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I'm sure if I pushed hard enough I could achieve boil status.
But honestly and I am including myself I prefer a kinder gentler community.
Spot-on and that's exactly what will happen.
*5 year wait for B25*
Maybe I'm missing something, but why would a studio take on a distribution deal for a film that may come out 3 + years from now? A lot of things can happen in that time (including anyone being hit by a bus). If I was making a major investment, I would prefer my investment to be recouped sooner rather than later.....and if a director wants to delay to satisfy some inner craving for theatre work in between that time, I'd politely send him on his way.....permanently.
Unless it's Sony again.
Just my thoughts.
I think it's important to remember that Craig really has no love for doing all the press rounds and the producers knew this prior to casting him. Craig's way of tolerating it all is to jerk the press/media around with his comments. Sure, it's frustrating for those who ideally would prefer straightforward answers and a less facetious attitude but as long as his Bond movies are good and he nails his performances (which he does) I for one can't be mad at him. Also, in a way post Connery getting the Bond gig is sort of a thankless job because from the minute an actor is cast, there's talk of who should be the next Bond or who should have been Bond. I can imagine as the leading actor such talk while occupying the role can be a bit disheartening; so what better way to deal with it than jerk the media and society at large around with comments leaving people confused, uncertain or to instigate the fires of rumours and wild speculation.
With that said, I expect Bond 25 to be Craig's final outing as 007 for the sole reasoning of marketing. With how huge Skyfall was, and how big SPECTRE looks to be, you know and I know that Sony (if involved) as well as EON are going to want to market the hell out of Craig's last Bond film. It'll be all over the press statements, it'll be all over the promotional material. I can already see it now;
"Daniel Craig as James Bond. One. Last Time. *cue Bond theme*"
It's essentially free marketing and will guarantee people come out in massive droves to see the film.
As an actor you have to play a game. Not too keen and not too ungrateful. It's a game with the producers and also with the audience - keep everyone wanting more.
I wouldn't be surprised if Rog had given Dan a few words of advice about how to handle EON as well.
For starters, rumour? or fact has it there is a contract for another movie.
Then SP will at least be successful enough (over 900 million USD) that BB will pay whatever necessary to keep Craig and Mendes, even if that goes against her nature (or did she change it :P )
EON will not likely risk to bring a new actor too soon, so Bond 25 would be the safe route if with Craig (and Mendes).
The only thing against it is Craig's age really.
Maybe he will step down who knows.
Either way would be fine with me. But my opinion stays that one decade is enough no matter how many movies were made.
But if I had to bet on it, I certainly would bet on Bond 25 with Craig.
EON MGM offer the dream team (Craig/Mendes) a deal they can't refuse
Mendes gets to direct a passion project (under his MGM deal) and also returns to the theatre during 2016/2017.
Production starts on Bond 25 at the end of 2017 for a 2018 release.
If SP is a monster success, and I think it will be, then the odds increase significantly.
I remember overhearing Babs at the SP photo call last December (Was it REALLY that long ago???) saying to him, "I'm so glad it's you."
EON would be able to offer Mendes more money than he'd ever imagined (despite a nice check for SF and SP) for Bond 25. After that, Mendes would have carte blanche to do what he wants and how. He might definitely want to go back to theater....but hell, he could BUY the bloody theater!!!
See, comments like this bother me. Where has Dan ever said, on tape and for the record, that he doesn't appreciate the Bond role or that he isn't motivated by the character and the stories the films tell? If you actually watch Dan's interviews and listen to what he's saying (and not what some tabloid rag or online film website hungry for views says he said), you'd see how much of a blast he's had being Bond. He loves it, and that's clear to anyone who understands who he is and why he does what he does.
Dan is a guy who acts not for money or fame or awards-in fact, he loathes those last two-but because he loves it and gets supreme joy and satisfaction from it. He loves to act and work with amazing talents in the business like EON's people, Judi Dench, Eva Green, Sam Mendes, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Ben Wishaw, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and countless others down the line. He openly acknowledges and appreciates all the Bond franchise has done for him, often mentioning all the great people he has met and worked with through the films as well as all the roles he never would have landed without the pedigree and notice that the franchise has allowed.
Therefore, those saying Dan isn't motivated or appreciative of all the Bond franchise has done for him clearly hasn't done their research. If Dan didn't care, would he commit himself to a crazy pre-production schedule, getting fit for the role, helping with the creative team and looking for prospective directors and actors to join the movie 24/7? Would he be so willing to put himself out there and do all the stunts the crew will allow him to do if he didn't want to honor the role and let the people watching the movie know that it really is him out there risking his life to bring them a good movie? And most important of all: do you think Dan would still be doing these films if he didn't actually enjoy them?
At the end of the day, Dan always does films because he is interested in them and thinks they are a good use of his time and creative energies. He's not going to waste his time on something he doesn't see being successful and worth his while, which is why you see him dropping out of film projects from time to time, The Whole Truth and Monuments Men being just a couple examples. He really analyzes projects and determines if he could see himself having fun doing them, and if he can't or spots another issue like an unfinished script, he's out of there. Dan isn't your average movie star, glitzed out and glammed up. No matter what a film is going to make him money wise, he's not eager to jump on the opportunity if he sees red flags like those above, or more importantly, if he doesn't feel it's a good use of his time and energy.
And of course, it is important to remember that Dan is just a regular human being like the rest of us, with pressures and conflicting ideals. As we have seen, like anyone worked to the bone, he gets exhausted and often lets his frustrations be known, regardless of what his publicists urge him not to say. He's upfront and honest as can be, almost to a fault at times, and that's just one of the great things about him. He can see the beauty of the Bond role in what it has done for his career, but that doesn't mean he also can't be critical of the fame he has gotten in direct result from it. In a perfect world, I think Dan would want to practice his craft, go up on stage, perform his heart out and hear all the praises and get the energies of those in the room, and then when he walks off stage he'd just want to put that character and persona away and go have a pint at his favorite pub without being followed by a horde of people who just want autographs and pictures and all that materialistic filth.
So, @tony, while Dan appreciates the franchise and the opportunities he's been given, he doesn't have to be through the moon with some of the after effects of playing James Bond, which, believe it or not, isn't always great. In fact, it's probably more back-breaking, strenuous, stressful, exhaustive and soul-sucking than any of us would like to admit living in our little fantasy lands where we ourselves dream of being a part of the films someday.
Let's examine just some of the pressures, shall we? A decade ago, Dan's life instantly went from a modest acting career with a good body or work and stellar commendations from his colleagues in the field to the full blown face of one of the most iconic characters ever imagined on celluloid, where soon everyone knew his name and face. Such a drastic change would make anyone become shaken, especially when he had to contend with reporters and internet news sites calling him inferior and unworthy of the role at all hours of the day, well into production. I don't think people give Dan enough credit for how tough he is, because most people would crumble and give way under that kind of pressure. And yet he sucked it up and kept fighting, giving a rousing performance in CR and showing all the haters than he was worthy of the role and a risk worth taking, regardless of what they thought.
Of course, being Bond wasn't just a career change for Dan either: it affected his personal life intimately and in ways he couldn't have prepared for in his wildest dreams. Gone were the days where he could go out with family and friends and simply enjoy being off the job. He's followed day and night by photographers and reporters who never give him a break, always asking question after question about you-know-who when he's simply trying to get away from all of it and take a break from the role for once.
Now, pretend for a second that you are the seventh Bond actor, and have at least one movie under your belt, which was a massive hit, making everyone around the world know who you are. How would you feel if you went out to dinner with a significant other to have a good time hot off a Bond film and reporters and photographers crowded you as you tried and get in the door, blocking your way while asking you if you're doing another movie. Not only is it an affront to your personal privacy, but you are being badgered about a role you are simply trying to get a break from for just a while after spending half a year exhaustively bringing the latest installment to life.
Now, your name, once unknown, is a weapon, a means by which tabloids will report false information about you and smear your name all for the sake of selling a few copies, regardless of if you truly did or said what they wrote. You question even stepping outside your apartment for fear of being recognized and ravaged by these so-called "professionals" trying to get a scoop, knowing fully well they won't ever leave you alone. Next you try to come up with inventive ways of getting by them, disguising yourself the best you can, though at times the ruse fails and you find yourself swarmed again while trying to get groceries, the reporters asking the same questions over and over again until you go deaf.
In an understandable rage, you tell them to let you be with a raised voice, but they misconstrue this as you being an arse and the next day a headline in a tabloid rag reads "License to Freak?: Bond Actor Throws Tantrum Outside NY Grocer." This naturally causes internal doubts in your head, unsettling you. It seems nobody in the world gets the pressure you're under or that you want just a few months where you don't have to worry about being reminded of that spy character, the guy they only ever want to talk about, and none of your other projects which you are even more proud of. If only they'd see that you're more than just that guy in the tuxedo with a gun, a worthy talent with a variety of roles under his belt, the kinds of roles they never want to talk about because they're not as well known, and therefore, not as worthy.
Taking all of this into account, how happy do you all think the Bond role would make you? Because the odds are stacked highly that you'd feel the same pressures Dan feels every day of his life, where every comment you make is twisted to mean something entirely different, regardless of if you meant to be quite so cryptical in the first place. If I had to be put through the same things Dan has been time and time again, I'd go mad, without a doubt. We've got similar personalities, private and to ourselves, so I can only image the stress of living a life in the shadow of such an iconic role where you are expected to always put on a happy face of deep contentment when all you want to do is get away from all the cameras, the interview chair, the stupid questions and just go to bed and forget it all ever happened.
As we've seen, Dan has thanked Bond time and time again for what the franchise has been able to do for him. However, I can't help but think sometimes that instead of Dan thanking Bond, maybe Bond should be thanking him every once in a damn while. Fleming knows he's earned it.
Boy, am I exhausted or what... (:|
I seem to recall she was referring to him doing the honours, I don't think she wanted to take the mic.
However, I'm sure she's happy to have him back also.
A superb post and a well balanced clear analysis of DC's current position. This is why I love largely sitting on the sidelines and reading the well written/ considered posts from you all.
I went back and watched it again. She actually said, "I'm glad you're doing it." I had interpreted this as glad he's directing the film--mostly because of her strong hold on his arm, as though she was very appreciative that he's back. But you might be right @RC7. She might have been talking about introducing the title of the film. She looked very nervous.
A great actor like Craig deserves a minimum of 5 Bond movies; especially considering some of the hiccups during his tenure thus far that has robbed him of a Bond film.
Well, this is kind of a big deal. I hate Pinter, but boy I would pay to see this. If true, it would seem he is not interested in doing a film next year. Maybe there is a pattern here, stage work, then Bond again.
I can't either. Truth be told, I could see myself acting in a similar fashion if I was in the same situation.
Reg. theater. Exactly what he said, he would do. Just wished, he would choose England for a change.
Your words are those of a passionate Bond fan, and I understand where you are coming from - but the way I see it the only thing Craig 'owes' us his very best work (as he is very well paid for it and it is indeed a privilege to play the part) - but he is not obliged to wax lyrical over the character, off camera he doesn't owe anyone anything.
That was solely it. No critic, that it was wrong at the time. Connerys, for example. All other content was twisted by the press - as usual. I dont believe reading a whole interview, as it was gi ven, will deny that.
Elba seems to be the "it-black actor" at the moment, he is like everywhere :P
almost frightening.
That being said, his new netflix film, beasts of no nation looks awesome.
I would expect though for them to cast an African American actor.