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Yeah, height's been a whole thing with some of these picks. I don't think it matters here really.
As @Pierce2Daniel said, O'Connell's a very talented British actor whose acting style has been compared to De Niro. Marlon Brando is another comparison I've seen, sensationalist as critics can be (interestingly, I know he was the same height, if not a bit shorter than O'Connell, which I never noticed watching his early film roles. It's the same with certain actors, the way they carry themselves along with some camera angles can make audiences believe they're 6 foot).
Aaron Pierre looks good in that pic.
Never heard of this guy. Is he any use?
Claflin is a choice I can certaintly agree with. Even at his age. EON will simply have to consider whether it wants to share its bed with the same actor for 10, 12, 14... years.
Personally, I appreciate seeing an actor grow in the part over the span of at least 4 or 5 films. If they do one film every 2 or so years, then Claflin may not be too old yet. (Remember, 50 is the new 40.) But if they space them out the way they have in recent times -- not entirely by their own volition, mind -- then yes, going much younger is necessary.
O'Connell is a fine actor, though his height, regardless of ability might be an issue with some. Look how it went for Craig for a while.
I'm not getting a Bond vibe from Aaron Pierre I'm afraid @Pierce2Daniel, he's a little too pretty imo, he looks like he'd be more comfortable on the catwalk, than saving the world.
His name is almost a meme around here of late, but he is still genuinely my 2nd choice (or 1st if Cavill is out of the running).
It's Bond.
That said I'll go with my gut and say what I usually do about such actors with a history of playing intense roles - I'd be more interested in seeing him play a villain, not necessarily Bond.
I'll add Tom Bateman to the list.
Im not sure how old he is but Ben Starr should get a look.
My favorite remains Aidan Turner.
I do feel like Turner and some others are worthy of a screen test. Apparently ATJ can work a room, but who works on screen?
I'm not sure if even EON go to those lengths to test the waters. It really wouldn't tell them anything anyway because it doesn't matter what the public thinks about the actor before they appear/are seen onscreen. The real test is how they are received when the film comes out.
I was more thinking all of the new heads at Amazon/MGM. The Sony emails revealed just how meddling execs can be with Eon.
Like I remember him in Godzilla but I don’t remember him in Godzilla if that makes sense
I Absolutely agree. Bryan Cranston completely overshadowed him. The film plummeted with Cranston’s early exit.
So I would not be without concern if he was a front runner.
He’s a fine actor, but I don’t see him as Bond.
That being said, if he was cast, I’d give him the benefit of the doubt, until after he’d made his debut film.
I’d say that’s absolutely possible. But equally possible is that someone from his team is „leaking“ this to raise his profile and get headwind in some other negotiations. Or maybe even to get him into the conversation at Eon, but I hope they aren’t that stupid. I don’t think producers like those kinds of games all that much.
Looking back, no Bond was ever truly an unknown, was he? (Except Lazenby.) Although Connery appears to have been largely under the radar before DN.
I think as Bond fans we tend to forget or at least underestimate just how unusual Lazenby's casting was. No acting experience is one thing (honestly, along with Lazenby's lack of onscreen charisma this element doesn't help an otherwise solid film) but having no experience with that industry at all is another. It factored into the decisions Lazenby made in terms of renewing his contract, some of the on-set tensions he had with crew/actors etc. I suspect it was a lesson for Cubby and was a major factor in Moore's casting - don't simply cast the good looking unknown who walks into the audition office, otherwise the series as a whole could suffer.
But let’s say it’s a done deal and he is cast tomorrow I would give his films the benefit of the doubt and watch them
Promotion-wise Lazenby also sounds like he was a nightmare- he grew his beard and hair apparently just to spite the producers (I think it was unreasonable of them to ask that he stayed looking like Bond, but regardless); talked about US Government complicity in the assassination of JFK on a TV show as part of the promo(!); then went on his own unofficial, privately funded promotional tour of the US when they said they didn't want him to do it. As you say, there's a standard of professionalism you get when you hire someone with a bit of experience.
Also, hearing about Craig talking about his experiences making these things, it sounds like a different level from how it used to be; how constantly busy he was, associating with the entire crew etc. I don't think a beginner could do it now, and that's before you get to the actual acting side of it.
Whilst I'm slightly ambivalent to ATJ as the final choice—his David Beckham high-pitched voice and lack of height is my main concern—I do like everything else about him. He's a very good actor, although his strengths do appear to lie in playing quirky, oddball characters rather than the strong, stoic male lead type. As others have pointed out, who truly remembers his bland performance in 2014's Godzilla as Lieutenant Brody Ford? No, me neither.
Anyway, I'm not here to knock Aaron Taylor Johnson as I think he has the potential to go on and deliver a very good performance as Bond, depending on the final script, of course.
No, I thought I'd take this opportunity to throw in a few other British actor names of a similar age that could be screen-testing alongside ATJ for the role. I've only managed to come up with four names myself, those being Alex Roe, Tom Hughes, Sean Teal (as mentioned above by @parkert5) and Jack Reynor. I'm sure there are others, but I've yet to see any real suitable candidates.
I also think ATJ puts to bed any hope of Henry Cavill or Aidan Turner being screen-tested for the role, which was pretty much what I'd been told from an insider who will have to remain anonymous. (Those of you that I've confided in will know who I'm referencing). Anyway, we'll find out more about Bond 26 in the coming months.
Until then, sayōnara.
I think the hair and beard was more a big deal for the time. I'm sure a future actor could promote the next Bond film with a beard/bit of stubble nowadays and it's likely that will happen. But yeah, conspiracy theories and going on your own promo tours are generally a no-no, haha!
It's definitely not easy-going for an actor, both in terms of promotion and the filming. Even looking specifically at the acting side, Hunt apparently had difficulties with Lazenby. Lazenby would get frustrated because he'd essentially be asked to various things like Connery - little gestures, looks etc. While it's perhaps not the best approach to take with a first time actor, a more experienced actor such as Moore was at least able to bring his own idiosyncrasies to the role which influenced how his Bond was written. Even if Lazenby had wanted to, it's doubtful whether he would have been able to bring those unique nuances to the role.
True, he's Irish-American. Erase that name and replace it with Thomas Doherty then ;)
Doherty is a much better actor from what I've seen, anyway!