Ben Whishaw as Q in Skyfall

SiCo · November 2011

For those that haven't seen it has been announced that Ben Whishaw will play Q in Skyfall.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2066095/Ben-Whishaw-play-youngest-Q-Bond-film-Skyfall.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15889689

VESPER65 · November 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15889689

Convenient Pocket · November 2011

Also repeated here

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2066095/Ben-Whishaw-play-youngest-Q-Bond-film-Skyfall.html

welshboy78 · November 2011

Cool - the idea of a "serious" Q will be a cool addition to the DC era Bond films! Maybe we will still get the odd joke but not quite as OTT!!

MrZareba · November 2011

Great!

minigeff · November 2011

oh fantastic, a kid with a bit of bum fluff as the new Q.

and here's me thinking M was the mother figure and Q the dad.

Q should be a character who dislikes bond for trashing the toys, someone who bond could see an authorative figure who could dish him out a bollocking.

whoever cast this child as Q needs to be dragged to vauxhall bridge and thrown off it.

plus, how could someone so young be the head of a dept? passed his 11+ and got striaght A's?

what a load of f@*king ****.

Hardyboy · November 2011

Someone on this site was earlier predicting that Whishaw would be Q. . .I'm now suspecting that Eon has a mole!

This could be interesting, and I'm wondering if Eon is taking a page out of Carte Blanche, making the head of Q Branch a young guy (too bad they didn't cast an actor of Indian heritage, though) and perhaps even giving him his own name, just so he can say, "Q is a department, not a person!"

BenSV650 · November 2011

I'm surprised that neither of those tabloids noted that Craig and Wishaw have already worked together on Layer Cake.

oscar rubio · November 2011

I do not like the idea that a boy so young interpret Q, someone who has always been older than Bond, so young as to be interpreted to Major Boothroyd?

TRT1968 · November 2011

OMG. Massive foul up. Way too young. And why does the BBC say head of Q branch? Ill-informed, lazy BBC journos.

SiCo · November 2011

Minigeff also points out the article in the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/nov/25/ben-whishaw-james-bond-skyfall?newsfeed=true

Blackleiter · November 2011

This could be interesting, and I'm willing to withhold judgment until I see the finished product.

HowardB · November 2011

I'm guessing the new charactorization of "Q" will be of a young quirky eccentric genius type....someone who Bond might be able to mess with a bit. Or maybe he can be a new "Q" prompting Bond to question his credentials based upon his youth and grouse about "who is this kid you got to replace Major Bootheroyd?"

Thunderbird 2 · November 2011

I am not fussed. Casting Craig as Bond imade me give up on having an opinion in advance, and Ben Wishaw is one of a new generation that can deliver the goods. I have often thought it would be interesting to cast him in a play alongside current Dr Who Matt Smith as brothers because their style, looks and intensity is very similar. As an aside, I was pleased that Naomi Harris has been cast, she is another of those actresses that is lovely, and also delivers the goods with conviction.

My only concern in this development is it is all dependant (as always) in the writing. If Q.2 is written realistically, he could be an interesting and fun character, taking a new narrative direction leaving Mr Llewellyn's excellent original portrayal alone in his memory. - We have all said he could not be replaced, to try would be wrong.
On the other hand, we could end up with an awful parody, no matter how hard the actor works the scenes! I am thinking a horrific combination of IQ from James Bond Jnr, and Small Fawcett from NSNA!!

One thing that I spotted - none of the articles seem to quote EON / Danjaq direct? Or have I just missed that?

Regardless, I will wait and see on Oct 26th.

Mr Martini · November 2011

HowardB wrote:

I'm guessing the new charactorization of "Q" will be of a young quirky eccentric genius type....someone who Bond might be able to mess with a bit. Or maybe he can be a new "Q" prompting Bond to question his credentials based upon his youth and grouse about "who is this kid you got to replace Major Bootheroyd?"

This is how I see it happening to. Someone who is border line genius. Perhaps he'll be quick-witted also. I have no problem with Q being so young, as long as it's believable.

00-Agent · November 2011

I'm just happy the character is back. I would have preferred someone older, but as Thunderbird 2 said if its written well he could turn out to be a interesting character.

Golrush007 · November 2011

I like the idea of a new, young Q rather than trying to play to the same ideas and jokes as Llewelyn and Cleese. I look forward to seeing Whishaw's take on the role, and what the script gives him to play with. If done well, I certainly think it could be a nice way to reintroduce Q.

That said, I think the age of the new actor should perhaps have been around 40 to be believable as the head of a secret service department like Q branch. Still, my reaction is leaning more towards the positive side than the negative.

superado · November 2011

What specific character traits did Q/Major Boothroyd have that needs to be preserved? As the armourer of the novels, Major Boothroyd seemed pretty indistinct. In the films, he was the weapons and gagetry expert that seemed to blend in with the service's "establishment." The character he developed was one based on insufferable animosity towards Bond with variations on affection...which in my opinion has run its course and can be left in the past. What's left is a key resource person in the service who is a genius in his field of technological weaponry, and nowadays, that's pretty much the youth, so I'm okay with a younger, or even ethnic Q, per Carte Blanche. What will be interesting is how they'll broach the issue of classic Bond gagetry in this "post-modern" direction of the DC Bond; in the past 2 films, the gagetry was there, but more as part of the subordinate woodwork of the service, which is appropriate in this day and age when regular people carry on their cellphones the technology basis for the homer, spy camera, photocopier, gps, etc.

Wilde · November 2011

I think most purists would disagree, as I did at first. Having thought about it, it will work just as long as they don't try to make him act out the original character. -{

blueman · November 2011

Whishaw is 30. Also a very good actor. Don't have a problem with this per se, but like a new car chase I'll have to see how it's played out before I can say if I like it or not. :007) Hopeful about this for now.

Martin Aston · November 2011

HowardB wrote:

I'm guessing the new charactorization of "Q" will be of a young quirky eccentric genius type....someone who Bond might be able to mess with a bit. Or maybe he can be a new "Q" prompting Bond to question his credentials based upon his youth and grouse about "who is this kid you got to replace Major Bootheroyd?"

Ben Whishaw's isn't going to be a new character brought in to replace Desmond Llewelyns Q. Remember this is still a reboot, so they are in effect one and the same person.

Thunderpussy · November 2011

So Bond is now "The Old Man" of the series

)
Now Q can make the sort of Jokes Bond did about M as "The Old Man"

I'll give it a go, a younger Q, will be different. Although I wonder how long is the contract for, as I can't see a young actor letting himself get tied down to a long contract as a Minor character. So it could be All Change soon.
Mabey get Justin Bieber as the New M. Once Dame Judi goes apart from Bond will old people even exist in the new Bond universe.

Number24 · November 2011

I have wanted Ben Whishaw to play Q for some time now, so obviously I support this piece of casting. So far it looks like Skyfall will be a really good movie!

Lexi · November 2011

Golrush007 wrote:

I like the idea of a new, young Q rather than trying to play to the same ideas and jokes as Llewelyn and Cleese. I look forward to seeing Whishaw's take on the role, and what the script gives him to play with. If done well, I certainly think it could be a nice way to reintroduce Q.

I agree - I think, rather than follow in the shadow of the last two, why not do something completley different. It suits the new era - and lets face it, it is the younger generation that really understands the new tech.

I'm intrigued with this... although it's interesting that at the title launch, not much was said (if anything at all?) about this role.... unless I missed it

)

Blood_Stone · November 2011

I don't mind young Q. Its realistic with today's generation given the technology available plus it means Whishaw is set for life when it comes to acting work!

I'm surprised that neither of those tabloids noted that Craig and Wishaw have already worked together on Layer Cake.

Funny enough, they had good chemistry in that film (with Craig not taking Whishaw seriously) so I can see them picking up where they left off now that they're reuniting on-screen.

But then again they can switch the 007/Q interaction around by making 007 the impatient one, which I think they'll probably go since he already gives M the "Yeah, whatever." attitude.

BondAllTheWay91 · November 2011

SiCo wrote:

For those that haven't seen it has been announced that Ben Whishaw will play Q in Skyfall.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2066095/Ben-Whishaw-play-youngest-Q-Bond-film-Skyfall.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15889689

I think casting a younger actor for the role of Q is stating that The producers of the latest incarnation of James Bond want to take the franchise in an all new direction. I personally think all US bond fans should hold on tight and see what the New re- imagined Q will bring to this latest bond flick...then judge the new actor as we wish.

scaramanga1 · November 2011

Personally I don't mind. I think a bit of Geek Chic is what they feel is right for this moment in time. Look at the current Doctor Who for example. Also the ages of some of the characters in series like Spooks. It is obvious to me that they have gone for the young talented gadget genius type. Which in these days majority of firms have got young bright things working for them in their creative departments. So why not have a young Q. I welcome his addition as I personally think he is a fine young actor.

Mr Martini · November 2011

I was also thinking this version of Q may be able to go out in the field if need be. And since I believe they're going for a genius type character, this Q may be able to "Macgyver" a gadget together.

lotus · November 2011

Pants

Thunderpussy · November 2011

It will be odd in the Movie to see the ladies Drooling over Q while Bond sits at the Bar knocking back the Vespers.

)

Lady Rose · November 2011

I'm a traditionalist and usually quite adverse to change but I dont see a problem here. As long as they keep the character quite serious I'll be happy.

Ben Whishaw as Q in Skyfall

Comments