Who should/could be a Bond actor?

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  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited January 2023 Posts: 5,970
    The thing is if writers have been met with or even been asked to produce a draft, I doubt scoopers and reporters would be rushing to report it if it even got out in the first place.

    The actor is what the press want and a director, if big enough, is substantial but writers? Not so much, especially if it’s an unknown or just Purvis and Wade again.
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 784
    Cary Grant vs James Mason vs Laurence Olivier


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  • edited January 2023 Posts: 181
    talos7 wrote: »

    Everybody missed this, but it is interesting. After being asked if he's been approached about Bond, Golding says "I think there’s been a few guys that have. Sadly I’m not one of them. But I do know for a fact that the cogs are in motion for Barbara."

    I think it's pretty well confirmed now that it's no secret that Barbara is actively looking for a Bond actor right now and actually meeting with people. Honestly it makes sense if you think about. Everyone was expecting it to be done the same old way this time (find a director, get a script, and then start on finding the actor), but the times are just different now. Big franchises are the thing now, and if Barbara has her eye on some up and coming star, she will want to move fast and sign the actor before he gets scooped up some other franchise such as Marvel or DC. I mean think about it, they're currently looking for a Superman at this exact moment, and might be looking for an actor for Batman as well (having both Pattinson and a second actor for the DCEU does seem odd, but that's a whole other conversation). In this day and age you got to move fast and get your guy. That is, if it's a big rising-star type (ATJ would fit this bill at the moment I think).

    Also, as someone else pointed out, the last time around they needed a script to sway Craig into taking the role. The franchise was a bit of an embarrassment at the time. DC did not want to sign up for another Die Another Day. I don't think we'll have this problem this time around. Will an actor have any less confidence in signing up for Bond than they would in signing up for the DCEU? I don't think so.

    And to me it just makes sense to do it first anyways. Which actor they get is more important than the director or the direction of the script of the first movie. I say find the perfect actor first and then tailor the direction of the movies around him, instead of vice versa.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited January 2023 Posts: 5,970
    You certainly raise interesting points @HarmonyRockets and considering the relationship they had with Craig, maybe an element of finding their guy earlier than we expected is because they want to build the same kind of relationship and have an actor who has as much involvement?
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    @HarmonyRockets — you’ve misinterpreted…

    No one is cast in a role off of a meeting, certainly not a role as big as James Bond.

    As I posted already: they’re meeting with actors.

    A script will be written.

    From the meetings they will have had over the upcoming weeks and months, the creative team will callback the best of whom they met.

    They will audition them.

    An actor will win the role only after a rigorous vetting and audition process.

  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    edited January 2023 Posts: 1,649
    I guess if we MAY be in the scripting stage right now, what's left from Fleming that hasn't yet been "interpreted"? And I'm assuming it's Purvis and Wade, and possible Waller-Bridge, with hangover ideas from the last one.

    Was there anything in the early Casino Royale (pre-Craig) story development that didn't end up in the film? That they may go with this time.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    Posts: 3,152
    if Barbara has her eye on some up and coming star, she will want to move fast and sign the actor before he gets scooped up some other franchise such as Marvel or DC... I say find the perfect actor first and then tailor the direction of the movies around him, instead of vice versa.
    Agreed on both points. It makes perfect sense both to connect with an actor before they're signed up to some multi-movie deal elsewhere and to tailor the scripts to that actor's strengths.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited January 2023 Posts: 5,970
    I think in terms of writers I'd just like to see less names under that credit. If they're keeping Purvis and Wade, cool whatever, but don't pile on writers for rewriting because it does make me somewhat nervous. One writer to punch up a certain element that needs work like Paul Haggis, no problem. One writer's pitch developed by P&W, fine, but you don't need 5 writers to create a good James Bond film.

    I should also add, I know it’s never their aim to have five writers on a project but you know what I mean.
  • Denbigh wrote: »
    You certainly raise interesting points @HarmonyRockets and considering the relationship they had with Craig, maybe an element of finding their guy earlier than we expected is because they want to build the same kind of relationship and have an actor who has as much involvement?

    I didn't think about that, but it's a great point. And it makes sense. Not only would it be easier to sign somebody up, the next Bond actor should be involved and have a say in things. To me it makes more sense to have the actor have a say in who the director is than the other way around, having the director of the first movie have a say in who the actor is. I always thought it was a bit crazy that Martin Campbell was involved in that. I'm just glad he didn't get his way with Cavill.

    The actor should be involved. He's the one that makes (or breaks) the whole franchise. He is the franchise.

  • Stark wrote: »
    We know for sure that the casting has started but no info on a script being written, it makes no sense.
    Well, at the end of September, Barbara Broccoli said "we'll start the process probably with Rob [Wade] and Neil [Purvis] and we'll see where we go!" (https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/bond-producers-barbara-broccoli-and-michael-g-wilson-on-the-fate-and-future-of-007/). So I guess they may already have an outline or at least some story ideas. At the time, Broccoli used the future tense, but maybe it was just a way to avoid some questions, or maybe nothing had happened then but did since.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    edited January 2023 Posts: 9,509
    Venutius wrote: »
    if Barbara has her eye on some up and coming star, she will want to move fast and sign the actor before he gets scooped up some other franchise such as Marvel or DC... I say find the perfect actor first and then tailor the direction of the movies around him, instead of vice versa.
    Agreed on both points. It makes perfect sense both to connect with an actor before they're signed up to some multi-movie deal elsewhere and to tailor the scripts to that actor's strengths.

    I’m afraid this makes no sense, @Venutius :

    If Eon wanted to grab a rising star BEFORE a script is written, the actor’s agent would ask for a tidy fortune to hold their talent from exploring other projects (since IF this were to happen, this actor theoretically wouldn’t go to camera for another 18 months while development of the script is written and polished, then casting and locations etc., etc).

    This isn’t happening in any way, shape or form (and I apologize if I sound curt, but this method in theory wouldn’t happen, nor is it being considered. They have weeks, if not months, of meetings ahead of them; the script will be written during this time. Once the script is in shape, with likely the director attached at this stage, they will start auditioning. Please see James Gunn’s recent comments about recasting Superman. This is is how the industry does things because it maximizes the chance of casting the best possible actor (at that time). No one gets cast from a meeting. They want to see potential actors in action and performing various situations as the character they are casting!)



    Edit: @HarmonyRockets : it wouldn’t be easier to grab an actor before development. That’s too risky for the producers. And they’re certainly not going to let an actor call creative shots when they haven’t seen how he’d play the role (via the audition process).

  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    edited January 2023 Posts: 2,641
    If they've brought back Purvis and Wade for Bond 26, maybe the script is further along than we realise. At least we can dream

    I hope they didn't waste that 12-16 months of delays doing nothing behind the scenes. I'm sure the main focus was fighting with the studio to get NTTD in cinema's, but I hope they were planning the next phase of Bond and setting plans in motion.

    Thanks @peter for the insight as always
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 784
    Cary Grant vs James Mason vs Laurence Olivier


    notor3gc-main1.jpg




    james-mason-british-actor-dinner-jacket-bow-tie.jpg




    laurence-olivier-medium.jpg

    Very interested in your opinions!
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,218
    Cary Grant vs James Mason vs Laurence Olivier


    notor3gc-main1.jpg




    james-mason-british-actor-dinner-jacket-bow-tie.jpg




    laurence-olivier-medium.jpg

    Very interested in your opinions!

    I have no opinion on this.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,152
    peter wrote: »
    I’m afraid this makes no sense, @Venutius
    True - after all, when was the last time that 'perfect sense' survived first contact with reality? ;) Yeah, I see what you mean, Peter. Good to get that perspective, mate.
  • Stark wrote: »
    I don't understand why the producers of Bond don't do the same thing: first writing the screenplay and then casting.

    I have been saying this for years...
  • Posts: 16,169
    mtm wrote: »
    It’s what they did last time. Craig only signed on because the CR script was so strong.

    Precisely. This is why I take all of these casting runors with a grain of salt. I suppose it's possible Barbara and Michael have had a few meetings, but I doubt the search has really begun. As far as I know there hasn't been any official announcement that B26 has actually started development. Just a casual mention that Purvis and Wade are likely to be involved.
    Once there's a script, director and especially a release date announced, then I'll start to take some of these so called contenders seriously.
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    Posts: 1,649
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    It’s what they did last time. Craig only signed on because the CR script was so strong.

    Precisely. This is why I take all of these casting runors with a grain of salt. I suppose it's possible Barbara and Michael have had a few meetings, but I doubt the search has really begun. As far as I know there hasn't been any official announcement that B26 has actually started development. Just a casual mention that Purvis and Wade are likely to be involved.
    Once there's a script, director and especially a release date announced, then I'll start to take some of these so called contenders seriously.

    You'll be late.
  • Posts: 1,493
    peter wrote: »
    @HarmonyRockets — you’ve misinterpreted…

    No one is cast in a role off of a meeting, certainly not a role as big as James Bond.

    As I posted already: they’re meeting with actors.

    A script will be written.

    From the meetings they will have had over the upcoming weeks and months, the creative team will callback the best of whom they met.

    They will audition them.

    An actor will win the role only after a rigorous vetting and audition process.

    100% correct.
  • Posts: 15,125
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    It’s what they did last time. Craig only signed on because the CR script was so strong.

    Precisely. This is why I take all of these casting runors with a grain of salt. I suppose it's possible Barbara and Michael have had a few meetings, but I doubt the search has really begun. As far as I know there hasn't been any official announcement that B26 has actually started development. Just a casual mention that Purvis and Wade are likely to be involved.
    Once there's a script, director and especially a release date announced, then I'll start to take some of these so called contenders seriously.

    Could it be a bit of a chicken and egg thing? They're working on the script and looking for actors, when they have a full script in working order they will start casting formally?
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,217
    Ludovico wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    It’s what they did last time. Craig only signed on because the CR script was so strong.

    Precisely. This is why I take all of these casting runors with a grain of salt. I suppose it's possible Barbara and Michael have had a few meetings, but I doubt the search has really begun. As far as I know there hasn't been any official announcement that B26 has actually started development. Just a casual mention that Purvis and Wade are likely to be involved.
    Once there's a script, director and especially a release date announced, then I'll start to take some of these so called contenders seriously.

    Could it be a bit of a chicken and egg thing? They're working on the script and looking for actors, when they have a full script in working order they will start casting formally?

    This is exactly right; it's not an either, or thing. For probably some time they have contemplating the tone and direction of the next incarnation of Bond; at the same time potential writers, directors, actors, etc. are being considered and evaluated. As it becomes more clear what they want to do with the character, specific choices will be made. The order most likely being, writer(s), director, actor.
  • Off topic slightly but I reckon Jason Isaacs would have been a brilliant Bond. Reminds me of Tim Dalton.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited January 2023 Posts: 5,970
    Off topic slightly but I reckon Jason Isaacs would have been a brilliant Bond. Reminds me of Tim Dalton.
    100% @Scaramanga1974

    He definitely has that Hoagy Carmichael look.

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  • ToTheRight wrote: »
    Precisely. This is why I take all of these casting runors with a grain of salt. I suppose it's possible Barbara and Michael have had a few meetings, but I doubt the search has really begun.

    Unless... Chris Nolan turned in a terrific screenplay he had secretly been working on for years.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,187
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Precisely. This is why I take all of these casting runors with a grain of salt. I suppose it's possible Barbara and Michael have had a few meetings, but I doubt the search has really begun.

    Unless... Chris Nolan turned in a terrific screenplay he had secretly been working on for years.

    As much as I'd still be interested in seeing a Nolan Bond film, I doubt it will ever happen.
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 784
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Precisely. This is why I take all of these casting runors with a grain of salt. I suppose it's possible Barbara and Michael have had a few meetings, but I doubt the search has really begun.

    Unless... Chris Nolan turned in a terrific screenplay he had secretly been working on for years.

    As much as I'd still be interested in seeing a Nolan Bond film, I doubt it will ever happen.

    :(
  • Posts: 9,848
    How about joe Doyle
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited January 2023 Posts: 5,970
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Precisely. This is why I take all of these casting runors with a grain of salt. I suppose it's possible Barbara and Michael have had a few meetings, but I doubt the search has really begun.

    Unless... Chris Nolan turned in a terrific screenplay he had secretly been working on for years.

    As much as I'd still be interested in seeing a Nolan Bond film, I doubt it will ever happen.
    ;)
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 3,327
    LucknFate wrote: »
    I guess if we MAY be in the scripting stage right now, what's left from Fleming that hasn't yet been "interpreted"? .
    Not just interpreted, but also fully adaptive.

    There's still quite a lot actually, but its been re-tread and repeated on here endlessly. But for those who don't know your Fleming very well, here goes -

    Moonraker, Diamonds are Forever, The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, and short stories From a View to a Kill, and Quantum of Solace.

    Most of these novels are pretty much intact as never been adapted. There has been `loose' attempts (stress the word loose) with MR, DAF and TMWTGG, but if they were fully adapted in a modern setting now, you wouldn't recognise the storyline or scenes from any previous attempts.

    YOLT had a couple of scenes in a very loose adaptation in NTTD, but again it was a blink-and-you-miss-it moment.

    TSWLM has never been touched (a legal issue with Fleming at the time, which could be overcome now with the right lawyers from Amazon). The most you could hope to take from this novel is Viv Michel, Horror and Sluggsy as characters, and the scenes from the second half of the book in the motel, which are pretty good.

    FAVTAK has some decent scenes as a short story, but QoS there isn't that much you could take from, other than character names and references.

    I wrote a blog which covered this for ideas on the next film - http://broadcastingtechnologyindustry.blogspot.com/2021/





  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,641
    From A View To A Kill, the short story, would make a decent PTS similar to The Living Daylights.

    You could maybe change parts of it to suit the plot of Bond 26, but the story could be a good opener for Bond #7
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