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By the time 2025 roles around, deep fake technology would be so good they could do the next one starring Sean Connery.
Either that or get Dalton back and de-age him.
Dalton back for 4 films Brosnan for 2 and Craig for 3 all thanks to deaging I like it.
I imagine in the future there will be a viewing option where you can select which actor you like in the role. You'll probably be able to put yourself in the role.
It'll then only be a short step before we are all basically living in Total Recall.
That might just barely edge out Aidan Turner, he’ll turn 38 later this year. Damn.
Agreed, although I don’t think any of those actors were ever really in contention. I don’t think anyone mentioned in this thread has a hope.
It’s my belief that we haven’t heard of the next Bond actor yet.
So you mean some young 30 year old who be just the right age in 2025?
I wouldn't bet on it being 2025, personally. We're a long way from the next official Bond / Bond film.
I have this unfortunate feeling NTTD will be the only Bond film of the 2020's.
Possibly none made during the 2030's also. That narrows it down to actors currently around the age of 12 who we can envision growing up to a dashing 6'2, ready to save the world.
you know I am bored enough I might just google young british actors... but then again io might not
More love for Page:
https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/daniel-craig-james-bond-replacement.html
I keep saying my son is the next James Bond. He's four.
You're right maybe 2030 is more accurate.
I hope so.
Actually, I still think Turner looks a bit younger than his 37 years seem to indicate. Not a lot younger looking (like me, I’m 41 and I look 25) so even if he’ll be in his forties when he’d start to be play Bond - that is, if he does, which I hope he will - he’ll still be able to swing it, at least for several years.
Anyway, I think the idea that we won’t get Bond 26 this decade is rather ludicrous. Of course we will.
Maybe in your next lifetime; you only live twice after all.
Still hard to fathom why so many people wet their pants over this guy.
Just supporting my boi Scott Adkins. It's unlikely to happen, but one can hope.
Just looked this up :))
This raises an interesting question though- What are all your thoughts on Bond's fighting style?
While I wouldn't particularly want to see Bond pulling off martial arts and elaborately choreographed fights, maybe future films could demonstrate more of the close-quarters training an agent like Bond surely would have had.
Craig has definitely been the best in this area, having had fights which involve more than just fisticuffs. Casino Royale had the stairway fight and Quantum had the hotel room fight, both of which are improvements from previous films and do give an impression of a trained killer. But Skyfall had the Casino/Komodo dragon fight, which was pretty poor. Spectre had the brilliant train fight- but brilliant because he was out of his depth. There are little moments throughout the films though which show Bond's training at work, such as the short altercation outside the medical facility in Spectre which we first saw in the first (?) production vlog.
Would an overly-capable Bond render him less relatable? Myself, I think there's room for improvement here. Little moments as the one I've just mentioned may be better though than long drawn out fights, such as the bathroom fight in the last Mission Impossible, which I did enjoy..
What do you reckon?
I think his fighting style should be fast and efficient, using hands, feet, elbows, and knees, but avoiding anything overly flashy: no JCVD-style helicopter kicks, or too much kicking above the waist (I think Bruce Lee wasn't a fan of high kicks when in real fights, and he tended to know what he was talking about). I'd definitely want a more controlled, trained feel to the fights rather than the basic western roundhouse punch and block, though - Bond, imo, must look like a trained killer and not a barroom brawler. I'm not familiar enough with fighting styles, but maybe a mix of Krav Maga and Eskrima? Obviously some British special forces advice would be a welcome shot of realism, but some concessions to the movies must be made. A long fight-scene at the right place is perfectly fine, as long as it doesn't feel just like a set-piece for the sake of it.
QsCat, do you have a few examples of fights from the movies/tv that capture the feel of the style you'd want?
Interesting to hear your thoughts. I know even less about fighting styles than you do, so I can't suggest any particular methods. I think that like you've said, CR and QoS were going in the right direction. I didn't like the Skyfall silhouette fight myself. The idea wasn't a bad one but it was rather messy and didn't really work. The music had to compensate for it.
I really can't think of any fights from other films though.. I did think of Kingsman during my last post though. Maybe the next Bond could afford to appear more of a gentleman such as Firth in that or Fiennes in The Avengers, but actually proves himself to be VERY capable in a fight. Not as cartoon-like as those films though of course. Of course, one appeal of Craig is that he looks capable, so the change I've just mentioned wouldn't neccesserily be one for the better, but just an idea for a change.
I don't think the fights need to be too slick, it's good when we see Bond struggle. Maybe this seperates Bond from other films? But maybe for some people, this is one way in which they feel Bond films are lacking compared to others? I think it depends on the opponent too, as well as the environment. They influence how a fight pans out, not just the combat style.
Quantum is my favourite in terms of Craig's portrayal. He's at his most capable in that film. One example is the bit in the elevator, knocking out the three who've arrested him. We see his training at work there. Let's have more of that.
It's difficult really. Bond shouldn't be too capable but then again he IS supposed to be the best of MI6. I think they can afford to surprise us in the future with how capable Bond can be in a one on one. Let's even see Bond versus several opponents at the same time!
Films like The Raid, John Wick, Kingsman and Atomic Blonde are certainly a strong strand in the recent history of action movies and given the tendency of Bond producers to go with recent trends, there is a non-zero chance that they will try to create at least one very fast, slick close quarters fight scene in a future film. One added advantage there is that those scenes play very well as clips on YouTube and other social media (f.e. see also the MI:Fallout bathroom fight, the hallway fight from the series Daredevil, the elevator fight in Captain America 2 and so on). I personally don't really see that for Bond and would like the first few films after NTTD to be a bit lighter, but it is clearly a possible direction.
As to how that impacts the search for an actor: I don't really have an idea what is necessary to get to that level. People like Cruise, Theron and Reeves are clearly very committed performers (and the guys from the Raid series are more professional martial artists than actors), but it does seem that training, stunt coordination, camera work and editing have gotten so good in the last 10 years, that a good production team with enough prep time and an engaged actor can make everyone look good in this type of scene nowadays. That an actor needs to be physically fit to play Bond should be a given.
What I am trying to say is that the Bond of the novels and the films leading up to Craig - as in a heavy emphasis on knowing elements of judo and boxing - genuinely is enough for any secret agent to know. It's pretty much all you need. You also don't need very heavy musculature to hit hard. Some of the hardest hitting boxers of all time didn't have very defined muscles.
The techniques of Eskrima and Krav Maga are useful to know, and would help. But despite it looking 'more realistic', the fighting styles of Jason Bourne are total fantasy. As much of a fantasy as the Kung Fu and Bruce Lee movies. The techniques you see in Bourne can work in individual moments, but not in the extended, take on multiple opponents style scenes you see in those films. Trust me, Bourne is not more realistic than Bond. In one of the films he fights a guy who somersaults out of an arm lock FFS.
I am not knocking the fight scenes of the Bourne films, they are great, and exciting and look superb on screen. It's just that they have an illusion of 'realism' when in fact they are cinematic nonsense. Good thing too. Real fights look terrible on screen.
It might get a lot of stick, but the way Bond fights against the karate/kung fu guy at the school in TMWTGG, or the way he picks up Graves (in his Korean incarnation) by the collar on the hovercraft and just lamps him in the face in DAD, is far more accurate/realistic in terms of fighting style than the intricate, spinning, technique heavy style of Wick/Atomic Blonde and to a lesser extent the Bourne movies (which are much more preferable Imo) etc. In both of these examples he uses bulk and raw force rather than technique - and that really does decide matters in most situations. Obviously when he comes up against a man with more bulk and force he has to rely on technique and speed. That's why Bond can't be too big.
Despite my general antipathy toward the Craig films (CR accepted) the fight scenes are generally superb. Nothing too intricate, or skilful, but also acknowledging that hitting very hard is going to win most situations. He can also grapple too.
Anyway, not sure how this relates to the thread. But have enjoyed reading your comments so thought I would weight in with my two pence worth.
I’ll link the photo tomorrow when I’m not on my phone.
Well, I wouldn't expect Scott Adkins:Bond to pull of the kind of moves that Adkins does in his other films. I wouldn't expect Bond to suddenly do the Boyka kick, mid fight. But having someone who looks the part, can act, but also has that level of physicality to improve the quality of the fights. Bond has been taking influence from other films as early as FRWL, but if Bond took some influence from films like The Raid, I wouldn't mind. We haven't had a good fight since TLD, and that didn't even feature Bond!
Here's another fight from Ninja 2, it's not a long fight, but look at the choreography and the editing:
Bond shouldn't be relatable, but having a Bond who is highly trained in unarmed combat, as I imagine a Scott Adkins:Bond to be, wouldn't make him overpowered. It hasn't been a problem in in film of Scott Adkins that I have seen thus far, and don't see it a problem in Bond. The filmakers would just have to get creative in the casting of the physical threats, that's all.
or even with modern film techniques actors can be placed over stunt performers.
The acting is what's important, Connery didn't go on to become an cinema
icon with his on screen fighting ability ;) Although I do think it's great if
they can at least look like they can throw a punch.
We are talking about the same actor that played a Russian sub captain, with a Scottish accent, and not a trace of Russian? He would be cast as an alien from the furthest reaches of space, with a suspiciously thicc Scottish accent. Connery became a cinema legend, not because of his ability to become a character. I'd love to have seen him play a Sea Devil in Doctor Who. This one is from the Hebrides.
Purely unrelated, but Scott Adkins has played a Russian character, and not only adopted a suitable accent, but also changed his appearance. Just saying.... ;)
proven wrong. By the way my post was not an attack on Mr Adkins, just that I think the producers would be better off, picking a good ( Doesn't have to be great ) actor. If as
you state he can act as well as fight, Then I'll be Happy ;)
I've learned Krav Maga, I'm not an expert or anything and I seriously lack practice, but I'm not clueless about it. In the Craig era Bond uses techniques that are very close to it. It's not fancy, elaborate or artsy, you do what is natural to inflict maximum damage quickly to your adversary. Break his thought process, finish the fight. So anyway yes, that's the kind of technique I'd expect Bond to know and excel at. No martial art, but simple self defence method.