It seems that TND is getting more and more recognized as a Bond film ahead of its time. It may be an example that EON could look back on for the future. In particular, it’s M subplot. She may be put down by her superiors, but she doesn’t take it out on Bond. EON has done M putting Bond down way too much in recent years. Then, she says he is the best. Bond then says he never left MI6. M should give Bond his assignment and be done. It might make the character more sympathetic. It seems that EON sees M as important of a character as Bond.
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Introducing a new Bond should be a celebration. I think a greatest hits type of film is what the world and fanbase needs and wants right now. Bond as pure entertainment. The whole point of the movie can be about screaming the character is back, and as you say, grow from there.
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Absolutely agreed.
And really, any attempt at emulating Craig would not only fail but make the whole enterprise look stale.
Moore went another way than his predecessor, so did Dalton, so did Brosnan, so did Craig.
The next guy should do that, too.
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Hi everyone
I don’t think this article has been shared regarding Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Thus far I am agnostic on who should play Bond but thought I would share this.
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I stand by it, if ATJ gets cast, Matthew Vaughn should get a commission.
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Something just occured to me: if ATJ winds up being the next Bond, this will be the largest age gap between two succesive actors to play Bond (at 22 years). Put differently, we’ve had Bonds born in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s; if ATJ succeeds Craig, we will then skip the 70s and 80s such that the newcomer will be a 90s baby.
Does this have any practical relevance whatsoever? Not really, but it does highlight a generational shift which could help distance the next era from Craig’s and, by extension, pave the way for a new generation of Bond fans.
And a relatively young actor could also allow for a sizable tenure in the role.
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But it is delightful that you saw the pattern, and have told us about it. You belong here.
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He will not be Bond.
He’s been “rumoured”
So of course he isn’t. It’s when people start betting high on an actor who hadn’t ever been thought of that it’s probably them.
Same with actors who play The Doctor, oddly enough.
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You may be right. But I’m not so definitive about that just because ATJ has been an ongoing story for a while. If he was a candidate does all this media suddenly make EON disinterested? I don’t think so. If they want someone they’ll go with them. Is it possible in this age of less privacy details of a screen test were legitimate and leaked? I’m also sceptical but you never know. Corenswet’s casting as Superman wasn’t really a surprise to me given his name flying around. In his response ATJ played it well regardless, neither confirming or denying.
I guess the difference is: the Superman casting was more or less leaked when it indeed was happening, with all the names in the press and Gunn even commenting.
This guy, however, was only rumoured when he had a new film to promote. And Debbie Williams explicitly stated that there was not even casting going on.
And judging from this actor’s comments he is not even interested in franchises (his f-word drops also come across as desperate Craig-wanna be, therefore stale).
Remember every story about Clive Owen suggested that he is the one? The infamous interview answer „I‘m gonna be very busy…“ was interpreted as a confirmation, when he only strategically avoided the question „Will you be Bond?“
It‘s much too early. EON will be definitely thinking about casting, maybe even talking to actors. But they have not chosen anyone. And ATJ‘s „I‘d rather watch my children to feed my soul“ is not the mindset you want for an actor who will be tied up in lengthy shoots for the next two decades.
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If you’re self aware enough to know you’re less Bond material and more villain material, I like the cut of your jib…
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I’ve seen this pushed a lot… Thomas Schiff and Polka-Dot Man were fun, but he always comes across as small in a group which is the polar opposite of Bond villains. You see those actors in anything else and they still tend to stand out as the most powerful in the room. Dastmalchian never does.
I don’t necessarily disagree but I think at the same time you also have to take into account different types of villains.
Could he play the larger-than-life Goldfinger, Largo, or Silva type? No. But a creepy, get-under-your-skin Dr. No, Dominic Greene or Safin* type? Why not.
*on a side note when I type “Safin” my phone autocorrects it to be “Saginaw.” My phone does not know me very well.
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That auto-correct made me laugh out loud.
On your Bond villain point, I get your point, but that kind of villain needs carefully done in both writing and acting. I only see it work if everyone is all in on making this villain work, which is opposed to what was done in the Craig era, and also Brosnan’s now I think about it, where the bad guys got less attention so they hired normally leads to fill in the gaps.
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I would have loved to see Brian Cox as a main villain.
Unfortunately…
Also impossible choices:
- Ralph Fiennes
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Robert Downey jr.
- Cilian Murphy
- Tom Hardy
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I’d argue only Fiennes is impossible because he shot down his M being a villain.
The right pitch (I know from both ends, the script you show the actor is not what you are going to make) and the right director could get any of them.
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Yes. I only thought that all of these are now associated so much with their own franchises/breakout roles they would not be a surprise anymore.
And I would love the casting offer surprises, actors who don’t bring any baggage to the villain role.
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For me, Monica Bellucci was a wasted opportunity
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Eon will choose Bond 7 with eyes on cracking this list…