Hugh Jackman

CmdrAtticus

The other night my wife asked me why Hugh Jackman did not take the role of Bond. I answered that he had many projects on his plate and was one of those actors who did not want to be tied down to such a role for a whole decade. She then replied, "what about Wolverine?". I didn't have a pat answer. He has been playing the character since the first X-Men in 2000. He said once he was too focused on doing Wolverine, yet he did other roles outside that as well as Broadway. Even Craig has done other projects outside Bond.

So, now I wonder, why did he really turn it down? It doesn't seem that it would have made his career that different..unless he had contracted for so many films as Wolverine and could not have gotten out of it to do the EON series.

Higgins

Guess that EON had some worrysome experiences with the other Aussie

Barbel

Money. Eon's offer was substantially less than he could make elsewhere. IIRC, they offered £8m for a 3 movie deal.

Gassy Man

When I first saw him as Wolverine 15 years ago, I literally turned to my friend in the theater and said, "There's the next James Bond." His portrayal seemed so much of what I had hoped Bond would be.

In retrospect, though, I'm glad he didn't take the role. Out of makeup, he seems less Bondian to me. And I don't think he would have rebirthed the character the way Daniel Craig did. Jackman also seems to be more interested in being a song and dance man than an action star. He might have grown tired of the role much more quickly.

hehadlotsofguts

Have you seen Australia? He wears the white tux well.

Thunderpussy

Does Australia have a dress code ? ) ( sorry, couldn't resist)
I think Jackman would have been fine -{ , to be honest many actors
Can play Bond. In a way ...... " Many are called, few are chosen ". )

Barbel

I've always thought of "Van Helsing" as Jackman preparing for Bond by doing a dry run. There's an M scene, a Q scene, the female lead greets him with "Your reputation precedes you"....

superado

Much ealier, when folks here discussed his qualifications as the next Bond after Brosnan, his movies Swordfish and Kate and Leopold were the ones tossed around that showcased Jackman's Bondlike qualities, Swordfish showing his action skills with a gun and a suit and Kate and Leopold for his gentrified, "pass the Grey Poupon, please," qualities. Personally, I think he has the classic Bond look and physique and even has a passing resemblance to Hoagy Carmichael. I do remember during that time there was a troll here with a couple or so profiles and who was eventually banned, who made a big deal about Jackman's nose.

Thunderpussy

His Nose ? ) what some people pick on !

broadshoulder

To be honest I cant see anyone after Craig working successfully. Jackman would be Brozz-lite

All eon can do is cast an unknown and hope it works.

Gassy Man

I'm watching a youngish actor named Adam Rayner as a possibility.

Number24

I think Clive Standen, Barry Sloane and Aaron Taylor- Johnson are good candidates. There must be more like them out there :007)

Barbel

Indeed there are, and many threads devoted to them!

Virgil37

I didn't even know he was offered the role. He was in my short list back in 2005. It was him or Clive Owen.

Now I can't see anyone but Craig!

chrisisall

Virgil37 wrote:

I didn't even know he was offered the role. He was in my short list back in 2005. It was him or Clive Owen.

Now I can't see anyone but Craig!

Back then Jason Isaacs would have been my #1 choice because of his turn in Jackie Chan's Tuxedo, but Clive Owen would have done it right as well. Craig's good, even a bit great, but those two missed possibilities still vex me... X-(
Jackman would have been fine, he can do accents flawlessly, but there's an aura of 'star' look to him similar to Pierce & Roger that might not have worked as well as in this 'gritty' age of Bond....

Thunderpussy

I too thought Jason Isaacs would have made a great Bond -{

Gassy Man

Like Charles Dance, Jason Isaacs looks too villainous to me. He's got beady eyes a cold, pointy face -- I would be fine with him playing a baddie in Bond.

Virgil37

chrisisall wrote:

Virgil37 wrote:

I didn't even know he was offered the role. He was in my short list back in 2005. It was him or Clive Owen.

Now I can't see anyone but Craig!

Back then Jason Isaacs would have been my #1 choice because of his turn in Jackie Chan's Tuxedo, but Clive Owen would have done it right as well. Craig's good, even a bit great, but those two missed possibilities still vex me... X-(
Jackman would have been fine, he can do accents flawlessly, but there's an aura of 'star' look to him similar to Pierce & Roger that might not have worked as well as in this 'gritty' age of Bond....

Definitely Isaacs would have been a great Dalton-ish Bond. He was a long way front being front runner though.

Blackleiter

Gassy Man wrote:

Like Charles Dance, Jason Isaacs looks too villainous to me. He's got beady eyes a cold, pointy face -- I would be fine with him playing a baddie in Bond.

+1 I think of him more as the villain type.

CmdrAtticus

Whenever I research images of possible Bonds that members post, they all seemed to have beards or stubble. What's up with that? Are they all doing sword/sandal/sorcery projects?

Thunderpussy

All the cool guys have beards these days.

Napoleon Plural

Well, you may have touched upon something with reference to Mr Jackman's beard.

Some say he was turned down for the role for being a bit fey.