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Oh and again, I cannot stress it enough: the character Tracy is NOT central to the character of Blofeld. Originally, Moriarty was created to kill Sherlock Holmes and, while Blofeld share many traits with the Professor, he is different here: he was existed and developed before Tracy died. I will go as far as saying that Tracy existed to be killed, not Blofeld to kill her.
I'm trying now to picture Blofeld in a way that would be interesting for me. Still working on it.
(Re?)read the novels.
In all honesty, I do not think Waltz is going to play Blofeld. We already know his role will be rather large and will be complex of nature. It can be an ally, a villain or a bit of both. I personally think Waltz will play a character not that much different from Silva. An ex-ally who turned into a villain. But this time around I actually think we will see the process on screen, of the ally turning into a villain.
Waltz could play a covert information source for MI6. A source that leaks important cables to MI6, but that slowly, during the movie, sells this information to a "new brotherhood" of somekind. A bit like Dryden did in "Casino Royale". Then at the end of Bond 24 Waltz has turned into a full operative of this new "brotherhood", being then revealed as S.P.E.C.T.R.E. He then is the new "Nr.2". And is even more complex than that old Nr.2, Emilio Largo. A bit of a Kronsteen/Largo-combo.
Furthermore, at the end of the movie, we will have our first cameo of the Nr.1 operative. A man, who could very well be Blofeld. I think that's how Waltz role will turn out to be. Not the actual Blofeld, but at least an ally that during the movie will evolve into the villain, and a very important operative of S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
Why not? It could help break the mould and shake off the horrible caricature that Blofeld has become. The background elements don't have to be completely the same. Why can't Blofeld be African who is half greek with a background from Germany who claims to have French Blood? I can easily see him as Blofeld of the 21st century.
Well, you might as well change the name and forget about Blofeld, because he would then be a totally different character. Waltz as some similarities with the Blofeld of the novels, in appearance he is not unlike OHMSS' Blofeld.
I explained why as it could help shake off the silly bald cat stroking caricature he's become. 8-|
Changing his race doesn't completely change the character. Look at Jeffery Wright's Felix and Naomi Harris's money penny. They still retain their original traits. Sure Moneypenny was given a slight action oriented role but the playfully bantering with Bond remains.
I've brought this up before as this is an illustration of how Blofeld looked in the novels.
I could see Elba given a similar treatment.
Okay, I get this. I personally would want Quantum to turn out to be some part of Spectre. I would not want Quantum dropped completely.
I am looking now for a succinct description of Blofeld from the novels. Don't hit me with "read 7 pages back!" - I am on my way to work fairly soon and trying to find a definitive description. Can anyone just list it (even if repeating it again; sorry I am not finding this easily)? Thanks!
The bald man stroking a cat is not from the novels however. He is not even bald in the novels! So the original character is nothing like the caricature. You want to shake off the spoof? So do I. Hence: make him as close as possible to the character from the novels. No scar, bald head, cat, Mao suit.
Can you give me a succinct description of Blofeld, from the novels, please? I would really appreciate it (besides his ethnic background, which has recently been mentioned).
From Thunderball (the description I have now, obviously Waltz looks more like the OHMSS portrait):
''Blofeld's own eyes were deep black pools surrounded -totally surrounded, as Mussoloni's were- by very clear whites. The doll-like effect of this unusual symmetry was enhanced by long silken black eyelashes that should have belonged to a woman. The gaze of these soft doll's eyes was totally relaxed and rarely held any expression stronger than the mild curiosity in the object of their focus. (...)Blofeld's gaze was a microscope, the window on the world on a superbly clear brain, with a focus that had been sharpened by thirty years of danger and of keeping just one step ahead of it (...)
The skin beneath the eyes that now slowly, mildly, surveyed his colleagues was unpouched. There was no sign of debauchery, illness, or old age on the large, white, bland face under the square, wiry black crew-cut The jawline, going on the appropriate middle-aged fat of authority, showed decision and independence. Only the mouth under a heavy, squat nose, marred what might have been the face of a philosopher or a scientist. Proud and thin, like a badly-healed wound, the compressed, dark lips, capable of only false, ugly smiles, suggested contempt, tyranny, and cruelty. But to an almost Shakespearian degree. Nothing about Blofeld was small.''
They can do that easily with Elba. It's not hard to imagine it. I'm trying to play Devil's advocate here.
Stellen Skaarsgard, too, just to throw out another name of an actor I really like.
They might have thought about it with Ejiofor, although I doubt he was considered for Blofeld's role. Not impossible, but it would not be a god idea IMO.
Who said Elba had to play a British Black Man? I'll ask you again. Why can't he be African and Half Greek with German and french Blood? Actors don't have to play their nationality you know. Robert Downy Jr. played Sherlock Holmes a British man. And Downy Jr. isn't British. Sean Connery is Scottish and played a Russian. Hugh Laurie is British and played an American.
How many Pole nationals born 40 or 50 something years ago were Black? How was immigration in communist Poland then? How about Blofeld trying to become a de Bleuville? Could he convince anyone? Elba is not mixed race, and does not remotely look mixed race. All the actors you mention could pass on to a degree as a Soviet general, a British man, from the time their characters lived.
Elba wouldn't be able to play a Nazi or a Soviet general, for the same reason. Not a very convincing one anyway, however talented he is as an actor.
Look, I think Waltz is a very good actor and I am even more excited about him being on board than Ejiofor. My qualms about Blofeld are simply to not make him fir the current well known parody of Blofeld - make him like the novel Blofeld (from what I have recently read now) OR go creative and make him look quite different. But menacing, and I think a quiet menace with lots of strength behind the facade, is important. And I do hope (only my personal hope) that Blofeld is not the main villain in Bond 24; only teased at the end. I won't be crushed if he is ... as long as it is well done and by that I mean different from the public's image and very menacing, a real powerhouse threat for Bond.