An American/Canadian actor as James Bond

PierreVW · August 2017

Ryan Gosling looks like the perfect James Bond.

Gosling is Canadian.

Charmed & Dangerous · August 2017

Hi Pierre, interesting choice (though a bit wide of the mark IMHO, but we're all entitled to our own opinion). What makes you think Gosling looks like the perfect Bond? And where are you from, btw? -{

I wouldn't have a problem with a Canadian or an American playing Bond if they were the best candidate for the role, all things being considered, though I'd prefer Bond to be British for obvious reasons.

Number24 · August 2017

I don't think Bond should be played by an American, meaning anyone from that continent. There are leads of North American action heroes and a British actor playing JB maintaining that difference and tradition.

caractacus potts · August 2017

is there a North American actor who could pull off the accent sufficiently to fool/satisfy genuine British audiences?
I think Peter Sellers and Hugh Laurie are the only Brits I know of who could persuasively do the reverse.

when I was a lad here in Toronto, I had lots of schoolmates who still had the lingering evidence of a British accent, their parents had been born in the UK and they had lots of family and neighbours who spoke the same. Mike Meyers for example would be of my generation and would also have been surrounded by the remnants of that accent growing up. I don't hear that so much any more, people lose that accent after a decade or two, kids are more influenced by other kids (and tv), and new Canadians are more likely to come from other parts of the world.

Gassy Man · August 2017

I take a lot of ribbing for thinking Burt Reynolds, in his early days, when he was actually acting, could have pulled off the role. I still think he could have with the amount of work to refine him as they did Connery in the early days.

But I can't think of an American actor who could play the part today. I'm not sure about one who's Canadian, though, and that's an interesting proposition.

As far as Ryan Gosling goes, no. He's an odd looking man, with a long face and tiny eyes set too close together. If he was acting in the 1960s or 1970s, they would have always cast him in roles as a psycho or pervert, a la Bruce Dern or L.Q. Jones.

Strange how times have changed.

Enjoying Death · August 2017

Wes Bentley could easily pull off Bond if he could do a Brit accent. He's definitely got the looks.

walther p99 · August 2017

PierreVW wrote:

Ryan Gosling looks like the perfect James Bond.

Gosling is Canadian.

Gosling is one of my favorite actors but I think he would be absolutely wrong for Bond.

hehadlotsofguts · August 2017

James Brolin screen tested for Octopussy. There's a fight scene on Youtube. I think he's a great fighter. I'm glad they didn't cast him and Roger came back. Brolin isn't right for Bond.

zaphod99 · September 2017

Gassy Man wrote:

I take a lot of ribbing for thinking Burt Reynolds, in his early days, when he was actually acting, could have pulled off the role. I still think he could have with the amount of work to refine him as they did Connery in the early days.

But I can't think of an American actor who could play the part today. I'm not sure about one who's Canadian, though, and that's an interesting proposition.

As far as Ryan Gosling goes, no. He's an odd looking man, with a long face and tiny eyes set too close together. If he was acting in the 1960s or 1970s, they would have always cast him in roles as a psycho or pervert, a la Bruce Dern or L.Q. Jones.

Strange how times have changed.

Agree with you regarding Gosling, disagree re Reynolds. Weird thing about Gosling is that younger predominantly (but not exclusively Female) friends think he is 'gorgeous'

Matt S · September 2017

zaphod99 wrote:

Gassy Man wrote:

I take a lot of ribbing for thinking Burt Reynolds, in his early days, when he was actually acting, could have pulled off the role. I still think he could have with the amount of work to refine him as they did Connery in the early days.

But I can't think of an American actor who could play the part today. I'm not sure about one who's Canadian, though, and that's an interesting proposition.

As far as Ryan Gosling goes, no. He's an odd looking man, with a long face and tiny eyes set too close together. If he was acting in the 1960s or 1970s, they would have always cast him in roles as a psycho or pervert, a la Bruce Dern or L.Q. Jones.

Strange how times have changed.

Agree with you regarding Gosling, disagree re Reynolds. Weird thing about Gosling is that younger predominantly (but not exclusively Female) friends think he is 'gorgeous'

Lots of people find Benedict Cumberbatch attractive too, and a Saturday Night Live sketch last year tried to figure out why despite how odd-looking he is. It seems that odd-looking men are what people are finding more attractive now. Our current James Bond is in that direction too. The Roger Moore/Pierce Brosnan types aren't destined to be movie stars any more.

Dirty Punker · September 2017

Matt S wrote:

zaphod99 wrote:

Gassy Man wrote:

I take a lot of ribbing for thinking Burt Reynolds, in his early days, when he was actually acting, could have pulled off the role. I still think he could have with the amount of work to refine him as they did Connery in the early days.

But I can't think of an American actor who could play the part today. I'm not sure about one who's Canadian, though, and that's an interesting proposition.

As far as Ryan Gosling goes, no. He's an odd looking man, with a long face and tiny eyes set too close together. If he was acting in the 1960s or 1970s, they would have always cast him in roles as a psycho or pervert, a la Bruce Dern or L.Q. Jones.

Strange how times have changed.

Agree with you regarding Gosling, disagree re Reynolds. Weird thing about Gosling is that younger predominantly (but not exclusively Female) friends think he is 'gorgeous'

Lots of people find Benedict Cumberbatch attractive too, and a Saturday Night Live sketch last year tried to figure out why despite how odd-looking he is. It seems that odd-looking men are what people are finding more attractive now. Our current James Bond is in that direction too. The Roger Moore/Pierce Brosnan types aren't destined to be movie stars any more.

Yeah, but comparing Daniel and Benedict isn't exactly apples to cucumbers comparison.
(There is a failed joke in there, somewhere.)

Oakvale · September 2017

George Clooney would have made an absolutely fantastic Bond. He's obviously way too old now, and an American, and in all honesty I have trouble seeing anyone outside of the UK playing Bond for a long time. An exception might be an American born to British citizens that has a Transatlantic accent of sorts (like Cary Grant) or some sort of other technicality, but yeah, Bond will always be British in some way.

welshguy34 · September 2017

I would prefer Bond to be played by a Brit or an Irishman. Don't think there is any need to cast a North American actor.

walther p99 · September 2017

Matt S wrote:

zaphod99 wrote:

Gassy Man wrote:

I take a lot of ribbing for thinking Burt Reynolds, in his early days, when he was actually acting, could have pulled off the role. I still think he could have with the amount of work to refine him as they did Connery in the early days.

But I can't think of an American actor who could play the part today. I'm not sure about one who's Canadian, though, and that's an interesting proposition.

As far as Ryan Gosling goes, no. He's an odd looking man, with a long face and tiny eyes set too close together. If he was acting in the 1960s or 1970s, they would have always cast him in roles as a psycho or pervert, a la Bruce Dern or L.Q. Jones.

Strange how times have changed.

Agree with you regarding Gosling, disagree re Reynolds. Weird thing about Gosling is that younger predominantly (but not exclusively Female) friends think he is 'gorgeous'

Lots of people find Benedict Cumberbatch attractive too, and a Saturday Night Live sketch last year tried to figure out why despite how odd-looking he is. It seems that odd-looking men are what people are finding more attractive now. Our current James Bond is in that direction too. The Roger Moore/Pierce Brosnan types aren't destined to be movie stars any more.

Though I think between Gosling, Cumberbatch and Craig, Craig is the one with the most conventional leading man looks IE angular jawline and general masculine bone structure.

Gassy Man · September 2017

hehadlotsofguts wrote:

James Brolin screen tested for Octopussy. There's a fight scene on Youtube. I think he's a great fighter. I'm glad they didn't cast him and Roger came back. Brolin isn't right for Bond.

He's actually much better than I ever thought he would have been. He's got a lot of Connery's confidence. Watch him in Westworld, where he channels a lot of that. He doesn't quite look the part -- he's a bit too American beefy rather than British refined, if that makes sense -- but perhaps he could have learned.

Gassy Man · September 2017

zaphod99 wrote:

Gassy Man wrote:

I take a lot of ribbing for thinking Burt Reynolds, in his early days, when he was actually acting, could have pulled off the role. I still think he could have with the amount of work to refine him as they did Connery in the early days.

But I can't think of an American actor who could play the part today. I'm not sure about one who's Canadian, though, and that's an interesting proposition.

As far as Ryan Gosling goes, no. He's an odd looking man, with a long face and tiny eyes set too close together. If he was acting in the 1960s or 1970s, they would have always cast him in roles as a psycho or pervert, a la Bruce Dern or L.Q. Jones.

Strange how times have changed.

Agree with you regarding Gosling, disagree re Reynolds. Weird thing about Gosling is that younger predominantly (but not exclusively Female) friends think he is 'gorgeous'

The thing about Reynolds is that most people imagine him as the later, mustachioed incarnation. When you see him in the 1960s and early 1970s -- when he's trying harder to act -- he has more of the raw macho quality that Connery brought to the screen. It would have taken him work, but I'm convinced it could have been done. Watch some of these clips and just imagine him more refined and with a reasonable accent rather than playing an American southerner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Ynxoqo8gw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ0nA_2qOWc

ml94 · September 2017

hehadlotsofguts wrote:

James Brolin screen tested for Octopussy. There's a fight scene on Youtube. I think he's a great fighter. I'm glad they didn't cast him and Roger came back. Brolin isn't right for Bond.

"Mid Atlantic style".

An American/Canadian actor as James Bond

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