Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; the official James Bond Thread
 

After doing a search and coming back with nearly nothing, I've decided to take it upon myself to open a decent James Bond thread.


Recent news:
-Pierce Brosnan is no longer going to be playing the worlds favorite british spy.

In early 2004, it was confirmed that Brosnan was not under contract for Bond 21. This led to dismay and surprise. Pierce then indicated in interviews that the situation had indeed become ‘opaque’, which led to all sorts of theories as to what was happening behind the scenes. Now, after months of mystery and intense media and fan speculation, Pierce has given his most detailed account so far of what was really going on.

Brosnan is reported to have said: “It’s over, it’s over, it’s absolutely over”. Far from voluntarily quitting, Brosnan revealed that he was effectively fired from the role. He confirmed that he had been willing, even eager, to take on Bond 21 and do a fifth and final stint as 007. He pointed out that the Bond producers, Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, had asked him to return as 007 after the success of ‘Die Another Day’, although no contracts had been signed: “They invited me back right before I went to present that film. They said: ‘We’re so happy with the success, we want you to come back!’ I went on the road a happy man, you know. I thought we’d get a fifth and no more. That would be it, really”.

And then, according to Brosnan, one day the phone rang and his agents told him “that the goal posts had moved and that they had changed their minds”.

Referring to Hollywood, the Irish-American star said: “It’s very hard to find the truth in that town or in this business at times. But it was their prerogative to change their minds. They can do it!”. He also reflected: “It was disappointing. It was surprising”, and added that he accepted it “after 24 hours of being in shock”.

In a frank admission, the star said he always knew the end was coming at some point, and claimed he harboured no bitterness. However, fans of Brosnan’s interpretation of Bond are bound to be angry over how he was treated. Moreover, it is still mystifying why, after the last Bond movie was such a box-office success around the globe, the producers decided that it was time to revoke Brosnan’s tenure as 007. It is also doubly disappointing that Pierce is being denied the opportunity to ‘round off’ his Bond career with a strong and meaty character-driven performance, as there is every indication that the Bond 21 script will get back to basics after the effects-driven nature of ‘Die Another Day’.


- The next Bond moive is set to come out in 2006. MGM has delayed the planned Nov. 2005 release of the next Bond movie in the wake of its takeover by Sony, Reuters reports.

The Reuters article (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackage...4&section=news)quotes an MGM spokesperson as saying that the delay was made because the company has not found a director. In fact, the only thing they do have is a script.

MGM's spokesperson said that the company has not decided whether to aim for a summer 2006 release or wait until Nov. 2006.


-Who in God's name will be the next Bond? Actors such as Eric Bana, Guy Pierce, Sean Bean, Scott Dougray, Ioan Gruffudd, Hugh Jackman, and Clive Owen have been named by various tabloids and newpapers worldwide. As much as we will all miss Pierce in his Bond role, we are now in that awkward transition time again. It's time to start looking outward for the next agent 007 on her Majesty's Secret Service.

Rules: This thread is intended to be enjoyed by all Bond fans alike. All forum rules apply. Thanks for participating.

I thought the last movie, Die Another Day, was the best of Pierce Brosnan's era. They hit on somethere there that they could have made even better with the next one. It's sad to hear that he probably won't be back. I am not sure about who to replace him with. I just gotta say that Eric Bana and Hugh Jackman are big NO's in my book. It's not their acting ability, it's their accent. I elect Guy Pierce.

I kinda thought it was funny that you decide no to two Aussies, then nominate a third Aussie for the role.

I think that the newer bond films don't have the oomph of the old. In the older movies he always had gadgets that were "futuristic" but slightly believable - I just don't think his gadgets have been like that anymore - either they are probably doable now, or they are complete fantasy (like the invisible car). I think the francise is just about due for retirement. Quite frankly, I think the success at the box office may in part be due to there being a complete lack of decent films coming out of hollywood.

If they do decide to keep going, perhaps they could choose someone British/English for the role :) - Ewan McGregor perhaps...?

yeah, of the three Aussies in Halx's list i'd have to say Guy is probably the most appropriate. Bana just doesn't seem refined enough, and Jackman is too fake. like Bana, Sean Bean just seems too rough... while on the other side of the coin, Ioan Grufford is just too pretty. i'm all for the next Bond being Christian Bale (unlikely since he's now Batman) or Clive Owen...

but, even though i find Brosnan repulsive in real life, i've enjoyed him as Bond (esp in Tomorrow Never Dies)... and i'd like to see him in a few more.

I never thought of Guy Pierce, he would be very good although :-
Quote ataken from this article http://news.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=1079082004

it goes on to say

I agree that in the aussie catagory, Guy takes it hands down. Sean Bean was already a villan (see Janus, Goldeneye), Bana has neither the experience, nor the swagger, and Jackman is a poor actor, IMO. I remember seeing Brosnan in an interview naming Clive Owen as his choice, and I am starting to agree. The BMW films (www.bmwfilms.com), and I'll Sleep Whn I'm Dead are fantastic movies, and show that he has the ability to play the role in action, swagger, and finesse. Dougray Scott might be good to, though.

Ion Grufford was mentioned in the british tabloid 'Guardian' as the Bond in 2020, as he is too young by far right now. He was mentioned by Timothy Dalton as his choice for Bond.

Ewan McGregor was seemingly gunning for the role when he accpeted the role of Catcher Block in that terrible 'Down With Love' movie. His work in 'Trainspotting', 'Star Wars', 'Black Hawk Down', and 'Big Fish' have established his acting talent. McGregor said that he would be interested in taking over the role of James Bond from Pierce Brosnan in Bond 21. "I think about this the same way I thought about the rumors that I might do 'Star Wars.' I always said with that one, too, that I'd have to wait and see if they really wanted me and how I felt about it at the time. What would worry me about Bond is that it does seem to require an enormous commitment in the same way that 'Star Wars' doesn't because those movies were so far apart, whereas Bond seems to be closer together. ... I also notice Pierce Brosnan spending a lot of the year promoting Bond films. So, I would worry about that because I'd have less time to do other films."

Remember that this role is always subject to change. We may hear a Bond named officially, and see it change a week later. Sean Connery wasn't supposed to be the first James Bond. Roger Moore was Ian Fleming's original choice to play James Bond. Boy, they sure dodged the bullet there! I was never a fan of Moore's later Bonds, as they almost killed the series.

I just wanna get off subject for a second and say Down With Love was a great movie.

I think the issue with the gadgets can be worked around. Back in the day, movies with far-out ideas were accepted, but I think audiences have become more sophisticated and thus find far-out concepts in 'modern life' scenarios to be corny. Would it pain the writers to create a character-based story?

Look at what that did for Spider-Man.

I thought I heard or read somewhere that the dark haired guy from Nip|Tuck was slotted to play bond next time around.

Julian McMahon -

The James Bond Rumors: Julian McMahon was discussed as a front-runner candidate for the role of James Bond. While on the set of The Fantastic Four, he would neither confirm nor deny that rumor, which usually means something’s happening. “Unfortunately, it’s something I really can’t talk about,” McMahon said. “We’ll see what happens in regards to that but they’ve obviously got an extraordinary franchise which I’d be honored to be involved in at any point in time. We’ll see what happens.”

source - http://actionadventure.about.com/od/...mahonffpro.htm

I thought Goldeneye was easily and by far the best James Bond that Pierce did. I consider it one of the best out of them all, actually. Little-to-none computer graphics made this one come out on top. I mean seriously.....who doesn't get chill bumps when 007 comes busting through the wall in the tank, chasing after Natalia in the Mini? I just think Die Another Day went WAY too over the top with the graphics. It made it seem too, well, not-James-Bondish. I did enjoy aspects of the movie though.

In order of favorites: Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Die Another Day, The World Is Not Enough


Goldeneye holds a spot as one of my favorite movies of all time. Character oriented:

Famke Janssen as Xenia - holy shit. What a character.

And one of my favorite characters of all time from any movie, Trevelyan (Sean Bean).

I am invincible! Alan Cummings as Boris

And, of course, Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. I love it.

It just seems to me that they took the Bond series way more seriously in Goldeneye than with the rest. It reminded me of the Sean Connery movies. Maybe it's just me.

Julian McMahon is an interesting choice. His first real film role will be f4, and it's the film is said to be a big risk. Most people know him from his roles on Charmed, and the critically acclaimed (i've always wanted to say that) Nip/Tuck. I've watched Nip/Tuck from the beginning, and I am a big fan of the show's writing, directing, and acting. I think that someone like Julian McMahon would need to establish himself in a Bond like role before he could win my vote for Bond, though. Look at Pierce, Moore, Lazenby, and Dalton. All of thse actors played Bond like roles before getting their licence to kill. Brosnan had Rmington Steele, The Heist, Death Train, and Night Watch. Moore had The Saint. Lazenby had Espionage in Tangier. Dalton had Permission to Kill. Seems tha anyone gunning for the role has about a year to get into a spy role. I'm going to try!

- John Cleese (Q #2) has risen worry about the return of one of the most beloved characters in the Bond series; Q.
Q, or quartermaster, has been the master of gadgets, and great back and fourth with James Bond ever since 'From Rissua with Love'. Recently John Cleese, who assisted Desmond Llewelyn’s ‘Q’ in ‘The World Is Not Enough’, and then played ‘Q’ himself in ‘Die Another Day’ was interviewed at the 2004 Irish Film and Telivision Awards.

When asked about his role as ‘Q’ in the next James Bond film, while he did not rule out his own return, Cleese also made comments which have set alarm bells ringing in some people’s ears: “I’m told that if there is a Q, I will be Q. But I think if they were to cast someone much younger as Bond, I’m not sure they’d want an old Q. I don’t believe there’s a Q in the current version of the script”.

What? Is there a possibility in all of the scrambling for a new Bond, we might lose Q?! I would be more then perterbed by such a decision. Vote Bond/Cleese 2006!

Well that is plain silliness! Of course Q should be older. That is the image of Q: The older genius mechanical engineer/tinkerer. If Q were to turn up as a young guy it not work. Desmond Llewelyn was much older that Sean Connery (and the others) and always looked like a cranky engineer (i.e., an engineer with 3-in-1 oil in his coffee).

i would have to agree with goldeneye being the best of the brosnan era bonds, and i dare say a large part of the credit is due to the fact that it was the last bond script based on an actual fleming book. the last three have been commercialized simplified fuster clucks in my opinion, though the opening to die another day was pretty cool (im sorry but the whole surfing bit later in the movie... ugh).

http://entertainment.msn.com/movies/...px?news=172029

I think Colin Farrell would make a great Bond. Ladies love him, guys want to be him. Only deduction is that Colin is on the short side. I think he's listed as 5'10, but I'd doubt he is much over 5'8.

Thanks, averett. Colin Farrell has been added to the list (made by newspapers and media everywhere) of possible Bonds. Farrill, soon to be seen in Alaxander (Oliver Stone, here we go again), wan mentioned only by Pierce. Pierce has also voted for Clive Owen back in 2003. I'm really going to miss Pierce's Bond.

i read the farrel thing... eh.. i guess, but i'd prefer Owen

Well according to EW.com both Colin Ferrell and Julian McMahon have turned down the role.
Thus, my vote for the next Bond goes to: (drumrole) an unknown!!! How perfect was Sean as Bond? He was an unknown at the time. I say it's time to get back to basics. We need a fresh face that the audience doesn't already know. We need a true James Bond. I would like to officially throw my hat in the ring.

"I thought I saw Bond 22 last night, but it was just a cat. Needless to say I was dissapointed."

i am glad farrell won\\\'t be the next bond even though brosnan endorsed him. colin farrell would be a No in my book for the bond role. he just does not have the polished and suave quality i envision in 007. i will miss brosnan.

Yeah, while the ladies love Farrell, they love him because he's a badass, not because he's suave. Bond has to be suave, not a scruffy nerf-herder. Anyways, Clive Owen is a good choice, but I also rate Hugh Jackman pretty highly as well. I don't know why, just personal preference, they both have the attitude to be Bond. I donno, will the Brits accept an Australian Bond??? Who knows. Julian McMahon, eh, I don't watch nip/tuck, so I have no clue how well he'd do. I think Guy Pierce is too skinny to be Bond. James Bond has to be sort of a broad shouldered type, while Pierce is toned, he doesn't have that image I believe. So for me personally for what I have seen, Clive Owen or Hugh Jackman, and I give Hugh a slight edge.

Hugh has on several occasions said he would jump at the chance to play the ultimate british gentelman spy. Of course, no one has actually approached him for it. While there are no *official* approaches for Bond #6, you know several people are on the top of the list.

I would like to see a brit, *preferabally a scott*, being plucked from obscurity.

I've just read in the newspaper that Dewi Rhys Williams has been auditioning for the part. Don't know who he is? Me neither, but apparently he plays a policeman in a Welsh soap called Pobol Y Cwm.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/pobolycwm...tthews_200.jpg
I'm not sure he'd be right for the part, but i've only seen pictures. Although Ioan Gruffudd started out in Pobol Y Cwm, and he's playing Reed Richards in the new Fantastic Four movie, so who knows.
Personally, I think Clive Owen is best for Bond.

McGregor seems to be the firm favorite now, certainly according to the UK press.
Both Connery & Moore have said they think he would be best.

Odds from the BBC website :-
Ewan McGregor 9/4
Dougray Scott 9/2
Clive Owen 6/1
Colin Farrell, Hugh Jackman 7/1
Ioan Gruffudd 8/1
Eric Bana 9/1
Jude Law, Orlando Bloom, Chris Feeney 10/1
Rupert Everett, Hugh Grant 20/1
Russell Crowe 25/1
Eminem, Robbie Williams 100/1


Anyone know when a decision has to be made by?
When does shooting start for the next film?

man i hope Ewan McGregor doesn't get this gig. i haven't been able to stomach anything he's done since Trainspotting. he can't seem to hide his planet-sized ego behind any of his roles.

interesting point: i've just learned that although Guy Pearce is an Aussie citizen, and has lived here all of his life, he was actually born in Britain... so Halx's distinction between Pearce and Bana/Jackman is right, in a sense.

Arch, you mean, 'will the Brits tolerate another Aussie Bond' don't you?
George Lazenby is an Aussie (or was, i think he may be an American these days)... but he was pretty damn crap, so the Brits might not count that as a plus.

Another theory surrounding this big entertainment question is the fact that there has already been a Bond from Britain (Moore), Scotland (Connery), Wales (Dalton), Ireland (Brosnan), and even Australia (Lazenby)... what about another former colony, like Canada, South Africa or Singapore...?
of course, thats not a serious theory... but can Bryan Adams act? j/k

as for Julian McMahon... god help us... i know its nothing that he can help, but i just can't separate him from his father (Billy McMahon, one of Australias most pathetic Prime Ministers, possibly comparable to US presidents Coolidge and Fillmore)... maybe thats why he can't get a gig here and has to sell his questionable talents overseas.

i'm still backing Clive Owen (even though i have reservations since he was killed by an American, Jason Bourne, in the Bourne Identity).

no no no, no mcgregor please. he might be able to pull off being suave, but he\'s way too \"soft\" to be 007. more fitting for a sentimental, sensitive role like christian in moulin rouge, he just doesnt appear to be sexual and man enough IMHO to be bond. james bond.

bundy, I thought he was South African, (Lazenby I mean).

George Lazenby was born 5 September 1939 in Queanbeyan City, New South Wales, Australia. I pity that poor man. He is still considered the bane of the Bond series, despite the fact that it was actually the writers fault that he was married and his wife was killed, not the actors. Recently he is doing voiceovers for japanese anime cartoon Yû yû hakusho and Batman Beyond: the Movie. It brings a tear to my eye.

*REMEMBER* Pick up your copy of Goldeneye: Rogue Agent
Currently available: USA, Canada
Available soon:
------------------UK: November 36 - PS2, Xbox
-----------------------December 3 - GameCube
------------------France: December 2
------------------Germany: December 3

i just read this from imdb.com\'s movie/tv news:

\"Gruffudd Leads Bond Race

Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd is leading the way to play the next James Bond - ahead of Ewan McGregor and Hugh Jackman. The King Arthur star is said to possess \"all the credentials\" to take over from Pierce Brosnan as the next 007 in the secret spy films. A source says, \"Ioan is the only actor being considered as the next Bond at the moment. He has all the credentials to play Bond and, unlike most of the other candidates mentioned, he\'s relatively unknown. The producers know Ioan is going to be a big star with or without Bond. It\'s just a matter of whether he wants to take on such a huge role and the early indications are that he does.\" \"

he\'s the highest in my books for the bond role. he seems a good match to brosnan.

Don't forget P.Diddy, he threw his name into the running *lol*, I highly doubt he will ever make it in a 007 film...not even as an extra.
I think Jude Law, Colin Farrell have the best chance. I dont like Russell crowe for the role. He seems to agressive...Bond has always appeared to be a gentleman who you couldnt immediately look at and know he can kick ur arse. Crowe is too macho

Dydy mo a da. Allai bod naill ai cholla hychydig bunnau ;-)

Ioan Gruffudd would be fine if he'd muscle up slightly.

Well Jude and Colin both said "Thanks, but no thanks."

Moving away from role speculation just for a moment, the rumors about the possible storyline are beginning to focus. It seems that Ian Flemming's first book, "Casino Royale", might be the basis for the next installment of the great gentelman spy's movies. In this book, Bond was less charming gentlman and more ruthless assassin. It will be itnersting to see if they play close to the book, or if they try to introduce the modern Bond to the original storyline somehow. I know I would miss the smooth charming side of Bond, as many movies already have single minded assassins and they seem dry and simple as characters. Bond is a gentelman, a brit, a spy, a ladies man, he has a quick whit and he has the Bond swagger. Losing all of that would cripple Bond, IMO. :|

After Kill Bill Vol.2 came out, Quentin Tarantino expressed intrest in doing "Casino Royale". A Tarantino Bond would be too much to hope for; but "Casino Royale" makes sense for the next film as it is Ian Fleming source material, and it hasn't been given a serious silver screen treatment.

Pierce wasn't the best bond but he certianly wasn't the worst. I kinda hope they will pick someone that's lesser known but still a good actor. If Quentin Tarantino were to direct it it would be awesome. He'd probably put a whole new spin on the franchise that they could go with. We'll see.

December in the UK also saw fairly extensive speculation over what Sean Connery might write in his new memoirs, which are due to hit the bookstores in the autumn of 2006. This coverage was largely based upon an interview that Sir Sean gave to the UK’s ‘Hello’ magazine (no.848, 4 January), which hit British newspaper stands in late December.

It is reported that the memoirs will net the Scottish actor upwards of £1 million and will be a warts-and-all account of his tough upbringing and various aspects of his long movie career. On the challenge of writing, especially as he has never kept diaries, he commented: “It’s rather scary, but utterly exhilarating and I’m looking forward to it”.

But he also emphasised: “I know everyone’s expecting me to list all the women in my life and make torrid revelations about them. But I never will. I’ll take those secrets to the grave”. However, as a couple of newspaper reports commented, the first EON 007 star will undoubtedly have some interesting and perhaps hard-hitting things to say about his James Bond career. Connery revealed that his personal motto is: “To treat people as I would like to be treated myself”.

From www.MI6.co.uk.

A lot of people are naming Clive Owen as being in the lead. His official odds from bookmakers went from 8-1 to 4-1. My money is on him or an unknown. Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom are too young. Guy Pierce (The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert), Hugh Jackman (The Boy from Oz, Van Helsing), and Gerard Butler (Phantom of the Opera) are too nancy for the role. Eric Banna is inexperienced (and it's arguable whether he can act or not). Ewan McGregor and Dougray Scott can't be suave (at least I don't think they can). Jude Law can't do action (see Sky Captian). All the other people have simply said "Thanks, but no thanks".

Well, this is the first good news in Bond in quite some time. Despite the fact that Brosnan was asked to retire, we can still expect several more Bond movies at the least. I, for one, am relieved that the merger does not seem to be interfering with the production of on of the most popular movie series of all time. Shooting will probably begin in mid to late of this year. I'll be sure to get on at least one of the sets for an insider look between now and when the movie is released. Stay tuned for more details.

Yearg!! This is the best Bond news that's come out in over a year!!!! No one cares?

Kind of brave to name it 'Casino Royale' which was a name of a movie in the 60's the spoofed Bond in a very indignant way.

I would think its great news, once I know who gets to play Bond. Are there in any names floating around? any ideas?

Yearg!!! Just found the thread :lol:

I'm glad that Bond is safe for a while longer. I've always liked Brosnan, but I think he came into the Bond game a bit too late. It's a shame he was stuck with mediocre writing, bad directing and came on right after the Timothy Dalton fiasco/crap.

I think the only responsible choice is Clive Owen. He's on the cusp, in my opinion at least, of being too big to be James Bond. He's not all that well known aside from that horrible, horrible King Arthur movie to the vast majority of the public. I think Bond needs some fresh young blood and unless they can find some terrific unknown actor, Owen is the best choice.

As an aside....

It would be a shame if they took Q away. I'm extremely happy Colin Farrell turned it down. I just can't seem to stomach this guy in any movie. (Phonebooth, The Recruit, Alexander *shudders) Anyway Farrell as Bond would have been painful to watch as I am an avid Bond fan.

AND Martin Campbell (dir. Goldeneye) is going to be directing!!! I really loved Goldeneye, and that movie helped to save the Bond franchise from the Dlaton effect. Will this movie be able to do the same? We'll see.

I agree that Goldeneye was Brosnan's best work as Bond. It hink it had the swagger of the Bond mentality. It had the charm, action and it actually had a plot that we were all eager to follow.

Personally, i have always thought a great (maybe the best) Bond movie idea would be to take the actor leaving (in this case Brosnan) and show him as 007 training the next "James Bond" then as the "kid" is about to take over the original gets killed off by SPECTRE and goes from there or the original feeling betrayed turns into a SPECTRE agent and the new Bond has to kill him.

I know it sounds corny, but, no more so than what Star Trek did in "Generations".

Just think if they had had Connery or Moore training Brosnan to be Bond and then killed off Connery/Moore or worse yet turned them into SPECTRE agents. The script would have to be really good but I think it could be doable and make one hell of a Bond movie.

Course They have been predicting the end to Bond movies since Connery left and the pitiful movies of Tim Dalton, Bond always seems to come back better and stronger.

Dude, Casino Royale was the original Bond movie to be released. (Although
I think it was shown on TV, rather than the theaters.) It was also a
James Bond book, I believe written by Ian Fleming.

It was written by Ian Fleming and the original movie was a very funny (if odd Brit humor is what you like) parody. It was very close to the book, with only comedy added.

It was David Niven as Bond, Woody Allen as his son, and had a pretty good cast.

It'll be interesting to see what they do with this movie.

Technically ,yes. Casino Royale was the first James Bond book. It was also adapted as a CBS made for TV movie (making it the first James Bond movie, yes).

But, the Casino Royale that most people are aware of is the 1967 comedy with Davin Niven and Peter Sellers. That movie did not follow the book at all. The movie studio had the rights to the title and the character name "James Bond". That is the only simularity between the (1967) movie and the book. The first official theatrical movie is still Dr No (1962).

Using Casino Royale as a basis for the new Bond movie is a bit daring, considering most Bond purists despise the '67 movie. I love it, but I'm a fan of really cheesy movies and only a casual Bond fan.

The idea of telling Bond's first adventure goes back to 1985/6 when MG Wilson suggested the idea. According to THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS dvd, Wilson had tentative plans to have Dalton or Brosnan's first film depict Bond's very first mission but Broccoli vetoed that idea. This is official, as Martin Campbell has announced it and it was backed by MGM and Eon Productions.

We will see Bond on his first adventure. We will see a younger Bond who is still a bit green. This will give the Bond team a great opporunity to have some real character development, as opposed to having a movie heavy in fluff, effects, and generic formula. This is the first real opportunity in over 12 years to fix some of the things Dalton and Moore messed up.

PM me if you want to know the final three contenders for the part of James Bond, as I now know for sure their identities.

GUESS WHAT?! I KNOW WHO THE NEXT JAMES BOND IS!!!!!! James Bond fans rejoice, for we have Bond #6. Ladies and gentelmen, I give you the Clive Owen interview at the premier of Sin City.
Interviewer: "Yes to Bond or no to Bond?"
Owen: nodding his head"I'm pretty busy for a while." nodding more and smiling, after a glance from his publicist
Other interviewer: "Is ther any truth to the James Bond rumors, then?"
Owen: nodding and grinning like he's about to explode"I'm pretty busy for a while."

It's worse than that. Brosnan had been signed to be the successor to Moore in the role, but the producers of his tv show, Remington Steele took adavantage of the publicity to renew his contract (the series had been cancelled) and made a small number of bad, low rated tv movies with the character.

Meanwhile Dalton was cast as Brosnan's replacement, and basicallly stepped into production of The Living Daylights at the last second. It hadn't been written with his style--darker, harder-edged--in mind, so it was a bit off for some people. His second movie was much better, written to take advantage of his portrayal, which is easily the closest to the book Bond, and the least dependant upon gadgets of any of the later Bonds.

Kevin McClory had been suing EON in an increasingly irrational claim to ownership of the Bond character, and production had to be shut down for four years while things were worked out in court. Wilson and Broccoli stood by Dalton, but he decided his time had passed, and when the courts had finally dealt with McClory, EON resigned Brosnan, this time free and clear.

Had it not been for the Remington Steele producers, we could have had at least two earlier Brosnan Bonds, and had it not been for McClory, we'd have had at least two more Dalton Bonds in the mid 90's, and possibly more.

I, for one, would love to have seen two more Dalton Bond's, to see what would have been done with scritps deliberately tailored to his style and his finally having grown into the role. Two just wasn't enough.

Now, of course the real question here is who will be the new Bond babes? It goes without question that the hottest Bond babe of all time is Daniela Bianchi (FRWL, the best Bond of all time), and it would be fruitless to try to top her.

On Lazenby: On Her Majesty's Secret Service is one of the best Bond movies, but Lazenby was a dud. The script was clever, a good adaptation of the book, and some of the best use of Bond surviving on wits, guts, and intelligence rather than pulling a gadget out of his pocket. It works despite Lazenby's wooden performance.

Clive Owen is James Bond in Casion Royal, due November 17th 2006.

I thought they were trying for a younger, greener James Bond in Casino Royale?
Clive Owen looks old enough to nicely walk in to the Bond role as we know and love him, right now.
Does this mean he won't continue to play him, afterwards?

I know you don't know, I'm just putting it out there for consideration. ;)

In Ian Flamming's Casino Royal, Bond is out on his first mission as a 00. He was in British intelligence from his mid 20s to early 30s. In his mid 30s, he was serving in a world war in the Royal Navy. Bond joined MI6 at maybe 34-35, and became a 00 at 37. Claive owen, at 40, can probably play a 37 year old pretty well. According to rumors, Owen is signed for 3 pictures.

In the novel Casino Royale Bond is 32 (explicitly stated in the book). It's frequently been remarked as an interesting coincidence that Connery was the same age when he first played Bond.

However, we're talking about the movie Bond, who has been frozen in his mid-forties or so since they abandoned continuity and Roger Moore took over the role in the mid-70's. He's like a comic book character or pulp detective; he stays the same age over a period of decades.

I hope you can show me in the book (chapter, paragraph, sentence) where it says Bond is 32 (as a favor, I would never demand such a thing). According to everything I know of Bond, he was in the war at 32. Thanks for your interest.

Ok, I've looked, and it appears to have been a phantom memory. I must have been confusing Connery's age with Bond's. According to this, Bond is stated as 37 in Moonraker, and his birthdate is established as being 1924 in You Only Live Twice which would make him six years younger than indicated in Moonraker. Backdating to Casino Royale would make him either 29 or 35, depending upon which reference you believe.

This chronology has Bond being born in 1920 and Casion Royale occurring in 1951 (backdated from Goldfinger) which would make Bond 1931.

I think at best, we can never be sure of Bond's age, except that he must be somewhere in his 30's or early 40's for all of his adventures (he can't be 45 or older).

In the movies, however, it's a different Bond. He's roughly in his late 30's/early 40's and his age is frozen in that nebulous area. I agree that Clive Owen is a good age for Bond, but I could have accepted Brosnan also. He can play a few years younger than his 51, and I'd have no problem with a 45 year old Bond. He's probably good for three or four, like Brosnan, and I seriously doubt we'll ever see an actor go seven like Connery and Moore did.

From Fark:

Daniel Craig 'the next James Bond'

http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwor...name_page.html

Granted this is from a source I've never heard of using the Sun as a source.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2...53055,,00.html

He doesn't look like a Bond to me, but it is a week late for April fools. Is there a produced named Barbarra Brocolli?


Also, from a day or two ago;

http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlf...ck%20as%20bond

Saying that Brosan isn't 100% out.

Shrug.

I hope this is just a rumor or a really bad dream....

Fark to the rescue...

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.new...ess=1&id=73378

I really, really hope that Owen is the next Bond. I don't really like him all that much (especially after that horrible, horrible movie about King Arthur), but he's really the lesser of all the other evils. I can't think of any other actor whose name has been attached that could do it other than Owen.

*phew* Thanks guthmund (I no longer visit Fark) I could kiss you right now for bringing me that news.

The final decision of James Bond #6 are scheduled to occour this week.
From this MI6 article.

Bring beer and tacos. I likes to be wined and dined first. :lol:

Apologies for the tardiness. Daniel Craig is James Bond #6. The announcment came on Friday, October 14, from producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Born in 1968, DANIEL CRAIG was raised on the Wirral nr. Liverpool. He moved to London to join the National Youth Theatre at the age 17 and continued his training at the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. CRAIG has since become regarded as one of Britain's finest actors securing a variety of roles in television, theatre and film.

He is currently filming a thriller alongside Nicole Kidman, "The Visiting", and has two films in post-production; Steven Spielberg's "Munich" and Douglas McGrath's "Every Word Is True", co-starring Sandra Bullock and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Recent film credits include Sam Mendes' "The Road to Perdition", "The Mother", "Sylvia", and last year he received much critical acclaim for Matthew Vaughn's "Layer Cake" as well as Roger Michell's "Enduring Love".

Currently, the script is being polished by Academy Award®-nominated writer, Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby).

I'm a fan of Daniel Craig and I think he's a really good choice and I'm looking forward to seeing him take on Bond. But no one else I've spoken to does!
My friend Matt said it's because he doesn't look like the underdog. He looks like he would win a scrap, whereas all the other Bond's looked they should probably lose the fight.....

I'm totally stoaked about Daniel Craig as the new Bond. Layer Cake showed that he has the magnatism to pull a sstory like Casino Royale to me. I suggest to watch Layer Cake if you haven't, it's quite good. Check out highlights from the official announcement (9.80MB, Windows Media).

I'm starting to think that most people don't really care anymore. Hopefully Martin Campbell and Daniel Craig can fix that. If I get over to Prague in time for shooting, I'll try to send back pics of the sets or maybe even the stars.

I don't give a crap about James Bond anymore in the same manner that I don't give a crap about Saturday Night Live. I used to love both franchises...

They are franchises that are past their prime, hackneyed and played out.

Have you ever seen a franchise that was brought back from the dead? What about Batman Begins? Damn good, IMHO. Do you think it's possible that, because they are abandoning the sci-fi, cliche-filled, hollywood crap version of Bond, it might be worth seeing? This Bond is going to be more to the tune of From Russia with Love (real spy story, in the clasic style of Ian Flemming, good acting/direvcting/etc., not reliant on gadgets and hollywood cliches), not Die Another Day (a plane on fire for a half an hour and an invisible Aston).

Yes, I did see Batman Begins, I thought it was just above marginal at best, especially when it's asking $10.50 of my hard earned dollars.

Again, rehashing the same brand that's been beaten to a pulp. (Personally I liked the Tim Burton as that captured the Dark Knight in it's darkest moments for me)

I did love the older parts of the Bond series, and if they can renergize it I guess that's great, but with other franchises that are now taking the torch from Alias to XXX the Bond series doesn't have much to distinguish itself anylonger in the playfield.

Bond is nothing like xXx. Let's not be mean.

Perhaps a better example is in order. Did you see the oroginal adaptation of the Bourne Identity? In 1988 a mimiseries based on the Ludlum classic starring Richard Chamberlin aired. Despite what IMDB writers will tell you (yes, sometimes they're wrong), it was of poor quality. I remember watching it with my dad after having the book read to me as a child. It was extremly dissapointing. Fast forward to 2002, and we see Matt Damon actually do the character justice. I mean any fan of the Bourne series knows that the movie adaptations take creative license with the storyline, but for once the creative direction is really good. It goes along with the style of Ludlum in Identity, Supremacy, and Ultimadum quite well. It was really popular and didn't have to rely on old spy cliches and stupid, unbelievable stunts. This is why I think the new Bond will have a different audience than Die Another Day.

Recent News Update...
http://www.mi6.co.uk/news/index.php?itemid=3267

This gives me a reason to go see The Divinci Code. I hope they are able to put together a convincing teaser, so as to prove to peple that this movie is truely and entirely different than Die Anoter Day.

Casting...
Confirmed-
James Bond: Daniel Craig
M:Judi Dench
Unconfirmed-
Vesper Lynd: Rose Byrne
Demetrius: Simon Abkarian
Solonge, Demetrius's girlfriend: Caterina Murino
Henchman: Seydina Baldi
Le Chifffre: Unknown, the character is rumored to have been changed or removed.

Well, it's time!!! Shooting has begun and we've gotten our first papparazi pics. Warning: these pics could contain spoilers Spoiler: becuase they show Daniel Criag with a fake wound on his tempel, from a fight scene they are filming this week.
Picture 1
Picture 2

Daniel Craig is going to be a great Bond...

He's just so hunky.

Casting...
Now Confirmed-
James Bond: Daniel Craig
M: Judi Dench
Vesper Lynd: Eva Green
Felix Leiter: Jeffry Wright
Demetrius: Simon Abkarian
Solonge, Demetrius's girlfriend: Caterina Murino
Villiers: Tobias Menzies
Valenka: Ivana Millicevic
Kratt: Clemens Schik
Mendel: Ludger Pistor
Carlos: Claudio Santamaria
Le Chifffre: Mads Mikkelsen

I think Eva Green will do a good job, and be a bit different than the standard Bond girl. She's very beautiful, but not quite in the swimsuit-model way that so many of them are. I think it'll work out well.

Can't wait to see what they do with this...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/u...wm_4791276.stm

First ever video of Casino Royale.

Really?!?

I think he's going to be pretty good, but the majority of the opinions I get all seem to center around the fact that he's an incredibly unattractive guy.

He's too short.
He's too ugly.
Look at that face..
et cetera, et cetera.

I thought he was fantastic in Layer Cake and I think he'll make a pretty good Bond as long as the is a fairly good story there to work with. He's 'gritty' and I think James Bond is overdue for some 'grit.' :)

btw: thanks for the vid, willravel

According to my wife, a connoisseur of good looking guys, Daniel Craig is gorgeous.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...d%20That/3.jpg
Now I can't really say if he's gorgeous, but I can see that he's ripped and he has no acne. Besides that, he can act.
No problemo. I've been struggling to keep this thread updated. Layer Cake has been one of my favorite movies for years, and it really does speak in volumes for Daniel Craig's skill as an actor. Pierce Brosnan was a victim of bad writing. I've already read the script for CR. It's magnificant. Die Another Day was a fun movie, but it lacked in the serious nature that Bond was given by Ian Fleming in the best selling novels. That is the Bond of CR. This movie is more in line with Bourne than xXx, which makes me happy. I also think that Craig can beat Matt Damon in a fight, so I'm happy.


Edit: Daniel Craig stole Sienna Miller from Jude Law, that's gotta count for something.

I think I like your wife. I think she and I would get along just fine. :D

Did some searching, and I think this is the best of the recent video interviews to come from the CR set in the Bahamas:
BBC Interviews

503 days since you opened this thread willtravel, good job keeping the interest alive.

I for one am thinking CR is shaping up to be a pretty decent looking flick. Daniel Craig was a good pick, the director is proven, and I like how it the movie seems to be going back to its roots.

They better bring back Q though...

:thumbsup:
Q will be making his comeback in Bond 22, althought John Cleese may not be playing the part. We'll have to wait and see. The riffing back and fourth between Q and Bond will be greatly reduced.

http://www.mi6.co.uk/news/index.php?itemid=3560

This is amazing. I know it isn't DIRECTLY connected to James Bond, but comon, Sir Sean Connery is James Bond. It's been quite a while since Sir Sean reportedly retired from showbiz, and many fans - including yours truely - had all but given up hope. I'm glad we might be able to see Sean Connery grace the silver screen again.

I adored Layer Cake, and i think that Daniel Craig is the best choice - he's going to bring an element of darkness to the film, but he won't lose any of that sophistication.

I'm biased though, i get all wet over dark films :P But yeah, this will be the first bond film i will see in the cinemas since Tomorrow Never Dies.

Casino Royale International Trailer (France)
I'll translate from French to English and several other languages in a bit.
Available for DL here



Enjoy. ...

Edit: BTW, MASSIVE SPOILER

The above trailer is NOT the official trailer for the film, but it is a prelim trailer rumored to be created by Bond producers that was intentionally leaked to French and Danish TV to test the market. The official trailer is still going to be released with The DaVinci Code (the only reason I'm going to see The DiVinci Code).

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/c...ale/index.html

The OFFICIAL teaser trailer (in english). The official site launches in 16 days.

That certainly was a teaser! This is my most anticipated movie ever.
I'm a fan of Daniel Craig and I think he's an awesome choice, the producers have taken a gamble picking him, and by the looks of that trailer, its going to pay off.

So did anyone see the AFI Lifetime Acheivment Award last night? Sir Sean Connery has been, is, and always shall be the man. 76 years old in about a month, and dancing on stage to bagpipes in front of thousands of people in the audience, and hundreds of thousands at home. I hope they re-aire it sometime in the near future for those who might have missed it.

http://www.mi6.co.uk/livenews/images/connery_afi_01.jpg


http://www.mi6.co.uk/livenews/images/connery_afi_06.jpg


http://www.mi6.co.uk/livenews/images/connery_afi_08.jpg


http://www.mi6.co.uk/livenews/images/connery_afi_09.jpg


http://www.mi6.co.uk/livenews/images/connery_afi_10.jpg

I'm quite excited about this movie. Going back to James Bond's first adventure as a 00. Daniel Craig doesn't really LOOK like James Bond, but maybe thats exactly what is needed. Though I love it, the franchise suffers from being too corny at times. I have a feeling this will straighten it up like Die Another Day attempted to do. Shame about that fucking ice castle.

If you read the Ian Fleming novels, you can see very quickly that while James has a sense of humor, there are none of the corny and played out cliches. These are mystery novels that rely on excellent characters, inspired storylines that include uncanny knowledge of the world of international espionage, and sensual love scenes and tension. The movies drifted away from that long ago and really never made it back. From Russia with love is probably the best interpretation of the novel so far.
Shame that Halle was wearing thick leather in ice water instead of a t-shirt.

I'm considering putting myself into a coma until it comes out in November. :crazy:

This looks excellent. I am so ready.

This just in: Chris Cornell, who will be performing the title sequence of Casino Royale, has put his song up on his myspace!!!

http://www.myspace.com/chriscornell

The song is titled: You Know My Name

Enjoy.

This movie looks amazing. I saw the latest trailer on apple.com and was blown away. Thankfully the series is going back to the GoldenEye director (which was the last good Bond movie if ya ask me).

Thanks for the links, Will.

I had no idea that Cornell was tapped for the title sequence. Good stuff.

I have to say, the movie looks pretty good and I'm looking forward to it.

I am so ready for this one! Great link Will, thanks man!!!

I keep seeing the previews on TV and every time I get so excited. I was going to try and wait a week after it comes out so I could go and see it with my brother, but I don't think that's likely to happen!

Now to find out if there is a midnight show...

The crane sequence from the upcoming Casino Royale has just been posted on iFilm. Warning: spoilers.

Enjoy.

100% on Rotten Tomatoes. It's obviously only a handful of reviews, but 100% at any time in a movie's release is a great thing.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/casino_royale/