How many here thinks the director and/or screenwriter will be made public next month? I think (and certainly hope) we have a reasonable chance to get this news soon, maybe the odds are 50-50 for important news in May.
Mr MartiniThat nice house in the sky.Posts: 2,739MI6 Agent
How tight lipped has Amazon been about other projects? I ask because the only thing we've heard so far is(at least to my knowledge) is the rumored front runner for director. Do we know if the producers have sat down and interviewed possible directors, screenwriters, actors etc? When Amazon has had other projects have we known when interviews have taken place or have their been any leaks about production?
Some people would complain even if you hang them with a new rope
I remember making the AI illustrations for the Christmas Special and struggling with look of M. Tried to write a prompt describing the typical image of him. Then I tried to use the look of actors who are mentioned as a possible future M. That didn't work either until I tried Idris Elba. I exudes gravitas, intelligence and authority. Idris Elba as M!
Due to the heavier use of the MI6 and my usual writing of ensemble casts (and to a degree Denis Villeneuve), here’s my opinions. On who could play the recurring regulars in a three-four-five arc. If Amazon gave me a bit of creative control, don’t judge me! This list is mine from another Bond site.
James Bond: Asa Butterfield (year two type of Bond)
M: Emily Blunt (would be able to handle herself in action, pure trust in Bond, just occasionally nitpicking on certain things)
Q: Phoebe Waller-Bridge (would be kidnapped by SPECTRE and use her tech skills to escape)
Moneypenny: Hayley Atwell (mix of agent and secretary)
Mary Goodnight: Anya Taylor-Joy (a bit ditzy, but still compliant enough to handle herself)
Loelia Ponsonby: Rachel Weisz (full time MI6 secretary, openly cares for Bond)
Felix Leiter: Alden Ehrenreich (he would get in on the action, not just defending Bond and giving him information)
Bill Tanner: Robert Pattinson (once again, he could be in on the action, great with sleath)
Dr. No: Michael Shannon (a mad scientist, with a different science to make his own)
Alec Trevelyan: Andrew Garfield (more a mentor, than a peer, built up his betrayal over two movies, at least)
Irma Bunt: Diane Lane (she’s wanted to play a villain, who better? Maybe a mentor for Blofeld. Army General at one point)
Ernst Stavro Blofeld: Tom Hiddleston (a calm version of Blofeld, yet could handle himself physically. Acting career, which helps with his changes)
Joanne Brochet/Sixtine: Saoirse Ronan (same as she is in the Forever and a Day Book. Bond is sad when she dies, but doesn’t feel the need to advantage her)
Charmian Bond: Felicity Jones (tough, mostly as written in the Young Bond books. She lives to the end of the overall movie story arc)
May: Olivia Colman (same as the books, an occasional quip or two towards Bond’s lifestyle)
Auric Goldfinger: Russell Crowe (loves diamonds as much as gold, banker as much as businessman)
Felicity Willing: Winona Ryder (mostly the same plot as the book. Known to be evil from the beginning)
This was fun to make, this could be a unique cast for a decade, at least. But then again, I’m not in charge of Amazon!
You're not going to get big name actors for the minor roles, Q, Tanner and Moneypenny. For M, you could get a name, I can imagine Kate Winslet and Idris going for that but for Q, Tanner and Moneypenny they are going to be unknown British actors. BTW Judi Dench was known in the UK for TV but she had never had the international profile that Winslet and Elba have had.
That's why I distinguished between a Moneypenny who's M's private secretary and Moneypenny ad the commander of the 00-section. Kate Winslet is a far too big star to play the traditional part of M's secretary, but playing the leader of the 00-section is a role that can be right for a movie star.
In spite of her parts in Downton Abby and GoT Rose Leslie isn't a movie star. She has a level of fame fitting for playing M's secretary with a more limited screen time.
Another actress who would be great playing Moneypenny as M's secretary is Leonie Benesch. I think she's a star in her native Germany, but in spite of good roles in English language works like "Around the world in 80 days" and "September 5" she isn't an international star.
An element I don't get is why some people seem so convinced a character like Tanner will inevitably be present in the movie. Casino Royale is a masterpiece and it doesn't even feature the pillars of the Scooby gang (Q and Penny). So Tanner...
Funnily enough, the best iteration of Tanner is a character named Charles Robinson and portrayed by Colin Salmon. I even remember Benson, in the novelization of TND, replaces Robinson by Tanner. I wish Salmon had more screen presence in TWINE and DAD because he's excellent (although I do appreciate Michael Kitchen). He had a great chemistry with Brosnan, something I never felt between Craig and Kinnear.
It's more the other way around. The script was written to include Tanner but Michael Kitchen was unavailable so the part was renamed and recast. This happened too late to be reflected in Benson's book.
Colin Salmon was great. But if they go for the idea with Miss Moneypenny as the commander of the 00-section, Tanner won't be needed because she fills Tanner's role too. What we haven't seen yet in the movies is Tanner as Bond's best friend in the service, sort of an MI& version of Felix Leiter.
Yeah it’s interesting, he nearly is that in GoldenEye (Kinnear’s Tanner would never have joked with Bond about the ‘evil queen of numbers’) and yet he’s not quite: I remember being puzzled at the time that Bond called him Tanner and not Bill.
I’m a Kitchen guy, I think he’s one of the best actors around. Would be a great M too. Afraid I’m less of a Salmon fan, he seemed to struggle with his posh voice to me.
Yes, I used the word 'replace' but it wasn't what I meant. Furthermore, we know between Feirstein's first draft and the final script, there were (too) many writers who worked on the plot, which explains why Benson only used the pieces he was provided with at that time, and most of them featured Tanner.
Anyway I don't ask myself about Tanner's presence in the next film. I don't think such a matter is what we should focus on. I belong to those who even consider Moneypenny and Q not being there would not be particularly disturbing, exactly as I used to think when CR and QoS came out. Bond remains the one and only hero of his own adventures, and if Villeneuve and his writer think they're not useful to the plot, then let it be. Don't be mistaken, I like them of course, but the only MI6 character I would be terribly unsettled not to have in Bond 26 is M.
@Number24, I'm not thrilled by this idea of having Moneypenny as the head of the Double O section. Kim Sherwood introduced the concept in her novels, and I don't find it particularly exhilarating plotwise (it's obviously a personal opinion).
Although I have frequently touted Scottish actor Mark Bonnar for M - he is sufficiently under the radar to not hog the headlines - I don't really care that much who plays the MI6 crew as long as they stay in the office and let Bond do his job without interfering in government policy, being subject to vendettas or go chasing Bond all over the world because they think Britain's best agent is an unreliable dunce. Let's get back to Bond being about Bond.
Completely agree. There definitely should be a place for Mark Bonnar in Bond 26. Whether it's M, a Tanner type, Politician, or another MI6 agent or MI5 Agent that Bond comes in contact with or even a villain. Great character actor and very believable as a law enforcement type, politician, or military.
She's a really good actress too. I haven't seen her movie "Reality" yet, but her acting gets a lot of praise. "The next Scarlett Johansson" sounds wrong because ScarJo is very much with us still, but I think it's a good comparison.
Can't argue with Tom Hollander, that's a great shout. I guess arguably he's sort of played an M figure in the Ipcress File series, but I guess he might still do M.
Comments
but I wonder if it's acceptable to cast a German as Miss Moneypenny?
I guess they hired a Canadian at first, so why not.
How many here thinks the director and/or screenwriter will be made public next month? I think (and certainly hope) we have a reasonable chance to get this news soon, maybe the odds are 50-50 for important news in May.
How tight lipped has Amazon been about other projects? I ask because the only thing we've heard so far is(at least to my knowledge) is the rumored front runner for director. Do we know if the producers have sat down and interviewed possible directors, screenwriters, actors etc? When Amazon has had other projects have we known when interviews have taken place or have their been any leaks about production?
I don't know more than most people. It just makes sense to me.
Idris Elba as M.
Agree 1000%
I remember making the AI illustrations for the Christmas Special and struggling with look of M. Tried to write a prompt describing the typical image of him. Then I tried to use the look of actors who are mentioned as a possible future M. That didn't work either until I tried Idris Elba. I exudes gravitas, intelligence and authority. Idris Elba as M!
This is currently my favourite future Bond26 007, Moneypenny and M.
Nicolas Hoult as Bond:
Moneypenny if she remains M's secretary - Rose Leslie:
Moneypenny if she becomes the head of the 00-branch - Kate Winslet:
Idris Elba as M:
Due to the heavier use of the MI6 and my usual writing of ensemble casts (and to a degree Denis Villeneuve), here’s my opinions. On who could play the recurring regulars in a three-four-five arc. If Amazon gave me a bit of creative control, don’t judge me! This list is mine from another Bond site.
James Bond: Asa Butterfield (year two type of Bond)
M: Emily Blunt (would be able to handle herself in action, pure trust in Bond, just occasionally nitpicking on certain things)
Q: Phoebe Waller-Bridge (would be kidnapped by SPECTRE and use her tech skills to escape)
Moneypenny: Hayley Atwell (mix of agent and secretary)
Mary Goodnight: Anya Taylor-Joy (a bit ditzy, but still compliant enough to handle herself)
Loelia Ponsonby: Rachel Weisz (full time MI6 secretary, openly cares for Bond)
Felix Leiter: Alden Ehrenreich (he would get in on the action, not just defending Bond and giving him information)
Bill Tanner: Robert Pattinson (once again, he could be in on the action, great with sleath)
Dr. No: Michael Shannon (a mad scientist, with a different science to make his own)
Alec Trevelyan: Andrew Garfield (more a mentor, than a peer, built up his betrayal over two movies, at least)
Irma Bunt: Diane Lane (she’s wanted to play a villain, who better? Maybe a mentor for Blofeld. Army General at one point)
Ernst Stavro Blofeld: Tom Hiddleston (a calm version of Blofeld, yet could handle himself physically. Acting career, which helps with his changes)
Joanne Brochet/Sixtine: Saoirse Ronan (same as she is in the Forever and a Day Book. Bond is sad when she dies, but doesn’t feel the need to advantage her)
Charmian Bond: Felicity Jones (tough, mostly as written in the Young Bond books. She lives to the end of the overall movie story arc)
May: Olivia Colman (same as the books, an occasional quip or two towards Bond’s lifestyle)
Auric Goldfinger: Russell Crowe (loves diamonds as much as gold, banker as much as businessman)
Felicity Willing: Winona Ryder (mostly the same plot as the book. Known to be evil from the beginning)
This was fun to make, this could be a unique cast for a decade, at least. But then again, I’m not in charge of Amazon!
You're not going to get big name actors for the minor roles, Q, Tanner and Moneypenny. For M, you could get a name, I can imagine Kate Winslet and Idris going for that but for Q, Tanner and Moneypenny they are going to be unknown British actors. BTW Judi Dench was known in the UK for TV but she had never had the international profile that Winslet and Elba have had.
That's why I distinguished between a Moneypenny who's M's private secretary and Moneypenny ad the commander of the 00-section. Kate Winslet is a far too big star to play the traditional part of M's secretary, but playing the leader of the 00-section is a role that can be right for a movie star.
In spite of her parts in Downton Abby and GoT Rose Leslie isn't a movie star. She has a level of fame fitting for playing M's secretary with a more limited screen time.
Another actress who would be great playing Moneypenny as M's secretary is Leonie Benesch. I think she's a star in her native Germany, but in spite of good roles in English language works like "Around the world in 80 days" and "September 5" she isn't an international star.
An element I don't get is why some people seem so convinced a character like Tanner will inevitably be present in the movie. Casino Royale is a masterpiece and it doesn't even feature the pillars of the Scooby gang (Q and Penny). So Tanner...
Funnily enough, the best iteration of Tanner is a character named Charles Robinson and portrayed by Colin Salmon. I even remember Benson, in the novelization of TND, replaces Robinson by Tanner. I wish Salmon had more screen presence in TWINE and DAD because he's excellent (although I do appreciate Michael Kitchen). He had a great chemistry with Brosnan, something I never felt between Craig and Kinnear.
It's more the other way around. The script was written to include Tanner but Michael Kitchen was unavailable so the part was renamed and recast. This happened too late to be reflected in Benson's book.
PS I totally agree re Salmon being excellent.
Colin Salmon was great. But if they go for the idea with Miss Moneypenny as the commander of the 00-section, Tanner won't be needed because she fills Tanner's role too. What we haven't seen yet in the movies is Tanner as Bond's best friend in the service, sort of an MI& version of Felix Leiter.
Yeah it’s interesting, he nearly is that in GoldenEye (Kinnear’s Tanner would never have joked with Bond about the ‘evil queen of numbers’) and yet he’s not quite: I remember being puzzled at the time that Bond called him Tanner and not Bill.
I’m a Kitchen guy, I think he’s one of the best actors around. Would be a great M too. Afraid I’m less of a Salmon fan, he seemed to struggle with his posh voice to me.
Yes, I used the word 'replace' but it wasn't what I meant. Furthermore, we know between Feirstein's first draft and the final script, there were (too) many writers who worked on the plot, which explains why Benson only used the pieces he was provided with at that time, and most of them featured Tanner.
Anyway I don't ask myself about Tanner's presence in the next film. I don't think such a matter is what we should focus on. I belong to those who even consider Moneypenny and Q not being there would not be particularly disturbing, exactly as I used to think when CR and QoS came out. Bond remains the one and only hero of his own adventures, and if Villeneuve and his writer think they're not useful to the plot, then let it be. Don't be mistaken, I like them of course, but the only MI6 character I would be terribly unsettled not to have in Bond 26 is M.
@Number24, I'm not thrilled by this idea of having Moneypenny as the head of the Double O section. Kim Sherwood introduced the concept in her novels, and I don't find it particularly exhilarating plotwise (it's obviously a personal opinion).
It must be very practical to be a kitchen guy .... 😁
I think Freya Mavor would be great as Moneypenny.
Although I have frequently touted Scottish actor Mark Bonnar for M - he is sufficiently under the radar to not hog the headlines - I don't really care that much who plays the MI6 crew as long as they stay in the office and let Bond do his job without interfering in government policy, being subject to vendettas or go chasing Bond all over the world because they think Britain's best agent is an unreliable dunce. Let's get back to Bond being about Bond.
Completely agree. There definitely should be a place for Mark Bonnar in Bond 26. Whether it's M, a Tanner type, Politician, or another MI6 agent or MI5 Agent that Bond comes in contact with or even a villain. Great character actor and very believable as a law enforcement type, politician, or military.
I could definitely see him in there, yeah. Even as a Tanner-ish type; he can play 'trustworthy' just as well.
Said it before and I'll say it again - Iain Glenn as M
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
Tom Hollander as M/Tanner - could be a good shout. Night manager/white lotus he did very well
Joshua McGuire as Q - excellent in the Gold on BBC and would play the role well
Lily James as Moneypenny anyone!? I would imagine the role could be played in a similar way to Lois Maxwell in the early bond films
Lily James is an interesting shout…one that could definitely work…🤔
Joshua McGuire…I don’t recall seeing him in anything…
Tom Hollander is just excellent in everything he’s been in…
Lily James as Moneypenny may work. I was surprised she is 36 years old!
Sydney Sweeney is a pal of Denis Villeneuve and is tipped to be in Bond26 says The Sun on Sunday.
It must be true! She has the assets for the job...
She's a really good actress too. I haven't seen her movie "Reality" yet, but her acting gets a lot of praise. "The next Scarlett Johansson" sounds wrong because ScarJo is very much with us still, but I think it's a good comparison.
Can't argue with Tom Hollander, that's a great shout. I guess arguably he's sort of played an M figure in the Ipcress File series, but I guess he might still do M.