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Gareth Mallory as the new M
Not sure if this should go in Bond 24 or Bond 25 and beyond. Anyway, this is about the new M of the series, Gareth Mallory, who got the most extensive and developed introduction the M character ever received before. How do you think he will be, deducing from the way he was written in SF, the way he was played and of course the casting of Ralph Fiennes in the role. How will he interact with Bond? With the other characters? With the government? What kind of a man he is?
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I would happily go back to having films similar to the Dalton era in which a fairly unknown actor plays M in two or three short scenes and then, for the rest of the film, Bond just goes and gets on with it. I don't see it happening with Fiennes in the role, though.
@xJamesBond007x, that's not going to happen, unless if the script calls in unexpected situations.
I too am a little afraid that M might get to much screen-time since Fiennes is an accomplished actor, but has also had his share of bit parts in films. I don't mind him getting involved in the plot, but hoping he doesn't frequent the field too much, as he said field work is a young man's game.
I think as that already happen they won't repeat it.
The thing with Mallory as M is that he's not only Bond superior on the civil service but he also hold a high rank in the military. But because they belong to different branches (Navy and Army) it could be more complex than Fleming's and Bernard Lee's M as he is admiral in the Navy.
Either way, it's evident that Mallory with represent the dominant patriarchal figure that Bond obeys but at the same time resents.
I'll just repost some of what I recently wrote concerning the role and Mallory.
Now we are moving into the Ralph Fiennes era. I do believe we will learn more about his background; perhaps in a variety of ways. It could be with M meeting up with old enemies or old friends, it could be in a brief flashback, or just exposition as he opens up a bit in a private conversation. But this new M is seemingly a multi-faceted character - and being played by a very good and renown actor, I doubt he comes cheaply - so I do not expect in any way for his role to go back to being the smaller, somewhat curt boss handing Bond his assignment. I'm fine with that. I want the films to grow. If they all followed the exact same template, the series would have died by now.
This new M can have plenty to do in London, and if he ventures afield I hope the powers that be at least make it be reasonable to the story. Bernard Lee's M would show up in "temporary or well hidden" digs in the older Bond film (Egypt; submarine, etc.) which was rather amusing. With the Craig films more grounded in realism, I don't expect M to pop out of a tent in the desert, smoking a pipe ... but I want a better reason for him to be in the field, not just "checking" on Bond, or following a misguided emotion that may lead him to being kidnapped (oh, I get annoyed at a few things in TWINE). The writing is so important. They have a fine actor in the role, taking over from another fine actor. They have given him a slight background story already, and I am as curious as anyone to see what Bond 24 will give us with M. It could be great, good, or oh no ... but I am thinking it should be at least good.
We have a meatier role in M now (since 1995 to present) and with Fiennes I can see them expanding it, yes. However, do I want M involved far too much with the predicaments and solutions that Bond grapples with? No. I still want Bond to be Bond- a highly intelligent, creative, and clever man who can think on his feet, change directions, find a way out of a nearly impossible situation, and complete his mission, not merely survive. I do not mind Q and M and Moneypenny supporting him to a certain extent. I like these actors that we currently have quite a lot, and I do want to see more of each of them in the films. Yet I don't want the balance to go too far with those supporting characters taking up too much time in the field, so to speak, which is Bond's global arena. Some scenes, though, yes.
With Gareth Mallory, there is so much we can enjoy. Great back story, fine actor, all of those ingredients. Like a fine wine, though, I want this (the new M's role) to be sipped ... given out in small enough doses over the next few films. I want to enjoy watching him unfold more, be involved more, but all serving a good story.
Our own MI6 website has a nice article about the character and a brief bio of Fiennes. That can be found here: http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/allies/m4.php3
And I'll just quote part of it:
Profile
Gareth Mallory served his country in Northern Ireland's conflicts with the Republic, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the British Army. He saw action and was captured by the IRA for three months. Upon his escape he was decorated and retired, transitioned into politics. When 007 first met the stern ex-army man, Mallory was serving as the Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee. He was charged with overseeing M's "requirement planning", whilst the politicians got their claws into MI6 and attempted a restructure.
His no-nonsense nature meant that 007 and Eve were able to respect, if perhaps not warm to their superior and this was helped by the fact that Mallory is not afraid of critiquing and sometimes openly criticising the squabbling politicians and bureaucrats with whom he has to deal. He supports 007 on the "Skyfall" mission by turning a blind eye to Tanner and Q's off-the-radar deception when it comes to taking the incumbent head of MI6 to a secure, secret location for one final showdown with her pursuer, Silva.
Whilst Mallory was initially tasked with finding a replacement for the head of MI6, upon the sudden death of its chief, Mallory assumes the role. He even adopted the call-sign M, the same nom-de-plum as that of his predecessor, out of respect for her memory. By the end of the "Skyfall" affair, 007 has certainly warmed to the critical, somewhat old-fashioned but likeable Mallory.
Bond's equal? Bond's superior! M is in many ways Mycroft to Bond's Sherlock. He has qualities that lack in Bond: a certain sense of perspective, for instance.
Mallory is going to be desk bound dealing directly with the hassles of politicians with all the politics that involves and Mi6 so won't need to be actively in the field wielding a gun unless a terror threat comes looking for him in London. Not likely now as that's just been done!
Mallory already knows firsthand that this Bond is fallible even directly suggesting JB should've cast himself off from Mi6 and staying 'dead' at the start in Skyfall so may have reservations knowing just what his abilities and potential liabilities are.
I like Fiennes and his portrayal of Mallory M and I understand he wont look for too big a part in the action / narrative of future Bonds as he's been attributed as saying he would rather smaller cameo roles in films now?
Well, equal in a way. Sure, he's Bonds superior, but he's still just as badass as Bond...
I think it was good in the early ones but it quickly got staled. In YOLT he might as well not have been there, the way the office scene was shoehorned. It could have developed more. I want a M closer to the one of the novels, not only giving Bond mission orders but also completing him.
But,Fiennes is a big big actor and he will have other films to be working on, so i dont think he will want Mallory to be 'out in the field' etc .
I can see Mallory becoming a traditional M,popping up sometimes more than once in a film but no more than that.
Moneypenny is a bigger worry for me,as regards an 'action' role.
I hope you are joking.
Keith Mallory doesn't have the same ring to it..