# Orlando Bloom (Legolas) positioned to be next James Bond -- Good idea or bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954 "2004-03-28T19:13:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/21 "2004-03-28T23:45:33Z")
**carnivorousplant** - Ah. Danke tres mucho. Only ever seen Hoagie Carmichael (sort of) on an episode of _The Flintstones_ back in the 1960s. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/22 "2004-03-28T23:56:42Z")
**SanguineSpider** I apologize in advance, I am not picking on you, but… something in your post struck me as hilarious… > [@SanguineSpider](#): > > I hope Bloom doesn’t take the job. I don’t want to see him typecast as “Bond” and do nothing else for the rest of his life (maybe it wouldn’t happen, who knows). … > Legolas, just say, “NO!”. heheheeheheheheheee 😃 Okay. Back to the OP: Ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease, nononononono!!! He’s a very pretty young man, but…Bond? James Bond? No. I’ll just be over here, keeping my fingers crossed for Rupert Everett ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/23 "2004-03-29T00:31:59Z")
They should REALLY buck the trend and cast a golden retriever as Bond. “What is it, 007? Timmy fell in a well? And the well is a secret entrance to Blofeld’s lair?” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/24 "2004-03-29T02:55:21Z")
Yeah, I thought it was Ewan McGregor who was rumored to be the next Bond? Am I the only one who thinks that James Bond would actually be a terrible spy? I mean, he’s flashy, attractive, gets a lot of attention. Wouldn’t it be better to have some plain, nondescript little guy who just fades into the woodwork? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/25 "2004-03-29T03:06:32Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Yeah, I thought it was Ewan McGregor who was rumored to be the next Bond? > > Am I the only one who thinks that James Bond would actually be a terrible spy? I mean, he’s flashy, attractive, gets a lot of attention. Wouldn’t it be better to have some plain, nondescript little guy who just fades into the woodwork? Well, the Bond of the films is different than the Bond of the books, but even he was still a flashy kind of fellow. Ian Fleming modeled much of Bond after himself (including his incredible luck with women), and it’s said that the only Bond Fleming felt was a close match was Roger Moore’s Bond. (Frankly, I find that a bit hard to believe, being a Connory fan.) I know that Leem Neeson was _supposed_ to play Bond (with Connory set to play the villian) in a remake of _Thunderball_ which was entitled _Warhead 2000_ (_Warhead_ being the original title of _Thunderball_), but that got squashed by MGM’s lawyers. I’ve heard that Matt LeBlanc was bandied about as a possible Bond (yech!) in the past. It is a very hard role to fill, and perhaps it would be best if it were just allowed to lie fallow for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/26 "2004-03-29T03:13:01Z")
Well, I can’t see Orlando as being _worse_ than Roger Moore. But I am glad to see that I’m not the only guy who thinks Ewan McGregor would be a good 007. We should petition MGM, once Pierce retires. ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/27 "2004-03-29T03:42:16Z")
Hey, I _liked_ Roger Moore. His Bond came across as being able to balance both work and pleasure. Or at least my impression was that his philosophy goes something like: “Save the World, and the Hot Chicks Will Come Running”. 😃 And I know that Ian Fleming said there was only one Bond, but come on, it’s been 20 years. Can’t we make “James Bond” some sort of title for the secret agent that saves the world, gets cool gadgets, and scores with hot chicks while somehow remaining STD free? 😃 (And darn it, I say they should make a movie with all the Bond actors together before any more of them croak! ;p) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/28 "2004-03-29T03:46:33Z")
> [@dotchan](#): > > Can’t we make “James Bond” some sort of title No. He works for Her Majesty’s Secret Service, not the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/29 "2004-03-29T03:59:17Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Wouldn’t it be better to have some plain, nondescript little guy who just fades into the woodwork? He frequently uses the “Matt-Helm-Book-Not-Movie” approach, which is to be captured by the bad guy and have the snot beaten out of you so that you can get close enough to kill him. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/30 "2004-03-29T04:02:28Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > He looks nothing like Hoagie Carmichael. Well, eye am only a Scottish peasant. ---
**Author:** ![SanguineSpider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/31 "2004-03-29T04:02:42Z")
Sorry but I just think the whole Bond thing is over with. I really don’t care who “they” get to play Bond, I just hope Bloom doesn’t do it. I’m not saying he’s a great actor but he’d be killing any shot of getting good roles if he accepted, IMHO. I’d like to see what Bloom can do without resorting to a cliché character. That’s only my two cents, can I get change? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/32 "2004-03-29T04:08:13Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Well, eye am only a Scottish peasant. Bond and Connery are both Scots, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/33 "2004-03-29T04:14:08Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Bond and Connery are both Scots, aren’t they? Dunno, but Brosnan’s Irish. He claims that the first movie he ever saw in a theater, and the one that made him want to be an actor, was _Thunderball_. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/34 "2004-03-29T04:26:14Z")
> [@dotchan](#): > > And I know that Ian Fleming said there was only one Bond, but come on, it’s been 20 years. Can’t we make “James Bond” some sort of title for the secret agent that saves the world, gets cool gadgets, and scores with hot chicks while somehow remaining STD free? 😃 Wasn’t that part of the plot of _Casino Royale_? ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/35 "2004-03-29T04:44:51Z")
I heard a rumour about Clive Owen as the next Bond. ---
**Author:** ![RealTronic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9dc877/32.png) [@RealTronic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealTronic)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/36 "2004-03-29T04:46:55Z")
Umm… Why do rumours like these spread so darn fast??? According to a more reliable source, and a later date, Pierce Brosnan has, indeed, been offered the role of James Bond again. > [@](#): > > Hollywood bosses were forced to offer Pierce Brosnan the chance to play James Bond for a fifth time - after fans threatened to boycott the films if they replaced him. Brosnan, who last played 007 in 2002’s Die Another Day, was only optioned to reprise his role as the secret agent - and producers were considering recruiting fellow Irishman Colin Farrell. According to British newspaper The Daily Star Sunday, bosses deliberately leaked plans to gauge the response from the movie-going public - and were inundated with appeals not to ditch Brosnan. An un-named MGM executive tells the newspaper, “We didn’t realize what an army of supporters Pierce has. We got the message Pierce stays.” Cite: [http://us.imdb.com/news/wenn/2004-03-22](http://us.imdb.com/news/wenn/2004-03-22) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/37 "2004-03-29T05:12:15Z")
I don’t think you can credibly have a young Bond. he’s not young, he never was young. Part of the central Bond mythos is that Bond knows an incredible amount of different things, far more than you could reasonably expect a single human being to. Having someone very young with all those abilities and all that knowledge gets you into Buckaroo Banzai territory (Banzai was, in addition to being a crime fighter, a rock star, a brain surgeon and a rocket scientist). Next thing you know, Bond will be shooting laser beams from his eyes and teleporting from one location to another. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Eyed\_Stranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Green\_Eyed\_Stranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Eyed_Stranger)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/38 "2004-03-29T05:14:52Z")
I think Orlando Bloom would be good in a _Bond : Year One_ sort of way. Young fresh faced Royal Navy Lieutenant (or what ever is the lowest ranking officer is in the Royal Navy) is recuited by MI6, and we watch the transformation from idealist to killer. Charming killer, but killer none the less. I always thought that Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan had the perfect combination of charmer and killer to play Bond. Roger Moore was too much charmer, and Timothy Dalton was too much killer (although I always liked him as Bond). I don’t remember George Lazenby. Am I missing anyone? > [@Guinastasia](#): > > ``` > ... > > ``` > > Am I the only one who thinks that James Bond would actually be a terrible spy? I mean, he’s flashy, attractive, gets a lot of attention. Wouldn’t it be better to have some plain, nondescript little guy who just fades into the woodwork? Funny you should say [that](http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/03/06/offbeat.britain.spy.reut/) Take care GES ---
**Author:** ![SanguineSpider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/39 "2004-03-29T05:18:48Z")
Hmmmm? A _Wild Card_\* Bond, **Evil Captor**? Interesting… very interesting. 😃 - An obscure reference that only “cool” people will understand, heh heh… ok, I’m just kidding. But it IS a reference to a cool series of books. Check them out. ---
**Author:** ![Intent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5e9695/32.png) [@Intent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intent)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954/40 "2004-03-29T05:47:34Z")
If Orlando Bloom is going to play Bond, I want to be a Bond girl. Ooooh, Orlando… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orlando-bloom-legolas-positioned-to-be-next-james-bond-good-idea-or-bad/236954.md?page=3)