The What if NTTD is the last EON produced Bond film? page 62

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  • Posts: 15,125
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I think Moore without Lazenby would not have been as successful as Bond.
    Probably less successful, but I think Moore could have directly succeeded Connery in '68/'69. He probably would have been the only successor who wasn't doomed to fail at the time.

    Probably. I daresay he would have made a great OHMSS, which could have made his whole tenure a dash darker.

    Agreed with Moore, though my only doubt was the physicality part where he seemed not good of.
    I would *leave* it as it is.

    Now let's turn to the other side of the bottle, how do you guys think Brosnan would have fared in Casino Royale?

    I think Brosnan in CR in a 2006 adaptation would have needed serious rewrites and a different cast to work. If it was possible at all. A Bond we'll in his 50s romancing a much younger Vesper would have come up as an old fool.

    What if they had paired Brosnan with an actress like Monica Bellucci, for example. With major rewrites yes.

    As much as I love Monica Bellucci, I think Vesper would have suffered. Vesper needs to be vulnerable and somewhat naive and idealistic. You would not get that vibe with a mature woman who oozes sexuality like Bellucci. And I think major rewrites of CR to fit Brosnan would have made the story much poorer overall. A new FYEO with Brosnan as a more mature, mentor Bond? Released around 2004? Yes, it would have worked. But Brosnan for CR? No way.

    I think Monica Bellucci could have nailed it, I mean a bit closer to how Vesper was written in the novel (loner, cold, vulnerable, an enigma/mysterious, a bit screwed up), her performance in SPECTRE speaks to that.

    Monica Bellucci is a great actress, she could have nailed that.

    She's a great actress but at her age at that time she doesn't come off as naive or having that kind of vulnerability. Vesper is a child who had to grow up too fast into a woman, but has retained a certain romantic idealism. And she dies way too young. Lucia Sciarra is very different: she's autumnal, a widow that has lost her innocence a long time ago. What she has left are frustrated desires and some of her beauty. MB was perfect for that role at her age. For Vesper? Personally, I don't see it.
  • I always thought Rose Byrne could have been a great Vesper. She would probably have been too young for Brosnan though. Lena Headey is otherwise the name that comes to my mind right now if I had to think about a thirty-something actress for a 2005 release date with Brosnan in the lead role.

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  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    Posts: 3,789
    I always thought Rose Byrne could have been a great Vesper. She would probably have been too young for Brosnan though. Lena Headey is otherwise the name that comes to my mind right now if I had to think about a thirty-something actress for a 2005 release date with Brosnan in the lead role.

    18883151.jpg

    And it would have makes sense given that the Vesper character is British
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited January 2023 Posts: 6,306
    Diana Rigg and Eva Green are the two lightning-in-a-bottle casting decisions of the series.

    If multiverses exist ;), then we are fortunately in the one that got the best Tracy and Vesper.
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    Posts: 3,789
    echo wrote: »
    Diana Rigg and Eva Green are the two lightning-in-a-bottle casting decisions of the series.

    If multiverses exist ;), then we are fortunately in the one that got the best Tracy and Vesper.

    Agreed 👍
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,152
    echo wrote: »
    Diana Rigg and Eva Green are the two lightning-in-a-bottle casting decisions of the series.

    If multiverses exist ;), then we are fortunately in the one that got the best Tracy and Vesper.
    Yehman, if there's a world where Bardot was Tracy and Olivia Wilde or Michelle Ryan was Vesper, we definitely win!
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,436
    I got inspired by listening to the Bond and Friends podcast and their discussion about the attempted remake of Thunderball called Warhead. The film was targetted for a late 70's release with I believe a full script being completed in 1978. I thought it might be fun for us to think of the casting of the movie. David Lee was of the opinion that Connery may not have played Bond in this movie but merely served as a producer.

    That being said, what if Warhead was made. What would you cast look like? For reference, in case you haven't listened to the podcast or have little knowledge of the script, here are some rough notes:
    • Blofeld was to be the main villain, as far as I can tell this wasn't a continuation of the Blofeld in the EON films. SPECTRE were present.
    • Largo was in the film with a substantially reduced role.
    • Fatima Blush was in the film and had a twin. A good and bad version.
    • Domino didn't show up until the end of the movie and wasn't the main girl of the movie
    • M and Q have substantial parts and figure into both the movie and the conclusion with Q disarming one of the nukes and M figuring into the final battle in New York
    • Felix Leiter has a substantial role. They remarked on the podcast that this almost plays like a buddy movie with Bond and Felix sharing lots of screen time.
    • The movie takes place in the Bahamas and New York City.

    So Mi6, who are you casting for the pivotal roles of Warhead scheduled for release in 1979? Who would you get to direct the picture?

    Have fun with this or take it seriously, you can decide. BTW the script sounds rather bonkers so it was going to be in the vein of Spy or MR with loads of gadgets and outlandish set pieces.
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 2,918
    If anyone would like to read the script of Warhead, you can find it here (along with many other goodies!).
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    edited January 2023 Posts: 13,816
    I need to check that out @Revelator thanks.

    The What if...Warhead was released in 1979, cast the main players
    and the behind the camera talent

    What happens: Timothy Dalton cast as Bond. Sean Young as Domino. Bernie Casey as Leiter. Max von Sydow as Blofeld. Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush. Edward Fox as M. Roddy McDowall as Nigel Small-Fawcett. Jerry Goldsmith does the score. Directed by Peter Hunt.

    McClory retires shortly after the film's (successful) release.

    And Eon producers are so ensconced with Dalton they hire him to play Bond in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2002. (Cold War ends in 1991. World Peace breaks out 1993. Those do not affect the popularity of Bond films, which just grows and grows.)

  • Posts: 1,917
    I need to check that out @Revelator thanks.

    The What if...Warhead was released in 1979, cast the main players
    and the behind the camera talent

    What happens: Timothy Dalton cast as Bond. Sean Young as Domino. Bernie Casey as Leiter. Max von Sydow as Blofeld. Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush. Edward Fox as M. Roddy McDowall as Nigel Small-Fawcett. Jerry Goldsmith does the score. Directed by Peter Hunt.

    McClory retires shortly after the film's (successful) release.

    And Eon producers are so ensconced with Dalton they hire him to play Bond in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2002. (Cold War ends in 1991. World Peace breaks out 1993. Those do not affect the popularity of Bond films, which just grows and grows.)

    I'd question if Peter Hunt would've taken the assignment considering his loyalty to Cubby, as many other series crew said in turning down working on NSNA. It would also likely lead to Dalton's boycotting by Cubby in consideration for being Bond for the Eon series.
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 2,918
    Here's what Hunt said about Never Say Never Again in his Retro Vision interview:

    "I would have offended Cubby if I had done it. That whole situation was very poor in their thinking, and I think if I had done it, they would have thought that I was a traitor. We had talks about it, but I wouldn't have taken it for that reason. "
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,816
    Mmm. Good points.

    But in my version maybe it could play out as a masterstroke negotiation by Mr. Broccoli to work out and reclaim Bond rights from McClory for all time. With Director Hunt in on it, and hired back to make the next 5 or so EON missions.

  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,789
    Warhead 1979:

    James Bond: Sean Connery (George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton was up for consideration, but Connery decided to reprise the role, and been given a paycheck of $800,000).

    Sean Connery chose his own cast, and to be the co-producer of this film, he'd been also given a creative control in this film, the thing that he wants Cubby and Harry to give him, and it's reasonable as he's also one of those who'd wrote the script.

    Domino: Natalie Wood (she worked with Connery in Meteor, 1979), Connery thought she and Wood had great chemistry together and chose her to play Domino, in a coincidence, Connery also played alongside with her sister, Lana Wood in Diamonds Are Forever).

    Largo: Michael Caine (he is Sean's best friend, he also worked with him in The Man Who Would Be King).

    Felix Leiter: Sammy Davis Jr. (Also a friend of Connery, Connery thought that this role would help Davis Jr. After his deleted scene in Diamonds Are Forever).

    Blofeld: James Mason (McClory saw his potential as a great villain and cast him in this role, Connery also agreed to his casting).

    Director: Both Connery and McClory
    hired Michael Crichton (the man who directed The Great Train Robbery, also starring Connery).

    The original warhead script didn't have a femme fatale if my memory serves, so no Fiona Volpe or Fatima Blush.
  • thedove wrote: »
    So Mi6, who are you casting for the pivotal roles of Warhead scheduled for release in 1979? Who would you get to direct the picture?
    That's actually a very fun what if challenge! I like some of @MI6HQ 's suggestions, including Michael Caine as Largo, even though the character was pretty minor in Warhead script. My cast would be:

    Sean Connery (James Bond), Faye Dunaway (Fatima Blush), Florinda Bolkan (Domino), Gregory Peck (Blofeld), with Trevor Howard (M), Michael Hordern (Q) and Richard Chamberlain (Felix Leiter).

    Directed by Richard Lester with music by Jerry Goldsmith.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,436
    Love the idea of Caine and Connery working together again. If only Leiter was a fellow Brit. but to see them as adversaries would be a good one too. I recall a Larry King interview where Caine said he had a project that would have been perfect for him and Connery. A shame it never came to pass.

    I am trying to imagine Natalie Wood as Domino. I always picture that character younger, the dynamic of an older actress playing the part is intriguing.

    Excellent ideas on the casting, keep them coming!
  • thedove wrote: »
    Excellent ideas on the casting, keep them coming!
    Could be fun to continue to alimente this thread with more castings for other what if, don't you think?
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    I finally listened to the podcast episode and one wrinkle I would like to add for the casting is that not only does Fatima have a twin, if I understood it correctly, her twin is ... ... Domino. Which is mind-boggling on a plot level, but also throws a wrench into some of the casting.
    On the other hand, it really seems like Domino is only in there to fulfill some kind of requirement to make sure it really is the IP McClory is allowed to use and not a seperate Bond film. From the discussion it seemed like Bond just finds her in Blofeld's lair, shags her and leaves. Opposite of that they describe the first half of the film to basically be the story of Blofeld and Fatima and Bond is very much a secondary character there. So an actress would probably mainly be cast to play Fatima and Domino is an afterthought.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,436
    thedove wrote: »
    Excellent ideas on the casting, keep them coming!
    Could be fun to continue to alimente this thread with more castings for other what if, don't you think?

    Agreed! We could do Bond 17 the un-produced Dalton film.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,638
    thedove wrote: »
    thedove wrote: »
    Excellent ideas on the casting, keep them coming!
    Could be fun to continue to alimente this thread with more castings for other what if, don't you think?

    Agreed! We could do Bond 17 the un-produced Dalton film.

    Yes please!
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited January 2023 Posts: 5,970
    What about Gloria Paul for Fatima Blush or even just Domino? She was actually considered for Domino in Thunderball.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,436
    I am not familiar with Gloria. Can you educate me?

    I am trying to think of the right M. I liked Trevor Howard as I think he would be a good addition to the cast and would be able to play more out in the field. I wasn't a fan of Edward Fox, though I appreciated what the script was trying to do. In a way, his portrayal was a harbinger of Judi Dench and the "queen of numbers" angle they tried in GE. By TND that was abandoned and no mention of it again.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    Posts: 5,970
    thedove wrote: »
    I am not familiar with Gloria. Can you educate me?
    Well, from what I can remember, she was an actress born in Britain but with Italian heritage and mostly appeared in Italian films. She actually appeared in a Goldfinger parody called Two Mafiosi Against Goldfinger.

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  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    Posts: 3,789
    Denbigh wrote: »
    thedove wrote: »
    I am not familiar with Gloria. Can you educate me?
    Well, from what I can remember, she was an actress born in Britain but with Italian heritage and mostly appeared in Italian films. She actually appeared in a Goldfinger parody called Two Mafiosi Against Goldfinger.

    ?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsothebys-brightspot-migration.s3.amazonaws.com%2F46%2F6b%2F61%2F1ae9f4905dd98c1bff08f9b80ab4829a6e96bc882f7a6c640e47cb8391%2F07-gettyimages-121391465.jpg

    She could possibly captured Fleming's version of Domino (the Vitali one).
    She's Italian, and she had a bit of resemblance to the Domino of Fay Dalton Illustration in Folio Society.
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 910
    thedove wrote: »
    I am trying to think of the right M. I liked Trevor Howard as I think he would be a good addition to the cast and would be able to play more out in the field.
    In addition to Howard, I suggested Michael Hordern as Q who, I think, could also be a great M.

    Regarding the Domino/Fatima Blush dynamic, if we don't take into account the fact the two characters were supposed to be twins in this draft, I easily imagine Raquel Welch and Faye Dunaway in the respective roles, taking inspiration from the Salkinds/Lester's Three Musketeers.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,436
    I believe Raquel was up for consideration for Domino in 65. Faye Dunaway was certainly a big draw in the mid to late 70's. I do wonder if they would have been able to afford them all. Course I don't think actresses were making the same money as their male counterparts but that's a discussion for another time.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    Posts: 5,970
    What about Alec Guinness as M?
  • Agent_Zero_OneAgent_Zero_One Ireland
    edited January 2023 Posts: 554
    Denbigh wrote: »
    What about Alec Guinness as M?
    It'd be interesting comparing his George Smiley performance.
  • Denbigh wrote: »
    What about Alec Guinness as M?
    Oh yes, good call. Could have been great.
    thedove wrote: »
    I do wonder if they would have been able to afford them all.
    The Salkinds were able to have both, plus Christopher Lee, Charlton Heston and more for their Three Musketeers. I guess a production associated with Sean Connery could have afforded them too.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited January 2023 Posts: 5,970
    I was thinking about Marcello Mastroianni for Emilio Largo?

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  • Denbigh wrote: »
    I was thinking about Marcello Mastroianni for Emilio Largo?
    With him playing a bigger part than in the Warhead screenplay I guess? It would be a shame to have Mastroianni for such a limited role. What about having him as Blofeld, since the way the character was written in Warhead was much different from how he was written under Fleming's pen. Speaking of Mastroianni, his Dolce Vita and 8½ costar Anouk Aimée would have been a great Domino in the 60s.

    MV5BNDgxMmNhNDYtNGQwZi00NmY1LThmMjktYjg0MDE2ZDEwM2QzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTI3MDk3MzQ@._V1_.jpg
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