News Daniel Craig signs up for Bond 25, Christopher Nolan in talks to direct

ME is currently where they are because they play to their audience, and they do it well. They know most of them consists of fragile white males who are upset over the “PC/SJW/feminist agenda” they see in popular franchises, especially older ones like Star Wars. So of course ME is going to hop on board the rumors of James Bond, the prototypical heterosexual white male that shamelessly sleeps with as many women as he pleases, is being “replaced” by a new black female 007. And OF COURSE that specific gets upset.

I only saw one video of theirs and so many things got conflated to appeal to their audience, like how unPC they present Bond as “the manly hero who’s known for slapping women”, as if to imply Bond regularly slaps women in his movies. He rarely had, and the last time he did was 46 years ago.

But oh no, Bond is going to be PC’d! Look out!

 

The independent newspaper’s twitter account has published a massive spoiler, with no warning, in the headline of a tweet. I’ve blocked the account but damage done. Be warned anyone who wants to remain spoiler-free.

 

Just looked that up. Interesting.

For those interested, the spoiler is

Spoiler: DON'T CLICK UNLESS YOU WANT TO KNOW. THIS IS YOUR WARNING. I WASH MY HAND OF RESPONSIBILITY NOW. IT'S ALL ON YOU.

Bond has a five year old daughter

 

Callsheets of this film have been sold on eBay for about a week now and combined with some pictures We've seen of production...

Spoiler: spoiler

Bond could have a five year old daughter

 

That's a game-changer, for sure.

 

Just out of interest, what do you all think of Dev Patel as the next Bond? Really can't think of anyone better.

 

Patel would be good, he's also young enough to carry the role for more than a decade. Thinking about it, age doesn't seem to factor into it much, as Brosnan and Craig were/are both around 50 at the time of their respective last Bond films, and Roger Moore was over 40 when he started in the role.

Anyway, I'd be cool with Patel as Bond.

 

Honestly, I don't really know anything about him. From what I've learned from a quick Google search I have no objections, for whatever that's worth.

 

To be quite honest, my kneejerk reaction would have been a negative on Patel as Bond, but that's because most of the roles I've seen him in were of the young idealistic nerd, like in "The Newsroom" or "Chappie". But I know his quite talented, and he's grown, both as an actor, as well as physically. As in he's got actual shoulders now.

 

I think he could do something more serious, but honestly those roles are part of why I think he’d be good. We’ve already had tough, gritty James Bond. Instead of trying to cast another Craig, I really hope they go for someone with a little more joie de vivre and charisma about them. Well, a different sort of charisma. Bond should actually seem like he’s enjoying himself sometimes, and it would be nice for him to be the sort of person people actually want to be around. Ridiculous as this sounds, I think Bond needs an injection of Austin Powers.

As for the age thing, I really hope they go young. Apart from not having an obviously too old Bond by the time the final movies come around, it would be nice if he was closer in age to whoever the Bond girl is.

My top pick would actually be Matt Smith, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

 

Dev is getting rave reviews for David Copperfield, also a role not traditionally associated with an actor of Asian ancestry. He’s English, tall dark and handsome, would be in his early 30s by the time of his first film, if they cast him in the next couple of years. I could absolutely go for it.

 

There was also a bit of push-back from people who thought David should be white, but not as much as there might have been. Obviously Bond is a very different kettle of fish, but it's encouraging. It would actually make sense for Bond to be from India since Mi6 is apparently trying to bring in more operatives with an Asian background.

It also kind of annoys me seeing so many people who say James Bond shouldn't be white this time defaulting to 'should be black'. It's usually Americans, and I'm left wondering if they understand the ethnic makeup of the UK isn't the same as the ethnic makeup of America.

 

After listening to the recent CASINO ROYALE audiobook, I'd go for Dan Stevens.

Speaking of audiobooks, Jason Isaacs did one for THUNDERBALL, which only made me upset that we never got him for James Bond in the 90s.

 

First time I saw Isaacs was in a trailer for Squaddies, a show he did for BBC about 1990 or so and I actually thought he was Timothy Dalton.

 

I think you mean Civvies, but yes, very much agreed on the Dalton vibes.

 

The audiobooks are absolutely fantastic. I think Bill Nighy was the best narrator, but they were all good. Saying that, I can’t see Stevens as Bond.

As for Jason Isaacs, he’s always been who I’ve pictured as closest to Ian Fleming’s Bond. Handsome in an old-fashioned sort of way. Tough but not bulky, and with that all important touch of cruelty. Would have been perfect around the time he did The Patriot, although saying that he’s a bit too close to Brosnan, and I like it when they mix things up a little.

 

His vocal performance of Drax is delightful, especially when revealing his history and motives. It's basically the old cliched "villain explains everything" trope, but you get why it had become a trope because monologues like in MOONRAKER were fun to listen, especially when the performer was reveling in the charatcer.

 

Doh, that's the one. Never post after 1/2 a bottle of wine.

 

You can really tell how much he'd love to play Bond. Would make an excellent M. I'm not sure how many audiobooks you've listened to, but I love how basically all the interviews have the narrator saying something along the lines of, 'I never expected it to be this well written'. I felt the same. Expected the books to be just your basic action schlock, but they're surprisingly well written. Not quite up there with someone like John le Carre, but still closer to a literary writer than I expected.

Also makes me sad we never got a real Moonraker movie. Odd that what seems to be pretty unanimously considered the best Bond novel is the one worst adapted just because Star Wars happened to come out around that time. Might make a good plot for a new movie.

Only 1/2 a bottle of wine? Bond would be ashamed.

 

I didn’t say I stopped drinking at that point!