Sam Neill as Bond

Eagleman · December 2006

Would Sam Neill have made a good Bond? In his screentest on TLD dvd, shows him in a good light. He seemed very good. Although was he too much like another Roger Moore? It'd been nice to see him have a go.

highhopes · December 2006

I think Sam would have been very good indeed. I haven't seen the screen-test and I don't know if his Bond would have been like Moore's, but he certainly displayed a ruthless side in Reilly: Ace of Spies. In fact, the only real downside to him as Bond, as I see it anyway, was that he made such a distinct impression as Reilly. I would have been constantly comparing the two, much as I do with Moore's Bond and Moore as The Saint.

Klaus Hergescheimer · December 2006

Neill probably would have been very good, but it would have meant that Dalton would have never been Bond, which would have been tragic for me (although it probably would have been welcome to a number of fans).

Eagleman · December 2006

Me too. Dalton was a great Bond. My scond best after Craig. Although Brosnan will always come ahead of Sean & Roger, Dalton was the first Bond to really show how Bond was from the book.

Secret Asian Man · December 2006

He is not handsome enough. He looks like a commoner person and not suave and be handsome like James Bond. Think about it, for while people complain about Dan Craig about not having the classic handsome looks. Imagine if Sam Neil get to be casted??:)

Dan Same · December 2006

Secret Asian Man wrote:

He is not handsome enough. He looks like a commoner person and not suave and be handsome like James Bond. Think about it, for while people complain about Dan Craig about not having the classic handsome looks. Imagine if Sam Neill get to be casted??:)

I will leave Craig alone, but on Neil I disagree. Considering that I am confortable with my sexuality, I don't mind making the following statement: IMO Neill is extremely good looking.

sito · January 2007

nah. Sam Neil is too old. He wouldn't be able to endure rigorous action scenes in the movie. Moreover, he doesn't looks to benign to be the Bond in this movie. This Bond has to look ruthless, cunnning and handsome.

although Sam Neil would be suitable of other bond movies if he were 15yrs younger.

Loeffelholz · January 2007

sito wrote:

although Sam Neil would be suitable of other bond movies if he were 15yrs younger.

Well...actually, Neill was 20+ years younger than he is now when considered

I think he would have been smashing :007) He was my first choice at the time, based primarily on his bravura performance in Reilly: Ace of Spies B-)

superado · January 2007

I saw (on DVD) or read somewhere how Wilson (and Glen?) were ecstatic over Neill's screen test but then Cubby flatly vetoed it. There was some reason why he felt that way but I don't remember it at the moment.

Personally, the only issue I would have had with Sam Neill was his height, but now that issue's been hurdled and has proved to not be a problem with the general audience.

Loeffelholz · January 2007

I definitely think Neill would have been best suited in a Craig-style interpretation---i.e., darker and more 'realistic'/serious, like Reilly---than in the status quo style.

There's a clip of Neill's screen test somewhere (on the TLD DVD?); I thought he did quite well.

And you're right about the height issue, supes---at no point, during CR, did I think: "Hey, wait...he's not tall enough."

Moore Not Less · January 2007

Loeffelholz wrote:

I definitely think Neill would have been best suited in a Craig-style interpretation---i.e., darker and more 'realistic'/serious, like Reilly---than in the status quo style.

There's a clip of Neill's screen test somewhere (on the TLD DVD?); I thought he did quite well.

And you're right about the height issue, supes---at no point, during CR, did I think: "Hey, wait...he's not tall enough."

I see Sam Neill as best suited in the middle between the darker portrayal of Daniel Craig and the lighter portrayal of Roger Moore. I also thought he did quite well in his screentest. He would have been a good Bond, in my opinion.

Regarding the height issue. Craig's supposed lack of height has never been an issue with me before, during and after Casino Royale.

Dan Same · January 2007

Moore Not Less wrote:

Regarding the height issue. Craig's supposed lack of height has never been an issue with me before, during and after Casino Royale.

Me too. I do have provlems with Craig's appearance

but as for his height; well, he's taller than Tom Cruise so I have no problem with his height.

bigzilcho · January 2007

Speaking of Sam Neill...I thought he was terrific opposite ol' Sean in The Hunt For Red October. And lets not forget Dead Calm.

Neill as 007? Not my choice, but I think he would have made a good Bond.

"Yes...considerably."

John Drake · January 2007

I thought Neill’s screentest was OK. I think it’s a scene from FRWL they use. Fiona Fullerton’s the actress working with him. Does anybody know when this was filmed? I'm sure Neill was mentioned for FYEO, for which he would have been perfect. However, John Glen mentions Neill’s success in ‘Reilly Aces of Spies,’ which I think was 82, so am I right in thinking this would have been a test for OP? ?:)

Dan Same · January 2007

I think it comes down to who Neill would have replaced. If it was Moore in OP, then no thanks, but if it was Moore in AVTAK and then Dalton, then yes please.

emtiem · January 2007

superado wrote:

Personally, the only issue I would have had with Sam Neill was his height, but now that issue's been hurdled and has proved to not be a problem with the general audience.

What; you reckon Sam Neill is short? I've never got that feeling at all- just looks normal bloke height to me.

Sam Neill as Bond

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