I don't believe one second the future director will try to push for any specific actor. First, that wouldn't be fair at all towards the directors of Bond 27, Bond 28...Why giving more credit to the director of Bond 26? Just because he'll make the film introducing the new Bond? I really don't think EON work like that.
There will be auditions and the final word will be Barbara's. To be honest, I'm relieved it works this way. She's the guardian of the temple and knows her job, which means she has enough experience not to be influenced by anyone. Of course she will listen to the people working with her, but that's it. Furthermore, the next actor will be chosen precisely because the producers feel he's the right person to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond. Nothing less, nothing more.
Being part of the discussion is one thing. But like @emtiem says, Craig wasn't Campbell's first choice whereas Barbara already had a crush on him. Debbie McWilliams also considered he would be fantastic, an opinion I completely share. He's in my top 3 with the scottish legend and Dalton (I'm talking about the acting, not the movies).
Brosnan was Cubby's decision (his last contribution to the franchise) and Campbell didn't really have a say in such a choice.
People often overestimate the director's degree of power. The producers will not be influenced by anyone, and I think we can be happy about that if we want the franchise to keep going well.
I wish people wouldn’t say she had a crush on Craig. She’s a professional producer, she chose Craig because he was damned good. It’s reductive and sexist. Why not say that Cubby fancied Brosnan? Seems more likely in a way as he wasn’t as good an actor, there has to be some reason.
I should have mentioned in my earlier McQueen post that another reason why I thought McQueen might be in the running is comments by his Blitz film's leading lady Saoirse Ronan about wanting to be a Bond villain during her Blitz press tour. See this post by me on another thread.
I didn't know until Googling just now that she is married to Slow Horses star Jack Lowden. In interviews for the latest season of Slow Horses I saw he was asked about Bond 'rumours'. Personally I can't see him as Bond. He's the right age, but he looks quite young to me.
Watching the video again I see now her Bond villain aspiration has been around for some time and she says she knows Babs Broccoli. I've also found videos of Lowden being asked if he'd like to direct Saoirse in a Bond film. She has also commented on him playing Bond.
In this context, having a crush has obviously an artistic meaning. It doesn't imply anything else. I honestly didn't think I would have to make it clear considering the essence of the comment, precisely because it never came to my mind.
I've always had a crush on Al Pacino as an actor, and it means what it means. Barbara Broccoli proved her profesionalism is above everything. I know some people use such an expression in the wrong context to make simplistic theories on the gap between NTTD and Bond 26, but I honestly consider my post as explicit enough to make any reader understand it has nothing to do with it.
I’d say given the look and feel of the new Jackle series any of directors involved could easily enter the discussion. That series is filling a big, Bond shaped hole for me ;)
I haven't seen the Jackal TV series yet, but I've seen some of the work of Brian Kirk. After seeing his movie "21 bridges" I posted here that Kirk would make a good Bond director. He has also made TV series like Penny Dreadful and GoT.
I had a look at the IMDB profiles of the Day of the Jackal directors and I can't see any movies in their backgrounds.
They are all TV directors.
Looking back at the Bond movie directors, they may have done some TV, Cara Joji Fukunaga more than most, but they had all directed theatrically released movies. Even Michael Apted, who described himself as a documentary maker, had directed movies, in particular the Gene Hackman movie Extreme Measures, which I'd recommend.
So, as enjoyable as DoTJ maybe, I can't see any of them directing Bond26.
I've now watched "21 Bridges," Brian Kirk's movie. It's OK.
The Rottentomatoes critics score of 55% is a bit harsh, but the audience score of 91% is over the top. Its a Chadwick Boseman film, and he was a big star, and it has Sienna Miller and J.K. Simmons. The cast is good, it's a story about a heist that goes wrong and it turns out there is more to it than first meets the eye, but I found it took a while to get going, and it's only just 90 minutes long. I think the script wasn't good and I didn't see anything remarkable in the direction.
Looking back at the Bond directors I was surprised to see that Martin Campbell had the least movie experience with only three films before Goldeneye. And they have shockingly bad critic and audience scores on RT
I was surprised by the RT scores as he has some great actors in there from Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon and Joe Don Baker in Criminal Law and Barbara Hershey and J.T. Walsh in Defenseless. And No Escape has Ray Liotta and Lance Henriksen.
Not particularly thrilled by a Die Hard remake. The original is a monument and this movie will likely suffer from the comparison with McTiernan's masterpiece. Furthermore, I'm not a big fan of Daisy Ridley.
I don't think people should stop making people action movies about high rise buildings because of one brilliant movie back in the 1980s. After all we all want more movies about a British agent blowing up the lair of rish madmen with accents. And I think Daisy Ridley was good in Murder on the Orient Express.
I think there's a big difference between an umpteenth remake without originality (some shots are the exact same ones as in the 1988 film) and brand new stories involving an iconic character who's currently being reinvented precisely to show he's still relevant nowadays.
And having an actor/actress you consider 'good' in a movie doesn't necessarily mean he/she is the best choice for another role. I think she really lacks of charisma. Just look at Clive Owen in the trailer. He's the only one who nails the thing, making Ridley look like a simple supporting role...
Comments
I don't believe one second the future director will try to push for any specific actor. First, that wouldn't be fair at all towards the directors of Bond 27, Bond 28...Why giving more credit to the director of Bond 26? Just because he'll make the film introducing the new Bond? I really don't think EON work like that.
There will be auditions and the final word will be Barbara's. To be honest, I'm relieved it works this way. She's the guardian of the temple and knows her job, which means she has enough experience not to be influenced by anyone. Of course she will listen to the people working with her, but that's it. Furthermore, the next actor will be chosen precisely because the producers feel he's the right person to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond. Nothing less, nothing more.
Campbell preferred Cavill. As you say, the producers pushed for Craig though: the right choice.
Tradition is that the director is in on the discussion if a new Bond actor is chosen. But as emtiem reminds us, it’s not the deciding vote.
Being part of the discussion is one thing. But like @emtiem says, Craig wasn't Campbell's first choice whereas Barbara already had a crush on him. Debbie McWilliams also considered he would be fantastic, an opinion I completely share. He's in my top 3 with the scottish legend and Dalton (I'm talking about the acting, not the movies).
Brosnan was Cubby's decision (his last contribution to the franchise) and Campbell didn't really have a say in such a choice.
People often overestimate the director's degree of power. The producers will not be influenced by anyone, and I think we can be happy about that if we want the franchise to keep going well.
I did say " push for", as for example Campbell did for Cavill.
I wish people wouldn’t say she had a crush on Craig. She’s a professional producer, she chose Craig because he was damned good. It’s reductive and sexist. Why not say that Cubby fancied Brosnan? Seems more likely in a way as he wasn’t as good an actor, there has to be some reason.
I should have mentioned in my earlier McQueen post that another reason why I thought McQueen might be in the running is comments by his Blitz film's leading lady Saoirse Ronan about wanting to be a Bond villain during her Blitz press tour. See this post by me on another thread.
Saoirse Ronan talks about wanting to be a Bond villain at 37min 48secs in this video
I didn't know until Googling just now that she is married to Slow Horses star Jack Lowden. In interviews for the latest season of Slow Horses I saw he was asked about Bond 'rumours'. Personally I can't see him as Bond. He's the right age, but he looks quite young to me.
Watching the video again I see now her Bond villain aspiration has been around for some time and she says she knows Babs Broccoli. I've also found videos of Lowden being asked if he'd like to direct Saoirse in a Bond film. She has also commented on him playing Bond.
I guess they both know what gets clicks.
In this context, having a crush has obviously an artistic meaning. It doesn't imply anything else. I honestly didn't think I would have to make it clear considering the essence of the comment, precisely because it never came to my mind.
I've always had a crush on Al Pacino as an actor, and it means what it means. Barbara Broccoli proved her profesionalism is above everything. I know some people use such an expression in the wrong context to make simplistic theories on the gap between NTTD and Bond 26, but I honestly consider my post as explicit enough to make any reader understand it has nothing to do with it.
Saorsie Ronan would be a great Moneypenny, but I guess she's too famous.
I’d say given the look and feel of the new Jackle series any of directors involved could easily enter the discussion. That series is filling a big, Bond shaped hole for me ;)
I haven't seen the Jackal TV series yet, but I've seen some of the work of Brian Kirk. After seeing his movie "21 bridges" I posted here that Kirk would make a good Bond director. He has also made TV series like Penny Dreadful and GoT.
hearing great things on the new DAY OF THE JACKAL from a lot of people. Great to hear.
I've only watched the first but it's very enjoyable so far.
"Analyze this, mister Bond" asks the question; Who should direct the next James Bond film?
I had a look at the IMDB profiles of the Day of the Jackal directors and I can't see any movies in their backgrounds.
They are all TV directors.
Looking back at the Bond movie directors, they may have done some TV, Cara Joji Fukunaga more than most, but they had all directed theatrically released movies. Even Michael Apted, who described himself as a documentary maker, had directed movies, in particular the Gene Hackman movie Extreme Measures, which I'd recommend.
So, as enjoyable as DoTJ maybe, I can't see any of them directing Bond26.
Brian Kirk has made one movie for cinematic release, but an episode of Game of Thrones is as big or bigger than most movies.
I've now watched "21 Bridges," Brian Kirk's movie. It's OK.
The Rottentomatoes critics score of 55% is a bit harsh, but the audience score of 91% is over the top. Its a Chadwick Boseman film, and he was a big star, and it has Sienna Miller and J.K. Simmons. The cast is good, it's a story about a heist that goes wrong and it turns out there is more to it than first meets the eye, but I found it took a while to get going, and it's only just 90 minutes long. I think the script wasn't good and I didn't see anything remarkable in the direction.
Looking back at the Bond directors I was surprised to see that Martin Campbell had the least movie experience with only three films before Goldeneye. And they have shockingly bad critic and audience scores on RT
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/criminal_law
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/no_escape
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/defenseless
If Campbell was hired for any reason it was probably Edge of Darkness and Reilly: Ace of Spies which were both fantastic, but TV.
NO ESCAPE is a blast, one of those really fun B movies that's much better than it has any right to be due to its execution. Highly recommended.
I was surprised by the RT scores as he has some great actors in there from Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon and Joe Don Baker in Criminal Law and Barbara Hershey and J.T. Walsh in Defenseless. And No Escape has Ray Liotta and Lance Henriksen.
Martin Campbell, at the ripe old age of *checks notes*, 81, does a British Die Hard with, eh, Daisy Ridley.
Campbell's bid for Bond26?
Not particularly thrilled by a Die Hard remake. The original is a monument and this movie will likely suffer from the comparison with McTiernan's masterpiece. Furthermore, I'm not a big fan of Daisy Ridley.
I don't think people should stop making people action movies about high rise buildings because of one brilliant movie back in the 1980s. After all we all want more movies about a British agent blowing up the lair of rish madmen with accents. And I think Daisy Ridley was good in Murder on the Orient Express.
Ooh gosh that looks slightly spoof-level bad doesn't it. As SeanIs says, it can only suffer in comparison.
I think there's a big difference between an umpteenth remake without originality (some shots are the exact same ones as in the 1988 film) and brand new stories involving an iconic character who's currently being reinvented precisely to show he's still relevant nowadays.
And having an actor/actress you consider 'good' in a movie doesn't necessarily mean he/she is the best choice for another role. I think she really lacks of charisma. Just look at Clive Owen in the trailer. He's the only one who nails the thing, making Ridley look like a simple supporting role...
Martin Campbell has rarely impressed outside of the Bond series. We don't know if he can repeat what he did with GE and CR one more time.