Who’s your vote for the next James Bond?

[Reynard]

It is possible that maybe you are right, and I don't want BOND anymore. I'll have to consider that. Like, I don't really need misogyny from my protagonists right now.

I don't think we should look at Bond uncritically, and I don't think we should forgive Bond for the character's faults. IK would much rather no Bond at all than a Bond that pretends to be something other than what it is.

 

[Zaukrie]

I prefer the strategy of picking someone kind-of-well-known-but-not-really-oh-right-he-was-in-that-thing famous, rather than famous famous, which would be in line with earlier casting. This makes me hesitant to throw out any specific names. Much of it depends on what "kind" of Bond they want this time; after Craig's take, I personally think we're due for a turn to a "suave, but not campy" Bond, but I can't imagine what the Broccolis are thinking right now. I think, much like Batman casting, I'll have a moment of shock/surprise before I think about it and go, "Yeah, I can see it." For that reason I'm hesitant to remark on any of the suspects regularly bandied about so far. I kind of hope it's someone that hasn't been on anyone's radar yet (and--speaking as an American--not an American).

I do think a black Bond is inevitable (though maybe not right now, given various real-world reasons working against it that would probably violate board rules to get into). Elba has aged out of consideration by now ("black don't crack" not withstanding), though I could see Rege-Jean Page doing it; he's the right age range, has screen presence for days, plus I can picture him like Connery in Dr. No delivering "Bond. James Bond." with a heavy-lidded drawl.

But, again, I think it depends on what "version" of Bond they want this time (cold, thuggish, playful, camp, etc.). I want them to surprise me with someone I don't have set opinions about.

I generally agree that franchises should pick leads that are not famous......

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I'm good with dissenting views of what others want! I find it amusing I'm being told what I want is wrong.....

But they aren't, though! They're telling you that they disagree with you, which you've said you're okay with, but you don't really seem like you are. You also don't seem like you find it "amusing". I mean, I'm inclined to take you at your word, but your posts really seem to be indicating otherwise.

It is possible that maybe you are right, and I don't want BOND anymore. I'll have to consider that. Like, I don't really need misogyny from my protagonists right now.

Yeah, I'll back you on that one.

I'd WAY rather have "something new" than another Bond film, but if we're stuck with Bond, it might as well be Bond (for those that want that sort of thing). Maybe if we're lucky it could say something new about what a toxically masculine jerk he is.

 

[Kaodi]

I do think a black Bond is inevitable (though maybe not right now, given various real-world reasons working against it that would probably violate board rules to get into). Elba has aged out of consideration by now ("black don't crack" not withstanding), though I could see Rege-Jean Page doing it; he's the right age range, has screen presence for days, plus I can picture him like Connery in Dr. No delivering "Bond. James Bond." with a heavy-lidded drawl.

Have I ever mentioned my "biracial people are white" stance on casting on these boards?

As a matter of equity since the probability of roles specifically for biracial people is rather low that for casting purposes biracial people are, in fact, white, no matter how they self identify or what the stupid current politics of it all is. Rachel Zegler is white. Rege-Jean Page, Henry Golding, Lewis Tan, and Caroline Henderson: all white. So when someone tries to argue with you that any of these people cannot play a white character because of their appearance we should reply, "No, they are white, so they can. Full stop."

That said, as I already mentioned I can get on board with Boyega being Bond. But including black people in candidates for Bond is qualitatively different than excluding white people. Because "all life is valuable" and "all life is worthless" are both statements of equality, but one of them naughty word sucks.

 

[jian]

Interestingly, both Ian Fleming and John LaCarre were spies in real life, and their literary characters are aligned with how the men individually saw themselves and their "profession" at the time. Fleming was a womanizing dolt, by all accounts, and Bond is his self insert character.

I would love to see a Bond film that really embraces his stupidity and vile behavior, with the rest of MI6 having to deal with the fallout and try and get the mission accomplished IN SPITE of Bond.

AFAIK that’s basically true.

Le Carre (David Cornwell) certainly served as an active MI5 (internal security) and then MI6 (external intelligence) officer between 1958 and 1964, including running informants and interrogations, and serving as an intelligence attaché in Germany before being outed as a spy by Kim Philby. So he was very much the real deal and his books about The Circus are apparently written based on his experience and occasionally on real events.

Fleming was a lifetime dilettante (unsuccessful journalist, editor, banker, stockbroker) mostly in jobs found for him by his mum, and had never served in the military or worked in security or intelligence before WW2, when his mum yet again got him a job for which he was entirely unqualified, this time as personal assistant to the director of naval intelligence. There he developed a reputation for coming up with stupid ideas (though a couple of them did actually happen, to be fair). The one thing he did do well was forming a naval intelligence commando unit, 30 Commando, which was very successful but whose members cordially loathed Fleming because he was a micro-manager; he apparently despised them right back. Bond seems to be based on many of the men in 30 Commando, merged with Fleming’s own love for the high life.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

AFAIK that’s basically true.

Le Carre (David Cornwell) certainly served as an active MI5 (internal security) and then MI6 (external intelligence) officer between 1958 and 1964, including running informants and interrogations, and serving as an intelligence attaché in Germany before being outed as a spy by Kim Philby. So he was very much the real deal and his books about The Circus are apparently written based on his experience and occasionally on real events.

Fleming was a lifetime dilettante (unsuccessful journalist, editor, banker, stockbroker) mostly in jobs found for him by his mum, and had never served in the military or worked in security or intelligence before WW2, when his mum yet again got him a job for which he was entirely unqualified, this time as personal assistant to the director of naval intelligence. There he developed a reputation for coming up with stupid ideas (though a couple of them did actually happen, to be fair). The one thing he did do well was forming a naval intelligence commando unit, 30 Commando, which was very successful but whose members cordially loathed Fleming because he was a micro-manager; he apparently despised them right back. Bond seems to be based on many of the men in 30 Commando, merged with Fleming’s own love for the high life.

Yeah. Fleming worked in Intelligence, but it seems unlikely that he ever shot at anyone (or was ever shot at).

 

[Bedrockgames]

Yeah. Fleming worked in Intelligence, but it seems unlikely that he ever shot at anyone (or was ever shot at).

I always heard that he based the character of Bond on Christopher Lee

 

[R_J_K75]

Nobody - I think Bond should be retired and replaced by a character that fits modern audiences

I was thinking something similar, instead of James Bond 007, (if I understand there are other "00's", agents of MI6), why not do a few movies based on them?

 

[MarkB]

I was thinking something similar, instead of James Bond 007, (if I understand there are other "00's", agents of MI6), why not do a few movies based on them?

You even have a simple system for sequels. Start at 001, work through in sequence, and see whether you've got a decent concept for the main man by the time you hit 7.

 

[R_J_K75]

You even have a simple system for sequels. Start at 001, work through in sequence, and see whether you've got a decent concept for the main man by the time you hit 7.

I was never a huge Bond fan. I saw a few in the 80s, and then some more throughout the years. It wasn't until 2006 or 2007 when Casino Royale came out that I started watching them again. By Skyfall, which I don't remember seeing the franchise just seemed like more of the same. I think by concentrating on other characters it could revive the franchise.