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Even worse: he'd insist on singing the damn theme tune...
I think there were a few exciting choices around ten years ago who have since aged or risen out of contention, and that’s a shame, but I think there’s still a few exciting contenders. Jack O’Connell is an actor of Craig’s calibre imo, and he’s on a similar career trajectory (a few critically acclaimed performances across film and TV coupled with a couple of Hollywood duds, he can carry a film, but not too famous). The thought of him doing it excites me more than suggestions like Clive Owen did in 2005.
I think there’s still plenty of talent for EON to be mine, and I don’t think they’ve ever misfired with casting Bond, so I’m not really worried myself. My prediction though is that people are going to have to get used to Bond looking a bit different, now that Craig has broken down that barrier. I think it’s kind of unfair to expect them to find someone exciting and fresh and of DC’s calibre acting ability and young enough and not too famous who can reinvent the role, who also looks exactly like Bond as described in the books. Setting those high standards of appearance instantly narrows down the pool of actors massively, and I can’t imagine they’ll want to limit themselves like that when approaching the toughest actor transition since Connery.
Many times. The majority isn't particularly awed by him. Looks like a villain to me, Necros-ish.
Yes. Acting ability, charisma PLUS a bit of a masculine energy is not easy to find
This is it in a nutshell, but you missed one other factor - looks! The next actor needs the whole package.
Often looking at a photo of an actor, it can be easy to see him playing Bond, until you see the other factors come into play on screen too - charisma, sex appeal, masculinity, and acting chops. Finding someone who ticks all these boxes isn't as easy as it sounds.
it's darn difficult, @jetsetwilly !
That's why we should not be worried about things like hair colour and height (within reason)... if a guy has the acting ability, charisma, masculinity AND looks then he should be signed up. There just aren't many around.
I'm not sure any of us really have any idea. I wouldn't rule it out, because we don't know how far along Eon are in the casting process and we don't know how important it may be for financing for a new face to be announced; but that cuts both ways, and it could be three years before they announce the new guy. It must be one hell of a stressful decision to make.
If they do the screentests the way I understand them to have been done previously it would probably be too soon.
From what I gather at least for Craig/Casino Royale they already had an idea where they wanted to go with the character - re-boot with the plot of CR and a grittier direction in general - and they already had Martin Campbell signed up and had him direct the screentests. Getting all of that lined up and then doing screentests and then getting everything squared away contractually with the new guy seems like a really tall order to get done for 5 October next year.
They've always claimed they haven't really thought about the future and have been focussed on getting Craig's last film out of the door as succesfully as possible. I don't really buy that, given that they had a whole lot of added time due to the pandemic delays. On the other hand, it does seem as if they nowadays like to look at the reception of the latest film, before commiting to anything for the next one.
Fukunaga has said he originally held talks with Eon about a reboot, but then Craig came back and they went with Boyle before coming back to him. So he might just have enough of a package ready to go to start screentesting guys in like early spring. But I kind of doubt they would go that quickly, even if continuing with him wouldn't be the worst call.
Edit:
Btw., the mothership reports (via The Hollywood Reporter) that there have been first talks between MGM and EON about the casting (https://www.mi6-hq.com/news/mgm-chief-confirms-early-next-bond-talks-211124):
THR: I might as well get this out of the way. Who is going to be the next 007 now that Daniel Craig is done?
PA: It’s wide open. We’ve had very early preliminary conversations with Barbara [Broccoli] and Michael [Wilson], but we wanted Daniel to have his last hurrah.
However, it would be encouraging if this were the case as we might not have to wait another 6 years for the next movie, if they're getting a head start now.
Shocking.....
Positively Shocking
I think it might be a bit of a chicken and egg situation: you can find a fitting actor for a specific script, or you can write a script tailored for a specific actor. I'm sure they're throwing ideas in the air.
I find it interesting that she didn't say something along the lines of "casting is the last thing to do, we want to figure out how to go forward with the franchise first" or something like that. So it seems to me like casting is pretty early in their timetable for B26 and they might try to take the best pick on the board and then see what they can do with him, instead of making a plan for the film and then seeing who fits into that the best. Or I am hopelessly over-interpreting a two-sentence answer in one interview.
It's probably the latter.
Of course they'd throw on the table that Person A, B, or C might be good, BUT, in the end, obviously none of the spit-balling candidates impressed, or Broccoli would have pursued this-- after all, she didn't have a Bond at the time.
Next thing Cary knows is a few months later Craig announced his return and Boyle came on as director.
Sounds like the conversation ended at that table and seemingly no follow up.
Chatting to someone close to EoN and he reminded me : Barbara Broccoli is a producer of Daniel Craig's MacBeth,and they're going into rehearsals soon in New York; there are also personal events taking place within the family,; Amazon will want to be a part of the auditioning process, and the final sale won't be complete for quite some time.... So moving parts....
It's kind of true. Franchise, Sequels, and Reboots are the only things that make any money these days it seems.
And you don't really have standalone sequels. Which is not a bad thing per se. But I think it indicates that there is a trend that will take a while to break.
Hear me out on this and just imagine it before saying NO!!
Not classically good looking but handsome enough- check.
Not a unit like DC but has the build to play a different interpretation - a more traditional spy type, an infiltration figure who can move around in secret, an everyman. - check.
Well dressed, looks good in a dinner jacket- check.
Correct age, British, right sort of fame profile - check.
And a really good actor to boot, could play different sides to Bond including the action- check.
I give you Matt Smith.
Definitely worth a screen test in my very humble opinion.
I have to believe because of this the cattle call to audition for the new Bond may be the biggest that EoN has had to confront.
Every agency with viable candidates will be sending film reels into EoN. I also have to believe agents and actors will pounce on Barbra Broccoli's words that James Bond could be a man of any race. This opening will give many young men an opportunity.
If I was a gambling man, I would bet that EoN don't want the new guy to be compared to Craig, so I can see them going with an actor who was born in the UK, but with a more diverse ethnic background.
After the risk they took in ending NTTD the way in which they did, I think they will consider more unique risks to stretch and grow their brand. A way of doing this would be to cast a man of color.
Personally, I just hope they cast the best of the best.