Who should/could be a Bond actor?

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  • Posts: 16,167
    kamal_khan wrote: »
    Ok I have to admit I have not (yet) read all 800 pages of this thread. I’m new here this is my first post! So I apologize if this has been suggested....but I’ve always thought that Jon Hamm (Mad Men) would be a great Bond, IF and I stress IF, he could do a convincing British accent!

    Welcome to the forums, @kamal_khan.
    I always liked Jon Hamm. He has a classic, classic look and style one doesn't see too often these days. He often looked quite Bondian on MAD MEN. Bold choice!
    Now that he's a bit older, I think he'd make a great Mike Hammer or a Philip Marlowe.
  • HildebrandRarityHildebrandRarity Centre international d'assistance aux personnes déplacées, Paris, France
    Posts: 482
    There's a season that concludes with Don Draper watching "You Only Live Twice", with the theme song also playing during the credits.
    "Mad Men" creator and showrunner Matthew Weiner was offered at some point after Spectre to submit a treatment for Bond, but, obviously, it went nowhere.
  • Posts: 928
    There's a season that concludes with Don Draper watching "You Only Live Twice", with the theme song also playing during the credits.
    "Mad Men" creator and showrunner Matthew Weiner was offered at some point after Spectre to submit a treatment for Bond, but, obviously, it went nowhere.

    It was season 5 - peak Mad Men in my view! If Hamm could pull off an English accent, he'd be the only American actor I'd cast as Bond.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,413
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    kamal_khan wrote: »
    Ok I have to admit I have not (yet) read all 800 pages of this thread. I’m new here this is my first post! So I apologize if this has been suggested....but I’ve always thought that Jon Hamm (Mad Men) would be a great Bond, IF and I stress IF, he could do a convincing British accent!

    Welcome to the forums, @kamal_khan.
    I always liked Jon Hamm. He has a classic, classic look and style one doesn't see too often these days. He often looked quite Bondian on MAD MEN. Bold choice!
    Now that he's a bit older, I think he'd make a great Mike Hammer or a Philip Marlowe.

    That’s a really fun idea, I like that.
  • edited June 2021 Posts: 4,409
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    No offence to Regé-Jean Page but he'd be a backwards step from Craig.
    I've not seen him in much admittedly (par only half an episode of Bridgeton) but I had to turn it off, too much pouting and posing for me, felt like a wooden version of Brosnan. I get why my Mrs enjoys the show and his character but he wouldn't be right for Bond in my opinion. He's not a bad actor by any means and I'm sure he'll have a successful career, but his performance came across as really forced to me

    I just finished watching Bridgerton and I don't disagree. It's a very outre show. There is a lot of preening and posing. I think Page is most guilty of this in the first episode. However, once you get over that first episode hump, I have to confess that I secretly really enjoyed this show and Page is - undeniably - it's main attraction. It's v soap-y, but rather entertaining. If he becomes Bond, he needs a director to tell him to tone down the corniness. it suits a show like Bridgerton but perhaps not Bond.

    Page really comes into his own by the end. I'll admit that he does pose a little too much. However, that is the character he's playing. Personally, I did not mind it. Basically, this is his James Bond audition. He's playing the mysterious, byronic hero - in the same mould as Heathcliff or Mr Rochester. Interestingly, two roles that Timothy Dalton played before becoming 007. Page has traces of Dalton in his performance. There is a meanness to him, and he's also perfect as the classical romantic hero.

    He's terrific in the fight sequences (which there are surprisingly many), fantastic with women, and seriously gorgeous. Despite his ethnicity, he would actually be more of a conventional pick than Craig. I think the Brosnan comparison offered by @Jordo007 is perhaps apt - though, as I mentioned, I think Page would model himself off Dalton. Nevertheless, if they are going to be radical and appoint a black actor to play James Bond, then someone like Page would be perfect, as it's hard to argue that he isn't ideally suited.

    He's quickly risen to being my preferred choice for the role.....

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  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,216
    Suave spy? Sure. Bond? No.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    edited June 2021 Posts: 2,641
    @Pierce2Daniel you make some really good points as always mate.
    I'm not sold on him as Bond if I'm honest, this is no disrespect to him as a person or actor, but he doesn't look mean enough to play Bond
    Personally I don't think Bond should have any form of facial hair other than 5 O'clock shadow (unless the story warrants it) and Page is one of many actors suggested, who doesn't look particularly manly without facial hair

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    For the record, I don't when this picture of Page was from I googled him clean shave and this picture came up. Of course like all the actors, we'll only know how they'll be as Bond until they're cast but if you compare him with Craig, Dalton or Connery, he's not as manly without a beard and for me that makes him unsuitable for the role
  • Posts: 15,124
    To be fair, Page is not the only actor of his generation who does not look very manly without facial hair. He's no worse than Brosnan in that regard.
  • Posts: 9,847
    the-haunting-of-bly-manor-peter-oliver-jackson-cohen-social-600x338.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5
    Oliver Jackson-Cohen 34 London Born.

    Unsure if he has been mentioned, I started watching The Haunting of Bly Manor on NETFLIX, Oliver shows a subtle underlining menace with the character he plays. Later I realised I had also seen him in the recent Invisible Man reworking which was a good film.

    I would like him
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,641
    Ludovico wrote: »
    To be fair, Page is not the only actor of his generation who does not look very manly without facial hair. He's no worse than Brosnan in that regard.

    Very true my friend
  • Posts: 15,124
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    To be fair, Page is not the only actor of his generation who does not look very manly without facial hair. He's no worse than Brosnan in that regard.

    Very true my friend

    And that's why so many actors have beard or stubble these days.
  • Posts: 15,124
    Well that's not a surprise, but here's Sean Bean's opinion on the matter: https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1447779/sean-bean-news-james-bond-daniel-craig-replacement-007-film-latest-time-bbc-one-spt/amp

    Funny anecdote: my four years old son saw yesterday video of Simon Keenlyside when he was in his prime and he said he looks like James Bond. I thought that was very perceptive. And no, it wasn't prompted by me.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,641
    @Ludovico haha that's great. Teach them young mate
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,216
    Today I was at the gym and glanced up at a tv and saw a guy in a tux and immediately thought’ wow try hat guy has a great look for Bond’ , and it wasn’t just the tux. Then I realized that it was Julian McMahon, in an episode of “Charmed”
    I always likes him on “ Nip/ Tuck and know that his name was batted around for Bond.
    Is it known if he actually screentested?
  • Posts: 1,630
    Even with the receding hairline, J McMahon at that time looked great for it, right ? I don't know whether he was screentested. Not that it was your point or question, but to expand on it, I think it would be too late for him now. He's Irish/English, born in Australia 7-27-68, so he approaches his 53rd birthday. One could finish a run as Bond at about that age, but starting it would be unlikely unless the story deliberately were about Bond at that age. He's in a TV show these days, FBI: Most Wanted. He was in Fantastic Four movies, too, and multitude of other roles, as well, including spy-story RED.
  • Posts: 15,124
    I don't know if McMahon auditioned, somehow I doubt it. As for Clive Owen, I never understood the appeal.
  • Posts: 1,630
    Clive Owen is uniquely handsome, and even has the Connery-like vertical lines on his face. He projects intelligence, and can do action, as well.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,216
    Since62 wrote: »
    Even with the receding hairline, J McMahon at that time looked great for it, right ? I don't know whether he was screentested. Not that it was your point or question, but to expand on it, I think it would be too late for him now. He's Irish/English, born in Australia 7-27-68, so he approaches his 53rd birthday. One could finish a run as Bond at about that age, but starting it would be unlikely unless the story deliberately were about Bond at that age. He's in a TV show these days, FBI: Most Wanted. He was in Fantastic Four movies, too, and multitude of other roles, as well, including spy-story RED.

    Absolutely his time has past.

  • Posts: 15,124
    Since62 wrote: »
    Clive Owen is uniquely handsome, and even has the Connery-like vertical lines on his face. He projects intelligence, and can do action, as well.

    He's not nearly as handsome as Connery imo. And he doesn't project intelligence in all his movies, in fact I think he often has the haggard looks of a boxer who fought one fight too many.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,413
    According to this old article, McMahon impressed Eon and Campbell, but did not make the finals. I'm not sure whether that means he only read for it rather than screentested or he did do a screentest.

    https://commanderbond.net/2995/the-men-who-could-have-been-bond.html
  • Posts: 15,124
    mtm wrote: »
    According to this old article, McMahon impressed Eon and Campbell, but did not make the finals. I'm not sure whether that means he only read for it rather than screentested or he did do a screentest.

    https://commanderbond.net/2995/the-men-who-could-have-been-bond.html
    Some interesting names. Some others... not so much. But overall it feels to me that the pool was more interesting.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,413
    I think it's quite fun that the two main stars of The Boys are both on the list!
  • Rupert Friend would have been a fantastic choice.
  • sandbagger1sandbagger1 Sussex
    Posts: 942
    It's interesting that they apparently had both a German and a Croatian actor audition. I had assumed they'd keep it to the commonwealth countries. I wonder if they were casting right now whether they'd be considering someone like Alexander (The Last Kingdom) Dreymon?
  • Posts: 4,409
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    @Pierce2Daniel you make some really good points as always mate.
    I'm not sold on him as Bond if I'm honest, this is no disrespect to him as a person or actor, but he doesn't look mean enough to play Bond
    Personally I don't think Bond should have any form of facial hair other than 5 O'clock shadow (unless the story warrants it) and Page is one of many actors suggested, who doesn't look particularly manly without facial hair

    For the record, I don't when this picture of Page was from I googled him clean shave and this picture came up. Of course like all the actors, we'll only know how they'll be as Bond until they're cast but if you compare him with Craig, Dalton or Connery, he's not as manly without a beard and for me that makes him unsuitable for the role

    I hear you about the stubble. Though aside from Bond in SF, there have been other occasions where Bond has a bit of stubble. For example, some scenes in GF, LTK, GE and CR. It also looks as though the Cuba-tuxedo scenes in NTTD will see Bond with a little stubble.

    If Page got the role and wanted to keep some stubble, I'd be cool with that. He looks very impressive with it. I have seen his Audi commercial a few time on ITV during the Euros and it convinces me further that he is suited to the part.

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    Anyone seen the Eternals trailer? Maybe Chloe Zhao is a genius as she's made Richard Madden look 6ft. Regardless, he's still a strong contender for the next 007. Though much will be dependent on his Marvel commitments. Madden is probably a better actor than Page, but he is still second for me.

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  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited June 2021 Posts: 5,970
    The problem I have with Page (not personally obviously) is that he seems to have only reached some kind of stardom due to being attractive as opposed to his acting. It seems to be the only talking point with him at the moment.
  • Posts: 15,124
    I definitely don't want a Bond with permanent stubble. Either you can be manly without stubble or you cannot. If it's the latter, forget about it .
  • Posts: 16,167
    I want Bond to look manly with or without stubble. I also want him to walk into any casino and look exactly like he knows what he's doing. I don't want him to look like someone who needs chemin de fer or baccarat explained to him by the croupier.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,413
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    @Pierce2Daniel you make some really good points as always mate.
    I'm not sold on him as Bond if I'm honest, this is no disrespect to him as a person or actor, but he doesn't look mean enough to play Bond
    Personally I don't think Bond should have any form of facial hair other than 5 O'clock shadow (unless the story warrants it) and Page is one of many actors suggested, who doesn't look particularly manly without facial hair

    For the record, I don't when this picture of Page was from I googled him clean shave and this picture came up. Of course like all the actors, we'll only know how they'll be as Bond until they're cast but if you compare him with Craig, Dalton or Connery, he's not as manly without a beard and for me that makes him unsuitable for the role

    I hear you about the stubble. Though aside from Bond in SF, there have been other occasions where Bond has a bit of stubble. For example, some scenes in GF, LTK, GE and CR. It also looks as though the Cuba-tuxedo scenes in NTTD will see Bond with a little stubble.

    Yes, I remember a Film '95 set report where the makeup lady said she left Brosnan with just a little growth 'to take the edge off' and not make him seem too unrealistically perfect!
  • edited June 2021 Posts: 111
    Mark Greenstreet talks about his Bond audition from about 2.37 on Wogan sometime in the mid 80s. I remember this guy and this particular interview.



    Greenstreet was one of the actors auditioned when they were considering going young for the part. At the time he was considered a prospect after starring in a dual role in the well received BBC series Brat Farrar. Unfortunately in the early 90s he starred in the BBC series Trainer, a series that was widely panned and Greenstreet especially was singled out for a thorough monstering. Perhaps that experience put him off acting or others off hiring him because he never acted on screen again. He was a good looking chap but obviously was never going to be Bond. It's amusing in hindsight to hear Wogan's thoughts on a blond Bond.

    For those of you wondering (and that's undoubtedly no one), the part Greenstreet auditioned for on the Colbys went to Adrian Paul. I remember Paul on that show too. Must be getting on a bit.
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