the producers have ruled out.

    Yes I always find it a bit odd when fans say ‘I want a straightforward Bond film, I don’t like all of this Bond falling in love and going rogue personal stuff. The best Bond films are OHMSS and LTK’ :D
  • KenAustinKenAustin United States
    Posts: 226
    When DC became bond they went on a (copied ?) Jason Bourne like styled films from the look (hair cut) to the fighting style, etc Bulldog like ?
    q0ma8ozYaaol1IvdGjBvj3KllyL.jpg

    It worked at the Box office but should bond go back to being a "traditional" bond, like the other fellas......? Cat like ?
    collag_s_647_100915041956.jpg?size=770:433


    Should definitely return to the literary looking Bond for sure any other excuse for a different looking Bond is just pandering
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,948
    Pandering to blond men? :))
  • KenAustinKenAustin United States
    Posts: 226
    mtm wrote: »
    Pandering to blond men? :))

    Pandering to people who just want to see something different for no good reason other than they don't like what they see or they are just bent on forcing change where it is not needed because they are too stubborn to find another interest or create their own content.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,948
    Blond men then ;)
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