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Who could/should play Felix Leiter in the post-Craig era?

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  • Pierce2DanielPierce2Daniel
    edited October 2021 Posts: 4,409
    MakeshiftPython wrote: »
    I always thought it was a shame that EON couldn't keep the actors straight with Felix like they eventually did with the MI6 crew. I understand Jack Lord is kind of an egomaniac, but I would have liked to see Cec Linder stick around for the rest of Connery's run. He at least had a bit more of a jovial personality compared to the block of wood that was Van Nutter and whoever that fat guy was on DAF.

    I remember when I was a kid and first watched GF, I was so confused who Felix was supposed to be. I thought that Felix was meant to be built in the image of Jack Lord. However, after TB, I got the point that Felix is supposed to be radically recast from film to film. This was back in the days when there was no Wikipedia, so I was genuinely excited when I binged the Bond films and saw a totally new version of Leiter each time.

    It's one of the reasons that I digged the casting Jeffrey Wright. Personally, I'd love it if Sarah Paulson played the role of Leiter in the rebooted post-Craig films. She'd be great as the new Leiter. After all, the casting edict with Leiter is that 'no rules' apply. I'd argue going from Rik van Nutter to Norman Burton was more of a continuity glitch.

    sarah-paulson.gif
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,641
    Cool suggestion @Pierce2Daniel
    She is a great actor but I'm not sure they cast such a big name actor in the part, in the likelihood the next Bond isn't an A list actor himself

    Also might it be too jarring for viewers? Bond will likely have female allies in the field, will it feel too much like an American Ilsa Faust, instead of his contact Felix Leiter?
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,411
    American Ilsa Faust could be a good way to take his CIA contact though, I quite like that.
  • jobojobo
    Posts: 7,507
    Interesting idea. I think a female Leiter would be pretty cool. 'Felicia Leiter', perhaps?
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    A female Leiter.... Cedar Leiter?
  • brinkeguthriebrinkeguthrie Piz Gloria
    Posts: 1,400
    Matthew McConnahey. (sp.) Hands down.
  • ToTheRightToTheRight
    Posts: 16,167
    brinkeguthrie wrote: »
    Matthew McConnahey. (sp.) Hands down.

    Especially if they get started next year with Tom Hardy, Cavill or Turner as the new Bond.
  • jobojobo
    Posts: 7,507
    I think McConnahay is too big of a name. I don't think an A list star should play the role as Felix.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,187
    Just wanna say, NTTD really made me happy with the scenes between Bond and Leiter. THAT was what should have got in a second film with them after CR.
  • FatherValentineFatherValentine England
    Posts: 737
    MakeshiftPython wrote: »
    Just wanna say, NTTD really made me happy with the scenes between Bond and Leiter. THAT was what should have got in a second film with them after CR.

    100% this.
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    I've said it before, I'll say it again until the role is cast:
    Wyatt Russell
    Capture-20-768x471.jpg
    Wyatt-Russell1.jpg

    Granted more California than Texas, but I think he has the look from the novels, is a fantastic actor and at a good place in his career, I think.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,641
    MakeshiftPython wrote: »
    Just wanna say, NTTD really made me happy with the scenes between Bond and Leiter. THAT was what should have got in a second film with them after CR.

    Yeah absolutely agree on this. One of the best parts of NTTD for me
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,138
    Why not make the part of Leiter bigger? In the novels Leiter is Bonds best friend. Especially when Bond is on US soil. It wouldn’t be hard to expand the role and make a ‘ buddy’ movie. A unique twist on the franchise. Could be a fun alternative to the usual Bond movie, whilst keeping the Bond character in place.
  • MooseWithFleasMooseWithFleas Philadelphia
    Posts: 3,369
    Agree with the idea of having an ally other than Felix to start post-Craig era. As much as I love Leiter, after having continuity with Craig, it might be better to give him a new ally or contact.

    Not really a spoiler, but just in case...
    Would love if they kept Paloma as the link between Bond's. Birdleson mentioned that every subsequent Bond film has had at least one character go from film to film between Bonds. Paloma was such a breath of fresh air character that I wish we would get more of in the future.
  • Some_Kind_Of_HeroSome_Kind_Of_Hero
    Posts: 6,844
    Benny wrote: »
    Why not make the part of Leiter bigger? In the novels Leiter is Bonds best friend. Especially when Bond is on US soil. It wouldn’t be hard to expand the role and make a ‘ buddy’ movie. A unique twist on the franchise. Could be a fun alternative to the usual Bond movie, whilst keeping the Bond character in place.

    Leiter is probably the one character from Fleming they could (and should) make into a bigger role and haven't. There certainly were opportunities within the Craig era for Leiter to play a bigger part that they strangely didn't capitalize on.

    Moving forward, the only actor I'm aware of who fits the literary Leiter to a great big capital Texan "T" is McConaughey. Now in his early fifties, he could probably still pull off being Leiter in a couple of films. I think Leiter is slightly different territory from Bond where you could have a Leiter in his fifties, especially as they've (again, strangely) never used Leiter in an action sequence apart from NSNA.
  • SomethingThatAteHimSomethingThatAteHim
    Posts: 532
    ImpertinentGoon wrote: »
    I've said it before, I'll say it again until the role is cast:
    Wyatt Russell
    Capture-20-768x471.jpg
    Wyatt-Russell1.jpg

    Granted more California than Texas, but I think he has the look from the novels, is a fantastic actor and at a good place in his career, I think.

    Yeah I love this casting.
  • RyanRyan Canada
    Posts: 692
    MakeshiftPython wrote: »
    Just wanna say, NTTD really made me happy with the scenes between Bond and Leiter. THAT was what should have got in a second film with them after CR.

    Absolutely. Among my favourite scenes in the film and helps make up for what was missing from QOS.
  • Scaramanga1974Scaramanga1974
    Posts: 728
    Billy Bob Thornton would have been excellent.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited October 2021 Posts: 12,480
    I like your idea, @Benny. But I think not a full on "buddy" picture at first.
    New Bond, new MI6 crew, and I would LOVE for them to introduce the new Felix in this one, not wait for Bond 27. But build on their friendship/professional cooperation in Bond 27.

    I would love Matthew McConnehey in the role! (I don't think I ever spell his last name correctly.) He would be so perfect. But I do think he is too big a name, so to speak. I don't know if he would take it if offered (maybe!) but main thing is I don't know if EON's budget could support hiring someone with that high a profile. I want the money spent on Bond26 distributed well so we again get first class production, cinematography, direction, and script. I firmly want Fukunaga and Sandgren back. I think they can do it, especially with a new main Bond actor on board, who will undoubtedly be at a lower cost to them than Daniel. (I hasten to add that every single British pound spent on Daniel Craig, through and including NTTD, is well worth it!)
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Just to mess with people, maybe Daniel Craig can play Leiter, and Jeffrey Wright play Bond.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    Posts: 3,152
    :D
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,278
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    Just to mess with people, maybe Daniel Craig can play Leiter, and Jeffrey Wright play Bond.

    The Great Switcheroo.
  • TheQueensPeaceTheQueensPeace That's Classified
    Posts: 74
    Kevin Costner
  • Some_Kind_Of_HeroSome_Kind_Of_Hero
    Posts: 6,844
    Henry Cavill doing an American accent.
  • StirredNotShakenStirredNotShaken Toronto
    Posts: 2,402
    I'd be okay with Cavill, actually.
  • StamperStamper
    edited November 2021 Posts: 387
    I like MooseWithFleas suggestion.

    I think Leiter is gone and we won't be seeing him in any other film for a long time.

    Paloma will probably replace him, she seems built on the same character mold as Felix ie mysterious ally that appears then disappears from the film.

    Remember, we had a black Leiter because of NSNA, which unless I'm mistaken, was the first Bond film to be progressive in that department and cast a black actor in the Leiter role.

    Now it's time to make him a woman!
  • sandbagger1sandbagger1 Sussex
    Posts: 942
    Oscar Isaac
  • Since62Since62
    Posts: 1,630
    Oscar Isaac ? Matthew McC ? This is like many other suggestions on here. How would you get someone who plays LEADS to portray a supporting role ? How do you not confuse the audience with it ? No. Get a character actor. Someone who's not yet very famous themselves, and that aspect applies to Bond, too (not yet very famous themselves).
  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    Posts: 814
    I mentioned this in the M/Q/Moneypenny thread and I'll repeat it here: Aaron Eckhart
  • Since62Since62
    Posts: 1,630
    Aaron Eckhart ? He plays leads. Do you think you could get the past President of XYC corporation to serve as a Mid-Level Manager in another firm ? No ? Quite right ! No.
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