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It perhaps isn't a coincidence that the emergence of Madeleine's secret coincides with the arrival of Safin. The mask reveal in the NTTD confirms some kind of connection between Swann and Safin, and the package feels like a message is being sent.
Madeleine's tears give away that not only does she know what this message is intended to convey, but also that she's fearful of whatever comes next. Logically, this would mean that whatever business Swann has involved herself in over the years, she thought she had escaped it.
We know from the story that Madeleine tells on the train in SP that: ‘A man once came to our house to kill my father. He didn't know I was upstairs playing in my bedroom. Or that Papa kept a Beretta 9mm under the sink with the bleach. That's why I hate guns.’
It seems the PTS of NTTD will explain this sequence. The man in question is evidently going to be Safin. The question is why does Safin mostly look the same? We haven’t had a good look at the young Madeleine actress, but it’s likely that she is aged between 13 to 16. Some theories below:
This all leads to the bigger question of who sent Safin to kill Mr White:
My instant thought is ‘Blofeld.’ However, that makes zero sense as this would have been during the time that Mr White and Blofeld were a team. Plus, it would later take nearly 20 years from that point for them to fall out to such an extent that White would need to go on the run.
However, it’s teased by Fukunaga in the Empire trailer-breakdown that Blofeld has a bigger scheme in mind, and – is perhaps – the lead villain pulling the strings. Allegedly the prison scene is not his only sequence.
Therefore, maybe after the lake incident the young Safin - having been inspired by Madeleine - joined Spectre. Where he has been a protege of Blofeld since.
I still think he was talking about that
Also, I think Primo carries out the act....
Both Safin & Madeline won't be alive at the end.
I just hope that her death isn't before Bond goes after him or just as he's about to start...
Just my two cents. :D
Fukunaga made the following comment when asked about Madeleine's return:
https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/bond-25-trailer-breakdown-no-time-to-die-director-cary-joji-fukunaga/
There hasn’t been a returning Bond girl since Eunice Gayson in From Russia With Love. Was bringing Madeleine back an exciting way to break with convention?
I thought Dr. Swann was the first person to continue and not be “fridged”, until Barbara [Broccoli] told me otherwise! Some people might look at it as a burden, and some people might look at it as an opportunity, when you’re inheriting characters or story points. The way I saw it was: there’s a lot of rich material to draw from. And then there’s also the joy of continuity. So for the people who know the stories, to be able topick up on some of these things, plus leitmotifs and other references to previous films; it just enriches the experience.
Especially in our more enlightened times, I can't see them killing Madeleine. She's clearly an integral part of the film. In fact, they are more likely to kill Bond than her. I'm certain we will get as much Lea Seydoux in NTTD as we did in SP.....plus, the more Seydoux the better:
All the female characters seem to be built in the post MeToo mould. All kick butt and are integral to the story.
The 'Sa Fin' reveal is very cool. I suspect it's a reference to Craig's finale. But the rumours that he could be Dr No are mounting.....
We know:
If he is indeed Dr No, I hope it isn't a secret and the next trailer reveals it. I mean look at the resemblance:
Such a big deal...
After the reception of the last one I’d be hesitant to do it again
Lashana, Lea, Cary filmed those scenes by, as you wrote on a rocky shore, but just outside Maratea city on the west coast, some 200 km from Matera.
She wasn't. But she filmed on the rocky beach outside Maratea, 200 km from Matera
Very interesting....I'm thinking he's Blofeld's protege.
Though, the Empire article also confirms that Safin and Madeline have a connection. I think this confirms that he is the man on the lake sent to kill Mr White.
I think we may see a teenaged Safin sent to kill White and then he ends up saving Madeleine. Maybe then Blofeld took Safin under his wing. Maybe Safin then had an unrequited love for Madeleine? It would play into the whole 'epic love story' that Broccoli promised.
Maybe the reason Safin is in the mask is really economical, as they didn't want to digitally de-age Rami Malek. Fukunaga has already shown an interest in the topic of child soldiers. People should watch the masterpiece that is 'Beasts of No Nation'.
Yes. Blofeld being in jail represents his big chance to take over, even destroying SPECTRE or just killing Blofeld’s supporters within the organization (the gas scene in the trailer).
LOTS to be gleamed in the EW interview. Namely, the following:
There is also a sly mention and later a quick reversal that ‘Safin’ may not be his real name. But this isn’t the first time that Rami has said ‘I’m not Dr No. Wink wink.’ Last time Waltz walked a very similar line……however, with the news that SPECTRE are behind everything again. I think it’s pretty clear that one of the big mysteries of the film will be Dr No’s return.
It’s not as bone-headed as Waltz being Blofeld in SP – as that film was called ‘Spectre’, we’d seen photos in the lead up to release of Waltz in a Nehru jacket and in silhouette behind a desk. Not to mention the fact that he just looks and sounds like Blofeld. It was obvious to anyone with a half a brain he was Blofeld. They weren’t fooling anyone.
Here it’s a little more fun and mischievous. It’s not overly obvious and could work as a fun reveal in the film (alternatively, the marketing may reveal it soon. After all, he does look like Dr No). It could work better than the Blofeld reveal….
They say Blofeld communicates with SPECTRE from prison and that obviously doesn't mean he's behind the entire plot. As far as we know Safin could easily want to take control, or even destroy, the organization (SPECTRE members collapsing after being gassed).
Given what we know so far, I think the most likely scenario is that Safin is a rival of Blofeld and SPECTRE and that Blofeld will play both sides against the middle here.
I'm a bit concerned about Safin's scheme to be honest. I fear it might dwell too far into scifi territory.
To be fair, I think Dr. No, Drax, Gustav Graves and to an extent Max Zorin all had some elements of science fiction to their characters. Not saying I’m looking forward to going into that same territory in NTTD (which looks to be the case). But if done well, it could work. The more I hear about Safin, the more interesting he becomes in my eyes.
In the examples you provided, it only worked well in Dr No. There are other Bond movies featuring scifi elements, as long as they're used sparingly and plausible it's fine. OHMSS and GE are examples of "discreet" scifi elements used well.
One thing we may have missed regarding the plot possibly dealing with climate change is Scott Z Burns. Just saw this on Twitter:
He also produced An Inconvenient Truth....
Now Malek says that the villain wants to save the world and has found some kind of answer to one of the biggest problems. Isn't one of the biggest problems climate change?
If Safin has the solution for death (an unmanageable prospect), surely OO7 has the counter-remedy for that as well.
Fair point.
Having watched the first season of True Detective and Netflix’s Maniac, this sounds plausible for CJF.