Who should/could be a Bond actor?

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  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited May 2023 Posts: 3,789
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12076209/amp/Aaron-Taylor-Johnson-tipped-James-Bond-replace-Daniel-Craig.html

    I'm not sold on ATJ, he's not a bad choice by any means and they could do a lot worse. I don't know what it is about him, he just doesn't seem very cool or particularly like an alpha.

    I'm sure if he was cast he'd be a decent Bond, but I don't think there's anything about him that stands out if that makes sense.
    peter wrote: »
    He’s got a very smarmy face (especially when he raises eyebrows and does his pouty thing).

    Just like Brosnan right?

    In all honesty, I'm not sold in any of those actors suggesting for the role, I would liked to see an actor who's out of the radar, if that makes sense, not these media pets.
  • edited May 2023 Posts: 16,169
    I'm not sold on any current actors for Bond either. In fact, I'd rather EON wait, say 35 years for a baby recently born in the UK to grow up, become an excellent actor and then take the role of Bond.

    Now that I've posted that, I've just jinxed Bond 26 and we really will get a 35 year gap.
    :D
  • edited May 2023 Posts: 1,994
    peter wrote: »
    He’s got a very smarmy face (especially when he raises eyebrows and does his pouty thing).

    The eyebrow raise. Something RM did and never seemed convincing. Compare RM to SC.

  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    Posts: 3,789
    CrabKey wrote: »
    peter wrote: »
    He’s got a very smarmy face (especially when he raises eyebrows and does his pouty thing).

    The eyebrow raise. Something RM did and never seemed convincing. Compare RM to SC.

    And both of them are far more convincing than ATJ (Aaron Taylor Johnson, for that matter).
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,138
    I think a few of you are a little too specific on what you want from the next Bond actor.
    Sadly, you are less likely to except anyone in the role, as you long for that perfect incarnation of James Bond, that simply doesn't exist.
    Connery will always be the Bond to be compared to, but remember, even Ian Fleming wasn't sold on Connery until he saw him play the role.
    Similarly Craig, had many detractors before people had seen Casino Royale, especially the world press, who constantly wrote stories of how the film could fail. Then we all saw the finished film, and for the most part, people were thrilled and amazed, making Craig, one of the most popular actors too take on the role.
    To quote Bond in The Living Daylights,
    'Don't think, just let it happen.'
  • George_KaplanGeorge_Kaplan Being chauffeured by Tibbett
    Posts: 685
    I have to agree. And I think it's always a little unfair to judge someone when they haven't had the chance to really prove themselves.

    Regardless, we can be certain that whoever comes next will not have been chosen on a whim. It'll have been the result of months (or years) of planning, discussions, auditions, tests, and re-tests. Craig has raised the bar so high, there's no way they'll settle for just anyone.
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    Posts: 3,789
    I prefer those actors that were unexpected and not those offered by the medias.

    I prefer those out of radar actors, those that we have no idea about, not those noisy making names like Richard Madden or Aaron Taylor Johnson or etc.
  • sandbagger1sandbagger1 Sussex
    Posts: 942
    Pretty much everyone is on our radar, though.
  • Posts: 15,125
    Pretty much everyone is on our radar, though.

    Because we're fans. But how many of them, even those we think would do well, do we honestly think have a chance to be cast?
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    Benny wrote: »
    I think a few of you are a little too specific on what you want from the next Bond actor.
    Sadly, you are less likely to except anyone in the role, as you long for that perfect incarnation of James Bond, that simply doesn't exist.
    Connery will always be the Bond to be compared to, but remember, even Ian Fleming wasn't sold on Connery until he saw him play the role.
    Similarly Craig, had many detractors before people had seen Casino Royale, especially the world press, who constantly wrote stories of how the film could fail. Then we all saw the finished film, and for the most part, people were thrilled and amazed, making Craig, one of the most popular actors too take on the role.
    To quote Bond in The Living Daylights,
    'Don't think, just let it happen.'

    Agreed! It shall all be fine.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,807
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Benny wrote: »
    I think a few of you are a little too specific on what you want from the next Bond actor.
    Sadly, you are less likely to except anyone in the role, as you long for that perfect incarnation of James Bond, that simply doesn't exist.
    Connery will always be the Bond to be compared to, but remember, even Ian Fleming wasn't sold on Connery until he saw him play the role.
    Similarly Craig, had many detractors before people had seen Casino Royale, especially the world press, who constantly wrote stories of how the film could fail. Then we all saw the finished film, and for the most part, people were thrilled and amazed, making Craig, one of the most popular actors too take on the role.
    To quote Bond in The Living Daylights,
    'Don't think, just let it happen.'

    Agreed! It shall all be fine.

    Or: 'Don't wait for it to happen. Don't even want it to happen. Just watch what does happen.'

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Pretty much everyone is on our radar, though.

    Because we're fans. But how many of them, even those we think would do well, do we honestly think have a chance to be cast?

    I think it's a little harder for them to spring a surprise on us these days as speculation on social media has become such a massive thing. It didn't really exist back in 2005 when Daniel Craig was cast as Bond. Still, I expect Eon will try their level best to surprise us all with a choice from left field, much as Craig was back then.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited May 2023 Posts: 3,152
    After Craig, the most unexpected thing to do might be for them to revert to tradcasting and hire Aidan Turner. Ah, dammit, I said 'A*d*n T*rn*r' - sorry, all! ;)
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    Venutius wrote: »
    After Craig, the most unexpected thing to do might be for them to revert to tradcasting and hire Aidan Turner. Ah, dammit, I said 'A*d*n T*rn*r' - sorry, all! ;)

    I'd like that actor as Bond. But whomever they get will probably work very well for me.
  • Posts: 15,125
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Pretty much everyone is on our radar, though.

    Because we're fans. But how many of them, even those we think would do well, do we honestly think have a chance to be cast?

    I think it's a little harder for them to spring a surprise on us these days as speculation on social media has become such a massive thing. It didn't really exist back in 2005 when Daniel Craig was cast as Bond. Still, I expect Eon will try their level best to surprise us all with a choice from left field, much as Craig was back then.

    There's definitely that too. Whoever the next James Bond will be, it's likely he'll have been mentioned here at least once.
  • George_KaplanGeorge_Kaplan Being chauffeured by Tibbett
    Posts: 685
    I've just discovered Henry Cavill turned 40 two-weeks ago. I think we should all take a moment to pay our respects to the man who never was.

    Cavill Bond (2005-2023)

    Though in my opinion it's no great loss.
  • Posts: 946
    No one can handle the character. It takes a lifetime to master.
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    Posts: 3,789
    My opinion is just that those modern actors (as for me) were a bit generic, like they're all the same, that's not to knock on the modern films, sure they have great cinematography, but those acting, it's something that I'm not much caught of, it just doesn't do it for me.

    They're all uniformed, I don't know, it's just they all act the same, and they all looked the same 😅
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,138
    SIS_HQ wrote: »
    My opinion is just that those modern actors (as for me) were a bit generic, like they're all the same, that's not to knock on the modern films, sure they have great cinematography, but those acting, it's something that I'm not much caught of, it just doesn't do it for me.

    They're all uniformed, I don't know, it's just they all act the same, and they all looked the same 😅

    Do you mean younger actors, when you say modern actors. Or else we're going to have to go the AVTAK way, and have an aging actor play Bond.
    Which I think could be an interesting place to take the character. A Bond almost at retirement, and even one that goes into retirement and the adjustment to a more normal life. But of course, Bond could never do that.
  • George_KaplanGeorge_Kaplan Being chauffeured by Tibbett
    edited May 2023 Posts: 685
    Benny wrote: »
    SIS_HQ wrote: »
    My opinion is just that those modern actors (as for me) were a bit generic, like they're all the same, that's not to knock on the modern films, sure they have great cinematography, but those acting, it's something that I'm not much caught of, it just doesn't do it for me.

    They're all uniformed, I don't know, it's just they all act the same, and they all looked the same 😅

    Do you mean younger actors, when you say modern actors. Or else we're going to have to go the AVTAK way, and have an aging actor play Bond.
    Which I think could be an interesting place to take the character. A Bond almost at retirement, and even one that goes into retirement and the adjustment to a more normal life. But of course, Bond could never do that.

    That is pretty much what NTTD was though, even though Dan wasn't as old as Roger in AVTAK.
  • Posts: 1,220
    That’s precisely what NTTD was, imo. I’d like to see an early-career Bond, though not necessarily an origin story or “rookie” 00. My ideal reboot would have him in his early/mid 30’s, the events of Casino Royale have taken place offscreen in his mid 20’s and perhaps just a couple years removed from the events of OMHSS. We’re still establishing the general literary/cinematic Bond canon and formative moments without having to remake them or retell them onscreen. We keep the human aspect of the unsuccessful attempts to find love and live a normal life without having to dedicate entire films to those stories.

    I think The Batman provided a good model for addressing a similarly overfamiliar backstory, they reference the murder of the Wayne’s without having to show the events for the umpteenth time, while also recontextualizing them to provide something fresh to the story.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    I think The Batman provided a good model for addressing a similarly overfamiliar backstory, they reference the murder of the Wayne’s without having to show the events for the umpteenth time, while also recontextualizing them to provide something fresh to the story.

    I like where you're going with this, @battleshipgreygt! And let's not forget that Batman's backstory is so much more intricate, established and explored than Bond's. Whoever kicks off another Batman film series must resist the temptation to return to Crime Alley and the cave of bats. Bond doesn't face such problems. The "formula" is well-established, "everyone" knows who Bond is and what he (usually) does, and that's enough. They can just trap him in a new adventure and get the party started without too much context.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited May 2023 Posts: 3,152
    Yes, indeed. I think this is why it'd be largely redundant to have an origin story for the next Bond iteration. Give him a mission and get him in the field. Bond's backstory can be revealed little by little as it becomes relevant to the case.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    Venutius wrote: »
    Yes, indeed. I think this is why it'd be largely redundant to have an origin story for the next Bond iteration. Give him a mission and get him in the field. Bond's backstory can be revealed little by little as it becomes relevant to the case.

    That's the thing. It has to be relevant. The Crag era built narrative layers on who Bond is and where he comes from. I don't think it's necessary to repeat that in the near future. James Bond is one of the very few fictional characters who don't have to be psycho-analyzed or 'developed'. He's "that guy" who beats the villains, has a lot of fun doing it, and enjoys those indulgences of mortal life few of us have any experience with. Bond is one of the few relatively "one-dimensional" main characters in films who can actually get away with it, for whom that may even be a positive thing. Let this guy walk into a mission, don a tux, arm up, bed the girl, thwart the villain's plans, and drive his supercars. The Craigs aside, it's more about what he does than about who he is.

    I love what the Craig Bond showed us about the man behind the PPK, but I wouldn't object to returning to a simpler version of Bond.
  • edited May 2023 Posts: 1,220
    One thing I think could be interesting would be to introduce the character of Marc-Ange Draco as a bit of an unlikely ally to Bond and a trusted contact within the crime world, perhaps maybe an official MI6 asset (think a more morally ambiguous Mathis/Felix type character). The two would have a deep personal connection based on Bond’s history with Tracy, but also have a mutually beneficial professional relationship.

    I also think there’s something compelling that was touched on in some of the Fleming works, Young Bond, and Casino Royale is Bond’s time at Eton and Fettes, being a bit of a misfit and probably an outsider (“My guess is you didn’t come from money and your school friends never let you forget it.”), remember, it was ultimately his athletic prowess that ended up finding him a place/sense of belonging in that environment. Bond often finds himself immersed in high society and pitted against villains who come from that world, and while he understands and has an appreciation for the finer aspects of that lifestyle, it’s not necessarily where he comes from. Not to say that Bond needs to be represented as an everyman, working-class hero, but I think a bit exploration of that aspect of his life gives a little more context/depth to the chip on his shoulder and occasional snobbery. I’ve always felt that M would be an interesting foil in this regard as someone who was brought up in that works, often gleaning bits of intel and tips from his informal chats with his “friends in high places” at The Blades Gentlemen’s Club.

    There’s a lot of fresh exploration of the character that would still fit within a more “mission oriented” Bond without going back to the “This time it’s personal” well that has been thoroughly exhausted really since GE or even LTK. Tying it back to the overall point of the thread, though, the more I think about this the more I could see Aaron Taylor Johnson pulling off this take on Bond. The voice/accent may need some work but he is an actor after all.

    rs_600x600-140508201155-600.Godzilla-Aaron-Taylor-Johnson.ms.050814.jpg?fit=around%7C1200:1200&output-quality=90&crop=1200:1200;center,top
    MV5BOTA3ZDU5YTEtNTI3OC00YTNhLWE4ZmUtYTI0MzU5NzdjNzQzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzgxMzc3OTc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1280_.jpg
    aaron-taylor-johnson-models-suits-for-gq.jpg


  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    I've just discovered Henry Cavill turned 40 two-weeks ago. I think we should all take a moment to pay our respects to the man who never was.

    Cavill Bond (2005-2023)

    Though in my opinion it's no great loss.

    In all seriousness, I do wish Cavill had got the role in 2005. The reckless Bond with a chip shop on his shoulder would have been more believable with a younger Bond.
  • Posts: 946
    Everyone is too concerned with age. I don't think Cavill has that reckless look in his face. Same as Craig could't be superman in his face.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    Craig can't be Superman, he's too short.

    picard-giddy.gif
  • Posts: 946
    haha...

    "People are always saying to me, 'You must have dreamed of playing James Bond when you were a kid," the 52-year-old explained in a recent interview with Saga magazine. "The answer is no. I never did.

    "I dreamed of being all sorts of other things – Superman, Spider-Man, the Invisible Man, even a good old-fashioned cowboy. But Bond so much, which seems ironic now."
  • Posts: 15,125
    I've just discovered Henry Cavill turned 40 two-weeks ago. I think we should all take a moment to pay our respects to the man who never was.

    Cavill Bond (2005-2023)

    Though in my opinion it's no great loss.

    He can still play Ken in Barbie: The Motion Picture.
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