This is just an FYI: The Duchess of Cornwall is coming for your man! These are some photos of Tom Hiddleston and Camilla (the Duchess of Cornwall) at the 500 Words event in London on Friday. Tom wore his glasses for the entire event, and he looked rather dashing and eggheaded. Camilla noticed! Camilla couldn’t get enough of Lord Dragonfly. She was photographed more with Hiddles than anyone else.
Speaking of Hiddles being dashing, some random site is now insisting that FOR SURE this time, Tom is in advanced talks to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond. Maybe “replace” is the wrong word, considering Daniel already had one foot out the door by the time it came to promote Spectre. Daniel doesn’t WANT it. And producers are looking for a new Bond and they think Tom Hiddleston is it. Per Birth.Movies.Death.:
If you’ve read the Bond coverage on this site, you know we don’t run tabloid rumors or speculation without clearly identifying them as such. They’re fun to debate and discuss, but we’re always very careful to separate gossip from actual information. It’s important to keep that in mind as we tell you that sources close to Tom Hiddleston have told Birth.Movies.Death. that Tom Hiddleston is in fact in advanced talks to take over the role of James Bond from Daniel Craig. Choosing words carefully, our source confirms that while talks have indeed taken place, and that Hiddleston very much wants the job (a fact of which he’s made no secret), no official offer has been made – yet.
There are a couple ways to parse this news. One is to take it at face value: Daniel Craig is out, the role of 007 is open, and it may very well be Hiddleston’s for the taking. Another is to apply the lessons Vincent Chase and Ari Gold taught us back on Entourage: Eon might be talking to other actors in an attempt to catalyze a response from Craig. If it’s the latter, c’est la guerre, I guess. If it’s the former, our source is for the first time confirming what’s been, until now, nothing but tabloid rumor-mongering.
I watched the final episode of The Night Manager last week and I still don’t know why people were suddenly like “Tom should be 007” after that miniseries. It was a good miniseries and Tom did a great job in it. But the role wasn’t Bond-like. It wasn’t even Bond Lite. It was a completely different monster. And I find it frustrating that Bond producers are like, “Meh, he did something vaguely Bond like, let’s hire him!” Meanwhile, Idris Elba is so clearly the better candidate! And we were told that hiring Idris would be too “obvious,” right? How is it not blindingly, stupidly obvious to hire Hiddles? Ugh. You guys know I like Tom and everything but my initial reaction is still the same: he would make a terrible Bond.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
I really really don’t see him as Bond at all, and I will be quite disappointed if it does turn out to be him. As for the Night Manager, he was fine in it but Hugh Laurie and Tom Hollander stole every scene they were in. I’d prefer one of those two as Bond to be honest.
Oh my, I just commented the same thing before I saw yours Lennox!
I can see Hugh Laurie as 007 before TH; he’s very hot.
But really, the idea that in 2016 execs are still not even floating the idea of Idris Elba is ridiculous. Charisma, acting ability, charisma, looks, charisma, track record, charisma . . .
There’s only ONE reason it could be and that’s racism. Ugly. They should be talking about him as a potential candidate at least. As a woman, I’d actually want to see him in that irrelevant, outdated, lame, flabby, flaccid, out-of-it role.
He’d bring it freshness and life.
Elba is mid 40s and they won’t be filming for another couple of years.
I disagree though Roper and Corky were amusing at times, I just wanted their scenes to be over so I could get back to Jonathan.
Agreed about Hugh Laurie! So compelling it made me feel guilty.
I agree, this is terrible. I know people will disagree, but I honestly think Henry Cavill would be perfect for it…or someone else who has a certain sophisticated vibe — Tom is such a goofball.
James Bonds needs to be charismatic, and Cavill has the charisma of a dead fish.
I agree—Henry Cavill has zero charisma.
Cavill is completely devoid of charisma and is just plain vapid. I wouldn’t cast him in anything and don’t understand why he even has an acting career. I find him completely un-watchable. Ugh. I love TH, but cannot see him as Bond.
The best Bond-like reference for Cavill is Man From U.N.C.L.E and he was pretty good in that! Some hints of humor, banter, & wit with Armie Hammer.. However Cavill just isn’t naturally charismatic, a good script & actor to play off of is what helps him, & James Bonds’ whole thing is ‘natural charisma/charm’.
I like Hiddleston but he’s no Bond. Purely on aesthetic alone, Bond is universally attractive, not niche. The looks of Idris Elba, Fassbender, even Jon Hamm (lol) are more in line with the Bond aesthetic.
Loki is not a goofball, neither is Henry V, Coriolanus or Jonathan Pine, and the list goes on. Personally he might be over joyous and a goofball sometimes, but professionally he is an actor.
Completely agree.
This Slate piece is the best assessment of all this talk I’ve seen. http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/05/27/tom_hiddleston_does_not_prove_he_should_be_james_bond_in_the_night_manager.html
It’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that Hiddleston could pull off Bond, but The Night Manager is no argument that he should. Hiddleston and the Bond franchise don’t suit each others’ strengths. I would like to see someone else as Bond for a while (I vote Olivia Coleman, as others on this site have suggested, and Secret Squirrel, Dawn French as Moneypenny is genius), and let Hiddleston continue to flesh out his career and range, and depending on how that plays out, maybe be in the running later. At the moment I would think it would be a poor career choice for Hiddleston.
Full disclosure, I think the whole Bond franchise needs some serious shaking up; it’s stale and flat, and hardly worthy of the talents that have kept it afloat so far, and are being suggested to continue in it. I hope it gets a surprising make-over, whomever is chosen. Actually, it could just die and it would be no great loss at this point.
Could not agree with you more about the Bond franchise being stale. And the article you posted sums up for me why I don’t think TH would work. Hang on – let’s put those two things together. TH becomes Bond, challenges villains who would take over the world to a dance off, collects Taylor Swift as Bond girl and dance partner, conquers everyone. The End.
Ta dah!
“it could just die and it would be no great loss at this point.”
Except to the Broccoli family and all the others sucking off the million dollar Bond teat.
I agree. If they’re not going to make some innovative changes to the franchise and do it right and pay for good writing then they should just stick to Craig or his type of Bond (which Idris is). Hiddleston has a lot of Bond qualities but doesn’t quite hit that mark, the Craig tough Bond. And TH wouldn’t be enough of a change in the Bond pantheon either to warrant as a new and innovative development.
NOOOO!! I’m a Craig girl!!
Same here. I hope he comes back for a few more films My favorite is Casino Royale – loved him and Eva Green.
Yeah, I’m not feeling him as Bond. He seems too “slight” for me somehow, for that role.
Only if you’re comparing him to Craig, but not if you take Roger Moore or even Pierce Brosnan into consideration. But yes, most people are probably going to compare him to Craig.
I don’t recall ‘anyone’ thinking that Daniel Craig would make a good Bond (because he was shorter than the normal Bond and …ew … Blond), but he did. 🙂
Hugh Laurie for Bond!
Dawn French for Moneypenny!
Gag reel would be stupendous!!
Omg I would pay mucho money for that.
Dawn French for Moneypenny! Brilliant, ticks times a millionth! Just take all my money now.
I do not like this casting decision. I hoped Hiddles having cashed some marvel money would focus on smaller indie projects longterm
Marvel doesn’t pay well.
Agree with lilac. When he signed the Marvel contract for 5-6 movies, he was unknown, plus he was a villain. So you know they got him pretty cheap which is how they work their budget.
Marvel is *notoriously* cheap with its actors. RDJ got away with something in their eyes!
What I am wondering: Hiddles has completed three Marvel films, with a fourth coming up soon. His contract is for six, and I can’t believe that Marvel will not want to take full advantage of having him locked in at a lower pay rate.
The Bond franchise is stale. he already is franchised out. I’d like to see him do more indies.
Will we have to wait to see if he survives Ragnorak to see if Marvel are going to use him in 6 films, or would him dying in Ragnorak not mean anything?
I am not sure why so many people think Tom would be wrong for the role. I haven’t watched TNM yet so I do t have a clue whether the roles are similar and I don’t think that matters.
Is he a good actor? IMO yes he is. Can he rock a suit, smirk, swirl a martini and look intense driving a car? Yes. What exactly, in addition to that, does Bond need? Would you buy that women would fall into his arms? Sure. Then what is the problem? Even if one were to argue that you prefer a serious thespian with a varied repertoire…. He has that too.
If disliking Tom as Bond has to do with overall casting another white man instead of diversifying the franchise that is a different discussion but I don’t think it means that Tom should not be interested in the role or that he would do a bad job.
Agree 100%. For all the reasons you said.
I think you are wrong. I don’t think most women would want tom as bond.
His build is not ideal but more importantly he is not a man most women would fall for immediately. He is definitely acquired taste just like benedict.
Also, he doesn’t ooze masculinity and the way he looks at women has never convinced me. He looks at women like a straight woman looks at another woman.
This.
Craig Daniel built a Bond that could compete with Bourne and company. A manly, masculine Bond. Its a vibe. It just effortlessly seeps out of his pores. Tom doesnt have that. And he is now so well known that he couldnt fake it. We already know him his inner desperate puppy dog persona.
Naya you summed up Craig for me! He’s my favorite Bond. And it is a vibe that will be difficult to replace.
Anon- you nailed it, great comment. TH is all wrong for Bond, it would be a worse casting than DC was.
To say that he isn’t a man that women would fall for has also been proven false. Just look at what he did with Loki!
@Naya,
Not everybody sees Tom as a “desperate puppy dog” just cause CB snarks on him this way. I don’t think Tom is the best fit for Bond either and agree that most people now want or are going to expect the raw masculinity that Craig has established. That’s his biggest problem. The rest, like his off camera fooling around or cringe interview moments, are just inconsequential and easily forgotten.
Funny thing: I’ve heard, from people that don’t come here, thus didn’t drink the Dancing Bear kool aid, that they do not see Tom as Bond, because Tom is too (sic) “dark”.
On a related note, I still remember people complaining back when Craig was casted, that he just wasn’t a good Bond because he was too bulky and brute. *shrugs*
Well, Bond has many action scenes and I can’t buy Hiddleston as someone who takes down terrorists in physical fights. Let alone more than one opponent.
I think people definitely feel strongly about their Bond preference. For me, Tom isn’t Bond, at all. I don’t think he has that fierce masculinity that is necessary. Bond needs swagger. I like Tom quite a bit, but I want someone more . . . feral. But to each their own!
Tom actually has a damn good swagger!
But fierce or feral masculinity? No. That’s not his “natural” type. He’s more suave and calculated. So if people are wanting Bond to be the suave version of Bourne like Craig is, then TH is not a good fit.
Anon, I never said most women want Tom as Bond, I only expressed my own preferences. I have liked various Bonds, including Craig and Moore and Brosnan. Very different types, they played Bond differently. I never saw Bond as the super muscle bound strongman but rather the suave, debonair, cool and witty spy. I think that Tom will be able to handle the required action scenes, or I may well be wrong. If they choose him, I will watch the movies, the same way I watched all the previous Bonds. (FTR, I was initially dismayed with Craig’s selection and he proved me wrong.)
I never said you said that.
I did. That was my personal opinion on what most women think and I could be wrong.
And I don’t think anyone sees bond as some muscle bound action hero or whatever. I think tom lacks the suave coolness…witty? Maybe. But the rest no.
The great thing about Craigs casting is that it worked out. The bad thing about Craigs casting is that it keeps being raised in the defense of questionable castings. I’ve heard the “Craig as Bond” argument made on everything from super hero castings to casting love interests.
I’m sure if theres ever another studio email leak, we will find that producers concerns about Tom or any other actor were hushed with a “remember Craig?”.
FWIW, Tom Hiddleston is one of the few actors for whom I’d see a Bond film, so I generally let those who are more invested in the franchise. I’m also one of the seemingly few who prefer the more suave iterations of Bond (Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan) and I think that Tom would be perfect for that sort of iteration of Bond. As some writer pointed out, Tom is far closer to the original Bond (in his background) and Ian Fleming than any other actor who has played the role. I personally think that Daniel Craig is too craggy-looking and unrefined to be Bond but obviously other people love him. Would it be nice to have a POC or woman in the role? Absolutely. But if they’re sticking with white guys, I think that Tom would be perfect in the suave and sophisticated iteration of Bond.
And speaking of woman actors for Bond, while I adore Olivia Coleman, I think that Maxine Peake would be the ultimate kick-ass female Bond.
I know what u mean about being dismayed about Craig being Bond . I had no idea even who he was at the time, plus a “blonde ” Bond?? The whole idea back then made me so digusted. ..but like u, I have happily changed my tune over Craig . I will miss him very much as Bond too. I love T. H. a lot but somehow I don’t see him in the role. He really
does not have the build. I would think he’d have to do some major bulking up to fit the role.
@Maxime DuCamp – +1 – Totally agree.
@Nanci –
I don’t know if you’ve really seen Tom’s body. It’s really nice! He’s very well proportioned. He’s built where he needs to be built like his arms, legs and torso but he’s not over built or bulky. His body is quite perfect in regards to the overall, masculine physique standard.
I understand that maybe some expect their action hero to be very buff, but that “type” has only come about because of Craig’s casting. Before him, Peirce Brosnan, Roger were more like Tom’s body type, long, toned and proportionally built. Even Sean Connery wasn’t all that “built”, in fact he got quite the belly on him at some point.
I think Tom could swagger the heck out of the role and he buffed up nicely for Coriolanus, but I also think the whole Bond franchise is highly repetitive and stale. Park it for a decade and write some new scripts rather than rehash old ones or copy & paste plot lines. I’ve never been a fan but go to the movies with my friend who is a big fan.
New movie plot: James Bond goes missing so other agents vie for the coveted 007 slot. Cue Tom, Idris, McAvoy, Mulligan etc all showing their competitive side . In the end, JB surfaces again and is …??!!!!
Helen McCrory!
And nice to see you again!
Tom Brady, Gerard Butler…
omg! @Secret squirrel, we’ve been sharing the same Bond-plot collective conscious! Seriously, I’ve had the same idea regarding what they should do for the next Bond move. I say through them all in there, Idris, Tom, James, Aiden and who ever else and have them all potentially be the next Bond or even the former Bond. They could all be spy colleagues, mentors and protégés. Who is, was or is going to be 007?
Great idea!
I wouldn’t assume women would fall over themselves for TH. He is nerdy looking at best and not very attractive at worst. He is definitely an acquired taste only after following his career and getting to know his personality. He could possibly play a good Bond villian as he does have that sneaky smarmy vibe. However, who ever is chosen will not be liked by all so it’s really not of consequence who is chosen.
Hiddleston is completely wrong for the role, IMO. Far too goofy. Idris Elba would be a far more appropriate choice.
+100
Idis is older than Tom for 9 years. Let me see you compared to someone 9 years older. Your point is invalid.
Your point is invalid
I don’t think it’s an age thing at all. It’s more a “type”.
He’s too OLD. He’s great, I love him but no. People need to get over it really and stop beating a dead horse about it.
People were against Daniel Craig in the role too. He has been incredible. Why not give Hiddleston the benefit of the doubt?
+1000. everyone said Craig would be the worst Bond in history. He’s totally owned the series. and I think Tom could do the same if given a good chance and great story.
I think Craig worked because he looks so much like Putin and that gave him some authority/legitimacy. In another era, he would have fallen flat.
Daniel Craig was awesome in the first two Bonds but after that, it was kind-of a snoozefest.
+1
I don’t see him as Bond material even though I adored him as Loki. I think they need Idris as the new Bond. I’ve heard the term that he is “too street” to play the role. However, I think that his work as Luther and Stacker in Pacific Rim more than tells the producers of the Bon series he has a commanding presence. He’s also very easy in the eyes.
We’ll have to leave this all up to Barbara Broccoli to determine who will be the next Bond. She did well with Daniel, I hope she makes the right decision the next time around.
It saddens me that Daniel will be leaving the series because he made millions for the brand not to mention he was bloody good in the role.
Nope.
I honestly don’t think this would be a good career choice for him. I mean, obviously his hope to break out in more serious movie roles was kind of a bust this year but his reviews weren’t bad. Night Manager was successful. Is it for the money? I just don’t get it. Craig wasn’t getting nearly the same amount of work that this guy is when he took on the role. It made sense. This is kind of a weird career choice.
It’s not going to be Idris folks (fabulous as that would be). To quote Elsa; “Let it go!”
You’re right, Craig did make sense, they both needed each other at the time – the franchise needed a radical change and Craig needed a breakout role. It worked out very well for both of them. But if it hadn’t, and Craig had fallen on his face, I’m not sure his career could have come back from something like that. That’s why a lot of the names being mentioned don’t really make sense. They’ve already got major careers going.
Then again, I’m not sure how many British actors would turn down the chance to play 007.
But, really what career has Daniel had during his Bond time? He did The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and was not reviewed or received very well. I think he found his niche with Bond and should probably stick with the contract and do one more movie.
I guess that’s sort of my point. When Craig got the job, most people went “who?” Now, no matter what else he does – good or bad – he will forever be a household name. Bond is a double-edged sword, the role can catapult an actor to instant fame, but it can also become a limiting factor. Audiences may not want to see their favorite 007 do anything else. For an actor that just wants to do good work as a wide variety of characters, it may not be worth it – especially if they’ve already got a decent career going.
#Idris4ever
That would’ve made Bond come into the 21st century. He’s perfect for it some have said he’s too old, if looks wasn’t a factor for Craig then age is just an excuse. To me Idris is simply stunning.
A step further would have been a female bond and could’ve lit the way for other movie makers to see it’s doable.
I like Tom but not as a bond, he doesn’t have a sexiness to me Craig was a fail always looked sour pussed. The last one was really boring had to switch off.
All this diversity talk was an opportunity to do something different.
Idris is just too old.
Why can’t they change up the character to keep the series fresh? I also think it would be an unwise career move for Hiddleston.
Idris Elba, Hugh Laurie or Helen Mirren!
OOOh conspiracy analysis time!
How is it not blindingly, stupidly obvious to hire Hiddles?
It is, that’s the thing. I think he’s a ruse-the internet started it and now everyone is running with it. Sam Mendes said over the weekend that it WON’T be who everyone expects. Jamie Bell has supposedly had talks like that too but no one is freaking out over that rumor. He also already knows Barbara B so that rumor is way more tangible. The source is questionable too. Too quick to point out that the info comes from TH’s side, not a source “close to the situation”.. Why would his side do that? It looks unprofessional (which TH NEVER is) and why would his own team risk ticking them off if there is admittedly no offer on the table? Why admit that there is no official offer anyway? That scenario doesn’t play for me. I think it’s a bogus source or a Bond source feeding the publicity rumor mill. I mean come on, TH/team have been denying meetings at every turn and now his team leaks something? Really? That doesn’t seem to be the way he/his people do business.
Or it could all be totally true and TH possibly sacked someone over the weekend.
I wish they would announce something already. The Bond people have over cooked this to the point that whomever they choose is going to be a disappointment IMO. I don’t see him as Bond either, and from what I’m reading Bond fans don’t really either. It seems to be the talking heads that do. I’ll still be really disappointed if TH takes Bond. It’s creative project death, if not a total career killer. Please don’t!
My prediction is that we won’t get an announcement one way or another until 2017, since Bond films are on a 3-4 year cycle and the earliest the next one will be released is 2018. In the mean-time the press will continue to print rumours until we’re all so bored of them that we stop clicking on the headlines.
Mendes is very likely right – it won’t be any of the high-profile candidates people have been talking about.
And they don’t have a director or distribution. That seems really risky for anyone to sign on right now, especially someone who could get other offers right now. And Craig isn’t officially out either. Remember that source that spoke to the BBC radio or something? They said he hadn’t made a decision.
To me these endless Bond rumors are almost as annoying as his dating rumors.
Remember when Tom’s people leaked that he had been in talks for “The Crow”? That was a HUGE disaster and made him look terrible (and desperate). One would hope they learned their lesson, but perhaps not…
No….that’s not how that went down unless you’ve got a source for that. The reaction to that was better than the current reaction to Bond. The bad reactions are mostly to the idea of a remake of the Crow in general. Screen rant’s commentators liked the idea of casting him as Draven actually. According to the original article on The Wrap that came from”individuals close to the project” not his people specifically. This Bond talks source is allegedly close to TH, which again, I can’t find a precedent for his people leaking things so I doubt they’d do it now after they denied it previously and when people are lobbying for something like that to happen.
Are we sure that was Tom’s people? It’s just that I wouldnt put it past film studios sending this sort of information to outlets to drum up interest. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bond team are leaking a lot of this information to various places in order to negotiate behind the scenes or to redirect attention elsewhere. Maybe Tom is a smokescreen for someone else!
What about the rumor of him replaying the role of Ben Hur? Makes one wonder who releases all these rumors of movies Tom is up for? Do you guys not see how thirsty Tom seems? I totally believe his people would release all these rumors of him in these different movies. Makes him look very popular to many.
Didn’t Tom’s team categorically deny the Ben Hur rumours?
Yes, they denied the Ben Hur rumors. Industry rumors about roles don’t make an actor thirsty. If you read the Hollywood reporter or the wrap regularly these rumors happen all the time, usually without much fuss. Go back to tumblr if you want to try to convince people how obviously thirsty he is. He isn’t, but whatever.
@InvaderTak….I have never been on tumblr in my life – wouldn’t even know how to find one. My impressions come from things I see on other social media. For instance, if I’m not mistaken, Tom has campaigned heavily for his role of Thor to be in more Marvel movies, he overdid his acceptance speech at that prestigious awards show MTV, he was gushing like he had won an Oscar, and just his interactions with fans on social media is embarrassing. He knows about the dragonfly fans and totally plays to them on-line. His entire persona screams I’m thirsty and hungry for the big movie star thing. And actually there is nothing wrong with wanting the fame and fortune, it’s human nature. Tom is a good actor so he can have a good solid career but he just doesn’t have the looks or charisma for huge stardom. Now saying that, I think Henry Cavil is probably the worst of all, he has looks but is stone dead in the personality area and he can’t act his way out of a paper bag so he will not have anywhere the career of Tom even with being Superman.
@InvaderTak It may have simply been one interpretation of events at the time, and you may be right about the source (the film’s production). However, I thought everyone assumed it was Tom’s people, and there was a bit of collective cringing over the revelation that he had sent them pics of himself in make-up and just generally overplayed his hand. It certainly fit with the post-MTV awards narrative that @TotallyOld is referencing. At any rate, right after the “leak” happened, it was reported that he was passed over, so everyone assumed the film’s producers didn’t appreciate his presumption. Short of having been there ourselves, however, we can only ever speculate, and speculation is always subject to the prevailing narrative. I’d rather give Tom and his people the benefit of the doubt at this point! He has no need to be thirsty, and he does seem to have learned a lot from his mistakes over the past couple of years.
@TotallyOld
” if I’m not mistaken, Tom has campaigned heavily for his role of Thor to be in more Marvel movies . .”
Yes, you are mistaken. Loki fans petitioned for him to be in more Marvel films. I think that would have been a good idea since Loki is a great character and could play well in numerous plot lines. But Kevin Feige has Marvel films all lined up, so lost opportunity. Still it was pretty clear to everyone that it was a fan run campaign and NOT from Tom’s management.
“.. his interactions with fans on social media is embarrassing. He knows about the dragonfly fans and totally plays to them on-line.”
You obviously read too much gossip site snark and give it too much weight. He does not play to the dragonflies At All! If you’ve got proof, please show it cause that would be news to me. In the past his social media interaction was quite benign, and now he really only uses twitter for promoting projects, UNICEF and promoting colleagues.
Even your take on the Crow “pass over” sounds exactly the way it was spun here on CB. As @InvaderTak said above, this is the way the industry works. There was no “upset” or “passover” that Tom caused with the Crow. They just went a different way which ended up being nowhere so that should tell you something right there. The fact is Tom’s probably the closest that movie has come to getting off the ground in the past 15 yrs.
“he overdid his acceptance speech at that prestigious awards show MTV, he was gushing like he had won an Oscar”
Yes, Tom’s MTV awards speech was terribly cringe-y. Maybe he didn’t know how to gauge his reaction to being the most popular Marvel character next to RDJ and as a villain to boot. Sometimes things go to our heads, and Tom was having great year in 2012 and was really appreciative of the recognition even if it was only a stupid MTV award.
Get away from my husband, CAMILLA!
Helen McCrory for Bond.
He would be just fine as Bond; it is called “acting,” and he can act. I’ve never heard of “Birth.Movies.Death” and don’t know that it is any more reliable than the tabloids that have just been making stuff up. Unlike Damian Lewis and a few others, Tom has never actually said that he wants to be James Bond.
Now, my birthday weekend celebration continues with today being my actual birthday, so there is birthday cake and champagne on the veranda and we’re doing a spa day. Massages, facials, mani-pedis for everyone. Until Tom takes me out to dinner. That is if that CAMILLA hasn’t kidnapped him.
Happy Birthday Lilac! I’ll have a glass of champagne thank you but what kinda cake are we talking?
Multi-tiers of cake. There is a chocolate mouse cake tier and a white chocolate raspberry tier and a lemon tier and I haven’t worked my way through all the tiers.
Errr, chocolate mouse cake layer doesn’t sound good at all. Suggest you remove mouse and add moose… No wait, mousse!!
Oh my! I guess I tippled at too much of that champagne. Yes, chocolate mousse cake.
Ahahah, mouse cake! That’s funny.
I had to pick up a de-headed rat this morning that something killed last night. Sorry to be gross. Happy Birthday.
Happy belated!
Pedant alert. – belated happy. 🙂
When Daniel Craig was first announced as James Bond, everyone said ‘I don’t see him as Bond…’ etc, basically the same things that are being said now.
The difference between Hiddleston and Craig is that Hiddelston is a better actor and has better screen presence than Craig, so why shouldn’t he be an option?
Hiddleston is a far better actor but people don’t generally think of him as being super suave or having tons of sex appeal a la Idris Elba. He’s described more as pretty-boy handsome and almost boyish. Daniel Craig might not have been “pretty” or “suave” but critics noticed his masculine energy and sex appeal in films like Layer Cake.
I remember one of the reasons against Craig playing Bond was because he’s blonde. Jonathan Ross presented the main film show at the time and made that point when interviewing Craig, asking when he was going to dye his hair.
I’d like to go on record as not saying that. When they presented him as the new Bond, my first thought was that I thought i was going to like him a lot better than the two previous Bonds and I most definitely do.
I kind of love the ‘she was photographed more with Hiddles than anyone else’ comment, as if she has any control over the number of photographs that are taken of her at an event like this.
It’s probably not even true – I’m sure she had many photos taken with the winners and with Chris Evans, the host – it’s just that the photos with Tom are the ones that have been picked up.
And I’d like to say what a great event that was. A 500 word writing contest for children. Very glad Hiddleston and the other actors gave it the added bump by being there.
I’m sorry but I buy Tom more as Bond than Idris. It probably had to do with discovering how he (Idris) treats the women in his life so he can keep his sex symbol status. Please give me Tom any day, every day (and night too)
Noooo. I haven’t heard any of this 🙁
I just got on the Idris train recently… that man’s voice alone is pure sex.
As Sam Mendes said, “it’s not a democracy.” Barbara Broccoli will choose any actor she wants and choose a movie that suits him. I hope that she is not a dragonfly. But I am afraid that these rumors will go on another 6 months.
Kaiser, you are right. Jonathan Pine is not a Bond-like character, but some people compare him with Bond and end up disparaging Tom’s Pine for not being like Bond. Funny.
I just don’t find Tom handsome at all. Bad choice, IMO. I wouldn’t watch it.
Hiddles is handsome but he has an eternally boyish, almost goofy face. He was great in The Night Manager but I just can not see him as someone with a ton of raw sex appeal or who is super suave. Looks do play a part in the James Bond film….it would be like casting Danny DeVito to play Abe Lincoln.
When you look at Tom in comparison to Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or even Daniel Craig (who wasn’t suave but had raw sex appeal)…he just seems like a schoolboy despite being in his mid 30s. I actually think Aidan Turner could pull it off as the role isn’t that different from “And Then There were None.” Idris Elba of course has the acting ability, the suaveness, and the raw sex appeal….but unfortunately I doubt they’ll give him the role. If they’re that worried about age they should just sign Idris to a two film instead of a four film contract.
These things are so in the eye of the beholder and depend somewhat on how one feels about the person. Look on any other Hiddleston thread and see all the posts that remark that he’s aging badly, looks older than his mid-30s, his hair is receding etc, so I don’t think his eternal boyishness is the reason why most people who don’t want him to be Bond think that he shouldn’t be cast. As I stated above, I think he could totally pull off a suave and sophisticated Bond, but I am a fan and am probably biased. I’m also not a Bond aficionado so that also colors my perception.
I can understand that attraction is subjective but your Danny DeVito/Abe Lincoln analogy is way off. Gimme a break, he’s not that unlike Roger Moore or even as awkward as Peirce Brosnan used to be when he play Remington Steel.
All the stories–at least over 100 of them–came from this SINGLE source, Birth.Movies.Death, who cited someone close to Tom (supposedly). TH has definitely been campaigning for the role, and may be trying to make himself look inevitable.
That’s why Mendes’s comment, coming just at this moment, is so important.
Campaigning for the role? Really? Because to me, it looks more like Tom’s tired of even being asked.
So says Tom Hiddleston’s PR. It won’t be him. They’ll surprise us just as they did with the Craig casting.
His PR has denied there have been any talks at all.
Idris is too old? Huh! Isn’t he like only 42? Daniel Craig is fifty-ish. Dalton and Brosnan were in their mid 40s when they became Bond.
I agree. Idris can do bond, and I’d love to see it.
Yes but the idea now is cast younger/stay longer. Craig was 36/37 when cast. That’s the sweet spot they’ll be looking for (or likely a bit younger).
Also they need someone who is hungry and looking to move up. The role is very consuming. Idris doesn’t strike me as hungry, he’s getting plenty of work.
Idris Alba is only 4 years younger than Daniel Craig. He can probably make two movies before he really gets too old. Dalton was 40 and Brosnan was 42. The next Bond should be someone in his late thirties. My choice would be Tom Hardy.
Roger Moore was born in 1927 and played Bond from 1973 to 1985 – from ages 46 to 58.
And his age showed in the later films. Barbara Broccoli has said she doesn’t want that to happen again.
But some people think Moore was the best Bond. To each his own.
They could be brave enough to embrace variety in casting to explore a wider range of takes on 007. Don’t need to go the Doctor Who route and make a plot device out of cast changes, but it would breathe life into the series to loosen up a bit.
No, just no.
Why doesn’t Daniel Craig want to do another Bond film? He was a good Bond, but not great. The one ingredient he was missing was a sense of the debonair or charm. Roger Moore and certainly Sean Connery had that IT factor.
He suffered some injuries on the last film and the speculation is that he doesn’t want to do that much physical work any more.
Tom definitely wants to play bond.
Marvel pays very little and his indie flicks no one watches pays even less. Bond, even though it is a lot of work, pays very well and he can still do other projects in between the movies. Plus it’s an iconic role.
Cool. When did you speak with him?
Tee hee!
Personally i think Hiddlestons mediocre, competent but ultimately very safe and boring. I would like someone a little more exciting, but maybe safe and slightly bland is whats needed.
I also heard Jamie Bell was in talks. he looks like Tom Hiddlestons little brother so i guess thats the look they are going for.
Really? I don’t think that Jamie Bell looks anything like Tom Hiddleston. He is a decent actor – though I find him to be among the weakest of the cast of Turn: Washington’s Spies.
Yeah. Playing an American country icon while being British is for me the very definition of “safe”. /s
Plus managing to get good reviews in a movie that was critically panned left and right: the very testament of somebody who’s acting is “mediocre”.
Ahah, you need glasses girl. Just cause they’re both white with light brown/blondish short hair doesn’t make them look alike.
Do “sources close to” TH = those creepy fanfic writers on Tumblr I’ve been warned about? Because all of this stems from a sinlgle source online so far, the Birth.Death.Movies site.
I don’t want Tom Hiddleston to be Bond, primarily because I just don’t like James Bond movies. At all. I adore Tom, however, and I just don’t want to see him chained to another big franchise. I like him as Loki, but I find his other acting choices more compelling. I loved Other Lovers Left Alive and War Horse, and he is probably my favourite Prince Hal/Henry V. I also loved The Night Manager. I don’t want him to be limited by the huge time constraints of the Bond franchise.
I was very happy to see the news. He ll rock it! All the very best to T.H and us.
I saw the Night Manager. It was fine. For me, the “spy” scenes were meh. The scenes that really stuck out for me were when he was caring for or worried about the people he was working with. It confuses me that he tries to take on so many action roles where his real strength in acting is in relationships. OLLA, Deep Blue Sea (?), even Return to Cranford. He oozes relatability to others onscreen. He can also do over the top, which is why Loki was so good, but his natural talent is understated relationship stuff. Why he goes against that grain perplexes me.
Because he wants to be a major movie star.
I know. I just think he hasn’t realized he’s a character actor.
Sloaney, we’ve been telling him that for years, but perhaps he’s not listening…
I agree with a poster above — he doesn’t do fierce masculinity as believably as he does mischievous, comedic, sensitive or intense-type roles. I think this is why his Loki, Hal, Adam, Nicholls & Fitzgerald are so memorable. I thought he did a good job with Coriolanus due to his natural intensity that he brings to a role, as well as buffing up.
Bond would have be reimagined for Tom to be able to sell it and I’m doubtful I’d buy it. I didn’t care for his Pine — thought he was wooden — so I’m not sold on the idea of him as Bond. But it’s no secret that I’m more interested in his indy and theatre work than any big budget blockbuster he may be asked to headline.
Perhaps it a case of what he has been offered.
@Sloaney: Bingo. Thank you.
Totally agree SloaneY and MI6. His looks are character actor looks and that’s great IMO. He will be offered far more varied roles and have a better career in the end. But as said above he is thirsty for the whole big movie star thing.
Damn… everybody around here not only spoke to the guy, but also even knows what he wants out of life, with 100% certainty!
I feel so left out. 🙁
I can only think of two action roles he’s taken on, The Night Manager and Skull Island. His work is quite diverse and I believe the projects he’s done in the last two years – ISTL, TNM, Crimson Peak, High-Rise, Skull Island – were chosen carefully to show a wide range of genres and characters. I don’t think its so much about wanting to be a movie star as it is wanting the freedom to do various projects both big and small.
I think Tom’s perfectly capable of fierce masculinity, it’s just that his was always going to be that of the noble king – King Henry V, or the smooth charm of Golden Age Hollywood. Bare in mind that perception changes with time. And behaviour is informed by time period, as much as manners and fashion. And what we perceive as masculinity is a combination of all of the above. Brawny and brawly are propably not completely outside his wheelhouse, if he really commits, and we know the man COMMITS in all caps, but ultimately it’s up to him to decide whether it’s a good career move or not.
If TNM hadn’t come out just after Craig bit the hand that has been feeding him, would any of this Tom for Bond gossip have happened? Bear in mind that he signed up for, and filmed, TNM well before this the Craig bombshell.
Given that he was on full promotion mode for three films at the time the rumours started, and giving dozens of interview about them, could he have totally avoided all the questions about Bond? And it not, how is he supposed to answer them? “yes”- bighead “no” – bighead, you haven’t even been asked.
I’m not at all convinced by all the paper chatter either. They are just selling copy on the coat tails of TNM.
And of course they may hold Craig to his contract, if he hasn’t fulfilled it yet.
Sorry, I’m being all sensible and no fun again. 🙂
Have some champagne! This Bond stuff is boring and Tom himself has looked slightly annoyed while trying to cope with it.
Absolutely lilacflowers – to the champagne and the sentiment. Holds glass out, don’t stint please. And some crisps too please.
http://www.bakersandlarners.co.uk/tyrrells-lightly-sea-salted-crisps-40g-150g-pid2502.html
And happy birthday my dear.
Thank you! We don’t have Tyrrels but we do have some from a bakery on the Cape, made with Maine russets, lightly seasoned with sea salt and I’ve added some rosemary into the container. Will those do?
They sound lovely thank you.
It’s not that Hiddleston isn’t good enough to play Bond – he’s TOO good for such a limiting franchise and stereotypical character.
I hope they get a whole new writing and producing team. The last one was ridiculous and they’ve gotten more ridik since Sam Mendes started doing them.
BINGO, MI6!
And, to Maxine DuCamp, I agree with your statements throughout this thread!
Hiddleston would make a great Bond (as long as Marc Abraham or Michael Bay are not producing.) ;-P
Tom can bring charisma and intellect and warmth and dimension to a character (Bond) that has shrunk to being less than a caricature—as long as the writing and filmmaking also supports those qualities. To me, it seems that Bond has become the suit, the detached/disinterested character, the elusive chase, and implausibility. Ho-hum to that! Step it up with some substance and depth—and TH, and we’ve got something! 🙂
Tom Hiddleston is no Bond, he looks like TinTin. I say Jaime Lannister of GOT for the next Bond.
The guy who plays Jamie Lannister is Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau, who is Danish, not British. I don’t think Brits would be happy with a non British James Bond.
Though I do agree that he would otherwise be a good choice.
I’d watch a TinTin movie with Tom!
Meh. I am COMPLETELY a diehard Tom H fangirl…The Thinking Girl’s Pin-Up Guy,that’s Tom for me. But I think he is a bit young yet to play Bond. Bond needs to be pushing 50. I think Idris Elba, all the way.
If he’s really thirsty for it, I say give it to him. I think he is a great actor but a bit slim for Bond. He would need to majorly workout.
No to majorly working out! His body is just fine!!! Bond doesn’t need to be over built. He hasn’t in the past especially with Roger Moore and Peirce Brosnan, who like Tom, were lean, proportionate and especially in the case of Brosnan, very fit. Check out Tom’s bod in TNM and better yet in High Rise like here.
http://mhot.me/www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3439854/Tom-Hiddleston-showcases-washboard-abs-muscular-physique-strips-naked-slick-new-trailer-High-Rise.html
He looks slim but if you put him next to others like Aidan Turner or Fassbender, you’d find, that he’s not as reedy looking as he appears. In fact, I think Fassbender is actually smaller and skinnier. But it’s what appears on camera that counts.
@Cranberry, completely agree! I’m quite sick of this trend of putting actors through this crazy regimen of jacking them up for roles. It’s so unhealthy and sends such a bad image. Christian Bale probably reduced his lifespan by 30 years from what he did to himself in his 30s.
All this Bond talk, it kinda reminds me of all that Ben Hur (last year?) the internet mused about that one for months before someone by mere coincidence revealed that he wasnt doing the movie.
I think these tactics simply serve to keep the public interested in Tom (or any actor for that matter) and the movie projects
Exactly what I was saying Ninette. I completely agree. Just PR tactics at Tom’s behest.
So, has he been paying all the interviewers, going back to the ISTL premiere in March, and including Kimmel, Colbert, and many, many others, to ask him the question? Has he been paying the DM and Mirror and Sun to write endless fluff pieces about him as Bond and sending paps after him? Because if this is all at his behest, as you claim, that would have to be the case, wouldn’t it? It couldn’t possibly be that the British media is obsessed with the “Next Bond” bit as they went after Idris Elba and Aidan Turner and Tom Hardy months ago, and Clive Owen, Jude Law, and Ewan McGregor before Craig was cast, and just generate endless article after endless article for click bait, right? Because the media has no need or intention whatsoever to make a time off ad revenue generated by clicks and purchases, right?
Yes, actors do PR but the news media does its own thing, with or without the cooperation of the actors.
And PR tactics at film studios’ behest. Who do you think is leaking all these stories about Aidan Turner, Tom Hiddleston and Jamie Bell? Bond’s PR team is drumming up public interest. Just like the Ben Hur people might have used his name to drum up interest or negotiate with / push the actor who eventually took the role into agreeing to their contract terms. Bear in mind Tom had passed on the role quite a while before he was rumoured. Studios apparently do this a lot to secure good deals with actors.
It’s probably PR from all sides. The Bond franchise machine loves to drag out the Bond auditioning process in public. It’s exactly why the Oscars increased the number of best picture nominees.
I think his management agency are pushing for Bond. He’s been getting asked about this way before TNM aired in UK. Last year on the Today Show promoting CP, his first big US non-Loki film, the interviewers said they “heard he might be the next Bond”. A show like the TS does not rely on social media gossip. They were given his bio and topics to cover by his management. To his credit, he did look quite surprised to have to negate such a decided prediction on the top daytime show in US.
I think his management agency has convinced him to let them promote him like this because: 1.) that’s the only way it’s going to happen otherwise, to (unofficially) campaign for it. If he actually doesn’t want to do it, he can turn it down. 2.) if he doesn’t get picked for the role then he has still benefited from all the association and exposure while at the same time promoting TNM’s similarity to Bond.
For me it’s hard to tell if he really wants it or not. Problem is that if he is offered the role, it will be very hard to turn it down as he has already said “any British actor would love to play /be offered ? Bond”. It would be job security in a very fickle industry. But also he would be severely pressured by his management agency to take the deal so that THEY could cash in on him. They see Tom’s acting potential and his internet popularity as an opportunity for themselves more than what’s best for him as an artist and long term loyalty. The Bond franchise is EVERYTHING big agencies want. It’s the big payoff.
I remember Kate Winslet saying that after Titanic she turned down very big payoff, commercial stuff to do a small indie film that paid very little. When the journalist asked how her agent responded to this she said he/she had a “mini heart attack”. Not a real HA obviously but definitely blew a major fuse.
I’ve been saying this from the beginning: Tom needs to get the role because he’s a counter-intuitive choice. They need to get new directors, writers, and producers on this franchise also, to update it for the age.
Idris or GTFO!
Now I adore Hiddleston, I really do (so hot) HOWEVER he can’t run, it’s so awkward. I never noticed till night manager but he runs gawky!
Please don’t be Bond, it won’t work with that run, just stand still, smoulder and talk 🙂
I wish I could run half as well!
“Can’t run”? Nevermind Tom being a practiced runner, what will people think up next? He can’t blink?
I saw him run in TNM too, and I don’t remember thinking that. He did an ad for ELLE where they follow him running around London because he’s a runner and runs everyday for exercise.
Not really sure what scenes you could be referring to, but it can be difficult for really tall guys to look good running on camera sometimes. You might have to run in a scene, but the actual distance in the camera frame is not much. You have to look good and you have to look like you’re running at full speed within a short distance even though your leg span can cover the distance in a couple of strides.
If he does get it, they’d definitely get him to bulk up a little. I think he had to when he was auditioning for the Thor role in the first Thor film. Maybe that’ll change the way he looks when he runs. I remember reading some interview about him being a keen jogger as well.
And here is a treat for you:
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/video/topvideos/tom-hiddleston-evades-questions-about-playing-james-bond/vi-BBtHF4n?refvid=BBsirAm
Has he been wearing that outfit every day for the past week? And have they been stalking him everywhere?
He has six of everything in his wardrobe.
oh my he is so very polite
Tom Hiddleston was really good in the night manager but so were Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman and Tom Hollander. Tom is very talented actor but I can’t picture him as Bond I think he would better suited as a villain. Idris Elba or Tom Hardy would make better choices to replace Daniel Craig.
Now Susan Bier is ‘in talks’ to direct the next Bond film!? England must have really loved The Night Manager.
And now everyone is proclaiming that Tom would be a sure thing if she were to be named director, but I actually think the opposite is true – no way the Bond franchise would copy The Night Manager that closely. Or am I wrong about how unoriginal and derivative Hollywood is becoming?
Besides, if someone forced me to bet actual money, my wager would be that Daniel Craig comes back for one more.
They offered Craig allot of money and he said no. I think he’s over it physically. I think we’re going to get a semi unknown in his late 20’s early 30s kinda like we did for the Hans Solo origin story.
It did. It probably helped that it wasn’t spoiled by adverts as I believe happened in the US.
Indiewire thinks that Craig will return and has some good arguments for it here:
http://www.indiewire.com/2016/05/daniel-craig-return-james-bond-tom-hiddleston-jamie-bell-1201682322/
And he’s back in Los Angeles, due to be in Philadelphia Saturday. When is he going to get that vacation he promised he was going to take?
Well, if Hiddleston gets the role, better make that movie fast cause this guy’ s apparently losing his hair….and I don’t think I could handle half bald James Bond:-)
As I mentioned before – Connery wore a wig.
Seriously? I didn’t know that. That’s hilarious:-) Btw, you know who has great hair? Aidan Turner! His hair definitely won’t be going anywhere for a long time:-)
Yes, HAIRY is a good description for Aidan Turner.
http://nixxie-fic.tumblr.com/post/113791806528/wants-the-camera-to-pan-down-just-a-little-more