Who should/could be a Bond actor?

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  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 8,250
    Isn’t it the goal of all films? Whether there’s a minority in the lead or not? It’s called the film industry or film business. No one sets out to make a s*itty film.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    peter wrote: »
    Isn’t it the goal of all films? Whether there’s a minority in the lead or not? It’s called the film industry or film business. No one sets out to make a s*itty film.

    True but I think they mean there's higher pressure put on a person of a marginalized group then there is your average Tom Dick or Martin Campbell.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 8,250
    EoN knows how to make a Bond film, whether there is a man of colour in the lead, or not.

    It’ll be the media who will make a big deal out of this.

    EoN and their partners always want to make the best film, with worldwide box office success in mind. The skin colour of the actor won’t change that.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    peter wrote: »
    EoN knows how to make a Bond film, whether there is a man of colour in the lead, or not.

    It’ll be the media who will make a big deal out of this.

    EoN and their partners always want to make the best film, with worldwide box office success in mind. The skin colour of the actor won’t change that.

    I thought we were talking about the director? Either way, I know you’re right.
  • Posts: 2,745
    Venutius wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    Fair play. I think the rule of thumb applies just as much as it has usually done in the past - the most 'likely' actors to get the role won't. Maybe one of us will get lucky and have suggested the next Bond actor in the many pages of this thread, but it's unlikely.
    Yes, true - wonder how many Bond fans would've even contemplated Craig for the role before 2005? I didn't and I'd seen him in a fair few things by that point. This time around, I'd say that A*d*n T*rn*r most looks the part - but that doesn't mean he'll be a candidate, because Adrian Paul most looked the part last time and it turns out that he wasn't even on the field, let alone in the running. Craig's probably broken the mould as far as someone's looks making them a likely contender. That must've opened it up to a lot of people who, as you say, we wouldn't expect. We could well get another left field choice as a result. Interesting times, these.

    My issue with Turner is that while he looks reasonably Bondian, I've seen nothing from him that tells me he'd bring anything unique to the role. In that sense he reminds me a lot of Clive Owen. While I was quite young at the time I remember there was a bit of online buzz around his name for the role. Even then it struck me as unlikely.

    I wouldn't say Craig's broken the mould as such, but rather he's carried on what was already the case to begin with - with a role like Bond it's not just a case of having black hair and looking good in a tuxedo. Connery wasn't exactly a conventional candidate either. I'd say it's opened up the possibilities of who could be Bond, but there's also a case to be made that the producers will ask themselves specifically 'what do we want from this next Bond' and consider actors accordingly based on this.

    But yes, I suspect we'll get a 'left field' candidate in the sense that few here or in the press would have considered them. But I think this is usually the case with these types of roles anyway. I don't know whether the next actor will be non-white (certainly in big films nowadays casting someone of a different race too the main character is actually pretty rare in practice, but we'll almost certainly get a more 'diverse' film regardless) but I think they'll be different to Craig in one way or another.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 8,250
    peter wrote: »
    Isn’t it the goal of all films? Whether there’s a minority in the lead or not? It’s called the film industry or film business. No one sets out to make a s*itty film.

    True but I think they mean there's higher pressure put on a person of a marginalized group then there is your average Tom Dick or Martin Campbell.

    Dunno if I’m right @NickTwentyTwo ( 🤷‍♂️), but @ByRoyalDecree was saying they better not make a s*itty film if they cast a man of colour.

    I think the stakes are always high while making a Bond picture. It’s a pressure cooker whether they cast Brosnan (so many expectations on his shoulders when cast, what if he didn’t live up to the hype and faltered?), or Craig (blond, short, ugly).

    But it’s mainly the media that hype this stuff.

    Audiences will always go and see the latest James Bond film. It’s up to the producers to make sure they make the films well enough so that audiences keep returning for further adventures.
  • edited September 2022 Posts: 784
    Considering the political climate I’d say you wouldn't want give the anti woke mob even more ammunition. The initial controversy is good PR but if the film doesn't put the critics to sleep, there is a problem.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    peter wrote: »
    peter wrote: »
    Isn’t it the goal of all films? Whether there’s a minority in the lead or not? It’s called the film industry or film business. No one sets out to make a s*itty film.

    True but I think they mean there's higher pressure put on a person of a marginalized group then there is your average Tom Dick or Martin Campbell.

    Dunno if I’m right @NickTwentyTwo ( 🤷‍♂️), but @ByRoyalDecree was saying they better not make a s*itty film if they cast a man of colour.

    I think the stakes are always high while making a Bond picture. It’s a pressure cooker whether they cast Brosnan (so many expectations on his shoulders when cast, what if he didn’t live up to the hype and faltered?), or Craig (blond, short, ugly).

    But it’s mainly the media that hype this stuff.

    Audiences will always go and see the latest James Bond film. It’s up to the producers to make sure they make the films well enough so that audiences keep returning for further adventures.

    All true.
  • TheSkyfallen06TheSkyfallen06 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    Posts: 975
    I think it’s particularly important not make a shitty film if they cast a minority.

    Believe me, once Bond gets into the public domain, we're gonna have a black, LGBTQ+ and trans Bond everywhere, not saying that it would be bad, but...
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    I think it’s particularly important not make a shitty film if they cast a minority.

    Believe me, once Bond gets into the public domain, we're gonna have a black, LGBTQ+ and trans Bond everywhere, not saying that it would be bad, but...

    Lol, literary Bond is already in the public domain here in Canada.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited September 2022 Posts: 14,861
    I think it’s particularly important not make a shitty film if they cast a minority.

    Believe me, once Bond gets into the public domain, we're gonna have a black, LGBTQ+ and trans Bond everywhere, not saying that it would be bad, but...

    Bond won’t get into the public domain, it’s a trademark. You’ll no more be able to make and market a film starring James Bond 007 in 20 years time than you will be able to make and sell your own Coca Cola right now.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,482
    I hope the casting of the next actor isn't aimed at being purposely controversial, for the sake of promotion.

    I think NTTD suffered a slight backlash with the leak Nomi was going to be a female 007. I felt sorry for Lashana, they made so much of her character in the initial trailers and marketing, then in the film they barely wrote Nomi as a worthwhile character.
    The endless delays gave the marketing team time to readjust and focus on the scale of the film and it being the end of an era.

    They seemed aware of the backlash to Craig's casting (in Being James Bond) when they mentioned the box office numbers of Casino Royale, Wilson and Craig agreed they could have done even better without the silly bad press around the film.
  • Posts: 2,745
    It's a double edged sword really. Cast a non-white actor who is right for the part and risk people online foaming at the mouths and generating bad publicity for the film. Don't consider non-white actors at all and risk someone special falling through the cracks.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited September 2022 Posts: 14,861
    There will be mouth-foaming no matter what I think: the chosen guy will be too fat, too thin, wrong hair colour, too young, too weak a chin, not clean shaven enough etc. Papers like the Mail thrive on controversy (remember all of the ‘cursed set’ stuff when NTTD was filming? It’s all been long forgotten about, but they were desperate to stir all that up just to sell a bit more advertising space, how all the ladies present fancied Craig’s sexy stunt double more than they did him etc.) so headlines about there being an adverse reaction to the new Bond are completely inevitable no matter who it is.
  • Posts: 2,745
    Yeah, unfortunately all true. Ah well, suppose we'll have moaning to look forward to in the run up to this film.
  • edited September 2022 Posts: 784
    Will they dare if it is Idris?

    I was too young to pay attention last time around, but if this trashing becomes a ritual it actually sounds like fun.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 1,282
    I think a word from Craig to Bond 7 would instantly put Bond 7 at ease. I've always thought Craig's electric performance in CR is a response to the pre-criticism he got from fans. So I think Bond 7 would do the same.
  • edited September 2022 Posts: 784
    They must have not seen Layer Cake. Or they were just trying to sell newspapers.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited September 2022 Posts: 2,895
    Yeah, they were that keen to put the boot in that they even invented a yarn that Dan 'couldn't drive stick' - seemingly not knowing that nearly 99% of UK drivers take their driving test in a manual car, not an automatic. Oops.
  • Posts: 14,799
    They must have not seen Layer Cake. Or they were just trying to sell newspapers.

    Layer Cake was a relatively obscure movie. The general public and the newspapers use famous movies, TV seroes and other sources as references. They look at who is known at that time, who looks good in a tux during a gala, etc.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Venutius wrote: »
    Yeah, they were that keen to put the boot in that they even invented a yarn that Dan 'couldn't drive stick' - seemingly not knowing that nearly 99% of UK drivers take their driving test in a manual car, not an automatic. Oops.

    I remember that he also lost his teeth.
  • edited September 2022 Posts: 2,745
    Perhaps along with suggesting actors for the next Bond, we could also suggest what negative qualities the press will inevitably say about them and what stories will come out? I mean, we're not too far off of this anyway...

    Aidan Turner? Lack of chin. Sources say the VFX team have been working overtime to digitally enhance his lower face. Film to be delayed by 2 months...

    Jack O'Connell? Trashy smile. Specific 'smile' coaches have been hired in order to work with him and teach him to contort his mouth in a smoother, more 'Bondian' way. So far the results have been mixed... Film to be delayed by weeks.

    Harry Styles? Can't act. As a result he keeps on getting nervous onset and sings his lines. Apparently this has been the case with his other film roles, except Dunkirk, mostly due to no one saying much in that film anyway. ADR to be done using a dubbing actor. Film to be delayed for an unspecified amount of time...

    Timothee Chalamet? No, just no... Sources say that EON, realising what a horrible mistake they've made, have had to kill him, making it look like an onset accident and will announce it soon. Craig to return as Bond...
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    007HallY wrote: »
    Perhaps along with suggesting actors for the next Bond, we could also suggest what negative qualities the press will inevitably say about them and what stories will come out? I mean, we're not too far off of this anyway...

    Aidan Turner? Lack of chin. Sources say the VFX team have been working overtime to digitally enhance his lower face. Film to be delayed by 2 months...

    Jack O'Connell? Trashy smile. Specific 'smile' coaches have been hired in order to work with him and teach him to contort his mouth in a smoother, more 'Bondian' way. So far the results have been mixed... Film to be delayed by weeks.

    Harry Styles? Can't act. As a result he keeps on getting nervous onset and sings his lines. Apparently this has been the case with his other film roles, except Dunkirk, mostly due to no one saying much in that film anyway. ADR to be done using a dubbing actor. Film to be delayed for an unspecified amount of time...

    Timothee Chalamet? No, just no... Sources say that EON, realising what a horrible mistake they've made, have had to kill him, making it look like an onset accident and will announce it soon. Craig to return as Bond...

    You made me laugh, although none of this is unlikely to actually happen.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    007HallY wrote: »

    Jack O'Connell? Trashy smile. Specific 'smile' coaches have been hired in order to work with him and teach him to contort his mouth in a smoother, more 'Bondian' way. So far the results have been mixed... Film to be delayed by weeks.

    As an actor I can say personally from experience that I went through an intensive 18-month smile clinic with 16 different smile coaches that cost about $50,000 and it's all bullshit, total waste of time and money; they might have to just go with someone else.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,448
    007HallY wrote: »

    Jack O'Connell? Trashy smile. Specific 'smile' coaches have been hired in order to work with him and teach him to contort his mouth in a smoother, more 'Bondian' way. So far the results have been mixed... Film to be delayed by weeks.

    As an actor I can say personally from experience that I went through an intensive 18-month smile clinic with 16 different smile coaches that cost about $50,000 and it's all bullshit, total waste of time and money; they might have to just go with someone else.

    You are not making these numbers up? Wow! :| That is one expensive training!
  • cwl007cwl007 England
    Posts: 611
    Matt Smith.
    It would be a creatively brave decision, Barbara likes those. He's fun and interesting to watch. He's the Goldilocks level of famous. He's a bit of a chameleon, could act the socks off the part.
    He maybe doesn't have the 'classic look' but that concept was brilliantly smashed to bits by DC.
    I give you Matt Smith.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 13,879
    I would love to see Smith in the films. If not as Q, then a henchman.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    cwl007 wrote: »
    Matt Smith.
    It would be a creatively brave decision, Barbara likes those. He's fun and interesting to watch. He's the Goldilocks level of famous. He's a bit of a chameleon, could act the socks off the part.
    He maybe doesn't have the 'classic look' but that concept was brilliantly smashed to bits by DC.
    I give you Matt Smith.

    All of this is true, he was brilliant as Philip in The Crown, but for me he's too weird for Bond.
    Weird is a fantastic thing, but less so for Bond IMO.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited October 2022 Posts: 5,834
    Yeah, Matt Smith is a fantastic actor. His work on The Crown and currently House of the Dragon is stunning, but I'm not sure he's suited to James Bond in the sense of the film franchise. If EON were to develop a television series with more faithful adaptations of the novels, then I think Smith would be perfect, in my opinion.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 1,282
    I think all the Bonds have rugged features that still show hints of a protagonist. Matt Smith is a great actor, but his features are more of villainy...I think. But as always, we'll never know who's right for Bond, until one scene of them as 007 is shown to the world.
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