Albert Finney's character

Finney as a caretaker or gillie is what makes sense.

But I'm always entertained by speculation delivered as a foregone conclusion.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Finney as a caretaker or gillie is what makes sense.

Sounds a bit like Michael Caine in the Batman series, with a different accent.

A wise and kindly old salt-of-the-earth Scotsman who towards the end of the film rallies our hero's spirits with a sentimental two-minute monologue about his late parents. Bond realises that - wait for it - his parents loved him and only wanted the best for him. This knowledge transforms him completely and turns him into gentler and more thoughtful human being who immediately renounces all violence. Except, of course, it doesn't. A minute and a half of screentime after Finney's monologue, our reinvigorated hero duly hurls himself back into the fray and starts blowing away bad guys again.

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

tiffanywint wrote:

Then if Harris is not MP.....who the heck is? Surely if an actress has been cast, even for a quick walk-on/reveal near film's end, it would have been leaked by now, wouldn't it?

It's entirely possible that there is no Moneypenny in the film. Her presence was never promised.

Possibly, but Craig has said that more than one familiar character returns. We have Q, so MP would seem to be the other obvious one. That would bring back the whole gang, but yes there may indeed be no MP, but it could still be Harris. hmmm

Update: Having done some random research in various other locales, combined with what we have sussed out here, I am now 100% certain that Harris will indeed be revealed near film's end as the new Moneypenny.

It all fits perfectly. Harris has never flatly denied the rumour nor has anyone else. Craig has all but spelled out that the film will deal with the origins of iconic characters.

What else could it be? It's in the bag. Book it! They are putting together the full supporting cast for nu-Bond.

tiffanywint wrote:

Harris has never flatly denied the rumour nor has anyone else.

That's proof of nothing. Correlation does not imply causation.

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

tiffanywint wrote:

Harris has never flatly denied the rumour nor has anyone else.

That's proof of nothing. Correlation does not imply causation.

Of course there in no proof, until the film comes out or something of real substance leaks, but having processed the available data, I am now certain that it's a fait accompli.

The simplest answer is often the right answer. It all fits for a number of reasons, and really nothing else does.

tiffanywint wrote:

It all fits for a number of reasons, and really nothing else does.

Berenice Marlohe could be Moneypenny. If the story plays out in such a way that she provides Bond with information vital to bring down Silva, then M or mallory might decide to install her as M's secretary with a new identity as "Miss Moneypenny" so that she can be under constant supervision.

Okay, that's probably not going to happen. But I see it as being equally-plausible as the idea that Eve is Moneypenny when the only evidence you can supply is "nobody has denied it yet". Sure, Daniel Craig said that the film will reintroduce old characters, but you yourself said this:

tiffanywint wrote:

Surely if an actress has been cast, even for a quick walk-on/reveal near film's end, it would have been leaked by now, wouldn't it?

You acknowledge this as being a possibility, even if you find it implausible. However, with the continued secrecy surrounding the film, it's entirely possible that someone has been discreetly cast in the role. And the combination of nobody denying that Harris will be Moneypenny and the tabloids' insistance that she is Moneypenny both work towards creating an air of misdirection about the role, thereby helping EON keep it a further secret.

EON have managed to keep details of the plot under wraps for six months now. It wouldn't be too hard to keep details of Moneypenny's presence equally-secret, particularly with the tabloids pushing their agenda. After all, Baz Bamigboye insisted that Albert Finney would be playing a character who is a "Foreign Office mandarin who has positioned himself as M's boss", but that appears to actually be the role played by Ralph Fiennes. If Bamigboye can be wrong about Finney, then he can certainly be wrong about Harris as Moneypenny.

You are of course encouraged to pursue your theories, but I am convinced.

I am going with the best theory. And this one works to a tee. And don't forget the icing on the cake. It's Babs we are talking about here. Casting a non-white in such an iconic role, will give her much cred in the progressive circles she craves props from and of course Craig would love it too. This is also nu-Bond. The landscape is being re-drawn. Amost anything goes. Bond doesn't even look like Bond, so MP doesn't have to look like a Lois Maxwell derivative either, so that hurdle is covered, if it really ever was a hurdle for Eon. It was only really ever a hurdle for traditionalists, but I think even we can be mollified within the context of nu-Bond and re-boot. It's a whole new game.

Everything points to a late-film reveal of Eve as new MP. We get the origins story that Craig said was important. Another actress simply walking-on at end of film, would have very little impact. It would beg, "who the hell is she? That's MP!? Where did she come from?"

With Eve as MP, we get to know her first. We learn her backstory as it plays out, and we see how and why she transitions from a field-agent to a top-secret job at the top. And Harris even has the MP look. She's only an average looker. She's not too vavoom.

It's all there. Put a bow on it. I'm putting this one to bed.