Pre-Internet/Early Internet Rumours on the James Bond Films?

Silhouette Man

What are your favourite and most memorable pre-Internet or early Internet rumours regarding the James Bond films?

Here are a few of mine that I merely heard through word-of-mouth from friends:

Sir Anthony Hopkins was going to star as the main villain in a James Bond film entitled Icebreaker where Bond goes up against members of the IRA also. (I'd still like to see Hopkins as a Bond villain in the future - especially after the Hannibal Lecter-like Silva in Skyfall). I believe that Hopkins was considered for the vilalin role (Harmsway/Elliot Carver?) in Tomorrow Never Dies before Jonathan Pryce eventually got that acting gig.

There was a plan (c. 1999) where a friend told me they were going to re-do all of the James Bond films from scratch again (I suppose with hindsight this was a very early reboot idea).

Both of these came from the same friend who belonged to a church youth group I used to be part of as a teenager. I have no idea where he read/heard of these rumours but they've always found them interesting nonetheless.

Now I'd love to hear your esoteric and odd rumours on the James Bond films...

Napoleon Plural

There would be a scene in GE where Bond actually gets it on with a Russian babe during a car chase or stock car race or something.

Silhouette Man

Thought that I'd revive this one as I was thinking about it again recently. -{

AlphaOmegaSin

Obviously I wasn't around during the Pre-Internet Days )

The first One is interesting, I take it that it was an Idea thrown around after John Gardner's Novel? Well Hopkins expressed Interest in playing the Villain for Dalton's Canceled third Film -{

Silhouette Man

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

Obviously I wasn't around during the Pre-Internet Days )

The first One is interesting, I take it that it was an Idea thrown around after John Gardner's Novel? Well Hopkins expressed Interest in playing the Villain for Dalton's Canceled third Film -{

I had a friend tell me that rumour at a church youth meeting as I recall. I have no idea where he got that information. The reboot idea of doing the films anew was one of his rumours too.

AlphaOmegaSin

I would just take them as that, Rumors

Thunderpussy

Anthony Hopkins always seems to be mentioned as a possible Bond villain, same
With the rumour that we'll see the first raunchy sex scene ( a bit of bare flesh)
And that Connery is to appear in the background of a scene.

Silhouette Man

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

I would just take them as that, Rumors

Indeed, they are what they are. Perhaps they simply drift down from the ether? And we all know that the Devil controls the ether. ) -{

AlphaOmegaSin

I could see Hopkins making a good Anton Murik -{

Silhouette Man

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

I could see Hopkins making a good Anton Murik -{

Yes, or David Dragonpol. -{

AlphaOmegaSin

I've also suggested that Cumberbatch could be a good Dragonpol.

Jarvio

There were rumours that TD's third film would be "The Property Of A Lady" in 1991 and "Colonel Sun" in 1993

bonded123

In 1986 The Daily Mail ran with a page three story that Australian model Finley Light was cast as James Bond. Here he is!

http://cache4.asset-cache.net/gc/51147274-1986-finley-light-at-home-in-country-new-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=VrVMKm%2fWL75vyiClkMQ%2fSjLQdRVMbtNRQIlAYtOhIbEych1BL4C6tOwYd6aoT6KQBO6ahklHfv%2bKUsgb5ilNRQ%3d%3d

In John Glen’s (directed 5 Bond films) book For My Eyes Only, he stated that he did a screen test with Mr. Light for The Living Daylights. It seems Mr. Light was considered for the part. Mr Glen reports that others tested at the time were Sam Neill, Andrew Clarke, Trevor Eve and of course Pierce Brosnan.

I dunno what happened to him but his name sounded like a film star.... or brand of cigarette.

Silhouette Man

I'd really love to hear some more of your Bond film rumours of this particular period! -{

PPK 7.65mm

Anthony Hopkins was considered for the part of 006 in Goldeneye. Originally the script had Alec Trevelyan as an older mentor type of character rather than someone closer to James Bond's age. I forget why Hopkins turned the role down, but I am sure he would be great. Also his age makes it more likely for him to have been alive during World War II and witnessed the murder/suicide of his Lienz Cossack parents.

Barbel

PPK 7.65mm wrote:

I forget why Hopkins turned the role down

The script wasn't developed enough at that point to interest him.

Le Samourai

I recall seeing some odd 'potential new James Bond' casting rumors in film magazines in the early '90s. Names I remember being tossed around as potential 007s included Harrison Ford, Keanu Reeves, Jean-Claude Van Damme (!?!?!), Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, and Kenneth Branagh. The first three names horrify me, the last three intrigue me.

Higgins

Not a rumor but I remember well how the news made huge waves that one of the FYEO girls was a previously a man
And she was the prettiest one

ACACIA_AVENUE

Higgins wrote:

Not a rumor but I remember well how the news made huge waves that one of the FYEO girls was a previously a man
And she was the prettiest one

That's a **** and ball Story

Thunderpussy

" .... and he was the prettiest one "
Just showing how superior men are to women!
We are better map readers, better at parking and apparently
Even better as women. )

CoolHandBond

I remember reading that Batman's Adam West was being considered as Bond for the OHMSS movie.

Barbel

Higgins wrote:

Not a rumor but I remember well how the news made huge waves that one of the FYEO girls was a previously a man
And she was the prettiest one

From the "Imaginary Phone Calls" thread*:

1981
Glen: Hi Cubby, how are you?.... The pool scene? Sure, I’ve just finished shooting it- looks real good, lots of pretty girls in bikinis, just the way you like it... Oh yeah, of course I remember her- the brunette with the big... She’s what? She’s a... Well, she sure didn’t look like a... No, I’ve shot it already, we can’t go back and do it again... I’ll see what I can do with the edit.

* http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/45888/imaginary-phone-calls/

Jarvio

Le Samourai wrote:

I recall seeing some odd 'potential new James Bond' casting rumors in film magazines in the early '90s. Names I remember being tossed around as potential 007s included Harrison Ford, Keanu Reeves, Jean-Claude Van Damme (!?!?!), Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, and Kenneth Branagh. The first three names horrify me, the last three intrigue me.

My god. If Van Damme happened, then that would automatically make it the worst bond film ever.

clublos

Jarvio wrote:

Le Samourai wrote:

I recall seeing some odd 'potential new James Bond' casting rumors in film magazines in the early '90s. Names I remember being tossed around as potential 007s included Harrison Ford, Keanu Reeves, Jean-Claude Van Damme (!?!?!), Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, and Kenneth Branagh. The first three names horrify me, the last three intrigue me.

My god. If Van Damme happened, then that would automatically make it the worst bond film ever.

I certainly remember the Mel Gibson rumors around 90/91.

SpectreBlofeld

PPK 7.65mm wrote:

Anthony Hopkins was considered for the part of 006 in Goldeneye. Originally the script had Alec Trevelyan as an older mentor type of character rather than someone closer to James Bond's  age.

That's pretty close to what happened in the first Mission: Impossible movie a year later!