Who should/could be a Bond actor?

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  • edited November 12 Posts: 4,133
    007HallY wrote: »
    True. I would honestly say this is the worst example as well.

    Roger_Moore_650_841_64_c1.jpg

    Not quite as jarring as the others, but something about Roger Moore's early career as a sweater model just doesn't scream Bond.

    Good god, I looked just like that at nineteen.

    At this rate, the next movie won't come out till my thirties, and a few student films gives me a shade more acting experience than Lazenby....

    I find it an incredible photo. Absolutely nothing about it tells me this man was ever going to be burdened by success, much less become James Bond. None of Moore's charm or onscreen warmth is in that photo. It's a nice little reminder for me that most of us know absolutely nothing about any actor's potential, which I think is a nice thing to be reminded of.
  • Posts: 1,332
    Well, he was handsome guy and he didn't look like a junkie...
  • edited November 12 Posts: 4,133
    Well, he was handsome guy and he didn't look like a junkie...

    It's the bizarre smile that gets me (it looks as though he's not actually smiling but kinda is, so few creases near the eyes etc. Almost as if he's a doll hoisted up for the photo or something). The mustard yellow sweater is hideous too.
  • sandbagger1sandbagger1 Sussex
    Posts: 941
    Then there is the type of males that are making it onto our screens. There are few, if any, debonair or masculine heroes on screen. I can't think of one UK action series currently on air. There is no-one like Patrick McGoohan, Lewis Collins or Sean Bean anymore.

    This post has been about British TV rather than film, but I suspect we're in the same position with what's left of the British film industry. So good luck to Barbara Broccoli. She's got some tough decisions to make.

    You talk about British TV, but there are many British actors in Netflix & Amazon shows. I'm not someone who's pushing for Leo Suter, but he is a young British lead in Vikings: Valhalla, he's masculine, and he's at least as good an actor as Lewis Collins was (I loved him as Bodie, but he was not an actor with great range)... does the fact he's playing a viking disqualify him? SAS Rogue Heroes has two British male leads in Connor Swindells and Jack O'Connel. You've got Jack Lowden in Slow Horses, who may be playing an accident-prone agent but is still a good agent when all's said and done. I think we have more male lead actors (or potential lead actors) now on screen, thanks to so many international (well, mainly American I guess) shows shot around here, than when I was a kid. The fact that there are more female-led shows than before doesn't shrink the pool of male actors. We've got lots, just they're playing more complex characters than Bodie & Doyle (again, I love The Professionals).
  • SeveSeve The island of Lemoy
    Posts: 418
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  • edited November 13 Posts: 111
    You talk about British TV, but there are many British actors in Netflix & Amazon shows. I'm not someone who's pushing for Leo Suter, but he is a young British lead in Vikings: Valhalla, he's masculine, and he's at least as good an actor as Lewis Collins was (I loved him as Bodie, but he was not an actor with great range)... does the fact he's playing a viking disqualify him? SAS Rogue Heroes has two British male leads in Connor Swindells and Jack O'Connel. You've got Jack Lowden in Slow Horses, who may be playing an accident-prone agent but is still a good agent when all's said and done. I think we have more male lead actors (or potential lead actors) now on screen, thanks to so many international (well, mainly American I guess) shows shot around here, than when I was a kid. The fact that there are more female-led shows than before doesn't shrink the pool of male actors. We've got lots, just they're playing more complex characters than Bodie & Doyle (again, I love The Professionals).

    Ah, SAS Rogue Heroes! I suspected there might be an ongoing action series on mainstream UK TV that I'd forgotten. Having said that, I can't personally see anyone from that show as Bond.

    Leo Suter is the one actor under 35 that I can see as Bond and I've regularly supported him in this thread. I don't see him as the next Lewis Collins but then nobody could be in my eyes. I'm a massive Collins fan!

    Obviously my post and diversity figures didn't include the streamers. My perception of the likes of Amazon, Netflix, etc is that they're more adventurous in their drama choices than the likes of our free to air channels and their plodding detective shows. So it's a good point that the next Bond could come from this source.

    However, I still think there's a dearth of UK action shows and British manly, tough guy types. They just don't seem to be favoured by today's drama commissioners. Imo the best Bond candidates have probably aged out of consideration and the under 35s seem like weak replacements. Alternatively, I might be so old now that every young actor looks like a boy to me.

  • sandbagger1sandbagger1 Sussex
    Posts: 941
    You talk about British TV, but there are many British actors in Netflix & Amazon shows. I'm not someone who's pushing for Leo Suter, but he is a young British lead in Vikings: Valhalla, he's masculine, and he's at least as good an actor as Lewis Collins was (I loved him as Bodie, but he was not an actor with great range)... does the fact he's playing a viking disqualify him? SAS Rogue Heroes has two British male leads in Connor Swindells and Jack O'Connel. You've got Jack Lowden in Slow Horses, who may be playing an accident-prone agent but is still a good agent when all's said and done. I think we have more male lead actors (or potential lead actors) now on screen, thanks to so many international (well, mainly American I guess) shows shot around here, than when I was a kid. The fact that there are more female-led shows than before doesn't shrink the pool of male actors. We've got lots, just they're playing more complex characters than Bodie & Doyle (again, I love The Professionals).

    Ah, SAS Rogue Heroes! I suspected there might be an ongoing action series on mainstream UK TV that I'd forgotten. Having said that, I can't personally see anyone from that show as Bond.

    Leo Suter is the one actor under 35 that I can see as Bond and I've regularly supported him in this thread. I don't see him as the next Lewis Collins but then nobody could be in my eyes. I'm a massive Collins fan!

    Obviously my post and diversity figures didn't include the streamers. My perception of the likes of Amazon, Netflix, etc is that they're more adventurous in their drama choices than the likes of our free to air channels and their plodding detective shows. So it's a good point that the next Bond could come from this source.

    However, I still think there's a dearth of UK action shows and British manly, tough guy types. They just don't seem to be favoured by today's drama commissioners.
    Imo the best Bond candidates have probably aged out of consideration and the under 35s seem like weak replacements. Alternatively, I might be so old now that every young actor looks like a boy to me.
    The Professionals was the last iconic British action-hero drama. After that, probably because of the backlash against The Professionals being to violent, we started getting watered-down stuff: Dempsey & Makepeace, C.A.T.S Eyes... both weak compared to The Professionals or The New Avengers, or The Sweeny. We seemed to lose the knack for making these shows. We got Minder, which was good but increasingly became a comedy rather than the action-comedy it started out as; we got Boon, which was nice, lightweight drama with occasional action; we got Between the Lines, which was good, but with a male lead who was a bit of a bimbo. We simply haven't been making that kind of male hero-led drama for decades, not on terrestrial tv. Part of the reason Bond is so perennially popular in Britain is because we have so few contemporary British action heroes - action shows are expensive, and we just can't make them as easily as the Americans. U.S. networks occasionally would give money for historical-set dramas (Robin of Sherwood, for example), but they are less keen on contemporary British heroes - they have their own, they don't have much of an interest in ours generally. I was frustrated by it as a kid, seeing this waning of our will or ability to create that kind of heroic drama, and I think we've been pretty lucky American money has been coming our way from Netflix et al. I remember it was quite exciting having the Highlander TV show star a hero with an English accent (and occasionally a dodgy Scottish one).

    Back to Bond: I think though he's Australian, Charlie Vickers will get an audition - he's one of the better things in the patchy Rings of Power on Amazon Prime.
  • Posts: 1,977
    Let's stop pretending there are no eligible Bond actors out there. Of course there are. They may be unknowns or little knowns, but they are there. The new Bond doesn't have to be a name. I prefer he not be a known quantity. Pick the right guy and he'll be an instant name. He won't need to be classically trained or have much acting experience at all. With the right look and sound and moxie, he'll be fine. It's been done before.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,205
    CrabKey wrote: »
    Let's stop pretending there are no eligible Bond actors out there. Of course there are. They may be unknowns or little knowns, but they are there. The new Bond doesn't have to be a name. I prefer he not be a known quantity. Pick the right guy and he'll be an instant name. He won't need to be classically trained or have much acting experience at all. With the right look and sound and moxie, he'll be fine. It's been done before.

    Bingo…
  • BMT164BMT164 So Cal
    Posts: 6
    Thinking the Bond arc, bring back PB to tell the becoming bond story in a Fleming way, PB-Bond is in his home with all the Bond cars and toys, flash to using his son as young bond, go deep with boarding school, navy and all that, PB narrates and the son who is the actor growing into 007 along the way, then catch up to current days with mature PB Bond needing to solve a current new crisis, with help from his mi6 friends, keep the tech restrained build a story line around experience and moxy, modern bond drives a Bentley with some Q toys as he goes to solve the crisis. Steal story lines from Fleming during the early bond and the save the world. Then 27 possibly could use the younger Brosnan as the future Bond assuming it works? Gets a tie in and a new face too,?
  • It's not about being the chosen one. It's about honouring the number, and completing the job.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,133
    I think it’s fair to say that Pierce is done with Bond. It’s a nice idea, but I can’t see EON going backwards.
    Having an old Bond return would limit them on what they could do. I think it’s better to seek a new younger actor to take on the role. Despite some pessimistic thoughts from some there are many good actors who could potentially step into Bonds shoes.
    We’re not looking for another Connery, Moore, Brosnan or Craig, we need a new actor who can give their interpretation of the character.
    Fleming disliked the casting of Connery initially, but was soon won over. Roger and Pierce had their share of fans and detractors, and of course there was a lot of backlash when Craig first appeared. But again he won over the masses,with only select few fans not able to get on board.

    To say there’s no suitable actor is not true. There is an actor who can play James Bond, and I’m sure when they’re ready EON will cast them.
  • BMT164BMT164 So Cal
    Posts: 6
    Theo James is he the right age and fit? Obscure enough and has acting chops.
    I don’t agree , the right script gets PB back especially a darker or deep storyline! He has said as much.

    EON can’t let things get too stale imo?
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    edited November 13 Posts: 1,645
    As a fan, I don't want to go back to any existing actors. I want Bond to exist in the times of which he's released, as a young man doing a good job. It's not a hard formula, and there's no reason not to go that route. It's the Bond formula that's worked for 20 movies, it would be almost insane to mess with that too much. And for what, one movie with an old actor? Is that worth losing a new generation of fans to appease the older generation? Indiana Jones proved an old action star is just old and not very fun to watch on screen. And they proved it twice. Let people retire.
  • Posts: 4,133
    I just can’t see the appeal of an older Brosnan returning as Bond. Perhaps as an exercise in nostalgia, but even then I don’t see where it could go. We’ve just had an older retired Bond coming back for a last mission. It’s an area the series has gone in now. I just don’t see a reason to repeat things. Such a story wouldn’t give us the highs of the Brosnan era anyway.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,205
    As Rocky told his son, ' Ya gotta keep moving forward. that's what winners do '
  • Posts: 1,977
    @LucknFate - I agree. Every Bond has his day; Brosnan and Craig have had theirs. I am one of those oldies who has zero interest in seeing an old Bond trotted out for nostalgia's sake. I was put off seeing old Indy staggering around in his underwear muttering to himself. If I want to see old, I only need look in the mirror. We don't need reminders of our mortality. I prefer to worry about Bond's safety rather than the results of his physical.
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    edited November 13 Posts: 1,645
    CrabKey wrote: »
    @LucknFate - I agree. Every Bond has his day; Brosnan and Craig have had theirs. I am one of those oldies who has zero interest in seeing an old Bond trotted out for nostalgia's sake. I was put off seeing old Indy staggering around in his underwear muttering to himself. If I want to see old, I only need look in the mirror. We don't need reminders of our mortality. I prefer to worry about Bond's safety rather than the results of his physical.

    I personally think fans who want Brosnan back should be happy even that they almost got it with Tarantino and CR. It almost literally happened. You're not alone. Very high up creatives agree with you. Take that win and be happy. But even that time was 20 years ago.... this is an old idea of an old idea and somewhat bankrupt at this point. Proven it just can't and probably shouldn't happen.
  • edited November 13 Posts: 4,133
    LucknFate wrote: »
    CrabKey wrote: »
    @LucknFate - I agree. Every Bond has his day; Brosnan and Craig have had theirs. I am one of those oldies who has zero interest in seeing an old Bond trotted out for nostalgia's sake. I was put off seeing old Indy staggering around in his underwear muttering to himself. If I want to see old, I only need look in the mirror. We don't need reminders of our mortality. I prefer to worry about Bond's safety rather than the results of his physical.

    I personally think fans who want Brosnan back should be happy even that they almost got it with Tarantino and CR. It almost literally happened. You're not alone. Very high up creatives agree with you. Take that win and be happy. But even that time was 20 years ago.... this is an old idea of an old idea and somewhat bankrupt at this point. Proven it just can't and probably shouldn't happen.

    To be fair I’m pretty sure the whole Tarantino nearly making CR is complete nonsense/something he exaggerates if not lies about in interviews. It was never a planned film, it mostly amounts to Miramax not getting the rights in 1995, and finally Tarantino talking about how he’d hypothetically do it for the next 25 years (which changed radically from 1997 to 2004, with Brosnan’s departure in the latter year culminating in the older Bond idea he had for it… which came 4/5 years after the rights for CR went back to EON).

    But you’re right, it’s not exactly an original idea.
  • edited November 13 Posts: 1,332
    BMT164 wrote: »
    Theo James is he the right age and fit? Obscure enough and has acting chops.
    I don’t agree , the right script gets PB back especially a darker or deep storyline! He has said as much.

    EON can’t let things get too stale imo?

    I don't want another NTTD but now with Brosnan. Enough is enough. ;)

    Anyway, It's very unlikely. You can't make a sequel of this and Brosnan fans are getting older.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    edited 12:57am Posts: 13,779
    I had the idea to film a straight version of the Casino Royale novel before Tarantino.

    My short feature concept would easily absorb a return of Dalton, Brosnan, or even Lazenby or (Spirit) Craig in a smart, focused product between the major film releases. Likely not to die in it. Or die again.

  • George_KaplanGeorge_Kaplan Being chauffeured by Tibbett
    Posts: 680
    I just got back from Gladiator 2. I'm afraid I found Paul Mescal pretty unremarkable, especially compared to his costars. Granted, I felt much the same about Russell Crowe in the original.
  • BMT164BMT164 So Cal
    Posts: 6
    Oliver Jackson Cohen in a tux is bond, Theo James maybe too, the Tom Hardy, Ebris is stale… go back to early Fleming bond storyline with a Bentley but a newer gt model, go deep into espionage Middle East/N Korea/Russia plot to take over world Bond in middle with new Liter save world through smarts not gadgets or secret virus, maybe they partner to take out some head of state only to discover they have the wrong leader in sights, thanks to Q who is also a profiler working by remote, bond and liter go slightly rogue and trace the real villain back to Germany and a wealthy descendant of an generational industrial genius who wants a place at the world table of war happy criminals? CIA-MI6 collab carries lots of story?
  • Posts: 15,114
    007HallY wrote: »
    I just can’t see the appeal of an older Brosnan returning as Bond. Perhaps as an exercise in nostalgia, but even then I don’t see where it could go. We’ve just had an older retired Bond coming back for a last mission. It’s an area the series has gone in now. I just don’t see a reason to repeat things. Such a story wouldn’t give us the highs of the Brosnan era anyway.

    It's also something that has been done numerous times in other series.
  • Posts: 4,133
    Ludovico wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    I just can’t see the appeal of an older Brosnan returning as Bond. Perhaps as an exercise in nostalgia, but even then I don’t see where it could go. We’ve just had an older retired Bond coming back for a last mission. It’s an area the series has gone in now. I just don’t see a reason to repeat things. Such a story wouldn’t give us the highs of the Brosnan era anyway.

    It's also something that has been done numerous times in other series.

    True, it’d effectively be an ‘old man Bond’ thing. Not to say the fact that something’s been done before means it shouldn’t be done in Bond, but probably not so soon after NTTD. That and I think Bond should be forward looking.
  • Posts: 15,114
    007HallY wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    I just can’t see the appeal of an older Brosnan returning as Bond. Perhaps as an exercise in nostalgia, but even then I don’t see where it could go. We’ve just had an older retired Bond coming back for a last mission. It’s an area the series has gone in now. I just don’t see a reason to repeat things. Such a story wouldn’t give us the highs of the Brosnan era anyway.

    It's also something that has been done numerous times in other series.

    True, it’d effectively be an ‘old man Bond’ thing. Not to say the fact that something’s been done before means it shouldn’t be done in Bond, but probably not so soon after NTTD. That and I think Bond should be forward looking.

    Yes and if it's been done often before, you take the risk of coming off as just repeating old trends. I repeat what I said before: I think they're going to go for a "year 2" Bond: not an origin story, but something set fairly early in his career as a 00. It's an existing trend, bit a fairly fresh one.
  • Posts: 4,133
    Ludovico wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    I just can’t see the appeal of an older Brosnan returning as Bond. Perhaps as an exercise in nostalgia, but even then I don’t see where it could go. We’ve just had an older retired Bond coming back for a last mission. It’s an area the series has gone in now. I just don’t see a reason to repeat things. Such a story wouldn’t give us the highs of the Brosnan era anyway.

    It's also something that has been done numerous times in other series.

    True, it’d effectively be an ‘old man Bond’ thing. Not to say the fact that something’s been done before means it shouldn’t be done in Bond, but probably not so soon after NTTD. That and I think Bond should be forward looking.

    Yes and if it's been done often before, you take the risk of coming off as just repeating old trends. I repeat what I said before: I think they're going to go for a "year 2" Bond: not an origin story, but something set fairly early in his career as a 00. It's an existing trend, bit a fairly fresh one.

    It’s a good way of being able to cast a slightly younger actor too (someone more in their early 30s than mid to late 30s). Depends on who they want though I guess.
  • Posts: 937
    "Two years in Bond. Tomorrow, you'll meet Q."
  • buddyoldchapbuddyoldchap Formerly known as JeremyBondon
    Posts: 190
    Gents, some 'news':

    https://apnews.com/article/james-bond-producers-fcb0077975022c4c3771af8752afb370

    "They’ve teased some things: It will be a man. He’ll likely be in his 30s. Whiteness is not a given. And whoever says yes is doing so with the expectation of at least a decade’s worth of films. One thing is certain: There’s going to be a period of adjustment for audiences in the transition. Every Bond had its detractors, especially at the start. Broccoli saw firsthand the vitriol of the internet era when Craig was cast (“anti-Daniel nonsense,” she called it.)"

  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,368
    The one bit of the article which isn't news i.e. it's a paraphrase of something they've said previously in other interviews they gave ages ago! :D

    Oddly that didn't stop the Guardian also leaping on it and thinking it's something new:
    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/nov/14/james-bond-actor-race
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