Pierce Brosnan Fired from 007

[Enola Straight]

MGM/UA apparently has fired Brosnan from the James Bond franchise.
http://www.ianfleming.org/mt_content/000233.html

[friedo]

I find it endlessly amusing that the guy behind the whole James Bond film franchise is named Al Broccoli (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_R._Broccoli). When you think of James Bond, the world's smoovest super secret agent, broccoli just doesn't come to mind.

Anyway, I thought Pierce had announced a while ago that he was officially retiring his license to kill.

[critter42]

A few months after this came out (check the date of the OP's link - October 2004 - almost a year ago), Hugh Jackman was being considered for the role. However, it was reported today that he has turned it down. See http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3380607a1870,00.html
Now they're considering Ewan McGregor or Clive Owen.

Another thing that is amusing - the woman who has played Moneypenny in the Brosnan films was named Bond, Samantha Bond :) :)

[Enola Straight]

Now they're considering Ewan McGregor or Clive Owen.

:)

Nope.

It's Orlando Bloom to play 007...sort of.
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/3472004.htm

[drm]

It's Orlando Bloom

I personally don't think that he has the required charisma - on screen at least.

[Charlie Tan]

I find it endlessly amusing that the guy behind the whole James Bond film franchise is named Al Broccoli (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_R._Broccoli). When you think of James Bond, the world's smoovest super secret agent, broccoli just doesn't come to mind.


The vegetable got its name from his family name. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110482/bio)The Broccoli ancestors had been responsible for crossing cauliflower with rabe and inventing a new vegetable that they named "broccoli", after their family name.

[DMark]

Pierce had been throwing public hissy fits for some time now...saying he was tired of the role yadayadayada and basically holding out for more money. They called his bluff.

I figure it is no big deal Have been plenty of Bonds over the years, and most did a decent job. Sean and Roger were quite good.

The Bond franchise is a formula. They really only need a pretty face that fits in a tux and the rest is gadgets, gals, guns, cars, chases, explosions and of course, "shaken but not stirred." Actually, the only difficult casting is to get a good villain.

[Omniscient]

Yeah, I don't know that calling is a "firing" is quite accurate. As all things in Hollywood, there's a lot of ego on both sides. Seems reasonable to assume that both sides had their issues and it's time for a fresh start. I find it kind of disappointing since I liked the Brosnan Bond, and would have enjoyed seeing him grow into the role. However, it seems that the films aren't coming quite fast enough these days to really entrench a actor into the role.

Orlando Bloom will submarine the character. The guy has no gravitas. He can't play the witty smarmy womanizer and he isn't likely to play the defiant hero kicking bad guy ass.

Without a sword or a bow the guy looks very pedestrian.

[Mister Rik]

What about Jude Law? Or was he even considered?

[CalMeacham]

How can Orlando Bloom play Bond?




Aside from the last film, I don't think Bond ever gets to use a sword.

[Peter Morris]

I think that Alexis Denisof (Wesley from Buffy and Angel) would make a good Bond.

[Acsenray]

I thought there was a policy that whoever plays Bond would always be British. That would bar an American like Denisof.

[cmkeller]

Cal Meacham:

Aside from the last film, I don't think Bond ever gets to use a sword.

He did in Moonraker, though I won't blame you if you prefer to forget that that film existed.

[cmkeller]

acsenray:

I thought there was a policy that whoever plays Bond would always be British.

George Lazenby was Australian.

The "policy" is probably unofficial. Or maybe it was put in place post-Lazenby, though I don't think there was anything wrong with his performance, and certainly not in the accent of his voice.

[ElvisL1ves]

The character is upper-class English, sure - but the only Englishman ever to play him was Roger Moore.

[Lute Skywatcher]

The character is upper-class English, sure - but the only Englishman ever to play him was Roger Moore.Acutally, the character is half Scots and half Swiss.

[Lochdale]

Brosnan is Irish. As in from Ireland. That is, he isn't English :cool:

[Jonathan Chance]

Lady Chance just threw out the name of Denzel Washington for Bond.

I admit, that's inspired. He could explode that character and MAN does he has screen presence.

[Acsenray]

Brosnan is Irish. As in from Ireland. That is, he isn't English :cool:

But he moved to England as a child and has spent most of his life there. I read in an interview that he cannot recreate his "real" Irish accent. So I'll count him as an Irish-born Englishman.

[Guinastasia]

Connery isn't English, either-he's Scottish. He's British, but not English.

[Enola Straight]

American actor James Brolin screentested as 007 in Octopussy.
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:NDg91Cdai8wJ:www.007forever.com/actors/octopussy.html+james+brolin+octopussy&hl=en

[Gatopescado]

What about Jude Law? Or was he even considered?

The first time I ever saw Law, I thought, "This guy would make a great James Bond".

[QuickSilver]

I like Jude Law but not for the Bond role. He's far too pretty. Bond is ruggedly hansome not pretty. Law is far too skinny and lanky as well. Though Bond was never a beefcake, he wasn't rail thin either.

[levdrakon]

I like Jude Law but not for the Bond role. He's far too pretty. Bond is ruggedly hansome not pretty. Law is far too skinny and lanky as well. Though Bond was never a beefcake, he wasn't rail thin either.

I completely agree.

My vote would go for Clive Owen.

[zoid]

The vegetable got its name from his family name. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110482/bio)
Not quite........

The word broccoli comes from the Latin brachium and Italian brocco meaning 'arm', or 'branch'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broccoli

[Acsenray]

I believe the claim about the relationship between the vegetable and the family name came from Cubby Brocolli himself, and he's a known bullshit artist, so ...

[msmith537]

Brosnan is a perfect James Bond, much like Sean Connery was. Clive Owen could at best be another Timothy Dalton.

I really can't think of any definitively Brittish actors in their late 30s-40s who would be a good bond.

[What Exit?]

Need a shout out from our Brit Dopers.
Possibly the next Bond would come from TV as Moore did.
Only advantage Moore had was I think the Saint was shown in the US before he got the gig.

[Acsenray]

Both Owen and Dalton have a similar stone-faced look. Somehow they're not quite as expresseive.

I think one of the reasons it might be difficult to find a new Bond that is satisfactory is because the character itself -- which was a fantasy figure from the beginning -- has become a collection of odd traits that doesn't ring true -- an upper-class personality and sensibility with working class roots - a middle-aged man in an athletic role - a misogynist hero - an undercover agent who wouldn't blend in anywhere he would be needed in a modern spy situation ...

[MovieMogul]

But he moved to England as a child and has spent most of his life there. I read in an interview that he cannot recreate his "real" Irish accent. So I'll count him as an Irish-born Englishman.So what accent was he using here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298856/) or here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119772/)?

[smiling bandit]

They called his bluff.

I don't think it was a bluff. I think he really didn't want to do it anymore, and he's now well-known and rich enough to do what he wants.

[Neurotik]

Brosnan is a perfect James Bond, much like Sean Connery was.
Perfect Bond? No way. Connery was the perfect Bond. You need to be smooth, classy but have an undercurrent of ruthlessness about them that tells everyone that you'd cut their throat without thinking twice if you needed to.

While he's not British, I think Russell Crow would be excellent - although, I doubt he would do it. I think Denzel Washington would be such a remarkably original person to cast that someone ought to give thought to it. He would be the perfect person to breathe a bit of life into a stale role.

[Acsenray]

So what accent was he using here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298856/) or here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119772/)?

Presumably a "fake" Irish accent. I can't remember the name of the magazine, but it was Irish Life or something with "Irish" or "Ireland" in the name. There was a long Q&A with Brosnan and (lamenting somewhat) said his original Irish accent was completely lost to him and implying that the English R.P. accent had become his natural one.

[Happy Scrappy Hero Pup]

I like Clive Owen. He's not as pretty as Brosnan, and has the requisite air of actual menace that nobody since Connery has had.

Denisof could pull it off, and I think that the success that comes with being Bond (or at least the steady work) would overcome any objections he might have over being typecast as a Brit. And maybe then we'd get some hot-and-heavy Bond Girl scenes with his wife.


Denzel, smooth as he is (and much as I'd like to see a fellow Fordham guy get some work) will never be bond for the same reason that Hayley Joel Osment will never be Akira, Jean-Claude Van Damme will never be Pancho Villa, and Ashton Kutcher will never be Shaft.


But let me again reiterate that Alexis Denisof as bond means a higher likelihood of Alyson Hannigan being a Bond Girl.

[bordelond]

My vote would go for Clive Owen.
I thought Clive Owen had the role already? Isn't he locked up to play Bond sometime in the future?

If it's not going to be Owen, how about James Purefoy (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0700856/)?

[bordelond]

I thought Clive Owen had the role already? Isn't he locked up to play Bond sometime in the future?
Never mind, seems I was misremembering (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/gossip/12409633.htm). That link posits Daniel Craig (http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/3025/Events/3025/DanielCrai_Wargo_4839892_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Craig,%20Daniel%20(I)) as the next Bond.

[Sensibility]

Typical! Brosnan was UNDOUBTEDLY the most GORGEOUS Bond - and the most BOND Bond in my view! :)

[levdrakon]

a middle-aged man in an athletic role - a misogynist hero - an undercover agent who wouldn't blend in anywhere he would be needed in a modern spy situation ...

That's a bit harsh, isn't it? I think these days, if a guy keeps himself in shape, he's okay doing athletic roles right into his 50's. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing 60. Lance Armstrong is going to be 34 pretty soon. At what age do you consider a man to be middle aged and implausibly athletic?

Misogynist? Also a bit harsh. Hasn't Bond more or less evolved past his Cro Magnon roots lately?

Anyway, I think Hugh Grant could breath some new life into the character. Gerard Butler could be cool, too.

[Acsenray]

Denzel, smooth as he is (and much as I'd like to see a fellow Fordham guy get some work) will never be bond for the same reason that Hayley Joel Osment will never be Akira, Jean-Claude Van Damme will never be Pancho Villa, and Ashton Kutcher will never be Shaft.

... why a Swede like Warner Oland could never play Charlie Chan and why a Kansan like Wallace Beery could never play Pancho Villa ...

I can see possibilities for a black James Bond. Why the heck not?

[Acsenray]

That's a bit harsh, isn't it? I think these days, if a guy keeps himself in shape, he's okay doing athletic roles right into his 50's. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing 60.

I was thinking more of the realities of the situation rather than the casting aspect. If you were writing a superspy story today, you'd most likely make him 24 than 42. The gentleman spy who actually gets into physical heroics was never really true-to-life archetype and has become almost ludicrous today.

Real gentlemen spies were people like Kim Philby, who didn't lep about, and who were actually working for the other side. Which is one of the main points -- an effective spy is more likely to be of the ethnicity of your enemy, not yourself.

[Bryan Ekers]

I nominate Jason Isaacs (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005042/) aka Lucius Malfoy aka Clark Devlin.

If not Bond, he'd make a cool villain.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

I've since heard rumors about Goran Visnic (sp?), an actor from E.R. who I'm not familiar with. I've heard all the rumors about Clive Owen, Ewan McGregor, Daniel Craig, and Hugh Jackman, and I could see any of the four of them bringing different things to the role -- or Alexis Denisof as well.

To be completely honest, I'm not the hugest Bond fan in the world. For action heroes, I'd much rather watch Jack Bauer, John McClane, Chow-Yun Fat, Batman, Spider-Man, or Indiana Jones. The Bond formula is just dated, and never had a place or a need to exist after the Cold War ended. But if they could make an entertaining action movie with a charismatic lead actor, a good villain, and at least one hot chick, I'd probably see it anyway.

[Kythereia]

Frillionth vote for Clive Owen. The man's got charisma, ruggedness, dangerousness, the right accent, and the right kind of Hollywood buzz. He'd do a great job.

[levdrakon]

While he's not British, I think Russell Crow would be excellent - although, I doubt he would do it.

James Bond, "fightin' 'round thuh wuld!"

I don't know if I could handle that. :)

[The Scrivener]

Jason Isaacs might make a good choice. He's got terrific screen presence and all in all would be a Bond in the Timothy Dalton mold, if not as tall. There's a couple of minor strikes against him, though -- his age (at 42, he's the same age now that Bronson was when he got the role) and what I suspect is a tendency for him to put on a little weight (but then, so did Connery and Brosnan at times). And would Isaacs be comfortable enough with action sequences?

I'd like to toss in a new name: Thomas Jane (The Punisher, Stander, Boogie Nights). Pros: he's a good and versatile actor, 36 years old, 5'11.5", looks great in action sequences and love scenes, and got into fantastic physical shape for The Punisher. Cons: he's American and not particularly well known. Mitigating factors: fans of action flicks know who he is, and he's good with accents. For Stander, he learned to do Afrikaans and Bantu [?] accents, so he could probably be convincing as a Brit.

[Loopydude]

For me Bond is Connery or Moore, for no other reason than that's who was playing him in all the movies I liked as a kid, and I didn't question what I was being fed. This impression has more-or-less been fixed in my subconscious mind, to the point I just cannot buy anybody else in the role.

IMO, the Bond franchise needs to take a loooong breather. Russurect the character in a generation, when the faces of old Bonds has had time to fade a bit.

[Airblairxxx]

I always thought this guy (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922035/) would be a great Bond.

[tim314]

I've submitted a correction to IMDB regarding the false claim that the broccoli plant was named for Albert "Cubby" Broccoli's ancestors. However, the automatic response says it generally takes a couple weeks for corrections to be approved.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Connery isn't English, either-he's Scottish. He's British, but not English.He's also closest to Ian Fleming's character in terms of heritage.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Alan Rickman (http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/1146/Events/1146/rickman_alan?path=pgallery&path_key=Rickman,%20Alan) seems to match up with Fleming's concept (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Fleming007impression.jpg) in terms of appearance. Too bad he's busy.

[Padeye]

How about Rowan Atkinson? OWOWOWOW!!! Stop! I was just kidding. Seriously though I thought Johnny English was a hoot and the ass kicking chase scene with the Aston Martin and tow truck was worthy of the best Bond movies.

I'm leaning toward Ewan McGregor after seeing his '60s suave guy in the otherwise sucky Down With Love.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

I'm leaning toward Ewan McGregor after seeing his '60s suave guy in the otherwise sucky Down With Love.

That's what finally sold him for me too. McGregor is always charming and a very versatile actor, but he was way more of a badass as the Cary Grant-esque Catcher Block in Down With Love than in all three Star Wars movies put together.

[Guinastasia]

I've since heard rumors about Goran Visnic (sp?), an actor from E.R. who I'm not familiar with.


Goran Visnjic (http://www.lose-myself.com/goranzone/) Only problem would be overcoming his thick Croatian accent.

[Omniscient]

Really don't like the thought of Ewan MacGregor. He's a little too pasty. Ewan, even after the Obi-wan stint, doesn't give off a vibe of being able to kick anyone's ass. Thats probably why he worked as Obi-Wan, since he was recreating Alec Guiness' take.

Bond to me is just loaded with testosterone. Thats why Jude Law and Ewan MacGregor don't fit for me.

A guy I think would really nail the role it George Clooney. Not sure how much losing the English accent would hurt the character, but if he recreated his Danny Ocean character with a little more physicality he'd be great. Maybe if the movie were written so that he had to blend into an American environment as part of his cover and adopting an American accent was a necessity.

Anyways, I thought Orlando Bloom was already a done deal.

Reading this article

http://www.empireonline.co.uk/site/news/newsstory.asp?news_id=16659

and this one

http://www.malefirst.co.uk/3472004.htm

It sounds like it's a sure thing. However, he'll be playing a young Bond in a prequel of sorts. And it also appears that there may be two concurrent Bonds. One playing the older Bond we're used to and Bloom as the young one. It doesn't seem to be clear in Casino Royale is intended to be that "young" Bond film or not. Perhaps that film is further off.

Clive Owen might be OK, if a little unispired. I like Owen, be he's better as the silent brooding type, not the more silver tongued Bond.

And Hugh Grant......um, seriously?

[Dr. Rieux]

Actually, Fleming never mentioned anything about Bond's ancestry until after Connery was cast. The first mention of Bond's Scottishness was in the novel OHMSS, which was written after Dr. No was filmed.
Clive Owen? Something bugs me about him--his head looks too big for his body.
Connery was the best Bond, followed by Dalton, Brosnan, Lazenby, David Niven, Connery's stunt double, and Roger Moore, in that order.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Actually, Fleming never mentioned anything about Bond's ancestry until after Connery was cast.Really? I think my parents still have my books so I was just going by what Wikipedia says.

[CalMeacham]

How about Rowan Atkinson? OWOWOWOW!!! Stop! I was just kidding. Seriously though I thought Johnny English was a hoot and the ass kicking chase scene with the Aston Martin and tow truck was worthy of the best Bond movies.



Rowan Atkinson's already been in a Bond movie -- he was "Small-Fawcett" in Never Say Never Again.


People do show up in multiple Bond films, but no secondary character has ever risen to become Bond.

[Enola Straight]

On that note, I would like to nominate Benedicio del Toro as a Latin Bond.

He was originally the right-hand-man of Robert Davi in the Dalton flick "The Living Daylights".

Muy suave.

"Bond...Jaime Bond".

[Acsenray]

On that note, I would like to nominate Benedicio del Toro as a Latin Bond.

He was originally the right-hand-man of Robert Davi in the Dalton flick "The Living Daylights".

Muy suave.

"Bond...Jaime Bond".

Alexander Siddig El Fadil (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/KColohan/sidcred.htm) as Yakub al Bond

Where is it we're going to need undercover agents anyway?

[Kat]

This is kinda freaky. My sister and I were just discussing Brosnan and Bond a few days ago, and she wants Adrian Paul to be the next Bond.

[carnivorousplant]

Have been plenty of Bonds over the years, and most did a decent job. Sean and Roger were quite good.

But there has been none like George Lazenby. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064757/)

[Bryan Ekers]

But there has been none like George Lazenby. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064757/)

Uh, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[carnivorousplant]

Uh, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Hey, he got to marry Mrs. Peel.

[Glory]

After seeing Red-Eye last night - Cillian Murphy! He is magnetic.

[Neptunian Slug]

I thought Christian Bale was in the running as well. Is he tied in for a series of Batman movies now?

[The Hamster King]

Orlando Bloom? Disasterous.

James Bond is the quintessential brute -- a thug on the inside, a polished veneer of sophistication on the outside. This is what made Connery so fascinating: the flickering glimpses of the wildness within. He could be utterly charming and yet at any moment you could imagine those strong fingers closing around someone's neck ... .

Russell Crowe would be perfect.

[smiling bandit]

A guy I think would really nail the role it George Clooney.

As with many mentioned here, Clooney just doesn't have the physicality or authenticity. No matter what he does, he gives off this awful impression of being, well, "George Clooney Acting!"

[Acsenray]

As with many mentioned here, Clooney just doesn't have the physicality or authenticity. No matter what he does, he gives off this awful impression of being, well, "George Clooney Acting!"

Well, the impression I get from Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and George Lazenby, and Pierce Brosnan is of a guy not acting at all.

Don't get me wrong, Connery's fun to watch and I consider Brosnan to be a damn fine actor. But in their James Bond roles, they didn't do any acting at all.

And with Roger Moore, it was often much worse. I just caught some bits of Moonraker. My god, the acting is so bad in that movie. Lois Chiles was just so goddamn awful. Doesn't Albert "Cubby" Broccoli have any sense of pride in his work at all?