James Bonds that could have been and James Bonds of the future...
Licence to Dalton
Northern IrelandPosts: 7MI6 Agent
Who do you guys reckon could of been Bond apart from the current 6 and perhaps was tested for it, rumored or considered in some way. Also who do you reckon would make a good future James Bond when Daniel Craig steps down.
Throughout Bond History, pre-1962 to the present days, many, many names have been considered.
My personal opinions
David Niven-although he played a comedy version of Bond would have been a decent casting for Dr. No in 1962. I think I read somewhere Fleming wanted him casted. One of the early favourites for the role. However looking back now, Connery went on to become the best Bond in many people's eyes.
Ian Ogilvy- Was usually a contender in the 1970s and 1980s when it was rumored current Bonds were not returning. I loved him in old British Horror Films like And Now The Screaming Starts, Witchfinder General and From Beyond the Grave, tall, well and clearly spoken, good actor, could of been a good Bond and took over the role of Simon Templar in the Saint from Roger Moore so in reality could have been the man to replace him as Bond. But it seems there was always better candidates such as Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton who the producers had in mind.
Sam Neill- Would of been a brilliant Bond in my opinion, I know he did a screen-test for The Living Daylights inbetween Pierce Brosnan or Timothy Dalton being confirmed for the role. Also he's Northern Irish like myself and was born in Omagh, I currently live ten miles from Omagh. I read that he did impress producers but like with Ogilvy it seems others in this case Dalton and Brosnan were the leaders in the chase. Considering weve had Scottish (Connery), English (Craig/Moore), Irish (Brosnan), Welsh (Dalton) and Australian (Lazenby) it would of been nice to have had a Northern Irish Bond. Another Northern Irishman in Liam Neeson was also briefly considered for the role after Dalton stepped down.
Ralph Fiennes- I hear he is to perhaps play a villain in Bond 23. This disappoints me personally as I feel he should of been the man to replace Pierce Brosnan instead of Daniel Craig.
A brilliant actor who when in a tuxedo or smart suit just looks like Bond. Personally I think he would of been the best Bond since Dalton. Very disappointed when he didnt get the role. But perhaps its not too late, he's only 48 or 49 and doesnt look it. Is always one of the usual suspects.
Robert Wagner- Claims in an interview that Cubby Broccoli contacted him in 1971 and asked him if he would be interested. This was after Diamonds Are Forever. Wagner claims whilst tempted he felt he was too American and advised Cubby that Roger Moore was the man. This is interesting, Wagner in 1971 if he could of mastered an English accent may have been able to pull it off. But it goes back to the debates of American Bonds, and if they would be any good. I've heard some laughable candidates though, Mel Gibson and James Brolin were supposedly strongly considered in the past. I find that rather amusing.
Richard Todd- Another early candidate in 1962. Todd was a good actor and would like Niven of been more than capable of portraying Bond on the big screen in the early days. In my opinion.
Future Bonds?
Clive Owen- He's 47 now but still looks young and his being pushed on internet fansites as a future Bond. He's a good actor, go onto google images and you can see the man certainly has the look for the role.
Ralph Fiennes- Probably never going to happen due to him probably appearing in Bond 23 as a Villain but in my opinion should of, like Sam Neill been given the role to see what they could do. Personally speaking I consider him, the Bond that got away.
Jude Law- Good actor but personally speaking he doesnt look right for the role. Just dont see him as Bond myself.
Max Beesley- A dark horse admittedly but at 41, with a decent degree of acting experience behind him, could he do it? If he can change his accent, he'd be excellent I reckon.
Ewan McGregor- Another excellent candidate, could Ewan one day be 007?
To sum up, I would have loved to have seen Sam Neill or Ralph Fiennes be James Bond in a film or two. Just to see how their Bonds would have been.
In the future, I'd have to go for Fiennes (depending on how many more Craig is planning to do), Clive Owen or McGregor.
Throughout Bond History, pre-1962 to the present days, many, many names have been considered.
My personal opinions
David Niven-although he played a comedy version of Bond would have been a decent casting for Dr. No in 1962. I think I read somewhere Fleming wanted him casted. One of the early favourites for the role. However looking back now, Connery went on to become the best Bond in many people's eyes.
Ian Ogilvy- Was usually a contender in the 1970s and 1980s when it was rumored current Bonds were not returning. I loved him in old British Horror Films like And Now The Screaming Starts, Witchfinder General and From Beyond the Grave, tall, well and clearly spoken, good actor, could of been a good Bond and took over the role of Simon Templar in the Saint from Roger Moore so in reality could have been the man to replace him as Bond. But it seems there was always better candidates such as Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton who the producers had in mind.
Sam Neill- Would of been a brilliant Bond in my opinion, I know he did a screen-test for The Living Daylights inbetween Pierce Brosnan or Timothy Dalton being confirmed for the role. Also he's Northern Irish like myself and was born in Omagh, I currently live ten miles from Omagh. I read that he did impress producers but like with Ogilvy it seems others in this case Dalton and Brosnan were the leaders in the chase. Considering weve had Scottish (Connery), English (Craig/Moore), Irish (Brosnan), Welsh (Dalton) and Australian (Lazenby) it would of been nice to have had a Northern Irish Bond. Another Northern Irishman in Liam Neeson was also briefly considered for the role after Dalton stepped down.
Ralph Fiennes- I hear he is to perhaps play a villain in Bond 23. This disappoints me personally as I feel he should of been the man to replace Pierce Brosnan instead of Daniel Craig.
A brilliant actor who when in a tuxedo or smart suit just looks like Bond. Personally I think he would of been the best Bond since Dalton. Very disappointed when he didnt get the role. But perhaps its not too late, he's only 48 or 49 and doesnt look it. Is always one of the usual suspects.
Robert Wagner- Claims in an interview that Cubby Broccoli contacted him in 1971 and asked him if he would be interested. This was after Diamonds Are Forever. Wagner claims whilst tempted he felt he was too American and advised Cubby that Roger Moore was the man. This is interesting, Wagner in 1971 if he could of mastered an English accent may have been able to pull it off. But it goes back to the debates of American Bonds, and if they would be any good. I've heard some laughable candidates though, Mel Gibson and James Brolin were supposedly strongly considered in the past. I find that rather amusing.
Richard Todd- Another early candidate in 1962. Todd was a good actor and would like Niven of been more than capable of portraying Bond on the big screen in the early days. In my opinion.
Future Bonds?
Clive Owen- He's 47 now but still looks young and his being pushed on internet fansites as a future Bond. He's a good actor, go onto google images and you can see the man certainly has the look for the role.
Ralph Fiennes- Probably never going to happen due to him probably appearing in Bond 23 as a Villain but in my opinion should of, like Sam Neill been given the role to see what they could do. Personally speaking I consider him, the Bond that got away.
Jude Law- Good actor but personally speaking he doesnt look right for the role. Just dont see him as Bond myself.
Max Beesley- A dark horse admittedly but at 41, with a decent degree of acting experience behind him, could he do it? If he can change his accent, he'd be excellent I reckon.
Ewan McGregor- Another excellent candidate, could Ewan one day be 007?
To sum up, I would have loved to have seen Sam Neill or Ralph Fiennes be James Bond in a film or two. Just to see how their Bonds would have been.
In the future, I'd have to go for Fiennes (depending on how many more Craig is planning to do), Clive Owen or McGregor.
Comments
Ogilvy was only considered because he followed Roger Moore as the Saint - he did have a passing resemblence to Moore...Sam Neill, IMO, would have been a disaster - he's a great actor, just not Bond...
From your list of Future Bonds I can only see Clive Owen as Bond...he was my first choice for Bond when it was announced that Brosnan wasn't coming back....my second choice was James Purefoy - apparently he had a great screentest a few years back...
Other than those two - and I think the role has passed them both by now....I don't really see where the next Bond is coming from....but then I'm very happy that DC is Bond for now and I hope he continues for 3 more films... -{
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
As for Other Bonds, nearly every actor has on their CV that they where talked to about doing Bond. I think if you where in the same room as Cubby at an event and just said Hello to him They considered it a screen test.
McGregor has been in loads of so-so movies, and he doesn't spring any surprises any more, unlike Craig who even now people feel they're only getting to know, with stuff like Cobwebs and Raisons.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I thought he was very good as Lancelot in King Arthur, with Clive Owen. Sean Bean's Sharpe convinced me that he could do the role. Then he was cast as Alec/006 in Goldeneye and that really convinced me. I think he would have been fine in the reboot. Today however, I'd still go with Gruffudd.
Reflections in a double bourbon...
Licence to Dalton, Ewan Mcgregor, "another excellent candidate"...........let's agree to disagree on that one. But, nice question. One of those questions I've oft asked myself.
zaphod San. Daniel Day Lewis. I would have loved to see him play Bond. Had the face and the physique.
Licence to Dalton San, I too would have liked to see Ralph Fiennes play Bond. I'm not saying he would have been any good. He may not suit the part, I'm just saying I would have liked to have seen him in the role. He looked so good in The English Patient.
Jeremy Brett, when he was young and beautiful. Whoever it is that I picture when I read the Fleming novels looks awfully like Jeremy Brett.
Okay, I tend to go for people who I think look the part.
Thunderpussy, I never intended this discussion to be an insult to Mr Daniel Craig, the current 007, I think he's a decent Bond, this thread was started more as a result of my disappointment that Fiennes didnt get the role rather than Craig did. Craig I have no problem with as Bond, I just wish he would of came along after Fiennes did a couple.
I actually seen the screen-test Sam Neill did for the living Daylights and he looked very good. Not as good as Timothy Dalton obviously but ok. lol
I took a litle umbridge with a Post in reply to a point I'd made, tounge in cheek as always. But obviously the Poster thought I was serious ( thats why I always try and use Smillies, hopefuly to show. It's not a serious point I'm making ).
My post was a Joke at Me becoming Craigs Biggest Fan. :v as Many Here "wouldn't Believe it" as Victor Meldrew would say
Like when you said you didn't like Another Way To Die ?
Did you see Clive Owen in the series of short films for BMW ? Great stuff -{
Just as I'm sure you'll remove your head from your arse
I haven't seen them, but I'm going to bugger off to youtube right about now and dig them out.
Ta Sir Miles.
Ta-Ta.
No problem...they did release a DVD with them all on... -{
The amount of people considered for Bond makes quite a long list.
The only man who really should have been given a shot was Lewis Collins. He would have been an outstanding James Bond.
I need a fainting smilie.... we seem to be agreeing on everything recently...Jason Issacs would have made a fantastic Bond.... he has the right amount of suaveness (is that even a word???
I did think that Richard Armatage would have been a good choice, but alas, his recent stint on Spooks has not been that great.... which is a shame.
Someone also mentioned Rupert Penry Jones too.... but I'm not sure - maybe.
Then there is Ray Stephenson... but he is too old now..
Ian Ogilvy was one of my real first crushes.... he would have been a good choice, but not sure he wouldn't have been a bit soft... and not quite tough enough...
As for future Bonds.... mmmm, not sure.... as long as it's not R Patz....
Gambon has mentioned it several times...
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I'm with you all the way with Lewis Collins...I thought he had a very shot at it once over.
I also tought Guy Pearce would have been a great, slightly left-field, choice a few years back.
On reading several of the Bond books again, Although I'd never of Thought of Him, Jeremy Brett would of fitted Flemings discription of Bond very well. -{
I think James Purefoy would be a good candidate for the next bond but Tom Hardy is surely in the driving seat to replace Craig.
He could be a good call...hadn't thought of him before...although if you think DC's interviews are strange...wait until you see one of his
Agree df1 about sir David niven - look at the awful CR - 60s version.
On Tom hardy, I've heard the same..and of course he has a chance...
Sir m I think ur referring to the gay-muscles stuff ? DC could have gotten himself in this sort of hot water and I doubt it makes him less suitable to the likes of babs ....
This interview sums him up for me, and I feel AZ is pretty good at getting under the skin of actors...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Erwci2ULznw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
As we discussed here....
http://www.ajb007.co.uk/post/479760/#p479760
He was indeed very close to becoming bond...
IMHO he would have made a good bond especially at his peak - 1982-84 when he did WDW
He definitely interviewed for bond - this is his explanation of the occasion
"It would be nice to get back to the original Bond, not the character created by Sean Connery - but the one from the books. He's not over-handsome, over-tall. He's about my age and has got my attitudes... I was in Cubby Broccoli's office for five minutes, but it was really over for me in seconds. I have heard since that he doesn't like me. That's unfair. He's expecting another Connery to walk through the door and there are few of them around. I think he's really shut the door on me. He found me too aggressive. I knew it all -- that kind of attitude. Two or three years ago that would be the case, purely because I was nervous and defensive. I felt they were playing the producer bit with fat cigars. When someone walks into their office for the most popular film job in the world, a little actor is bound to put on a few airs. If Cubby couldn't see I was being self-protective I don't have faith in his judgment."
And this episode from the cuckoo waltz gives a hint of the typical bond-moneypenny flirt - joust we might have seen...
With no less than jo-lum/purdey herself...
http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www. … btcw8rSP8Q
As to now? He was born in 1946 and yet is looking at the film 1066
I also understand from a friend of his that he is a truly great guy
While there are few pics of him since 2007 I understand he's in great shape....
Maybe a future "M" ?