I agree with @Number24 and I think one should keep in mind the next actor won't star only in the next film, but in the next four or five films, which won't necessarily be directed by Villeneuve.
The producers will have to select the man with a long-term vision, and Villeneuve's absence during some parts of the process must not prevent them from keeping screentesting actors.
So, just to seemingly confirm it, the new Thunderball score release is out and is the first to not mention Danjaq in the copyright blurb; and instead seemingly points towards London Operations LLC as being the new rights holders to James Bond 007 and all previous movies and associated elements. End of an era!
Mr MartiniThat nice house in the sky.Posts: 2,739MI6 Agent
I'm wondering if they'll select someone who's worked with Villeneuve before. But also someone who's been in movies with seasoned directors. If Villeneuve doesn't return for a second film, maybe the chosen actor to play Bond can suggest a previous director he's worked with like i.e. Nolan or another seasoned director.
Some people would complain even if you hang them with a new rope
That's possible but I just think the guy's main task will be to make Heyman and Pascal say: 'Yep. That's him ! That's our man', no matter who he's worked with. After all, Spottiswoode had nothing to with Campbell, neither had Apted nor Tamahori. And it's the same with the directors of the Craig era. I genuinely believe the character is established enough in the producers' minds to have the next actor able to play Bond the way each director expects. Brosnan and Craig both proved it.
I was thinking more along the lines of how Sam Mendes had previously worked with Daniel Craig on Road to Perdition. I'm not suggesting Craig suggested Mendes to "Babs", but maybe the new Bond can suggest a previous director they enjoyed working with.
Some people would complain even if you hang them with a new rope
Yes, if they've spotted a director the guy has already worked with and he tells them he had a great/terrible experience with, they'll probably take such an element into account. But if they've spotted someone he's never worked with and he's not thrilled by, I'm not sure they'll take his opinion seriously. And if he suggests someone else instead while there's no reason the person they consider can't do it, they'll surely have the last word.
@Number24 if we get the name of the next Bond before the last quarter of 2026, it will be a very good thing. I don't expect them to reveal it as soon as you do, but I'd love to be wrong.
For me the most interesting bit is that casting seemingly won't start until Villeneuve is free, which I think is good- they want him fully involved in it.
I guess that part is overoptimistic about the casting of the 007 actor, but I do think a casing director are screening actors now. Not in the sense of full screentests, but they are actively looking. I do think what Baz is reporting is promising.
"There’s a sense from the many conversations I’ve had that Knight’s going back to Bond’s beginnings as a Royal Navy Commander before being recruited by MI6, the UK’s foreign intelligence agency, to perhaps chart how Bond attained 007 status. I want to stress that this is what I’m hearing but to caution that none of this is confirmed or fully formed because the script is still being written and the direction of travel is still up for grabs."
So it could be an origin story, I bet IO Interactive will be happy about that.
"Knight will be going back to Fleming’s earliest novels — Casino Royale (1953), Live and Let Die (1954), Moonraker (1955), Diamonds Are Forever (1956), From Russia, with Love (1957), Doctor No (1958) and Goldfinger (1959) — to help remind us who Fleming’s protagonist is."
This just makes me more confident that we are getting a Connery era tone to the films.
We read that Villeneuve had a 'pitch' and Knight had a 'pitch' and they must have been similar. When Baz writes about direction of travel, surely that was decided when Villeneuve and Knight came onboard after their views, pitches, chimed with Pascal and Hyeman?
"Our sources indicate that the film will be released in 2028 with filming due to take place in 2027. There’s a lot of talk about the movie premiering in the November slot favored by past Bond movies."
I guess this means principal photography in December 2027? I know they have filmed even earlier than a year before a movie, maybe to get b-roll for cultural events, like the QoS horse race, so maybe that's what they mean.
"An unprecedented number of applicants have already sent in their pitch to play James Bond to the production."
I agree that Villeneuve will not see 200 actors, but a casting director will.
Using IMDB name search, there are very few who will between the age of 25 and 30 to choose from, if they go that young.
Here's a couple of British actors I thought might be eligible.
Well, if it is accurate that whoever they are looking for “has to look like he could kill you with his bare hands in a trice." That would probably rule out many of the softer looking baby faces that have been proposed around here. It's going to be interesting that's for sure.
The article says: "Knight will be going back to Fleming’s earliest novels — Casino Royale (1953), Live and Let Die (1954), Moonraker (1955), Diamonds Are Forever (1956), From Russia, with Love (1957), Doctor No (1958) and Goldfinger (1959) — to help remind us who Fleming’s protagonist is."
SMERSH is behind much of the intrigue in most of these books. Will we see Russia's SMERSH for the 21st century as the new enemy?
No more SPECTRE until the next reboot.
For those that may not know, Smersh is a portmanteau of the Russian words “smert shpionam” which translate to “death to spies,” a Soviet era slogan of the USSR.
I think it must always be remembered how much money Amazon has invested in this franchise. In my career I had to deal with large sums of money but millions, never billions. Nevertheless it was my experience that investors were keen to see returns on their investment as soon as possible. I don't think Barbara and Michael had that same pressure. For that reason I think progress on the next film may be faster than many think.
I remember back in 2006 some fans were talking about the possibility of the next James Bond actor being revealed to the public on a RN aircraft carrier. If Baz Bamigboye's article is correct and Bond26 will start with Bond still in the navy, this idea will work better now. If we get Bond in the navy we'll most likely see him in uniform and quite possibly on a naval vessel. Using naval vessels in the movie requires co-operation with the RN, so the production will have to have a relationship with the navy. The navy will probably see it as a PR opportunity. As it happens the British navy now has two relatively new aircraft carriers. This will be a way to clearly tell the world that this is a great and important event. I really like then idea of the world press being invited on to the flight deck of one of the carriers. The Bond theme starts playing and the lift usually bringing the planes up from the hangar bay gradually reveals the actor in a tux to the public.
This can be combined with a a press conference with all the main actors, director and title in a more glamorous location at a later date.
I like the vision, however....major press launches like this are about 20-30 years out of date.
Plus, if you announce an event like this it takes a number of weeks planning and then once the invites go out, then the trade press and tabloids will leak the name within seconds. Given today's media and newscycle, I'd assume that the next Bond will be announced with a short video designed to go viral and Amazon will not want to give the press too much lead time to scoop them.
Think something along the lines of the recent Spider-Man announcement:
Comments
I agree with @Number24 and I think one should keep in mind the next actor won't star only in the next film, but in the next four or five films, which won't necessarily be directed by Villeneuve.
The producers will have to select the man with a long-term vision, and Villeneuve's absence during some parts of the process must not prevent them from keeping screentesting actors.
So, just to seemingly confirm it, the new Thunderball score release is out and is the first to not mention Danjaq in the copyright blurb; and instead seemingly points towards London Operations LLC as being the new rights holders to James Bond 007 and all previous movies and associated elements. End of an era!
I'm wondering if they'll select someone who's worked with Villeneuve before. But also someone who's been in movies with seasoned directors. If Villeneuve doesn't return for a second film, maybe the chosen actor to play Bond can suggest a previous director he's worked with like i.e. Nolan or another seasoned director.
You've beaten me this time, emtiem, mine is still to arrive.
That's possible but I just think the guy's main task will be to make Heyman and Pascal say: 'Yep. That's him ! That's our man', no matter who he's worked with. After all, Spottiswoode had nothing to with Campbell, neither had Apted nor Tamahori. And it's the same with the directors of the Craig era. I genuinely believe the character is established enough in the producers' minds to have the next actor able to play Bond the way each director expects. Brosnan and Craig both proved it.
Who did you order from this time? I went 007store.
007store, same as you. I'll just have to be patient - I bought my first TB album in the early 70s, I can wait a bit longer.
Ah cool, it won't be long now then! It does sound lovely, but then we expected nothing less!
Reading the liner notes, I had no idea Shirley Bassey sued them in an attempt to get her song put back on the end credits! Divas gotta deev, I guess.
I'm guessing the notes are by Jon Burlingame? That and other interesting tales are in his book on Bond music.
Yes, it's Burlingame. I've got his book but have only really dipped in here and there, I need to give it a proper read.
I was thinking more along the lines of how Sam Mendes had previously worked with Daniel Craig on Road to Perdition. I'm not suggesting Craig suggested Mendes to "Babs", but maybe the new Bond can suggest a previous director they enjoyed working with.
Yes, if they've spotted a director the guy has already worked with and he tells them he had a great/terrible experience with, they'll probably take such an element into account. But if they've spotted someone he's never worked with and he's not thrilled by, I'm not sure they'll take his opinion seriously. And if he suggests someone else instead while there's no reason the person they consider can't do it, they'll surely have the last word.
Here's my theories, based on no professional knowledge and no insider information:
Comments, opinions? 😃
@Number24 if we get the name of the next Bond before the last quarter of 2026, it will be a very good thing. I don't expect them to reveal it as soon as you do, but I'd love to be wrong.
A bit of a Baz update on the state of play:
For me the most interesting bit is that casting seemingly won't start until Villeneuve is free, which I think is good- they want him fully involved in it.
I sincerely hope 'completed' in this context doesn't mean Dune 3's release.
I guess that part is overoptimistic about the casting of the 007 actor, but I do think a casing director are screening actors now. Not in the sense of full screentests, but they are actively looking. I do think what Baz is reporting is promising.
Yeah I think you're right, there must be someone going through all the candidates. Like the early stages of X Factor 😁
I think you're right. And that release date is December 2026. Remember he has to do all the press for Dune 3.
So, as I said previously, the 007th actor is unlikely to be known before late 2027 with a January 2027 start to Vilenueve's search.
What surprised me the most about Baz's article was the reference to an actor in their late 20s.
BTW IO Interactive First Light 'Bond' Patrick Gibson was born in London in 1995. So, when they say British...
I particularly like this quote from Baz's story: “Whoever it is, has to look like he could kill you with his bare hands in a trice."
Someone at Amazon Studios is getting the message.
I certainly don't think Villeneuve will meet hundreds of actors before casting Bond.
Reading this article fully, it is a corker.
"There’s a sense from the many conversations I’ve had that Knight’s going back to Bond’s beginnings as a Royal Navy Commander before being recruited by MI6, the UK’s foreign intelligence agency, to perhaps chart how Bond attained 007 status. I want to stress that this is what I’m hearing but to caution that none of this is confirmed or fully formed because the script is still being written and the direction of travel is still up for grabs."
So it could be an origin story, I bet IO Interactive will be happy about that.
"Knight will be going back to Fleming’s earliest novels — Casino Royale (1953), Live and Let Die (1954), Moonraker (1955), Diamonds Are Forever (1956), From Russia, with Love (1957), Doctor No (1958) and Goldfinger (1959) — to help remind us who Fleming’s protagonist is."
This just makes me more confident that we are getting a Connery era tone to the films.
We read that Villeneuve had a 'pitch' and Knight had a 'pitch' and they must have been similar. When Baz writes about direction of travel, surely that was decided when Villeneuve and Knight came onboard after their views, pitches, chimed with Pascal and Hyeman?
"Our sources indicate that the film will be released in 2028 with filming due to take place in 2027. There’s a lot of talk about the movie premiering in the November slot favored by past Bond movies."
I guess this means principal photography in December 2027? I know they have filmed even earlier than a year before a movie, maybe to get b-roll for cultural events, like the QoS horse race, so maybe that's what they mean.
"An unprecedented number of applicants have already sent in their pitch to play James Bond to the production."
I agree that Villeneuve will not see 200 actors, but a casting director will.
Using IMDB name search, there are very few who will between the age of 25 and 30 to choose from, if they go that young.
Here's a couple of British actors I thought might be eligible.
Sam Retford, from Australia but sounds British,
See him interviewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6geVsXnLkw
Absolutely, a casting director will look at hundreds of actors. Are there more than me who belive a casting director is already hired?
Well, if it is accurate that whoever they are looking for “has to look like he could kill you with his bare hands in a trice." That would probably rule out many of the softer looking baby faces that have been proposed around here. It's going to be interesting that's for sure.
The article says: "Knight will be going back to Fleming’s earliest novels — Casino Royale (1953), Live and Let Die (1954), Moonraker (1955), Diamonds Are Forever (1956), From Russia, with Love (1957), Doctor No (1958) and Goldfinger (1959) — to help remind us who Fleming’s protagonist is."
SMERSH is behind much of the intrigue in most of these books. Will we see Russia's SMERSH for the 21st century as the new enemy?
No more SPECTRE until the next reboot.
For those that may not know, Smersh is a portmanteau of the Russian words “smert shpionam” which translate to “death to spies,” a Soviet era slogan of the USSR.
With an origin story for a young 20-something Bond, I'd say that makes For King & Country, more likely as a title.
SMERSH was also a real WWII Soviet organisation that primary task was internal security and counter-intelilgence.
I think it must always be remembered how much money Amazon has invested in this franchise. In my career I had to deal with large sums of money but millions, never billions. Nevertheless it was my experience that investors were keen to see returns on their investment as soon as possible. I don't think Barbara and Michael had that same pressure. For that reason I think progress on the next film may be faster than many think.
I remember back in 2006 some fans were talking about the possibility of the next James Bond actor being revealed to the public on a RN aircraft carrier. If Baz Bamigboye's article is correct and Bond26 will start with Bond still in the navy, this idea will work better now. If we get Bond in the navy we'll most likely see him in uniform and quite possibly on a naval vessel. Using naval vessels in the movie requires co-operation with the RN, so the production will have to have a relationship with the navy. The navy will probably see it as a PR opportunity. As it happens the British navy now has two relatively new aircraft carriers. This will be a way to clearly tell the world that this is a great and important event. I really like then idea of the world press being invited on to the flight deck of one of the carriers. The Bond theme starts playing and the lift usually bringing the planes up from the hangar bay gradually reveals the actor in a tux to the public.
This can be combined with a a press conference with all the main actors, director and title in a more glamorous location at a later date.
That would look spectacular, N24.
I like the vision, however....major press launches like this are about 20-30 years out of date.
Plus, if you announce an event like this it takes a number of weeks planning and then once the invites go out, then the trade press and tabloids will leak the name within seconds. Given today's media and newscycle, I'd assume that the next Bond will be announced with a short video designed to go viral and Amazon will not want to give the press too much lead time to scoop them.
Think something along the lines of the recent Spider-Man announcement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsn7sVxCq1M