The James Bond Film Discussion Thread (With Bonus Lazenby!)

[Captaindemotion]

Judi Dench being retained between Brosnan and Craig notwithstanding, I think it’s unlikely that M will be cast before Bond. Surely their chemistry, the nature of the dynamic between them etc. will all have to be determined? How can they do that with no idea of who Bond is? I know that Ms have often carried over between Bonds but this is a whole new reimagining and I find this hard to believe, even leaving aside the newspaper in question and the actor’s previous roles.

 

[Starkers]

I mean she's 36 now and even though Bond #26 is some time away she's unlikely to be 40 by then so it does feel quite young. Then again Andrew Scott was a similar age in Spectre when he was C and C was more senior to M so never rule out a high flyer.

That said I don't think any M has been under 50 (I think Fiennes was round 50 when he first appeared.)

 

[Starkers]

I think there's four options here.

1. It's 100% true
2. It's partially true, Eon have had talks with Cooper but it isn't remotely to do with M (As I say maybe they're considering her as one of several people to have input into the script PWB style)
3. 100% bullshit and the journos just threw a dart at a list of celeb names on the wall and came up with DMC
4. It's intentional misdirection by Eon to flush out someone who's leaking info to the press.

I'm hovering between 2 and 3. If it was 4 I'd think they'd come up with someone more plausible, though I kinda hope this is true. The idea of a company that makes spy films conducting a false flag operation is delicious.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Interesting interview with Debbie McWilliams, casting director with the Bond films for the last 40 years, who talks about younger actors not having the gravitas to play Bond when they last cast for the role. But, unsurprisingly, she’s giving away no clues as to who will be next to don the tuxedo:
https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/bond-younger-actors-auditioned-bond-at-70-exclusive-newsupdate/

 

[CorporalClegg]

Interesting interview with Debbie McWilliams, casting director with the Bond films for the last 40 years, who talks about younger actors not having the gravitas to play Bond when they last cast for the role. But, unsurprisingly, she’s giving away no clues as to who will be next to don the tuxedo:
https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/bond-younger-actors-auditioned-bond-at-70-exclusive-newsupdate/

One might argue that has more to do with the regressive or antiquated elements of the character than the actors.

 

[Starkers]

Interesting interview with Debbie McWilliams, casting director with the Bond films for the last 40 years, who talks about younger actors not having the gravitas to play Bond when they last cast for the role. But, unsurprisingly, she’s giving away no clues as to who will be next to don the tuxedo:
https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/bond-younger-actors-auditioned-bond-at-70-exclusive-newsupdate/

I love the line about the next actor being in their 30s "in line with franchise tradition"

So like Connery and Craig then? Lazenby was in his twenties, Moore, Dalton and Brosnan in their 40s.

I'm being a trifle facetious of course. Lazenby was 30 by the time OHMSS came out, Dalton was only just out of his thirties when cast and if they'd got Brosnan when they originally wanted him he'd have been mid thirties I think?

I can see them skewing slightly younger than they have in recent years. The days of a Bond film every two years seem long gone (sadly) so we're looking three years between films at a minimum, possibly four or five. No point hiring someone who's perfect but you might only get three films out of.

Who knows, maybe with Craig gone their turnaround time will get quicker, or maybe they're happy to have someone be Bond for a shorter time frame?

 

[cooleddie74]

Dalton wouldn't even have been that old the first time around. He was originally approached after Connery first quit in 1967 and Timothy was just in his twenties. But he felt he was way too young to take on a role like that and declined.

 

[Starkers]

Has that ever been officially confirmed because I've heard very conflicting stories over the years.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Has that ever been officially confirmed because I've heard very conflicting stories over the years.

I always suspected that they put this out to make up for the fact that he was a very public second choice to Brosnan, after the Remington Steele contract debacle. “No, honestly, we’ve always wanted him.”

Less cynically, I’ve seen it suggested that Tim was actually sought as Sean’s second replacement ie after DAF/ before LALD, rather than after YOLT and before OHMSS. Which is probably a better fit for his age and the stage in his career.

Meanwhile, in another for the “pinch of salt” file, it’s being reported that Dennis Villenueve is Barbara’s first choice to direct the next film.

https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2023/4/ui9cyaw1tpmtg8mtbxnjmjkttfl4za

 

[Starkers]

I'd love Villeneuve to direct a Bond film, but suspect he'd want way too much creative control for Eon's liking.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

I don't normally watch reaction videos, but there's a young woman on YouTube working her way through the Bond films and she's up to Roger Moore.

What I've noticed is that in Moore's first film, 'Live and Let Die', it seems like the writers are writing for Connery. There are certain instances where it's like Moore playing Connery playing Bond.

It's not until 'The Spy Who Loved Me' do I get the sense that the writers and Moore have found the balance in how Moore's Bond should be portrayed.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Meanwhile the Bond-inspired reality tv show hasn’t gone away and has snagged Brian Cox as its overseer: https://ew.com/tv/brian-cox-007s-ro...RmCk0iSMTISvqpoZS5NUek7ijebUQf2pLjnpOOKQ5AX3Q

 

[Starkers]

I think this will be a Bond show specifically for people who aren't Bond fans

 

[Captaindemotion]

I think this will be a Bond show specifically for people who aren't Bond fans

Apologies if I’d said this before but I’m surprised they haven’t actually gone with the idea of casting a new Bond as a reality show. Like a sort of America’s Top Model but with some unknowns like Lazenby, whittling them down through the casting process!

 

[Starkers]

Oh my God what a horrible idea!

I could maybe see that working with a side character like Moneypenny but 007? Shudder

 

[DarrenTR1970]

I've heard that Amazon is doing a reality series based on James Bond crossed with The Amazing Race.
Couples will be flown to Bond filming locations and have to get out of traps set by the 'villain'.

 

[Captaindemotion]

I've heard that Amazon is doing a reality series based on James Bond crossed with The Amazing Race.
Couples will be flown to Bond filming locations and have to get out of traps set by the 'villain'.

Cough (points up-thread)

 

[cooleddie74]

The Amazing Race was about as exciting as a Bond Deleted Scene from one of the movies you don't like.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Interesting bit of 50th anniversary business that just came to my attention--apparently the James Paul McCartney TV special, which aired in the US on April 16, 1973, included a preview of the not-yet-released "Live and Let Die" theme song, complete with footage from the film.

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[The Old Mixer]

Paul's been known to dabble in some pyrotechnics himself...

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