Who should/could be a Bond actor?

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  • TheSkyfallen06TheSkyfallen06 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    edited November 2022 Posts: 1,098
    peter wrote: »
    Andrew Garfield is very very very likable and a solid actor... I just think he's too nice for Bond... Bond needs a little bit of the bastard in him.



    Like this?
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    Posts: 3,787

    He would make a great Bond villain!
    Maybe a modern version like Max Zorin.
  • edited November 2022 Posts: 784
    MI6HQ wrote: »

    He would make a great Bond villain!
    Maybe a modern version like Max Zorin.

    cillian-murphy-anna.gif

    I think they should lean more heavily into the fact that Bond is an antihero.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 2,011
    The thread is back for two days and I already get "60 new comments". Incredible.

    I will just quickly throw in a name I have heard a handful of times lately, even though I am quite sure he will not get it: Harry Lawtey.
    20220721_HARRYLAWTEY34728.jpg?fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&w=1180
    21081041-high_res-industry.jpg?q=80&w=440&ar=16:9&fit=crop&crop=top
    industry-finale.jpg
    Harry-Lawtey-Industry-Amanda-Searle-HBO-01.jpg?fit=696%2C392&quality=80&strip=info&ssl=1

    This would be the "cheeky line of coke in the Pub"-Bond.
    He's too young, too unknown and too inexperienced (and too blond). I thought I'd mention him anyway, just to have it on the record.

    Yeah. I've mentioned him too. He's someone EON should also look at. I think he's got potential. He even has the cruel mouth.
  • Posts: 1,977
    For me the search for a new James Bond always comes down to finding the next Sean Connery. IMO, that has never happened. I do like GL, TD, and DC, but they were never Connery. All these years on, when I rewatch those SC films I continue to be impressed by how watchable he is, even when he is apparently not engaged, according to those who harp on about his obvious boredom in some films. Connery seemed to inhabit the role in ways other actors did not. RM was fun, but never convincing. He always seemed to be playing the role of Bond. He never owned the role. I continue to hope we'll find that actor who brings SC's qualities to the screen. But that might never happen. No doubt many actors would make a good JB, but an actor who brings to the screen what SC did may be a lot tougher find. My hope is there's that little known actor out there ready take on the role.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    The thread is back for two days and I already get "60 new comments". Incredible.

    I will just quickly throw in a name I have heard a handful of times lately, even though I am quite sure he will not get it: Harry Lawtey.
    20220721_HARRYLAWTEY34728.jpg?fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&w=1180
    21081041-high_res-industry.jpg?q=80&w=440&ar=16:9&fit=crop&crop=top
    industry-finale.jpg
    Harry-Lawtey-Industry-Amanda-Searle-HBO-01.jpg?fit=696%2C392&quality=80&strip=info&ssl=1

    This would be the "cheeky line of coke in the Pub"-Bond.
    He's too young, too unknown and too inexperienced (and too blond). I thought I'd mention him anyway, just to have it on the record.

    Yeah. I've mentioned him too. He's someone EON should also look at. I think he's got potential. He even has the cruel mouth.

    I keep seeing Christopher Nolan in this guy!
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    Posts: 1,644
    MI6HQ wrote: »

    He would make a great Bond villain!
    Maybe a modern version like Max Zorin.

    cillian-murphy-anna.gif

    I think they should lean more heavily into the fact that Bond is an antihero.

    Would personally love a Cillian trilogy while he's "young" of a deeply cold Bond.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 2,011
    peter wrote: »
    The thread is back for two days and I already get "60 new comments". Incredible.

    I will just quickly throw in a name I have heard a handful of times lately, even though I am quite sure he will not get it: Harry Lawtey.
    20220721_HARRYLAWTEY34728.jpg?fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&w=1180
    21081041-high_res-industry.jpg?q=80&w=440&ar=16:9&fit=crop&crop=top
    industry-finale.jpg
    Harry-Lawtey-Industry-Amanda-Searle-HBO-01.jpg?fit=696%2C392&quality=80&strip=info&ssl=1

    This would be the "cheeky line of coke in the Pub"-Bond.
    He's too young, too unknown and too inexperienced (and too blond). I thought I'd mention him anyway, just to have it on the record.

    Yeah. I've mentioned him too. He's someone EON should also look at. I think he's got potential. He even has the cruel mouth.

    I keep seeing Christopher Nolan in this guy!

    Lol. I know what you mean. He does look a bit like Nolan though. But at the same time, he looks Bondian.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,205
    peter wrote: »
    The thread is back for two days and I already get "60 new comments". Incredible.

    I will just quickly throw in a name I have heard a handful of times lately, even though I am quite sure he will not get it: Harry Lawtey.
    20220721_HARRYLAWTEY34728.jpg?fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&w=1180
    21081041-high_res-industry.jpg?q=80&w=440&ar=16:9&fit=crop&crop=top
    industry-finale.jpg
    Harry-Lawtey-Industry-Amanda-Searle-HBO-01.jpg?fit=696%2C392&quality=80&strip=info&ssl=1

    This would be the "cheeky line of coke in the Pub"-Bond.
    He's too young, too unknown and too inexperienced (and too blond). I thought I'd mention him anyway, just to have it on the record.

    Yeah. I've mentioned him too. He's someone EON should also look at. I think he's got potential. He even has the cruel mouth.

    I keep seeing Christopher Nolan in this guy!

    Lol, I see it.

    I have to say though that he is the first suggestion in a long time that has really caught my attention.

    kCMl3sD.jpg
  • edited November 2022 Posts: 4,132
    CrabKey wrote: »
    For me the search for a new James Bond always comes down to finding the next Sean Connery. IMO, that has never happened. I do like GL, TD, and DC, but they were never Connery. All these years on, when I rewatch those SC films I continue to be impressed by how watchable he is, even when he is apparently not engaged, according to those who harp on about his obvious boredom in some films. Connery seemed to inhabit the role in ways other actors did not. RM was fun, but never convincing. He always seemed to be playing the role of Bond. He never owned the role. I continue to hope we'll find that actor who brings SC's qualities to the screen. But that might never happen. No doubt many actors would make a good JB, but an actor who brings to the screen what SC did may be a lot tougher find. My hope is there's that little known actor out there ready take on the role.

    I’d say the great thing about Bond is that while the core traits of the character is the same in each portrayal, each actor’s take on the role is idiosyncratic. The producers learnt during the Moore era that they couldn’t write for Moore in the same way they could with Connery, and actually vice versa. It’s the same for every other actor.

    I mean, Connery’s portrayal of Bond was very specific. By his own admission he went into the role ‘making fun’ of the idea of the character, so you had a good mixture of that sardonic quality alongside a natural toughness. I’d argue Moore and Craig’s takes on the role were just as specific and engrossing to watch. Heck, for most people my age Craig IS Bond, not Connery. That’s even if they’ve rewatched the Connery films. Anyway, I do think it’s important to find an actor who will bring something unique to the role that makes them distinct from the others.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited November 2022 Posts: 16,366
    007HallY wrote: »
    Heck, for most people my age Craig IS Bond, not Connery. That’s even if they’ve rewatched the Connery films. Anyway, I do think it’s important to find an actor who will bring something unique to the role that makes them distinct from the others.

    I always enjoy your incisive posts 007HallY, and you're bob-on as per usual with this. For us fans Connery is the guy, but for folks up to their mid-30s or so, Craig is the definitive James Bond. He was Bond right from when those folks were able to watch the films, and he was brilliant and completely owned it. They've probably seen Connery, but to be honest those old films are losing their relevance slightly now and feel of their time. You might watch Goldfinger in the afternoon and enjoy it, but Casino Royale is the one you put on in the evening with a beer and friends on the big home entertainment system (and that's an old movie!).
    I love Connery as much as the next fan, but he was playing a cartoon character really (even more so than Roger was, bizarrely- counter-intuitively, his movies actually showed a bit more in the way of emotion and range and he was a more human Bond); Craig is the one to beat.
    talos7 wrote: »
    peter wrote: »
    The thread is back for two days and I already get "60 new comments". Incredible.

    I will just quickly throw in a name I have heard a handful of times lately, even though I am quite sure he will not get it: Harry Lawtey.
    20220721_HARRYLAWTEY34728.jpg?fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&w=1180
    21081041-high_res-industry.jpg?q=80&w=440&ar=16:9&fit=crop&crop=top
    industry-finale.jpg
    Harry-Lawtey-Industry-Amanda-Searle-HBO-01.jpg?fit=696%2C392&quality=80&strip=info&ssl=1

    This would be the "cheeky line of coke in the Pub"-Bond.
    He's too young, too unknown and too inexperienced (and too blond). I thought I'd mention him anyway, just to have it on the record.

    Yeah. I've mentioned him too. He's someone EON should also look at. I think he's got potential. He even has the cruel mouth.

    I keep seeing Christopher Nolan in this guy!

    Lol, I see it.

    I have to say though that he is the first suggestion in a long time that has really caught my attention.

    kCMl3sD.jpg

    I've been impressed by what I've seen of him in Industry (not like that), but I guess physically he's not quite the alpha male type perhaps. He's fit, but very lean.
    LucknFate wrote: »
    MI6HQ wrote: »

    He would make a great Bond villain!
    Maybe a modern version like Max Zorin.

    cillian-murphy-anna.gif

    I think they should lean more heavily into the fact that Bond is an antihero.

    Would personally love a Cillian trilogy while he's "young" of a deeply cold Bond.

    He's totally got the presence.
  • edited November 2022 Posts: 4,132
    mtm wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    Heck, for most people my age Craig IS Bond, not Connery. That’s even if they’ve rewatched the Connery films. Anyway, I do think it’s important to find an actor who will bring something unique to the role that makes them distinct from the others.

    I always enjoy your incisive posts 007HallY, and you're bob-on as per usual with this. For us fans Connery is the guy, but for folks up to their mid-30s or so, Craig is the definitive James Bond. He was Bond right from when those folks were able to watch the films, and he was brilliant and completely owned it. They've probably seen Connery, but to be honest those old films are losing their relevance slightly now and feel of their time. You might watch Goldfinger in the afternoon and enjoy it, but Casino Royale is the one you put on in the evening with a beer and friends on the big home entertainment system (and that's an old movie!).
    I love Connery as much as the next fan, but he was playing a cartoon character really (even more so than Roger was, bizarrely- counter-intuitively, his movies actually showed a bit more in the way of emotion and range and he was a more human Bond); Craig is the one to beat.

    Cheers, appreciate it. I'm a big Connery fan and think his portrayal of Bond is an important one. But it's not the definitive one. That's the point - there's no definitive version of this cinematic character. Each actor brought something of themselves to that role. Dependent on when you were born, which of the films you watched first, which ones you like most etc. you can potentially feel that any one of the six actors is 'your Bond'. For me, while I was born after GE (probably closer to TND), it's Craig who I feel that connection with the most. Some people I know would actually feel more of a kinship with Brosnan's Bond. Heck, there's even quite a bit of love for Dalton and Moore amongst general viewers (and yes, Moore's ability to give that role a genuine sense of humanity is an underrated quality of his).

    I do think it's exciting to see what the next actor will do with this role. The precedent seems to be that each new actor distinguishes themselves from the previous one, even if the films themselves retain stylistic and plot elements from the previous Bond's tenure.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,173
    IMO, Craig was a much more even Bond than Connery. The latter hit a few unfortunate lows in his days as an actor, particularly in YOLT and DAF. But when Connery was on fire in FRWL and GF for example, he was the Bond Supreme, in my opinion. Still, what I want from the next guy is precisely that: a constant fixation on giving us his best, never phoning it in. We know why Connery stopped acting in YOLT, but offscreen issues aside, we're stuck with poor Connery Bond in addition to awesome Connery Bond. That said, I'm a Daltonite and I think the world of Craig, but Connery on a good day is still the quintessential Bond for me. From DN to TB, I'm hearing the angels sing.
  • edited November 2022 Posts: 784
    I think Connery is better in DN, FRWL and TB than he is in GF. I find the film and his acting too polished and quantised.

    Harry Lawtey wouldn't be bad at all from I've seen him in.
  • edited November 2022 Posts: 784
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    He would make a great Bond villain!
    Maybe a modern version like Max Zorin.

    cillian-murphy-anna.gif
    8e6593e0a5119c7a99f57720f42deb37f63e9cf9.gif
    28e1030e8cafab08b6f340463bd9887f.gif
    tumblr_oqhm3nCxsU1wpktz8o1_500.gif

    I think they should lean more heavily into the fact that Bond is an antihero.
    LucknFate wrote: »

    Would personally love a Cillian trilogy while he's "young" of a deeply cold Bond.

    We've always rooted for Bond. Even when he goes rogue or kills someone in self defense he does the right thing. It would be interesting if he didn't do the right thing and was less likeable. Cillian has the looks to play dead cold and is beautiful enough to compensate for being despicable. We should hate that we like him. It's a take that wouldn't be family friendly but it wouldn't pale in comparison to its predecessors.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,546
    We should hate that we like him.

    the-office-i-want-peole-to-be-afraid-of-how-much-they-love-me.gif
  • edited November 2022 Posts: 784
    It's a take that wouldn't be family friendly

    KfGTgw4.gif?noredirect
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    edited November 2022 Posts: 11,139
    CrabKey wrote: »
    For me the search for a new James Bond always comes down to finding the next Sean Connery. IMO, that has never happened. I do like GL, TD, and DC, but they were never Connery. All these years on, when I rewatch those SC films I continue to be impressed by how watchable he is, even when he is apparently not engaged, according to those who harp on about his obvious boredom in some films. Connery seemed to inhabit the role in ways other actors did not. RM was fun, but never convincing. He always seemed to be playing the role of Bond. He never owned the role. I continue to hope we'll find that actor who brings SC's qualities to the screen. But that might never happen. No doubt many actors would make a good JB, but an actor who brings to the screen what SC did may be a lot tougher find. My hope is there's that little known actor out there ready take on the role.
    Scottish actor Thomas Doherty:

    TD%25201.jpeg

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    74a309700095c3e037f4818e9bb00d34d50db838.jpg

    a2e6c348bcc84090cf2cfe7c1a78c8339f1f963a.jpg


  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    edited November 2022 Posts: 7,546
    Oh, yeah, that guy. That might be the guy.
  • edited November 2022 Posts: 784
    Steven Seagal should do Bollywood action films.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,366
    I think Connery is better in DN, FRWL and TB than he is in GF. I find the film and his acting too polished and quantised.

    For me, TB is the one where he's in total control. He's giving it everything and he's become so good at it by this point. I also think he's in movie star mode in DAF and is being a real Hollywood star in that film, but perhaps not the sharpest Bond performance as such.
    I actually don't like him in Dr No: he's being way too abrasive and is actually quite unlikeable at several points. It's amazing how much he smoothed that off in time for FRWL.
  • edited November 2022 Posts: 4,132
    His performance in TB is lacklustre for me. That said I do think there are moments in that film where the filmmaking really helps his performance. The scene where he tells Domino about her brother's death is an example (it's not a film that I generally find accomplished from a directing perspective, but in that scene the editing, music, the directional decision for Connery to put on the sunglasses etc. really sell it, even if Connery's actual performance in that moment is a bit wooden).

    Anyway, Thomas Doherty is interesting. I do find, however, that I'm seeing him as more a villain than Bond (similar to the criticisms made about Sam Clafin a few pages back - both good looking and competent actors, but there's just a lack of warmth to them that might not suit the cinematic Bond). And yes, he does look an awful lot like Connery, albeit his screen presence is very different.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    Posts: 3,152
    Steven Seagal should do Bollywood action films.
    I can't unsee that now! :))
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,173
    Venutius wrote: »
    Steven Seagal should do Bollywood action films.
    I can't unsee that now! :))

    Steven Seagal. The western hemisphere's proudest export product.
  • Changed my mind.

    GF Connery > TB Connery

  • JeremyBondonJeremyBondon Seeking out odd jobs with Oddjob @Tangier
    Posts: 1,318
    GF Connery is the quintessential Bond. Best Bond ever.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,366
    Changed my mind.

    GF Connery > TB Connery

    I would say that the wig is certainly immeasurably better!
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,546
    @doubleoego Do you recommend something particularly Bondian that Thomas Doherty has done? I had a look on his IMDB but didn't come across anything that stood out to me.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,173
    mtm wrote: »
    I actually don't like him in Dr No: he's being way too abrasive and is actually quite unlikeable at several points. It's amazing how much he smoothed that off in time for FRWL.

    I wonder how much of that is Hitchcock's doing. ;-)

    Sure, DN Connery is -- how did Ken Adam put it? -- a rough diamond. At the same time, his actions were brisk and fast, which I like. When he tricks Miss Taro, confronts Dent, introduces himself to Sylvia, gets arrogant with No, and meets Honey, he is at the top of his game, IMO. I'm very satisfied with Connery's acting in DN, but I agree that there was room for improvement.

    This is also why I wish that Lazenby had done a few more. He too, I reckon, could have improved his acting fast.
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