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After seeing Argylle, I think Guy Ritchie is a genius.
Thanks.
I think there is several actors in the mix next time around too.
Not to say the story about watching Elizabeth and being taken by Craig's walk isn't true. I suspect the producers were always on the lookout for Bond actors even when an incumbent was in the role. But likely he was one of many on a list before a certain point, not some clear frontrunner. I don't think it's a clear cut case of Craig being the only possible actor they had in their sights five years prior. They had over 200 names by their own admission! And if he'd always been 'the chosen one' why did early drafts of CR include a Bond in his mid-20s, and why were many of the candidates a decade younger than the 37 year old Craig? Obviously they shifted direction at some point in CR's process.
I suspect what happened was they kept an eye on Craig's film career between 2001-2005. Once they saw him in Tomb Raider and Layer Cake they really became interested in him, realising he had what it took to play Bond going from these roles. He was still amongst many on a list though. They approached him, he was reluctant, but they managed to convince him to audition, BB and MGW seemingly getting along with him and able to understand the direction they wanted for CR. He likely only did the half day of screen testing because it was quite clear they had what they needed and basically told him 'that's fine'. In that way, I think MGW was completely honest when he said Craig was the only one they formally offered the role to, and he clearly made an impact. But I think it was a case where he was - odd as it sounds - the safest option, and this became clear later in the process.
I think different this time is good thing.
If I were going to guess, I reckon they're very much in 'names on a big list' territory as of now. There can't be a frontrunner because the audition process hasn't begun.
I believe Dalton was long on Cubbys radar for the role, though he never auditioned , he was in Cubbys sights for quite a while. Brosnan only appeared when he was on set with his late wife Cassandra when she appeared in FYEO. According to John Glens book. 'For My Eyes Only', though Glen and Michael Wilson were in favour of Brosnan, Cubby wasn't convinced, and was only signed when Dalton was unavailable, and when the whole MGM thing happened, Cubby dropped Brosnan, and suddenly Dalton was free and took the role. So I do think Cubby favoured Dalton over Brossa!
The other side of that story is that when discussing recasting for Goldeneye, MGM/UA executives wanted Brosnan while EON wanted to retain Dalton - and it was Cubby who made the final decision to go with Brosnan over Dalton when things were at a stalemate. I don’t think Cubby had any sort of particular attachment to his actors - I’m sure he appreciated the services they provided but the GE story proves that he was more than willing to recast the lead actor if it meant getting the film made.
Funnily enough “Some Kind of Hero” revealed that Connery wanted to do OHMSS as his final film but Cubby and Harry Saltzmen felt that after 5 films with him in the lead things needed to changed thus Lazenby was cast.
I’m always a bit skeptical of those stories, especially when it’s coming from the people involved wanting to create a narrative (I get the sense they all genuinely like Dalton too and don’t want to throw him under the bus as ‘the alternative option’. It’s easier adding that little asterix of ‘oh yeah, Cubby wasn’t actually 100% on him’ even if it’s a white lie at best). Cubby did it all the time, even writing in his biography that story about considering Moore in ‘62 (despite the fact Moore himself said he was never approached!) Clearly Brosnan was the first choice whatever way as they signed him. Of course it was in EON’s interest for Cubby to say publicly, as he did ‘no, I wanted Timothy all along but he said no at first’. Again, it’s probably not quite the truth, even if Dalton was always in their sights and a serious option.
Nothing to do with the fact that Connery was burnt out, being underpaid, had a rocky relationship with the producers, and by his own account quit? ;)
I’m sure maybe at one point Connery considered it (I think they wanted to do OHMSS earlier but a warm winter in Switzerland meant them doing YOLT instead, so time frame is another factor here). But I think it’s fairly common knowledge what Connery’s frustrations were, and why he left when he did. So again, I’m skeptical, or would at least say it’s only one side to the story.
To be honest, I’d say all that makes more sense when viewed in the context of Dalton stepping in at the last minute rather than being ‘the chosen one’. He effectively salvaged TLD’s timeline by agreeing to play Bond, and was likely even a bit reluctant to do it. Yes, I think Cubby had a lot of loyalty to Dalton in that sense. It’s obviously not a relationship he shared with Connery. Even his negotiations with Moore/his agent could be intense and a bit nasty.
Yes, it's unfortunate Connery and Cubby fell out so badly, but I believe Connery made up just before Cubby passed away. Cubby and Roger seemed to get on very well, apart from when Moores salary came up!! 😆