Odds on next James Bond after Danny Boy

Since Peaky Blinders I look differently at Murphy, he's far more capable than I gave him credit for and now one of my favourite actors. But I'm sorry, I still don't see Bond in him. Could be he'd win me over, I wasn't convinced of Craig either when he started his run. But Murphy is still a different case for me.

Jon Hamm would be my pick, I agree he just was Bond in Mad Men. Some say Craig looks too old already - not that I think so - but if there was a possibility Craig quits I'd opt for Hamm.

Erica Ambler wrote:

Salomé wrote:

Erica Ambler wrote:

Perhaps the most interesting if unlikely choice on that list is Jason Statham. Be great to have a Bond who did his own stunts again

Isn't he a bit old (and short) for the role now? He's a year older than Craig.

Statham's 48 and 5' 10", so ahead of Craig in both depts. However, Statham looks younger and fitter - Craig 's Bond always looks like a steroid junky to me. I would've said Statham's too big a box office draw to play Bond except he's actively lobbying for the role.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/01/jason-statham-i-want-to-be-the-next-james-bond

Bond is actually a tough role for your average crybaby actor. Matter-of-fact swagger and laconic toughness are hard to play as Craig and Brosnan demonstrate. Statham has got it, though obviously he's nothing like what Fleming envisaged. Then again, anyone with brains moved away from that definition a long time ago. The role's wide open unless the films are set in period.

Not sure if I believe Statham is actually 5'10. His girlfriend is listed at 5'9, and even on flats she looks at least as tall as him (if not a hair taller).

I agree Cillian Murphy is a great actor. I really dig his performance in The Edge Of Love, but will check out Peaky Blinders as well. But I don't think he looks like James Bond.

Jon Hamm would be too old, even if SP is Craig's last film.

Erica Ambler wrote:

The business of  the actor needing to be British is a nonissue as the casting of John Gavin showed. Hell, in the early 1970s, UA wanted Burt Reynolds or Clint Eastwood for the part. None of that matters as long as the character remains British. And Brits can hardly complain given the number of Brits playing American heroes.

Agreed wholeheartedly, but I don't know if that kind of logic will apply if it becomes reality. I'm sure the tabloids will be complaining about cultural imperialism, Renee Zellwegger, etc.

Salomé wrote:

Not sure if I believe Statham is actually 5'10.

You may be right - I don't believe Craig is 5' 10" either. The James Bond films are now so far removed from the books I'm not sure that it really matters.

Erica Ambler wrote:

Salomé wrote:

Not sure if I believe Statham is actually 5'10.

You may be right - I don't believe Craig is 5' 10" either. The James Bond films are now so far removed from the books I'm not sure that it really matters.

It all rather depends who they cast opposite him. He certainly should not be dwarfed height-wise by his Bond girl.
In terms of the villains, I would avoid a huge height/frame discrepancy other than for the occasional henchman (e.g. Dave Bautista's role in the upcoming movie) whose physicality poses an obvious challenge to Bond.

FieldsMan wrote:

I agree Cillian Murphy is a great actor. I really dig his performance in The Edge Of Love, but will check out Peaky Blinders as well. But I don't think he looks like James Bond.

Jon Hamm would be too old, even if SP is Craig's last film.

My ideal Bond would still be Fassbender. Only I have a feeling he may be out of the game already now. Which is a shame.

Fassbender was ideal in the 2000s because he wasn't that big of a name yet, only starring in supporting roles like in 300 and INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS. He's become much more high profile over the years starring tentpole films that I don't see EON ever considering him unless they break away from their usual casting methods of only going for actors who are either unknown or TV stars who never had a breakout film.

Jon Hamm would have been ideal, but as said, he'll be too old.

This is turning into a discussion of might-have-beens. Who's it gonna be?

If they're ever gonna cast a blond actor again, I'd vote Dan Stevens. Did a great reading of CR for the latest audiobook, and in THE GUEST he's good at coming off dangerous, an important component for Bond.

So a less manly Ryan Gosling? :D

I saw "The Guest". Not sure what to make of his performance in that. A lot of it bordered on caricature.
I think the part called for someone who could portray a mania caused by trauma that slowly descends (or is revealed to be) into terrifying madness. But much of what he did was more unintentionally funny.

Erica Ambler wrote:

This is turning into a discussion of might-have-beens. Who's it gonna be?

I think Fassbender is the obvious choice if Cavill doesn't somehow ditch Supes between now and then. With DC ramping up its cinematic universe, I doubt neither he nor Eon are interested in splitting time with Superman.

Could also see Damien Lewis. Going from Homeland to Bond wouldn't be a huge jump, but it might be a little obvious, too. In 2006, I'd say being a ginger would be a deterrent, but not anymore. Surprised he's a favorite, though. I see him being a very similar Bond to DC and that's not really consistent with how Eon casts Bonds.

My underdog is Matthew Goode. He's English, the right age (37), and has a decent pedigree without being a household name yet. He hasn't really done anything to prove himself as any kind of bruiser, though, apart from Watchmen.

Goode is a fine suggestion, nothing underdog about him in my view. Goode call.
Though at 37 people will want him ten years younger but with five years more experience. I agree they might now also consider Lewis, anything goes now.

Lewis is 44 now, likely 47 by the time Craig's final Bond is released and would be pushing 50 by the time his debut was released.

I just don't see it.

SarahN wrote:

Goode is a fine suggestion, nothing underdog about him in my view. Goode call.
Though at 37 people will want him ten years younger but with five years more experience. I agree they might now also consider Lewis, anything goes now.

Or if they wanted to include a super-creepy Bibi Dahl situation.

Or that, true.

I'm surprised no ones mentioned Adam Sandler..........

I'm sure Sony had an eye for him until this past weekend...

In Harry and Cubby's day this would've helped Henry Cavill onto the shortlist:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/the-awkward-moment-henry-cavill-got-an-unacceptable-erection-filming-a-sex-scene-10447131.html

However, in a post-Babs/Brozza world it's meaningless.

A girl with 'spectacular' breasts straddling him ... ah, acting. It's a hard (pun intended) life.

Him being mid-30s when Craig steps down and his turn in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. may still yet see him in the running.

I trust Cavill's story had a happy ending.

Truly a man of steel.

Erica Ambler wrote:

I trust Cavill's story had a happy ending.

As soon as a break was called, I'm sure he sought out a private spot with almost indecent haste.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Erica Ambler wrote:

I trust Cavill's story had a happy ending.

As soon as a break was called, I'm sure he sought out a private spot with almost indecent haste.

A pearl necklace would've been more cinematic. Plus it would have been ungentlemanly to ignore such spectacular breasts.

Doesn't this happen all the time?

I remember reading an interview with Veerle Dobbelaere where she talked about her earliest acting gigs after graduation, where she was also required to simulate sex on stage and where her co-star apologized profusely for getting hard on nearly each occasion. An apology which she deemed unnecessary, because it was a perfectly natural reaction. Which I would agree with.

Not sure if I'd want Cavill as Bond though. His most Bond-esque role so far (in "The Cold Light of Day") didn't really help his case.