McGregor was ‘choice’ as 007

2

Comments

  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,330MI6 Agent
    McGregor is too famous and too much of a "lad" -lacking in masclinity. Craig is a far better choise.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    edited October 2006
    emtiem wrote:
    I wonder if they considered Damien Lewis- he's always seemed quite suitable for the part to me, and he's even more ginger than MacGregor! :D

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    So ginger, Em, that he's red-headed. Sorry, I couldn't see your image but I Googled him in a tux and he certainly has Bond appeal; I just hope he'd dye his hair if ever offered the part.


    Other than the Stephen King movie awhile back, I don't know much about him as an actor...
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
  • Lady RoseLady Rose London,UKPosts: 2,667MI6 Agent
    Good call, em. Damien Lewis is a solid actor, and deserves to have been on at least a long list of potentials. He could have done it, but I'd have wanted them to tone down the red hair a bit...

    I like Lewis also. He would have been very interestig but considering the furore over a blonde being Bond,imagine a red head donning the tux !!! :o

    As for McGregor I really wasn't interested in him being Bond, far too boyish. Butler was my number one but I am very happy with Craig. As pointed out earlier, first choice doesn't necessarily mean the best or most successful choice.
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,948MI6 Agent
    RogueAgent wrote:
    So ginger, Em, that he's red-headed.

    Yes... that's sort of what ginger means in these parts! :D But then strictly speaking, Ewen has a tinge of ginge too ;)
  • highhopeshighhopes Posts: 1,358MI6 Agent
    RogueAgent wrote:
    He looks very CASINO ROYALE in this shot, although Zellweger is no Vesper by any stretch of the imagination... :D


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    Rogue, go ahead and rip Craig to shreds if you want -- but you leave my little Renee alone, you cad!!!
    (actually, she wasn't so little in "Bridget Jones," but I loved her in that Bunny suit. :D )
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,854Chief of Staff
    RogueAgent wrote:
    He looks good there; very Bondian, but the fact that he's not much larger in frame than Ms. Zellweger herself is slightly problematic to me :v


    Ewan McGregor : 5' 10½"

    Daniel Craig: 5' 11"

    Perhaps the reason McGregor is thought of as being shorter than he actually is, is because in The Phantom Menace which was the first film in which many people would have seen him he spends most of the time standing next to 6'5" Liam Neeson.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    highhopes wrote:
    Rogue, go ahead and rip Craig to shreds if you want -- but you leave my little Renee alone, you cad!!!
    (actually, she wasn't so little in "Bridget Jones," but I loved her in that Bunny suit. :D )


    Hmmmm... so you like girls who resemble chipmunks chewing on rusty nails... 8-)

    If that makes me a cad so be it. :)) :p
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,854Chief of Staff
    RogueAgent wrote:
    Hmmmm... so you like girls who resemble chipmunks chewing on rusty nails... 8-)

    Each to his own :), but my chipmunks don't go for rusty nails much.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    RogueAgent wrote:
    Hmmmm... so you like girls who resemble chipmunks chewing on rusty nails... 8-)

    Each to his own :), but my chipmunks don't go for rusty nails much.

    :))
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    RogueAgent wrote:
    emtiem wrote:
    I wonder if they considered Damien Lewis- he's always seemed quite suitable for the part to me, and he's even more ginger than MacGregor! :D

    2006_stormbreaker_006.jpg



    So ginger, Em, that he's red-headed. Sorry, I couldn't see your image but I Googled him in a tux and he certainly has Bond appeal; I just hope he'd dye his hair if ever offered the part.


    Other than the Stephen King movie awhile back, I don't know much about him as an actor...

    Well, he does 'American' startlingly well, portraying Capt. Dick Winters in the wonderful HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers. One would never know he's a Brit from that performance...
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • highhopeshighhopes Posts: 1,358MI6 Agent
    RogueAgent wrote:
    Barbel wrote:
    RogueAgent wrote:
    Hmmmm... so you like girls who resemble chipmunks chewing on rusty nails... 8-)

    Each to his own :), but my chipmunks don't go for rusty nails much.

    :))

    What can I say? The same taste in women is just one of the things George Clooney and I have in common, and we think Renee is adorable. :)) :p
  • NightshooterNightshooter In bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
    Ewan would be a fantastic choice for the Roger style Bond. Ewan could definitely smarm it up. Too bad he and Craig can't be Bond. They both bring something different, and intriguing, to the table.
  • Klaus HergescheimerKlaus Hergescheimer Posts: 332MI6 Agent
    I don't like McGregor as Bond at all. He looks too polished to be Bond. Bond should look like a ruggedly handsome early-mid 30s man whose look has been corrupted by years of working a high-stress job, cigarettes, and alcohol. All of the Bonds have had this, even the two who are often known as the "polished" Bonds, Pierce and Roger. McGregor looks too young and polished. His voice is also terrible for the role. Bonds voice should be deep and stirring, and McGregor's voice is neither.

    With that said, this is not a very relevant report.
  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    Agree that McGregor would've made a very good Moore/Brosnan-style Bond. And darn glad they didn't go that way for CR. ;)

    Looking forward to this new guy, Crate-what's-his-face. :D
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    edited October 2006
    What? There's a new Bond film coming out? :o Cool!

    :007)
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    edited October 2006
    blueman wrote:
    Agree that McGregor would've made a very good Moore/Brosnan-style Bond. And darn glad they didn't go that way for CR. ;)
    I'm not. ;) What I wouldn't give for another Moore/Brosnan-style Bond....
    blueman wrote:
    Looking forward to this new guy, Crate-what's-his-face.
    Yeh, what is his name? ?:)

    *Apologies for editing your post, but my response would have made less sense if I took your post in the manner in which you intended. ;)
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,330MI6 Agent
    McGregor is a "lad", not a man. BTW: Who was asked to be bond during the casting process?
    McGregor, Hugh Jackman ... who else?
  • SolarisSolaris Blackpool, UKPosts: 308MI6 Agent
    There actually IS a grain of truth in this story. how bigger grain is debatable.

    If you watch The Long Way Round, Extended DVD, that documents Ewan's bike trip around the world. there is a scene in the second Episode, which is just before they leave. They're at BMW london, learning how to fix their bikes and Charley, Ewan's friend who's going with him on the trip says to the Camera
    "Ewan's Just been looked at to play Bond...James Bond" and then they have a convosation about it.

    I alos think Ewan McGregor could play a good bond , he'd be a very different bond from craig but still most likely a good bond. the same people that say Craig is wrong for the part will most likely say that Obi Wan Kenobi shouldn't be James Bond. but oh well. he most likely Could bulk up and his hair doesn't look bad dark. However I also see why if he was offered it he turned it down. If he WAS offered the Part at the time thats shown on the DVD its early 2004 and he'd just rapped on Star Wars III.

    I only know this cause I was a big fan of the Documentory about the trip aswell as a big Bike fan in general.

  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,948MI6 Agent
    Interesting stuff there Solaris- what do they talk about in their conversation? Just jokeyness?

    They'd certainly have been crazy not to consider him- he's one of the country's biggest leading men and isn't entirely unsuitable for Bond. What is interesting is as to how far his interest followed.
  • MBE_MBE_ USAPosts: 266MI6 Agent
    McGregor stated in interviews last year (pre-Craig announcement) when asked about Bond that the schedule and amount of time one would have to devote to not just filming but promoting was something he was concerned about. He said it would be a much bigger time investment than what he gave to the Star Wars prequels.

    There was also some news reports last year that he called Pierce and asked his advice about the role. But if I recall correctly that came out via Contact Music/WENN etc and it didn't as is usual with those sites give any source for the quotes so I took it with the usual pinch (or rather truckload of) of salt.

    MBE
  • arthur pringlearthur pringle SpacePosts: 366MI6 Agent
    This Mcgregor link is interesting. I was always under the impression that he was interested but Eon didn't want him. This suggests it was the other way around.

    I don't quite understand the 'Mcgregor would have been Roger Moore' thesis. Why couldn't he have played it tougher too?
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    I don't quite understand the 'Mcgregor would have been Roger Moore' thesis. Why couldn't he have played it tougher too?
    I think Moore was pretty tough. ;)
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    edited October 2006
    Dan Same wrote:
    I think Moore was pretty tough. ;)

    Pretty...no doubt. But tough is in the eye of the beholder :v

    I'd never say that Moore didn't effectively 'sell' his fisticuff sequences---at least early on. And I remember hearing (on the previous release version of the DVDs) somebody associated with stunt work saying that Sir Roger acquitted himself quite well in close-quarters work. That may be, but the sheer incongruity of this bit of anecdotal evidence---when placed against his more effete, somewhat dandified characterization (only MRO) makes it an interesting observation, to say the least.

    But the departure from Connery's (or even Lazenby's!) approach to the physical stuff was jarringly stark to me. Clearly Moore's more 'tongue-in-cheek' take on Bond colours my opinion in this regard. He might very well have been tough, but to me he was never believably tough, which sets him apart from every other actor to have played the part on film.

    Could McGregor have been believably tough as Bond? We'll likely never know. I think he can be a dashing swashbuckler---the moment in SW Episode III, when he simply drops into the midst of Gen. Grievous' headquarters, and says, "Hello there" tells me he could have certainly delivered that element of the character. But I've never seen him beat the crap out anyone with his fists before; perhaps he could do it quite well. I certainly won't dismiss the possibility.
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    I'd never say that Moore didn't effectively 'sell' his fisticuff sequences---at least early on. And I remember hearing (on the previous release version of the DVDs) somebody associated with stunt work saying that Sir Roger acquitted himself quite well in close-quarters work. That may be, but the sheer incongruity of this bit of anecdotal evidence---when placed against his more effete, somewhat dandified characterization (only MRO) makes it an interesting observation, to say the least.
    Perhaps, however all I can say is that in my equally ridiculous opinion, I wouldn't classify Moore's performance as 'effete' or 'dandified' whatsoever. :D
    But the departure from Connery's (or even Lazenby's!) approach to the physical stuff was jarringly stark to me. Clearly Moore's more 'tongue-in-cheek' take on Bond colours my opinion in this regard. He might very well have been tough, but to me he was never believably tough, which sets him apart from every other actor to have played the part on film.
    Obviously, it's all relative. I'm not suggesting that Moore was among the toughest of the Bonds, because quite clearly he wasn't. Although I love Moore, I'm perfectly happy to acknowledge that he was nowhere near as tough as Connery and Lazenby, and was probably not as tough as Dalton and Brosnan. But when examining Moore's toughness, I generally ask myself two questions:
    1)Was Moore's relative lack of toughness such a big deal in the whole scheme of things? For me, the answer is no. It would be great if Moore was as tough as Lazenby, but at the end of the day, I really couldn't care less. IMO, Moore's relative lack of toughness (note the use of the word relative) is a real non-issue when I think back on Moore's (IMO) brilliant portrayal.

    2)Although perhaps not as tough as the other Bonds, was Moore convincing nonetheless? For me, the answer is yes. There was never a point in which I questioned Moore's ability to kick someone's a**. ;)
    Could McGregor have been believably tough as Bond? We'll likely never know. I think he can be a dashing swashbuckler---the moment in SW Episode III, when he simply drops into the midst of Gen. Grievous' headquarters, and says, "Hello there" tells me he could have certainly delivered that element of the character. But I've never seen him beat the crap out anyone with his fists before; perhaps he could do it quite well. I certainly won't dismiss the possibility.
    I think he's tough enough. Wether he can actually beat the crap out of someone with his fists is debatable, but considering that none of the actors (or at least almost none of them) are professional fighters in real life, I'm sure that a few months in the gym and some fighting lessons could dispell any doubts that anybody has about McGregor's toughness. ;)
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    edited October 2006
    Vive le difference {[]

    I guess that's my point, with regard to Moore---he didn't need to be tougher than any of the other Bonds, relatively speaking, because his 007 was a different animal. He was tough enough for comedy, I'll certainly give him that :)

    And there's no doubt that a personal trainer---and some pointed concentration---could have brought it out of McGregor, as it likely did other, more recent, Bonds ;)
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    He was tough enough for comedy, I'll certainly give him that :)
    That's surely not a dig at Sir Roger? :v Anyway, I'm glad you think that when it comes to toughness, Moore wasn't totally out of his league. ;)
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Dan Same wrote:
    He was tough enough for comedy, I'll certainly give him that :)
    That's surely not a dig at Sir Roger? :v Anyway, I'm glad you think that when it comes to toughness, Moore wasn't totally out of his league. ;)

    Well, I think Moe Howard, of The Three Stooges, was one hell of a tough guy. He once broke two or three ribs, in the middle of a take, and got up and finished the scene...without the camera ever stopping.

    And no one ever delivered that single, decisive, "knock-out" karate blow to the back of the neck like Sir Roger :007)
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • SolarisSolaris Blackpool, UKPosts: 308MI6 Agent
    The Convosation wasn't much on the DVD, they basically joked about it, Chalrey said he could play bond, and then he said he'd rather play M, kinda Jokey stuff really, thats why I didn't write it down in the last post.
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,467MI6 Agent
    Of course, McGregor was and is too short to be Bond. Then again, so is Craig, which is why McGregor doesn't seem so odd now.

    Young Adam is a film in which McGregor just totally looks like Bond. In other shots he's a bit pudgy sometimes, with pink colouring.

    But we've seen McGregor so much he lacks that element of surprise. And with how the Brosnan films were, it's no shock that he didn't want to get harnassed to another formula series past its sell-by date.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    edited October 2006
    But we've seen McGregor so much he lacks that element of surprise.
    I think this whole 'suprise' thing is so overrated. I don't want to be suprised by the Bond; I want to know that the Bond I'm about to see is right for the role. IMO McGregor, tall or short, is perfect for the role and I would have loved for him to have gotten the gig (assuming that Craig Owen turned it down.)
    And with how the Brosnan films were, it's no shock that he didn't want to get harnassed to another formula series past its sell-by date.
    I don't know, apart from DAD and much of TND, I think the Brosnan Bonds (mostly GE and TWINE) showed that the Bond series and its formula were still incredibly relevant and had in no way reached its sell-by date.
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
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