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That explains why he was banging on about ‘reinvention’ 😂 Seems everyone in the industry was using that phrase in relation to Bond after they heard Barbara say it during interviews.
Still though, it didn’t seem like he was interested really.
Basically I think he was positioning himself as a bridge between the traditionalist fans and those that want a Bond that represents modern Britain. I certainly don't think he would turn down an audition if offered, not on the strength of that interview.
Considering it was from early 2023, it seems to me that he’s playing it cool.
Not gushing over the role like some have done, merely suggesting the role needs to be re-invented or taken in a new direction.
I think we still have a bit of a wait before the next Bond is cast.
Still think Theo James could and should be on the short list.
I really doubt Theo James cares about us Bond fans to be honest, and he’s giving a pretty definitive answer. I suspect if you asked him he wouldn’t have much idea about any sort of rift between more traditionalist fans and others. Usually when these actors say they’re a Bond fan (and he even added he’s a fan of the concept, not necessarily all the movies) they mean they watch the films occasionally and enjoy some of them.
Maybe I’m cynical myself, but I don’t think any of these actors we discuss here will have much idea about what Bond fans think, and they probably don’t care (probably best, not sure if I can picture ATJ popping into these forums to read up on how smug he is or how awful his voice is. He’s likely off shooting something, or if not simply living his life). Honestly, EON most likely don’t worry too much beyond a point what we think of these actors (and rightly so, most of us including me have no idea what we’re talking about). For a potential actor I suspect they see it as simply an opportunity - albeit an opportunity with a long history behind it - but an opportunity nonetheless. A chunk of actors simply won’t want to be tied down by this particular role. I mean, never say never, but I wouldn’t read too much into what James said, or indeed any other actor who gives a specific answer. He said ‘it wouldn’t be me’. For now I’ll take him at face value, and I see no reason he’d effectively rule himself out in some weird attempt to ‘play it coy’. He may change his mind or be convinced to audition, but for now I don’t think he’s the guy.
https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/james-bond-role-requires-older-actor-with-gravitas-says-casting-director-1234827240/
“We’ve tried looking at younger people in the past,” Wilson said. “But trying to visualize it doesn’t work. Remember, Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience. He’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something. He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That’s why it works for a 30-something.”
Also, as far as playing coy or disinterested, what was Daniel's public stance prior to being cast?
I like too think some of these actors do have potential, I can also accept the strong possibility that many will not be considered.
As with the casting of Daniel Craig, I’m sure the process for the next actor will throw us a few curve balls.
The casting of any Bond actor is a truly massive event in the movie world.
More men have walked on the surface of the moon for heavens sake!
This is not a simple decision. As with Craig, it’s entirely likely we’re not thinking of the next Bond just yet.
I in no way suggested that Theo James (or any candidate, for that matter) checks out Bond message boards, I'm talking about general chit-chat between people in the real world and on TV interviews and the like. You don't need to be on a 007 board to have heard people give their views on Bond casting and the general direction of the films. It's been that way since I was a kid, when my parents would way in on whether they thought the last film was too silly, or had too many gadgets, or whatever. Now asking if the latest film had enough Fleming in it, that is Bond enthusiast question that only comes up on-line.
Also, at the risk of being pedantic, he didn't say 'it wouldn't be me', he said ' they need to go with a reinvention of it in a different way, and that wouldn't be me'; that to me sounds more like he's saying that he doesn't think Eon would choose him rather than that he wouldn't do it.
Fair enough. I think I was basically trying to say that while it’s tempting for us to see an actor’s response as something more veiled than it is, I don’t think this is the case. I have no doubt James has heard a bit about Bond in real life (again, he parroted the word ‘reinvention’ which he’s clearly gotten from interviews BB did, and being an actor at that level in the film industry he’d likely hear some rumblings from others about what EON are doing). It just didn’t come across to me as if he was that interested in Bond in general, nor did he seem to think he was the right person for whatever reason. Basically I don’t think he has any ulterior motive saying this, nor is trying to pitch himself as a specific candidate to fans or EON.
Didn’t Craig openly say in interviews that he’d met with producers and that while he liked GE wasn’t a fan of the later Brosnan films and would want to take it in a different direction? I think he was quite open about it needing to be right for him. I imagine he was on the fence about it, but I’m not sure about disinterested (or coy, haha).
Later, he described it this way:
'I wasn’t excited or anything, didn’t feel particularly nervous. I don’t know what happened in the first meeting, but they said, ‘We want you to do this.’ I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ It was not on my radar. Genuinely. Of all the people in the world I would have expected to play James Bond, it was not me. I went away and thought, This is ridiculous. I can’t do this. It felt so far removed from anything I was about, who I was, or what I was doing at the time. It’s not like I was snobbish about Bond. I’m a Bond fan. I love Bond. But it wasn’t me.’
Tbf, Craig's thoughts were in line with most people's at the time! :D
I mean, I could be wrong, but I suspect in most cases while actors aren’t going to go into specifics, if they’re asked about Bond they’ll give their honest answer without much in between the lines. If Aidan Turner says he wouldn’t want to sacrifice certain parts of his life for the fame that Bond gives actors, he’s not being coy but legitimately conveying a concern that’d make him less likely to accept the role. If Theo James seemingly expresses the opinion that he’s not the right actor for the role, he likely believes this. Heck, even if ATJ waffles some vague rubbish about ‘doing what’s intuitive to him’, and only focusing on marketing Kraven as that’s what’s in front of him and that’ll ’generate many conversations’, that’s probably legitimately his thought process (again, vague as it is).
Quite right @sandbagger1 … recently Jamie Dornan has stated similar things about large productions and he may, may, have had his fill with larger jobs (after he went through a bit of hell during the 50 Shades films). This is an actor I’ve recently enjoyed in The Fall and The Tourist and think he’d make a spectacular Bond (I find him magnetic, likeable, charming, alpha, talented, physical (the women in my life also seem to be head over heels for him).
But it’s true: some actors aren’t comfortable and are wary of big studio films.
Now saying that, James Bond must give these same actors pause….
Someone like Dornan has a family and seems very protective of them. Leaving them for half a year, then x number of weeks a few short months later, may not work with their private lives.
Bond certainly isn't a job to rush into.
(Although as an actor from the UK, it has to be tempting as hell!!)
Theo James won’t be a thirty something by the time they get going with the next one though, and I still can’t see them following up Craig’s “old dog” with someone who’s middle aged in his first film.
I’d be happy if I’m wrong, because I prefer James to most of the names I’ve seen on here. But I’m still in the “he’s probably just a bit too old” camp for now. Bond isn’t a kid but neither is somebody in their 30s, we just had a 31 year old 00 in the last film. I still reckon they’ll cast someone younger.
I do think that even at 39 , James looks a decade younger than Craig did when he was cast at 36.
Time waits for no man.
Or he cannot, at 50 Tom Cruise looked barely 30.
No Time To Age.
I actually think Moore looked very good throughout most of his era. He actually looks pretty youthful in his first two, and even in TSWLM/MR I would never have guessed he was a 50+ year old. I think some of his costume choices in FYEO especially are a bit dated in hindsight and I think make him come off as looking a bit older nowadays (he gets an unfortunate amount of bland looking clothes - the fuddy duddy and colourless casual jacket and white shirt with oversized collar combo, his sort of old man life preserver vest thing over the sweater he wears during the climax etc. When he’s in a tux or simply in his blue shirt during the coal raking scene I think he looks great). I think it was only in AVTAK where it’s really noticeable.
Even the Madeline relationship only really worked because of her daddy issues imo, and that didn’t stop my mrs pointing out how much older he looked. I don’t think they could get away with doing that as regularly as they did with Moore, and the longer gaps mean they’ll be in that predicament much earlier in the actor’s run if he’s eeking into his mid 40s when shooting for his first one starts.