Should we get a new M / Q / Moneypenny for BOND 26 and beyond ?

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  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,413
    Hinds seems more of an M type, yes. I can’t see Rylance being right for it either.
  • Should certainly start from scratch and recast everyone. I hated the fact they kept Judi Dench, as good an actress as she is.

    Brendan Gleeson would be a good M, I'd keep Q as younger more tech driven type. Moneypenny really depends on who they cast as Bond because you need the chemistry there.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited February 2022 Posts: 16,413
    Gleeson would be an interesting type for M, I like that: he's quite scary and intimidating which I think would be good. But he is also Irish, which might be odd casting for someone in the British Government. I expect he can do the accent, but I always prefer him with his natural one.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited February 2022 Posts: 5,970
    I think Rylance would be a better Q.

    Gleason is a great shout for M as well.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited February 2022 Posts: 13,978
    I was watching the Kenneth Branagh adaption of Murder On The Orient Express, a few nights ago, and began thinking about Daisy Ridley as Moneypenny.

    Daisy-Ridley-daisy-ridley-43153556-300-437.jpg
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,636
    I was watching the Kenneth Branagh adaption of Murder On The Orient Express, a few nights ago, and began thinking about Daisy Ridley as Moneypenny.

    Daisy-Ridley-daisy-ridley-43153556-300-437.jpg

    I think she would be a great Moneypenny, I’ve thought the same thing.
  • slide_99slide_99 USA
    Posts: 693
    I don't think we need either. I didn't miss them in CR or QOS, and much of the goodwill about them comes from Maxwell and Lewellyn, not the characters themselves. Also, I fear that the producers are going to continue what they started during the Craig era by portraying Q and Moneypenny as Bond's support team, as if they don't have eight other 00's to worry about.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    I was watching the Kenneth Branagh adaption of Murder On The Orient Express, a few nights ago, and began thinking about Daisy Ridley as Moneypenny.

    Daisy-Ridley-daisy-ridley-43153556-300-437.jpg

    I think she would be a great Moneypenny, I’ve thought the same thing.

    It's the first time that I have seen her in anything, so might be a little premature. But I think she has the looks of a good Moneypenny, if that makes sense.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited February 2022 Posts: 6,304
    slide_99 wrote: »
    I don't think we need either. I didn't miss them in CR or QOS, and much of the goodwill about them comes from Maxwell and Lewellyn, not the characters themselves. Also, I fear that the producers are going to continue what they started during the Craig era by portraying Q and Moneypenny as Bond's support team, as if they don't have eight other 00's to worry about.

    I generally agree with this. Moneypenny in particular feels like a dated character. She's basically there to type and flirt with Bond, and I didn't think showing her personal life in SP added anything interesting to the character.

    I thought Villiers in CR was a good update as an assistant to M--kind of exasperated with Bond's methods but also as the link between Bond and M, which makes more sense than Bond dialing into M at will (and getting her/him) whenever he wants.
  • DrunkIrishPoetDrunkIrishPoet The Amber Coast
    Posts: 156
    Regarding the two schools of thought for the Scooby Gang (“Clean Slate” vs “Some continuity”) in B26, here is what I would like to see:
    BondSeven gets a new boss, a new M, of course. And Moneypenny needs to have chemistry with B7, so she (or he) is new, too.
    Q doesn’t appear at all.
    Until B27.
    And then Q turns out to be… Ben Whishaw.
  • DrunkIrishPoetDrunkIrishPoet The Amber Coast
    Posts: 156
    I want a ten-part “Q” series on Netflix.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    Posts: 5,970
    I want a ten-part “Q” series on Netflix.
    I want a ten-part “Q” series on Netflix Amazon ;)
  • DrunkIrishPoetDrunkIrishPoet The Amber Coast
    Posts: 156
    I want a ten-part “Q” series on Amazon or HBO or Netflix. Here’s my pitch:

    Ep. 1: The Q Branch Process: how it works, ideally, using only a simple gadget as an example. When debriefing after a nearly-disastrous mission, a Double-O (not Bond) suggest that if only she’d had… oh, let’s say a real stiletto concealed in the heel of her shoe, she could’ve killed that baddie more effectively. So Q tells his team to get on it. We see how a need is identified, designs are drafted, prototypes are created and tested, final versions sent into the field, and then used successfully by the agent.

    Ep.2: FLASHBACK! The young and digitally de-aged Ben Whishaw applies for the job running the lab for Q Branch. We learn who he is, how he qualifies for the position, and who he screws to get the gig. We meet his team—he has his own Scooby Gang! We see his operation: 3D printers, machine shops, computer-assisted design stations, all the toys.

    Ep. 3: Time passes, and then the Internal Plot kicks in: a new manager, a difficult assignment. Budget cuts. Political interference. Interpersonal conflicts among the team; one of them may be a mole.

    Ep. 4: The External Plot Kicks In. A sadistic billionaire industrialist bent on world domination. All hands on deck: all Double-Os and section chiefs report for duty. Q Branch is tasked with kitting out the whole mission. It’s impossible!

    Ep. 5: Q Branch achieves the impossible, building sports cars, submarines, jet-packs and advanced gyrocopters etc in record time. But will they all work as advertised??

    Ep 6: Q goes into the field, delivering his gadgets like some sort of secret Santa, and training the agents on how to use them. Assets are positioned, but Q and his gang find themselves trapped behind enemy lines.

    Ep. 7: The Assault! Multiple Double-0s begin their operations, taking out various parts of the bad guy’s evil scheme. Sometimes Q’s gadgets work, and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes the agents need to get Q on the phone for further explanations, but Q is pinned down with his own problems.

    Ep. 8: Q on the Offense. Improvising in the field, Q and his gang work together under extreme pressure. They have to think fast, talk fast, and move fast. Problems evolve and are quickly solved. Maximum adaptability and creativity are displayed.

    Ep. 9: Evasion, Escape and Exfiltration. The armorers save the day on multiple fronts and live to tell the tale. The mole is unmasked; Q has to get his hands dirty retiring that problem. Special Guest Star: James Bond!!

    Ep. 10: Back in London, the evil billionaire’s final twist gets thwarted, and justice is served. The team is bonded. Q rescues a stray cat and finally gets to sit down for a cuppa tea.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,582
    I can't help but approve of all the above i.e. Q Branching out.
  • Benny wrote: »
    Another actor I could see playing M would be Ciaran Hinds. Strong commanding actor who could keep Bond under control, whilst keeping the fatherly figure side, I think is required for the role.
    Hinds is definitively a great choice. Same thing for Olivia Colman suggested by @Denbigh. To be honest, if an actor from a previous era should come back, I would welcome Colin Salmon as M, more than Fiennes.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited February 2022 Posts: 16,413
    I can't deny that I don't think Salmon is a very good actor, I just don't believe him. I would take Fiennes over him any day of the week.

    Now Michael Kitchen as M, yes please; but I think he may more or less have retired.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    Posts: 5,970
    Benny wrote: »
    Another actor I could see playing M would be Ciaran Hinds. Strong commanding actor who could keep Bond under control, whilst keeping the fatherly figure side, I think is required for the role.
    Same thing for Olivia Colman suggested by @Denbigh.
    Thanks man. The more I think about it the more I think Colman would be perfect, and a great draw for people as they love her. I also think she could take it in either direction, either playing it cold or with a lot of warmth, and she's a great comedian also. So much variety to work with.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,641
    I hope for Bond #7 they have good unknown actors play Q, Moneypenny and even M. That way the producers won't be hamstrung to have write separate storyline's for their characters
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    Posts: 1,649
    They should have a Q. Mini-mockumentary. Invite the BBC to set, have your Q actor give them an hour production of what goes on in MI6, like a real documentary. Use it as publicity for Bond 26. One time thing, no spinoff, no shows, just a cute little mockumentary into the Bond world.
  • Posts: 15,124
    mtm wrote: »
    Gleeson would be an interesting type for M, I like that: he's quite scary and intimidating which I think would be good. But he is also Irish, which might be odd casting for someone in the British Government. I expect he can do the accent, but I always prefer him with his natural one.

    Both Gleeson and Hinds I picture them more as a villain. It would be nice to have a more brutish looking main villain for a change (like Goldfinger or Savalas' Blofeld) most of them after Trevelyan have been rather slender.
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    edited February 2022 Posts: 1,649
    M: Rosamund Pike
    Moneypenny/Villiers: Tobias Menzies
    Q: Ben Whishaw
    Bill Tanner: Rory Kinnear
    Bond: ????
    Felix Leiter: Jonathan Majors
    Sylvia Trench: Lupita Nyong'o

    Note: Each sign 3-picture contracts, with each offered up front a 3-picture extension if the franchise is successful.

    Plot: A three-film arc takes two films establishing a mole plot within MI6, among the chief staff.

    First Movie: Bond assigned by M. and sent to the Caribbean to intercept a "rogue Chinese business person" with some sort of establishment utilizing short-range drones to steal NASA trade secrets and sell to any company or gov. paying the highest bid. Soft reboot of Dr. No.

    End Of First Movie: Bond's mission is almost fatal when he's given up and revealed to be a spy and nearly killed before ruining the villain plot and escaping, suggesting an insider at MI6.

    Second Movie: Another "traditional" framing, with a twist at the end yet again revealing someone is working against MI6 agents in the field, compromising missions. I would love another Octopussy, but with deeper spy craft in the script.

    Second-Movie Cliffhanger: Audience learns Tanner is the insider at MI6, but Bond doesn't learn yet. Bond continues into the third movie unaware of the immediacy of the threat.

    Third Movie: Tanner is revealed and Q takes Tanner's side until almost the end, etc., convinced he isn't the mole. M. and Villiers have standoff and convince Q. and Bond defeats Tanner to save the day. Would be really cool to see an unexpected climax, the team in the office late in the day, when all is revealed and fight breaks out in the Q. lab or something insane.

    Third movie really builds relationships and office politics between M., Villiers and Q., and all three agree to the three-picture extension, for a total six-movie run.
  • Posts: 1,630
    Clever and creative, and certain to set off many complaints on this website !
    May I suggest a twist ? If, following the first two films, the producers can see they're good with crew, audience reception, etc, for more than three, then have Tanner win the contest at the end of Film #3 in this set. Apparently win, that is...a la Sherlock going over the falls...and that contest would end in such a way that everyone else - besides Bond and Tanner - would think that Bond had been the traitor. So that, in film 4, when s-o-m-e-o-n-e accomplishes a mission and starts leaving crumbs for all but Tanner, the return of the supposedly defeated and deceased Bond is tantalizingly mysterious, until the very end, setting up #5. Gotta admit, though, this set up would not lend itself to a #6. Also, there's room for another twist, when someone - not Bond - kills Tanner. So then - was Tanner the traitor ? Or not ? Under this scenario, not. WHO then, turns out to be the bad person ? I think NOT one of the "crew" because that would be pulling the same move twice. Someone from outside. Blofeld. Irma Bunt. Alec Trevelyan. Whomever.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,413
    I like the idea of Pike as M; nicely different to any we've had before. And she'd be fantastic at it too, just as she always is.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,641
    I'd love Pike to come back to the series, she's a brilliant actress. Great idea @LucknFate
  • Posts: 1,630
    But her character is dead ! And is dead in the Brosnan-verse, no less. So...bring her back like the same actor who played an ally became the villain in Connery's next Bond ? Yerblowinmymindman...
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    Posts: 1,649
    mtm wrote: »
    I like the idea of Pike as M; nicely different to any we've had before. And she'd be fantastic at it too, just as she always is.

    It lets them lean into the sexual tension they shrugged off in GoldenEye with the "sexist" line from Dench. Not saying Dench's M. should have ever flirted with Bond, but she did a bit in TND and SF and it could be a fresh character dynamic with Bond.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,413
    I just saw someone suggest Kenneth Branagh as M on Twitter: that fits very well I think.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited February 2022 Posts: 5,970
    mtm wrote: »
    I just saw someone suggest Kenneth Branagh as M on Twitter: that fits very well I think.
    As long as he doesn't direct as well I'll be happy with that ;)
  • Posts: 1,630
    and Emma Thompson as the PM, telling Branagh's M what to do ? Spicy...
  • Posts: 15,124
    mtm wrote: »
    I just saw someone suggest Kenneth Branagh as M on Twitter: that fits very well I think.
    I like Branagh but... I'd rather not. Something about his face.
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