Is There Need For A Reboot With Each Recasting?

BIG TAM · October 2012

We've all noticed the odd trend within the superhero genre for kick-starting the franchise all over again with a new origin story whenever a new actor is cast in the lead role. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN's the latest example of this.

I think it's nonsense to keep rehashing. Do people think the Bond team will do the same every time they recast 007 from now on? I hope not, but I've a feeling they may now see this as the way to go in order to compartmentalise a specific actor's tenure in the role.

77007 · October 2012

No. The new actor transitions of the earlier Bonds were fine. Just act like they belong and carry on with the show.

I agree on the superhero origins thing. It's unnecessary.

GordoLeiter · October 2012

77007 wrote:

No. The new actor transitions of the earlier Bonds were fine. Just act like they belong and carry on with the show.

Plus each actor added his own twist or style to the 007 character. (Besides Lazenby who just mimicked Connery)

Mr Beech · October 2012

I don't think it is necessary, but as we've just discussed in another thread, I don't mind the idea of Craig's Bond getting a closure or ending (excluding his death or incapacitation). I don't, however, want to see them keep trying to tell the story of Bond becoming a double-0 over and over. I think from now on, at least for the next couple of Bonds, they should pick up with him like he's been there all along as the series has just about always done.

77007 · October 2012

I could see a prequel, Batman Begins style, working for a new actor. Showing early life, recruitment, then training, and ending the film as he gets his OO.

Mr Beech · October 2012

77007 wrote:

I could see a prequel, Batman Begins style, working for a new actor. Showing early life, recruitment, then training, and ending the film as he gets his OO.

They could draw it out a bit like that, but I thought part of Casino Royale's inspiration was having already seen the changes made to Batman for Batman Begins.

Seemed to me like they already made the origin story they wanted to make in a post-Nolan-Batman world.

CmdrAtticus · October 2012

The producers did the reboot precisely because of 9-11 and the Bourne films and the reboots of Batman, Superman, etc. Thought DAD made fantastic box office, they felt it was the right time to get back to a more realistic Bond. No, I don't think he will be rebooted in the future with new actors, but I could be proven wrong. The trick with the series is to maintain its relevancy to current times. I'm still hoping a TV adapted series of Fleming's novels set in the Cold War era when they were written will some day be made, and will be done as well as Granada Television's Sherlock Holmes series were made.

Jimmy Bond · October 2012

I don't think so, either.

Although I want to point out that the reboot had less to do with 9/11 and more to do with the fact that they wanted to apetize a new filmgoing generation. And with the reboot craze being hot in the mid-00's, I bet Michael G. Wilson was finally able to realize what was probably the original pre-title sequence for TLD - showng Bond earning his 00's. As we all know, Cubby was dead set against rebooting Bond in '87, and Maibaum confirmed in an interview prior to that film's release.

Still, I personally view the Craig era as the third phase of Bond, and the first to totally disassociate itself from any past Bonds. I mean, you can view the Dalton-Brosnan endeavours as their own "saga", with the '60's Bond as loose history (very loose - not the exact same films, but facets and situations similar but different, you know?), which is what I do anyway.

So in that spirit, I'm sure that whoever follows on Craig can also follow on Craig's movie continuity. Why not, after all?

chrisisall · October 2012

Jimmy Bond wrote:

Although I want to point out that the reboot had less to do with 9/11 and more to do with the fact that they wanted to apetize a new filmgoing generation.

Both and neither IMO.

minigeff · October 2012

Short answer; No.

The whole 9-11 thing didn't play that much of a part in the need for a reboot. I believe BB mentioned 9-11 in an interview and I think some have misconstrued that as the basis for the reboot. The reboot occurred for many reasons, one being that the tragic events of 9-11 changed the world, made it a very different place. The bond films are meant to be a bit of escapism, but it had gone off the rails somewhat with DAD. It was time for a fresh start with a new bond and a more realistic foe to deal with.

Now the reboot has occurred, we're firmly back on the right track and when Craig finally hangs up the holster (not too soon I hope), the next in line will do exactly what the others did before him; bring their own interpretation of the character to the table and hopefully continue this great and unique film franchise for many years to come.

As for comic book films, 'the watchmen' is the only one I like and the day a Bond villain can fly or has pew pew laser eyeballs, I'll be doing 'a Banatine' and declaring myself...

OOT!!

Thunderpussy · October 2012

As each new actor comes along How they Play Bond and whatever few Tweaks
the Producers add, should keep the series fresh and moving in the right direction.
I don't think anything as drastic as another reboot would be needed for another
long,long time.

) ( and in a Galaxy far, far away )

minigeff · October 2012

Thunderpussy wrote:

As each new actor comes along How they Play Bond and whatever few Tweaks
the Producers add, should keep the series fresh and moving in the right direction.
I don't think anything as drastic as another reboot would be needed for another
long,long time. ) ( and in a Galaxy far, far away )

Well said mate.

Mr Beech · October 2012

I love Watchmen...

Thanks for reminding me. I'll have to watch it again.

chrisisall · October 2012

The Comedian is like Bond on the DARK Side...

CmdrAtticus · October 2012

minigeff wrote:

Short answer; No.

The whole 9-11 thing didn't play that much of a part in the need for a reboot. I believe BB mentioned 9-11 in an interview and I think some have misconstrued that as the basis for the reboot. The reboot occurred for many reasons, one being that the tragic events of 9-11 changed the world, made it a very different place. The bond films are meant to be a bit of escapism, but it had gone off the rails somewhat with DAD. It was time for a fresh start with a new bond and a more realistic foe to deal with.

Now the reboot has occurred, we're firmly back on the right track and when Craig finally hangs up the holster (not too soon I hope), the next in line will do exactly what the others did before him; bring their own interpretation of the character to the table and hopefully continue this great and unique film franchise for many years to come.

As for comic book films, 'the watchmen' is the only one I like and the day a Bond villain can fly or has pew pew laser eyeballs, I'll be doing 'a Banatine' and declaring myself...

OOT!!

I believe 911 had a larger impact psychologically on the action film genre than some think. Up until then writers (in print and in film and television) could still sell exaggerated plots and characters. After 911, writers in the genre had to deal with the fact that audiences, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, were just subjected to the same in your- face- terror that that average people in places like the Middle East, Africa and Indonesia had been living with for years. Having an action hero, even as iconic as Bond, jet setting around to defeat greedy billionaire villains with nefarious over the top plots would be hard to swallow anymore. They knew they would have to concentrate more on character and suspense and believeability and have plots current with the political climate. DAD was already underway when 911 took place. The beginning of the film was a good concept dealing with renegades in North Korean military and Bond's capture. I don't think the writers would have gone on with the rest of the plot involving another DAF type scenario and starting a North Korean conflict post 911, but the die was cast.

chrisisall · October 2012

^^^ Very spot on IMO.

Is There Need For A Reboot With Each Recasting?

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