I came to the conclusion today that, if I’m honest, there’s nobody I’m in love with to play the part. I’m just lukewarm on every name that comes up.
Although DC wasn’t even on my radar back in '05/'06 so who knows…
1 Like
Yeah. It’s going to be that way in the early days, especially if the chosen actor is relatively unknown. There’s a period of waiting to see how things pan out. But like Craig, enough time passes as you can’t imagine anyone else having the part in the here and now. They merge with the established iconography and general franchise machine.
2 Likes
I feel very similarly. Of the names thrown out so far, I can only muster some minor interest in Aaron Taylor-Johnson but not any real passion. I’m hoping they pull some name out of left field that is a virtual unknown. But I don’t really think that’s how this will go down in the end.
1 Like
One’s relationship to the next Bond is akin to an arranged marriage: a spouse is presented, the wedding/movie occurs, and you move forward, learning to live with the consequences as time passes.
6 Likes
I watched Bullet Train the other night, and though the person paying Tangerine had a great presence and could make a good Bond. Googled who it was and chuckled when I saw it was Aaron Taylor-Johnson, didn’t clock it at all when I started watching. So yep, guess I’m definitely all the way with ATJ for Bond 7 now!
2 Likes
Younger then, older now? Talk about right place, wrong time, right Cavill?
PS: on the article link, Campbell also says he’s open to reboot Bond for the third time…
2 Likes
Everyone who saw Cavill’s screen test says it was terrific, and I didn’t only hear from people who said it in the media. I hope that one day, we’ll get to see it as part of some kind of bonus material or Amazon documentary…
I’d be open for a one-off with him, as an intermission, to buy some time to develop a new concept. Could even be the key to it all: go away from the long-term Bonds, get a new one for each film or maybe every two films (or three?). Cavill does one, then the get actor XYZ and develop a two-movie story arc (entirely, before shooting starts, and not “on the fly as we go” like we’ve had it) for him (filmed back-to-back, released within 2-3 years), if successful, a third one might follow. Then another one-off with a new guy, maybe someone who’d be perfect for Bond at that time (we’re already ten years into the future now), but you’d never get him to sign for a series (say, Cary Grant), then another two or three story arc and so forth. “James Bond” is the star, not the actor who plays him. (And as I keep thinking about this now, I see that it’s just like we have it with the books right now).
There’d be room for experiments with the one-offs (period pieces, remakes, stunt casts, but NO! musicals) and different interpretations of the character (insert preferred type of gender, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, eating habits, backstory, height or hair colour – as long as he/she/it is British in some form).
You could look at a totally different range of actors, you could sign some of those which you’d never get on long-term conditions, those who’d be uncomfortable with the idea of devoting ten to fifteen years of their lives to “being James Bond”. Also, there’s always the chance that, if one of those one-offs is really great and successful (say, Knives Out), there might be a follow-up for one of those.
The way of the future?
4 Likes
Having a female Bond seems like a bigger departure than a non-British Bond.
1 Like
Love it!
But the mass audience may be irritated by that. Or Amazon. Or EON („you want us to go through this hell so often?“)
I like it in theory, but it’d be hard to push without looking like pandering to angry people on Twitter who already have too much of a voice
Christ, I’m just talking shop now…
1 Like
With Campbell still praising Cavill and Cavill freed up and willing, bringing a huge social media awareness and fandom, would EON dare to not consider him?
His screen test already persuaded them he could do it. In earlier times he would have probably be out because he would not be a surprise anymore. But these days, when everything is about social media numbers and awareness, Cavill could be more interesting for Amazon then any newcomer.
In other words, I don’t think EON could convince any studio these days to risk someone like Craig.
4 Likes
As I recall the studio rep (Amy Pascal) was the one who agreed with BB on Craig. Campbell and MGW wanted Cavill. I’ve got the slight impression that, like her father, BB says jump and people mostly reply “how high?”
2 Likes
She did have that power, and she might still have it.
But the marketplace has changed, so have the alliances, and someone as loyal to her as Pascal does not seem to be in sight.
But as political events today remind us: everything can change in an instant.
2 Likes
And her bosses boss will change any second so sure(ish) thing is a safer bet.
Personally, I like Cavill in the role, but I’d rather they go for someone surprising - even over my own choice of Jack Lowden.
1 Like
I went back and looked at “Some Kind of Hero” to see what it said about casting Casino Royale -
Actors tested were DC, Henry Cavill, Alex O’Loughlin, Julian McMahon, Karl Urban, Sam Worthington, Ewan McGregor, Goran Visnjic, Rupert Friend, and Antony Starr.
Henry Cavill “came right down to wire” but everybody thought he was too young.
MGW said “For everybody it was pretty clear Daniel was the front runner.”
They waited a number of months from the point they tested him to the point they offered it to him because they wanted to be able to give him the final screenplay to read first.
3 Likes
We can all say it had to be Craig now because of hindsight, but I’m really glad Craig got the role instead of Cavill. It’s the far more interesting choice and was the required shift after the Brosnan era.
I don’t see why they couldn’t. Given the massive success that Craig turned out to be, I would think that they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to casting until they prove that they no longer deserve that benefit of the doubt. And Amazon has enough cash on hand to take a chance on casting without it doing any damage to the company’s overall bottom line.
1 Like
It would be great if track record were a decisive factor.
But the way the business is now going, decisions are made on marketing viability and social media visibility.
I hate that, but this is reality now.
Imagine someone like Craig now being suggested to Amazon. They will say: how many followers does he have? What? Forget it.
The match between Craig and EON was made at the perfect time. Now, it would be an uphill battle with an even higher risk than after the huge grosses of DAD.
1 Like
I just don’t see Amazon being an obstacle to whoever Barbara Broccoli wants as Bond being cast in the role. They may have suggestions, but at the end of the day, Broccoli steered Bond into a more prestigious direction, with Bond becoming a legitimate awards contender and something that “serious” filmmakers were now willing to work on, while also guiding the franchise into the billion-dollar territory for the first time. And, had there not been a global pandemic, she would have hit that mark twice, as I don’t doubt that No Time to Die would have crossed that marker had it been released in a normal climate considering it made darn near $800 million in the face of, to be kind, less than ideal conditions. She’s earned the right to run the Bond franchise as she sees fit until she stumbles at the box office. She’s also produced films that are far above the level of anything that Amazon has released from their own line of originals, they would be wise to go in the direction she wants to go.
And Broccoli can also play hardball with them if she wants as well. She doesn’t have to make a Bond film for Amazon.
4 Likes
She probably will do what she wants because she holds the rights.
But judging from the way things are going in this business, track record does not mean a lot unless you’re James Cameron. Or Christopher Nolan.
And A-list directors have a hard time getting any gig, if they don’t want to helm a comic book adaptation.
Back in the day, the offer of a Bond film would have been laughed off. These days, it’s the only way to work.
And I am sure, banking on the Russo brothers because of their track record has already made Amazon rethink their position. An internal memo will have been crafted, stating „don’t trust anyone“.
6 Likes