Who should/could be a Bond actor?

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  • Posts: 5,767
    Thy mouth speaketh thruth, @bondjames.
  • JeremyBondonJeremyBondon Seeking out odd jobs with Oddjob @Tangier
    edited September 2018 Posts: 1,318
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    I’m no Turner fan (for Bond) but he’s a significantly better actor than Cavill. I’ve always thought he lacked a certain something, but I’d take him in a heartbeat if the alternative was Cavill.

    I think they're pretty much even. To me anyway. Their look is fine, it's their acting skills I find lacking. And Cavill seems made of plastic now, don't know why.

    I must confess I prefer the idea of Richard Madden. Height aside, what's so un Bondian about his look for some?

    Madden doesn't look Bond to me, at all. More like 006, or even Leiter. Haha.

    Is there a standard on how 006 should look like? What makes Madden looking like 006?

    As far as I'm concerned he has a bit of a baby face... But so did Roger Moore to a degree.
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Well Leiter being American and Madden British I think it's both non sequitur and irrelevant to ponder about him playing this particular role. As for 006... There's so little about him in the source material it is pretty pointless as well. The only developed 006 was Alec Trevelyan... Because he became a traitor and the main villain in a movie. Otherwise other 00 agents are little more than background characters. I'd agree that many actors mentioned in this thread have the appearance one would expect of a 00 agent: athletic and otherwise nondescript.

    It's quite simple to change an accent, I mean it's their job ;)
  • Posts: 15,114
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    I’m no Turner fan (for Bond) but he’s a significantly better actor than Cavill. I’ve always thought he lacked a certain something, but I’d take him in a heartbeat if the alternative was Cavill.

    I think they're pretty much even. To me anyway. Their look is fine, it's their acting skills I find lacking. And Cavill seems made of plastic now, don't know why.

    I must confess I prefer the idea of Richard Madden. Height aside, what's so un Bondian about his look for some?

    Madden doesn't look Bond to me, at all. More like 006, or even Leiter. Haha.

    Is there a standard on how 006 should look like? What makes Madden looking like 006?

    As far as I'm concerned he has a bit of a baby face... But so did Roger Moore to a degree.
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Well Leiter being American and Madden British I think it's both non sequitur and irrelevant to ponder about him playing this particular role. As for 006... There's so little about him in the source material it is pretty pointless as well. The only developed 006 was Alec Trevelyan... Because he became a traitor and the main villain in a movie. Otherwise other 00 agents are little more than background characters. I'd agree that many actors mentioned in this thread have the appearance one would expect of a 00 agent: athletic and otherwise nondescript.

    It's quite simple to change an accent, I mean it's their job ;)

    Not so simple, or else why would American actors play such unconvincing Brits with such phony, unnatural accents? Keep Bond British, played by a British actor, and leave Felix Leiter to Americans.

    Otherwise, actor for actor, even though he does not have the perfect face for Bond, I would rather have Richard Madden as Bond than Turner, Cavill or pretty much most of the people mentioned here, judging by his work and in comparison with theirs. He is most likely just a flavour of the month, but at least I like that flavour at the moment. Although I am curious about Harry Lloyd, who sometimes look Bondian on pictures (and then some other times, not at all).
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    NicNac wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    I’m no Turner fan (for Bond) but he’s a significantly better actor than Cavill. I’ve always thought he lacked a certain something, but I’d take him in a heartbeat if the alternative was Cavill.

    I think they're pretty much even. To me anyway. Their look is fine, it's their acting skills I find lacking. And Cavill seems made of plastic now, don't know why.

    I must confess I prefer the idea of Richard Madden. Height aside, what's so un Bondian about his look for some?

    Madden doesn't look Bond to me, at all. More like 006, or even Leiter. Haha.

    Well as you say about Turner it isn't about how they 'look', more about whether they can deliver on screen. Of the favourites being bandied about my opinion is that Madden has a little more of the charisma required to pull it off in the near future (just a year or two too soon at the moment). Not entirely convinced that Turner has the same. He looks ok in photos, but acting wise smacks too much of a top TV star who won't make the transition. Madden I think can make it.

    I respectively disagree, as the look of Bond is most definitely important to the character. Fleming is quite clear about that and it contributes to the believability of said characterisation. The archetypical tall, dark and handsome with a dangerous twist adds to the character of Bond. Fleming certainly didn't typify him looking like Craig, who imo looks more like a Russian KGB agent. Because of this I never really 'experienced' Craig as Bond, as he just looks too different to me. Madden is a decent actor, but nothing about him, at least to me, seems 'Bondish' to me. To me that is an important criterium. Ymmv.

    I used to think like that. My opinion was turned on its head by Casino Royale, and the way Craig totally reinvented and refreshed the character of Bond.

    I agree keeping one foot in Fleming is extremely important in order to keep the series grounded with a fundamental focal point (Fleming's books). However, the overall importance of Fleming to the series has greatly diminished. Sticking to his vision will not sell tickets at the box office.
    The film series stands as a separate entity with its own ground rules. Fleming's gentleman spy with all his foibles isn't the same man we have now, not because Craig doesn't look like him, but because this is the 21st Century and the series adapts to modern audiences. It's still Bond, but he alters to suit the mood of the audience of the day.

    It would have been interesting to see what Fleming would have done had he lived to 80 and taken Bond on into his 60s. Would we have seen Bond aging in real time? Or would we have got what we have with the films? A Bond stuck at 40 years old, but living in an ever changing world?
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited September 2018 Posts: 23,883
    While I completely agree that Bond must move with the times (as he has), I believe 'tall, dark and handsome' is still a preferred attribute among most fans, even if not all.

    For all we know global sensibilities and preferences will play a stronger part in who the next fellow is, given the market for Bond films is expanding every time there's a release. Having a female fanbase may also play into it.

    If anything, an archetypal or stereotypical definition of 'British' (if there is such a thing), may be what they go for next time out. Or alternatively, it could be another Hardy type.
  • Posts: 5,767
    I would love "British" (if there is such a Thing). One Thing I find a bit off About Brosnan is that he doesn´t seem to be as British as the others. The British touch in Mendes´films is one of the Things I like most About them.
  • I personally would like to see either one of the following:

    1). Richard Madden- He'd be a great 007 whether the next continuity is set in the present or in the past. I also feel like he has a pretty good shot as he's not that big or famous of an actor.

    2). Idris Elba- I'd love to see Idris as 007 (even though he said he's not interested-I'm sure he can be persuaded with the right amount of money) but only if it's set in contemporary times.

    3). Tom Hiddleston- This might be a long shot as Tom Hiddleston is pretty well known for Loki, King Kong, etc, and I highly doubt that they would ever cast an already established major actor in the role-but bear in mind, without getting into spoilers, I think Hiddleston's schedule has freed up so he may be able to take on the role. However, I'd only be interested if he plays a 007 set in the Fifties or Sixties.

    4). Gillian Anderson- Sure why not. I'd love to see a female James Bond (Jane Bond?) but I think that this option is the least likely to transpire. As much as I'd love to see it happen I think myself and a lot of viewers would rather see a traditional male James Bond with strong individual female characters that can stand alongside him.

    Not Gonna Happen Ever-

    -Tom Hardy- He'd be a fine James Bond but he's just too well known and they're never gonna cast Bane or Venom as James Bond.

    -Henry Cavill- For the same reason as above, Henry Cavill is never gonna be James Bond because it wouldn't make sense for Superman to be James Bond. Besides, the Witcher series is gonna eat up a lot of his time and on top of that he's already played a number of Bond-ish characters (Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, The Man from UNCLE, etc)

    -Clive Owen- Pretty sure no one is still talking about this but...just in case.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,253
    NicNac wrote: »
    NicNac wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    I’m no Turner fan (for Bond) but he’s a significantly better actor than Cavill. I’ve always thought he lacked a certain something, but I’d take him in a heartbeat if the alternative was Cavill.

    I think they're pretty much even. To me anyway. Their look is fine, it's their acting skills I find lacking. And Cavill seems made of plastic now, don't know why.

    I must confess I prefer the idea of Richard Madden. Height aside, what's so un Bondian about his look for some?

    Madden doesn't look Bond to me, at all. More like 006, or even Leiter. Haha.

    Well as you say about Turner it isn't about how they 'look', more about whether they can deliver on screen. Of the favourites being bandied about my opinion is that Madden has a little more of the charisma required to pull it off in the near future (just a year or two too soon at the moment). Not entirely convinced that Turner has the same. He looks ok in photos, but acting wise smacks too much of a top TV star who won't make the transition. Madden I think can make it.

    I respectively disagree, as the look of Bond is most definitely important to the character. Fleming is quite clear about that and it contributes to the believability of said characterisation. The archetypical tall, dark and handsome with a dangerous twist adds to the character of Bond. Fleming certainly didn't typify him looking like Craig, who imo looks more like a Russian KGB agent. Because of this I never really 'experienced' Craig as Bond, as he just looks too different to me. Madden is a decent actor, but nothing about him, at least to me, seems 'Bondish' to me. To me that is an important criterium. Ymmv.

    I used to think like that. My opinion was turned on its head by Casino Royale, and the way Craig totally reinvented and refreshed the character of Bond.

    I agree keeping one foot in Fleming is extremely important in order to keep the series grounded with a fundamental focal point (Fleming's books). However, the overall importance of Fleming to the series has greatly diminished. Sticking to his vision will not sell tickets at the box office.
    The film series stands as a separate entity with its own ground rules. Fleming's gentleman spy with all his foibles isn't the same man we have now, not because Craig doesn't look like him, but because this is the 21st Century and the series adapts to modern audiences. It's still Bond, but he alters to suit the mood of the audience of the day.

    It would have been interesting to see what Fleming would have done had he lived to 80 and taken Bond on into his 60s. Would we have seen Bond aging in real time? Or would we have got what we have with the films? A Bond stuck at 40 years old, but living in an ever changing world?

    Funny, as it is CR that brings Bond back into the direction of the fallable human beeing instead of the cardboard hero he'd become in the hands of Brosnan. Not to talk Brosnan down, it was part of the 90ies, but at the same time it shows people do like main characters who are multidementional instead. So this aspect was, for the time beeing, more important then his looks. Doesn't mean they're not important at all..
  • edited September 2018 Posts: 1,661

    4). Gillian Anderson- Sure why not. I'd love to see a female James Bond (Jane Bond?) but I think that this option is the least likely to transpire. As much as I'd love to see it happen I think myself and a lot of viewers would rather see a traditional male James Bond with strong individual female characters that can stand alongside him.

    thanks-but-no-thanks.jpg

    ;)
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    I personally would like to see either one of the following:

    1). Richard Madden- He'd be a great 007 whether the next continuity is set in the present or in the past. I also feel like he has a pretty good shot as he's not that big or famous of an actor.

    2). Idris Elba- I'd love to see Idris as 007 (even though he said he's not interested-I'm sure he can be persuaded with the right amount of money) but only if it's set in contemporary times.

    3). Tom Hiddleston- This might be a long shot as Tom Hiddleston is pretty well known for Loki, King Kong, etc, and I highly doubt that they would ever cast an already established major actor in the role-but bear in mind, without getting into spoilers, I think Hiddleston's schedule has freed up so he may be able to take on the role. However, I'd only be interested if he plays a 007 set in the Fifties or Sixties.

    4). Gillian Anderson- Sure why not. I'd love to see a female James Bond (Jane Bond?) but I think that this option is the least likely to transpire. As much as I'd love to see it happen I think myself and a lot of viewers would rather see a traditional male James Bond with strong individual female characters that can stand alongside him..
    There's quite a bit of variety in your suggestions here.

    RE: Gillian: I think a Jane Bond is quite irrelevant these days, now that we have Isla Faust. Those fans clamouring for a female MI6 operative should just petition Paramount to give her a standalone. They'll probably get the film out sooner too. I'll certainly be there on day one if they do it.
  • Posts: 19,339
    I personally would like to see either one of the following:

    1). Richard Madden- He'd be a great 007 whether the next continuity is set in the present or in the past. I also feel like he has a pretty good shot as he's not that big or famous of an actor.

    2). Idris Elba- I'd love to see Idris as 007 (even though he said he's not interested-I'm sure he can be persuaded with the right amount of money) but only if it's set in contemporary times.

    3). Tom Hiddleston- This might be a long shot as Tom Hiddleston is pretty well known for Loki, King Kong, etc, and I highly doubt that they would ever cast an already established major actor in the role-but bear in mind, without getting into spoilers, I think Hiddleston's schedule has freed up so he may be able to take on the role. However, I'd only be interested if he plays a 007 set in the Fifties or Sixties.

    4). Gillian Anderson- Sure why not. I'd love to see a female James Bond (Jane Bond?) but I think that this option is the least likely to transpire. As much as I'd love to see it happen I think myself and a lot of viewers would rather see a traditional male James Bond with strong individual female characters that can stand alongside him.

    Not Gonna Happen Ever-

    -Tom Hardy- He'd be a fine James Bond but he's just too well known and they're never gonna cast Bane or Venom as James Bond.

    -Henry Cavill- For the same reason as above, Henry Cavill is never gonna be James Bond because it wouldn't make sense for Superman to be James Bond. Besides, the Witcher series is gonna eat up a lot of his time and on top of that he's already played a number of Bond-ish characters (Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, The Man from UNCLE, etc)

    -Clive Owen- Pretty sure no one is still talking about this but...just in case.

    Hiddleson,Hardy or Cavill are fine with me,the others.....meh.
  • Posts: 1,661
    I'd rather have a new Bond film introduce a female 00 agent. She assists Bond on the mission. I think an actual female James Bond - Bond has changed gender! - is too radical and controversial. And let's face it, Ian Fleming would have hated the idea.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    fanbond123 wrote: »
    I'd rather have a new Bond film introduce a female 00 agent. She assists Bond on the mission.
    Coincidentally some were musing about this exact scenario for B25 at one time on the Production Thread, based on speculation from one of the crazy sources which serve as a basis for discussion there.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    fanbond123 wrote: »
    I'd rather have a new Bond film introduce a female 00 agent. She assists Bond on the mission. I think an actual female James Bond - Bond has changed gender! - is too radical and controversial. And let's face it, Ian Fleming would have hated the idea.
    +1
  • Posts: 1,661
    A female 00 agent makes sense. I mean, it gives Eon a legitimate reason to have a strong female action role in a Bond film. I know we had Jinx in DAD but she was an American type spy (NSA) and her character was a little cartoony. A proper female 00 agent would make sense in the present-day '#MeToo movement' climate.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    As long as she's of the Ilsa Faust archetype and not some boring, bland and uninteresting character, I'm all for it. A female 00-agent. Nothing more. Keep Bond the way he is, otherwise it'd be just stupid.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    My concern with injecting a female OO is that it could water down Bond. That's how I felt with DAD anyway (even the posters had Brozz sharing space with Berry, which I found a bit unforgivable).

    At the end of the day Bond is the hero here, and he should always be the centre of attraction in a Bond film. The other characters come and go but they should never steal the spotlight from Bond imho, unless they are the villain and a one-off.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    bondjames wrote: »
    My concern with injecting a female OO is that it could water down Bond. That's how I felt with DAD anyway (even the posters had Brozz sharing space with Berry, which I found a bit unforgivable).

    At the end of the day Bond is the hero here, and he should always be the centre of attraction in a Bond film. The other characters come and go but they should never steal the spotlight from Bond imho, unless they are the villain and a one-off.
    You're not wrong there, @bondjames. Considering the vision the current filmmakers behind the Bond brand on the screen are going for, it could very well water down Bond and I definitely wouldn't want that. But, if they were to go down the route of the Mission: Impossible template where both Ethan Hunt and Ilsa Faust are equally as effective, none of them are better than the other, then I'll be all for it.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited September 2018 Posts: 23,883
    bondjames wrote: »
    My concern with injecting a female OO is that it could water down Bond. That's how I felt with DAD anyway (even the posters had Brozz sharing space with Berry, which I found a bit unforgivable).

    At the end of the day Bond is the hero here, and he should always be the centre of attraction in a Bond film. The other characters come and go but they should never steal the spotlight from Bond imho, unless they are the villain and a one-off.
    You're not wrong there, @bondjames. Considering the vision the current filmmakers behind the Bond brand on the screen are going for, it could very well water down Bond and I definitely wouldn't want that. But, if they were to go down the route of the Mission: Impossible template where both Ethan Hunt and Ilsa Faust are equally as effective, none of them are better than the other, then I'll be all for it.
    @ClarkDevlin, good points, and I'm really in two minds about this. That approach works well for MI because it's fundamentally a team effort and Hunt is a bit of a low key cipher to begin with, who is perfect for #MeToo with his winning smile and clean cut asexual ways.

    With the right actor, Bond can certainly operate in this fashion too, and as long as the film makers don't water him down as a result I'll reluctantly accept it. The Bond films did this before MI after all, with the likes of Anya, Holly etc. TSWLM is a top five Bond film of mine, so I can certainly go for this in one Bond film, but not in every film. After all, Bond isn't MI, 24 or any of these other 'team' things, no matter how unrealistic that may be.

    As you probably can guess based on my prior comments about a future Bond actor, I think this approach will work best with an actor who can be more charming and who has a naturally suave and lighter touch. In such a scenario, the film makers can inject a bit more equality while still allowing Bond to retain his knowing arrogance without crossing that fine line. It's a matter of delicate finesse imho.
  • edited September 2018 Posts: 19,339
    Bond should always be better,not equal,to any other agent.
    He proved that against Alec Trevelyn .
  • 00Agent00Agent Any man who drinks Dom Perignon '52 can't be all bad.
    edited September 2018 Posts: 5,185
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Bond should always be better,not equal,to any other agent.
    He proved that against Alec Trevelyn .

    And that's also true for all the other loosers who get themselves killed all the time.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    I wouldn't mind the female agent to be like Holly Goodhead. I rather liked her as a female counterpart to Bond.
  • edited September 2018 Posts: 1,661
    Mentioned before.. could Outlander actor Sam Heughan be someone on Eon's radar?

    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/outlander-star-sam-heughan-backed-13267119

    2a91vg2.jpg

    Looks quite good here:

    0_ltr_dsf_290818FriCinema_02.jpg

  • RoadphillRoadphill United Kingdom
    Posts: 984
    Well, now Cavill has officially departed the role of Superman, one suspects he will have more gaps in his schedule.
  • edited September 2018 Posts: 1,661
    Bond 26 could be released in 2022 (!) so he's got time to make sure he has a gap in his schedule! Heck, I doubt most actors can plan a year ahead let alone three.

    2022? That feels yonks away.
  • Posts: 19,339
    fanbond123 wrote: »
    Mentioned before.. could Outlander actor Sam Heughan be someone on Eon's radar?

    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/outlander-star-sam-heughan-backed-13267119

    2a91vg2.jpg

    Looks quite good here:

    0_ltr_dsf_290818FriCinema_02.jpg

    Not for me.
    Features are all wrong.

  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    He looks like a chef.
  • Posts: 19,339
    And not a very good one @Thunderfinger .

    Or a little boy playing with a rubber gun...*squeak squeak*.
  • edited September 2018 Posts: 1,661
    No pleasing some folk!

    Well what about Daniel Craig just before he got the role? What would your honest opinion be of his looks in 2004?

    daniel_craig_2004_09_05.jpg

    I prefer this one:

    danielcraig5.jpg


    See, some of you might have said "don't want ginger haired Bond!" - "Don't see any Bond in him!"

    We have to cut some of the potential actors some slack because you could argue Craig didn't look much like Bond before he got the part. I'm sure many MI6 users would have dismissed Craig's chances based on some of his photos? Admit it, some of us would!




  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    I did not. Thought he was perfect for it.
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