Casting Suggestions for Bond 23

frostbitten · July 2009

I did a quick search, and couldn't find a thread dedicated to casting suggestions for Bond 23 yet, so I thought that I would start one.

To get things rolling, I'll give my suggestion for the Bond girl role. I was in a mall earlier today, and this poster caught my eye:

The_Time_Traveler%27s_Wife_film_poster.jpg

The_Time_Traveler%27s_Wife_film_poster.jpg

Immediately, I began to think that EON should definitely give Rachel McAdams a long look when casting the female lead for Bond 23. I have been a fan of Rachel since seeing her in Red Eye, a tense thriller in which she played a terrorist hostage who turned into a heroine. In that role, she was able to showcase a very appealing mixture of good looks, intelligence, vulnerability and toughness, all qualities that EON seems to want in a modern Bond girl. Furthermore, at 31, she is not too young for DC's Bond

thesecretagent · July 2009

A sound choice - she was good in Red Eye.

j.blades · July 2009

really bond girl worthy, shes not just very good looking shes elegant something i think is the most important thing for a bond girl. :007)

frostbitten · July 2009

I'm glad you guys agree. She is a very good actress too, who has done well in a wide variety of movies, from comedies to action adventures.

Colonel Shatner · July 2009

She would be a much better choice than Megan Fox, that's for sure.

frostbitten · July 2009

Any other casting suggestion? Come on, AJB'ers, let's pretend that EON has put us on its payroll and given us the task of handling the casting for its next film. Let's come up with good candidates for the main roles: villain, henchman, Bond girl, girl #2, Moneypenny, and maybe even M ?

EDOG51 · July 2009

Hi guys, great topic. ive been thinking about this for a while and i think the perfect enemy duo (villian & henchman) would be:
Villian: Terrence stamp (valkyrie)
Henchman: Djimon Honsou (Gladiator)

What do youy think?

frostbitten · July 2009

I like the idea of Terence Stamp as the main villain a lot.

He looks tough, and yet would be totally believable as the mastermind of a giant organisation like Quantum. It's about time that we get back to a "Father Figure"-type of villain in a Bond film.

Napoleon Plural · July 2009

New Blondes please...

Loeffelholz · July 2009

David Suchet as a high-ranking Quantum baddie...with some big professional wrestler-type guy like Randy Orton as his 'go to' guy when some dirty work needs done...

Rick Roberts · July 2009

I would like to see Cillian Murphy as a truly twisted henchperson. I mean just look at his eyes...

*shudder*

As for main villian, Bruno Ganz gets my nom as the head of Quantum.

HowardB · July 2009

We need a physically imposing henchman that actually looks like he can kick Bond's butt (maybe a pro wrestler or MMA type like Brock Lesner or Kimbo Slice). Also, there has to be a role in a Bond film for Mickey Roarke...with the hair, plastic surgery and pumped up build he looks like something Fleming could only dream up. Main villain, crooked rogue CIA agent, shady contact/middleman...he'd be good in just about any role.

Rick Roberts · July 2009

HowardB wrote:

We need a physically imposing henchman that actually looks like he can kick Bond's butt (maybe a pro wrestler or MMA type like Brock Lesner or Kimbo Slice).

As long as they don't talk I'll be happy.

frostbitten · July 2009

HowardB wrote:

We need a physically imposing henchman that actually looks like he can kick Bond's butt (maybe a pro wrestler or MMA type like Brock Lesner or Kimbo Slice).

That's a good suggestion. I was thinking that, for the henchman role, we can either go for a big guy like those you mentioned, or a small, fast, martial artist like Cyril Raffaelli. He pulled off some insane moves in the movie District 13. He will more than match DC in the speed department, and make for a very credible threat in the fight scenes.

HowardB · August 2009

No reason we can't have one of each in 23....one big, scary imposing henchman and one smaller martial arts expert henchman. I'm thinking Ray Park (Darth Maul) for the smaller martial arts henchman. For good measure, let's cast Hugh Lurie as "Q". His cranky Dr. House persona would be perfect for "Q" albeit with his natural British accent.

PPK 7.65mm · August 2009

How about Jason Chambers as the MMA trained henchman? He used to host the television series Human Weapon on the History Channel, and has an extensive MMA backround along with some acting credits under his belt.

Hardyboy · August 2009

Personally, I think Jared Harris plays superb villains, with his dead-eyed look and braying delivery--he'd make a great adversary for Bond.

blueman · August 2009

Hardyboy wrote:

Personally, I think Jared Harris plays superb villains, with his dead-eyed look and braying delivery--he'd make a great adversary for Bond.

Had to Google him to know who you meant, but yeah agree, he'd be awesome and a very unique choice for the series.

SB_Diamond · August 2009

I think that as far as Bond girl Gabrielle Anwar (Burn Notice) has great potential. She's a great actress, has a unique look and is definitely tough.
For a Bond villain Micheal C. Hall would be awesome (and if you've ever seen Dexter you'd know that).
I think an awesome henchman that could absolutely get the job done, and we don't even have to see his face (or we totally could because he is actually a very sexy aussie) is Ray park! I'll save you the trip to google: Darth Maul in SW: Ep. 1, currently Snake Eyes in the new G.I. Joe movie. Now I have met this guy in person and if anyone can give 'ol Craiggers a kick ass fight sequence, it's definitely this guy!

Rick Roberts · August 2009

SB_Diamond wrote:

For a Bond villain Micheal C. Hall would be awesome (and if you've ever seen Dexter you'd know that).

Too young IMO.

Mr. Arlington Beech · August 2009

Sean Connery should be the main villain

Rick Roberts · August 2009

Mr. Arlington Beech wrote:

Sean Connery should be the main villain

He might break his hip just trying sitting down.

)

frostbitten · August 2009

Speaking about martial arts henchman, I think Tony Jaa would be a terrific choice. Any fan of martial arts films would know that the best movies of this genre being produced right now are from Thailand, and the new star emerging from those movies is Tony Jaa. Some people even believe that Tony, even with only a few films under his belt, has already surpassed the traditional mainstays of the genre like Jet Li and Jackie Chan. The thing about Jaa is that he does all his fights and stunts without using any wire.
Remember how a Lethal Weapon movie launched Jet Li into mainstream Hollywood flicks? I believe it's only a matter of time before Hollywood "discovers" Jaa. It would be cool if a Bond film helps introduce a great new talent to the Western mainstream audience.

Dan Same · August 2009

frostbitten wrote:

Speaking about martial arts henchman, I think Tony Jaa would be a terrific choice. Any fan of martial arts films would know that the best movies of this genre being produced right now are from Thailand, and the new star emerging from those movies is Tony Jaa.

I adore martial arts and have been a massive martial arts fan since I young. Tony Jaa is extraordinary and is probably my favourite current martial artist (Jet Li hasn't done a proper martial arts film in quite a while), and one of my goals in fact is to go to Thailand within the next 12 months to watch the kickboxing.

(Unlike most Australians, I'm not particularly interested in the beaches or the prostitutes.) Anyway, Jaa is incredible, and by my money, his best martial arts was in Tom-Yum-Goong, in which he came to Australia to rescue a pair of kidnapped elephants.

I have to say, I'm not opposed to Jaa playing a henchman (as you noted, Li was launched off the back of playing a villain in Lethal Weapon 4), but there has to be one unnegotiable condition. Bond can not beat him in a fight off the back of his own fighting skills. If Bond does beat Jaa's character, it must be due to creativity or because Bond discovers a weapon. I would be horrified if Bond 'kicks Jaa's ass.'

frostbitten wrote:

Some people even believe that Tony, even with only a few films under his belt, has already surpassed the traditional mainstays of the genre like Jet Li and Jackie Chan.

I don't think he's quite as good as Li was at his peak, but I do think he's better than Chan. Although that's not saying a huge deal as IMO Chan is overrated. I regard him as more of a stuntman/physical performer rather than a pure martial artist. I'm not a fan of his comedic style (I like humour, but not in my martial arts), and I've never had a religious experience watching Chan, unlike with Li and Jaa.

Rick Roberts · August 2009

I am sorry but I don't want any hip martial artists in Bond films, that just screams DIE ANOTHER DAY or those horrid XXX films. If you are going to have muscle, do something like Red Grant.

Dan Same · August 2009

Rick Roberts wrote:

I am sorry but I don't want any hip martial artists in Bond films, that just screams DIE ANOTHER DAY or those horrid XXX films. If you are going to have muscle, do something like Red Grant.

Ordinarily I would agree with you, as I don't particularly want to see Tony Jaa get killed (and by Craig of all people), however I would love it if Jaa got more international recognition. Plus if it was done right, he could be a great henchman. This guy is a magnificent martial artist; there are probably only a handful of people in the world who could defeat him in hand-to-hand combat, and he would be an awesome challenge for Bond. However it has to be done right, and first of all, Craig can not defeat him on the back of his fighting skills. I don't care how good James Bond is at hand-to-hand combat, he could not defeat Tony Jaa unless he used a weapon (and even then, the odds are still against Bond), or if he tricked him such as in GF when he defeated Oddjob.

Loeffelholz · August 2009

For my own part, I've seen enough close-quarters, martial arts-style action (fisticuffs, knife fights, etc) between two guys who look more or less evenly matched. I'm ready to see Bond get his ass kicked---thrown around the room, through windows, etc---by someone who's obviously at least twice as strong as he is, and quite a bit larger. I lean more toward a professional wrestler-type figure...and Bond should beat him by 'cheating' :v B-)

Colonel Shatner · August 2009

I would cast Julian Bleach as an ex-Soviet Quantum agent; he gives off Steven Berkoff vibes.

Rick Roberts · August 2009

Dan Same wrote:

Rick Roberts wrote:

I am sorry but I don't want any hip martial artists in Bond films, that just screams DIE ANOTHER DAY or those horrid XXX films. If you are going to have muscle, do something like Red Grant.

Ordinarily I would agree with you, as I don't particularly want to see Tony Jaa get killed (and by Craig of all people), however I would love it if Jaa got more international recognition. Plus if it was done right, he could be a great henchman. This guy is a magnificent martial artist; there are probably only a handful of people in the world who could defeat him in hand-to-hand combat, and he would be an awesome challenge for Bond. However it has to be done right, and first of all, Craig can not defeat him on the back of his fighting skills. I don't care how good James Bond is at hand-to-hand combat, he could not defeat Tony Jaa unless he used a weapon (and even then, the odds are still against Bond), or if he tricked him such as in GF when he defeated Oddjob.

I am sorry but casting him is just to much down the territory of modern day action films. A new Leathal Weapon film, fine. Just not Bond.

frostbitten · August 2009

Dan Same wrote:

Tony Jaa is extraordinary and is probably my favourite current martial artist (Jet Li hasn't done a proper martial arts film in quite a while), and one of my goals in fact is to go to Thailand within the next 12 months to watch the kickboxing.

I have to say, I'm not opposed to Jaa playing a henchman (as you noted, Li was launched off the back of playing a villain in Lethal Weapon 4), but there has to be one unnegotiable condition. Bond can not beat him in a fight off the back of his own fighting skills. If Bond does beat Jaa's character, it must be due to creativity or because Bond discovers a weapon. I would be horrified if Bond 'kicks Jaa's ass.'

You're going to Thailand, Dan? That's great! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun watching the muay thai fights in Lumpinee or Raja Stadiums. I've always wanted to watch someone like Yodsanklai or Buakaw live, so maybe one day I'll go to Thailand too, or Japan, to see an A-level fight.

I agree with you that it would be a bit ridiculous to see Craig kick Jaa's ass (although it would be much less ridiculous than seeing Mel Gibson kill Jet Li!). However, Bond doesn't really need to be a better fighter to win a fight, does he?

And for people like Loeff, who want to see Bond face an opponent who can throw him around and beat him up a bit before succumbing to 007's ingenuity and creativity, Jaa (although not physically bigger than DC by any means) can certainly do that.

Loeffelholz · August 2009

frostbitten wrote:

And for people like Loeff, who want to see Bond face an opponent who can throw him around and beat him up a bit before succumbing to 007's ingenuity and creativity, Jaa (although not physically bigger than DC by any means) can certainly do that.

I'm sure he might, although I have no earthly idea who this fellow is. What I'd like to see again, as I said, is more than just another nine-punches/knife thrusts-per-second face-off (which is what we've been seeing quite a lot lately, it seems)...I want to see Bond overpowered, outsized and outmatched...just like I'd enjoy seeing an older man as a main Bond villain once again, vs the guys who lately all seem to be about Bond's age

Casting Suggestions for Bond 23

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