If Barbara Broccoli ever did release a shortlist of “actors who could play James Bond” and Tom Hiddleston wasn’t on the list, would anyone even care? The Sun claims that “film bosses” have compiled a shortlist of British and Irish actors who could potentially be the leading candidates to replace Daniel Craig as Bond. The shortlist – now being made tabloid-official by The Sun – is basically the list of people that everyone knows about already, with maybe two names that come from Tumblr. And yes, The Sun says Hiddles is on the shortlist. But the shortlist will only be relevant if they don’t get their first choice, Idris Elba.
Film bosses have drawn up an official shortlist of actors to be the next James Bond if Daniel Craig goes through with his threat to quit. Luther star Idris Elba, 43, has made the cut, as has Michael Fassbender, 39. Also in the running are Fast and Furious star Luke Evans, 37, Sons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam, 36, Poldark’s Aidan Turner, 33, and Tom Hiddleston, 35.
Key players at studio MGM think Elba has the gravitas, talent and box office appeal. A source at the movie company revealed: “To get anyone to take over from Daniel will be a tough job. There will be a lot of trepidation about a new Bond, but Idris’ talent and proven appeal gives executives a lot of heart. Idris may be a little older than the other candidates but he looks like he is still in his 30s. MGM are confident that they are in a pretty strong place with a raft of talent available.”
Idris insists he has not been approached and last month claimed he was “too old” to play James Bond.
EON Productions franchise boss Barbara Broccoli is also meeting actors, including Happy Valley star James Norton, 31, and Billy Elliot actor Jamie Bell, 30, who are not on MGM’s list. The source went on: “While the MGM executives have an idea, Barbara makes the ultimate decision on the role. Once Barbara decides who she wants to direct, then the audition process will be vital.”
Tom Hiddleston, Michael Fassbender, Luke Evans, Jamie Bell, Idris Elba, Aidan Turner, James Norton, Charlie Hunnam… hm. Don’t get me wrong, there’s something for everyone in that list. If you’re a twee 13-year-old Taylor Swift fan, you’re going to be squealing for Hiddles. Most of the grown-ass women will be more excited for Idris, Aidan Turner and maybe Charlie Hunnam, but only if he shaves his fleshbeard. I never would have put Hunnam on any shortlist actually, but he might be able to pull it off. Fassbender would not be interested, I don’t think. Here’s my shortlist: Idris and Aidan Turner. Bam. I did your work for you, Barbara.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
James Norton would be great.
He is so creepy in Happy Valley.
Could see him as a Bond Villain. A Creepy Bond Villain.
I so agree. And again I throw Chitwel Ejor on this list. Please please let him audition.
Lately I’ve been thinking of Mark Strong…
Mark Strong would be the excellent BUT I want Craig to stay!
I lurrrrrve James Norton. Grantchester is one of my favorite shows. I couldn’t handle Happy Valley.
Can I throw Henry Cavill into the mix? He looks damn good in a suit, and with his shirt off. He’s just really hot.
The thing is Henry, despite being good looking has charisma of a brick
He was very charming in U.N.C.L.E.
Saw that movie and nope he was charming he’s the most boring actor ever.
Henry is all pretty and no charisma. but I agree that he did a good job with The Man from UNCLE. I was pleasantly surprised that his Napoleon Solo actually had personality.
Exactly. I tried to watch the Man from UNCLE because he looks so good in a suit but it was so boring I quit after ten minutes.
He’s basically a Ken doll to me. He looks good in the ‘that should be attractive’ way – but I’m not attracted to him AT ALL. He seems like such a doofus.
I don’t why anyone would suggest Henry Cavill. He doesn’t have the charisma to play Bond. Henry is pretty but boring. I hope it’s Idris
He has no charisma.
Unfortunately, that’s all Cavill can do: look good in a suit. Afraid Bond needs a bit more edge in his pinky than Cavill has in his entire body. Sorry – he’s a stiff who can’t act.
I recently just re watched I Capture the Castle. I didn’t realize he was the young man in love with Cassandra. He was so cute and adorable.
Oh darnit YESSSS!!! Oh boy I just got a little too excited imagining Henry Cavill as James Bond!
But Cavill is a terrible, wooden actor, as evidenced in that total bomb of a movie The Man from U.N.C.L.E, which was a remake of a 1960s Bond parody. I don’t find him all that sexy, either – he looks like a human Lego man.
Idris. Idris, Idris. That’s my short list.
He I’d my favourite too. How can anyone say that he’s to old?
He even says that he is now too old
He may not want to after what happened to Leslie Jones. May just not be worth it for him, although I think he has the looks, and definitely the charisma and would be a FAR better choice than the wet rag Hiddleston. He is so unsexy.
#TeamIdris
13 year old Swifties will never dawn for Hiddles. Why? Because he looks like their dads.
Bond needs to be updated. As much as I enjoyed Daniel Craig, Idris would bring it.
Idris all the way, but Turner would be a good fall-back. He was great in the remake of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
I adore Norton, but I don’t think he has enough natural, remote caddishness. Bond has to have it, which is why Hiddleston would be terrible. Swanning around and grinning evilly is OK for Loki, but not for Bond.
LEGS is more the Milk Tray man than 007. Idris is too old, much as I love him.
Why does nobody ever mention Chiwetel? Because he’s not a clickbait wannabe, presumably.
List is fantasy pants. They made it up.
Insert other random thoughts here because Bond speculation is boring.
I have plums. Many plums. Also…
WHERE IS MY BUILD-A-BEAR?
You have plums? I NEED plums. There seem to be no plums or peaches at our farmers markets this summer. As if someone came and stole all the plums. It is killing me.
Yes, Chiwetel needs to be on the make-believe boring Bond list. He can be on the list of all these guys in a movie that I want them to do together. With Bill Nighy and Alien Beauty and Eamonn Walker too. Set at Build-a-Bear. That’s it! They’re all trapped in a Build-A-Bear during a natural disaster or something. With nothing but fresh local plums to eat.
I don’t just have plums – I have a plum tree. Victoria. I have eaten many. The Sixlets have eaten many. I am stewing many more for freezing. Plums are even better than rhubarb.
I think if we want a black Bond, Chiwetel is the man.
Oh, BTW, still working my way through Oz. I am LOVING that series and in particular Walker.
Neighboring house had plum trees but new owners cut it down. Don’t like new neighbors. Plums are much better than rhubarb.
Oz was a brilliant, unappreciated series with such incredible actors. LOVED Walker. Just loved him. And Harold Perrineau.
I love the entire cast! Sky are annoyingly making me watch at an episode a week. It’s not on their binge-watching, downloadable section. What’s striking is the portrayal of Walker with Islam associated with black power. SO different to any portrayal today.
Lilicflowers, the plum and peach trees here in Mass took an awful hit from the weather in the winter/spring, and farmers lost almost their entire crops. So, you’re not imagining things, there really are no local plums or peaches this year.
Also, this list is pretty much made up click bait.
ALFIE ENOCH ALFIE ENOCH ALFIE ENOCH ALFIE ENOCH.
*ahem* That’s my contribution.
I’ll get back to apple sauce making.
@Sixer, it really is an outstanding cast. JK Simmons is just so evil. The quiet power within Walker’s Said is so mesmerizing. Christopher Meloni’s naked butt. And with Rita Moreno, Patti LuPone, Joey Grey, B D Wong, and Betty Buckley, they could have staged quite the musical.
@North of Boston, for all its “mildness”, our weather this year has done tremendous damage.
I’m so glad you gave Bill Nighy a shout out! He is one of my absolute favorites and he doesn’t get near enough love,
I have no contribution to the plum discussion but I am planning on canning some pie filling this weekend-apple, peach and strawberry rhubarb. Maybe blueberry.
I LOVE peaches!! My favourite summer fruit! Plums are 5th on the list (after peaches, raspberries, apricots and grapes).
I have had peaches poached in sweetened white wine and served with raspberry-Curacao coulis and cream. Divine!!
@Grabbyhands, Bill Nighy is always on my list for a shout-out. He is divine.
@Secret Squirrel, send that peach in wine raspberry curacao thing here immediately!
@Lilac
That peach dessert was in a restaurant and the recipe is secret! However I’m sure a recipe search online would find a close proximity thereof!
Something along the lines of:
1. Poach peach halves gently in a sweet white wine with added sugar to form a slight glaze.
2. Rest fresh raspberries in Curacao for 30-45 mins, then heat and blend with icing sugar to make a thick smooth coulis.
3. Serve wine-glazed peach and enrobe with room temperature coulis.
4. Serve with fresh whipped cream or creme englaise to taste.
5. Do 400 sit ups in pathetic attempt to not get fat from said dessert.
Have you ever heard of a fruit salad tree? It is where they graft several varieties of fruit trees together. My dream is the plum/apricot/peach variety!
Ooh, gotta try that dessert! Here in Colorado, we have the most lovely Palisade Peaches from the western part of the state. They are a gift of the gods.
I have raspberries too! Well, not just now. One lot has been eaten/frozen and I’m now waiting on the autumn ones.
Too hard to grow peaches in Britland gardens. Likewise citrus. Bah.
I totally missed OZ. Probably because I didn’t have HBO. Yeah outstanding cast. Most of those actors have all had terrific careers.
@sixer
Have you ever seen the series “Homicide: Life on the Street”? It actually aired on regular network TV (national free airwaves -non subscription) in the ’90s. It’s about the Baltimore Police Homicide Unit. It’s very well acted with great characters. I think you’d like it. You may not have heard of it. Tv Guide called it ‘The Best Show You’re Not Watching’, but it’s also listed among the greatest Tv shows by many critics and publications.
Another of my favorite all time Tv shows that was pretty successful and had a very long run is “NYPD Blue” from late 90’s-2000s also on network TV. I bring these up cause I think these show might really appeal to UK viewer sensibilities. They’re kind of gritty with specific regional dialects and characters.
Cranberry – I watched Homicide: Life on the Street – we got that shortly after you, I think. I’m pretty sure my mum used to watch NYPD Blue too, but I didn’t. I’m suddenly watching Oz because one of our subscription services basically bought up the HBO back catalogue and are gradually putting out all the classics that none of our channels ever bought when they were originally aired. There are some gems in there!
Cranberry, if you have Amazon Prime, you can watch Oz for free.
@Cranberry, you say you didn’t have HBO then. If you have it now, you can watch Oz on demand. All seasons are available. If not, as Bonzo says, it is also available on Amazon Prime.
Thanks @Bonzo, @lilac. I don’t have Amazon Prime, and I used up my HBO Now 30 day free trial to watch Game of Thrones and check out The Wire. Fortunately, because of close neighboring municipalities, I have five library cards, and am not above checking out dvds from the local branches. I just checked the catalogs online, and they have all six seasons. I’m about to start the second season of The Affair while I still have Showtime free ’til Nov/Dec. I’ll put Oz in the cue after season two of Peaky Blinders and Happy Valley. All courtesy of my local library. 😉
Sixer, I now have a god-awful flashback to The Milk Tray ads:
“and the lady loves…. Milk Tray”
*shot of gloved hand leaving a box of cheap chocolates*
LEGS could learn parkour and be the best Milk Tray man ever!
I think they recently cast a new Milk Tray man so LEGS missed the boat on that one too.
I’m with you with Chiwetel but would prefer Adrian Lester. I’ve lost my ladyboner for Idris as Bond.
Keep up hope for the Build a Bear – it might still happen but not until after the Emmys.
I don’t think there will ever be a Build-a-Bear. I reckon they are already split. For all the romantics saying they were perfect for one another, I can’t see it. I think they are two thirsty and ambitious people. Such types are too needy and greedy to accommodate a similar type in a relationship. Especially when the world and his wife is mocking the relationship with glee.
I think they’ll wind it down as gradually as possible and hope nobody notices.
SIGH though. I wanted Build-a-Bear.
I refuse to believe the Tiddles summer of love is over Sixer. I am holding out great hopes for the Emmy Red Carpet roll out.
There will be a ring, on the engagement finger, if only to tease the watching public. I somehow think TH will get all stubborn and refuse to bow to public piss taking, the boy is in it to win it imo.
I will be crushed if I’m wrong though.
Well, I would prefer you to be right, shelly, because then my Build-a-Bear dream lives to fight another day. But I don’t think so.
Sixer, absence of an antics this past weekend, my hopes are fading as well. I haven’t laughed in weeks. I need a new comedy coupling.
On the subject of plums, have you ever made an Almond-Plum Tart or for healthier fare, Grilled Kale Salad with Ricotta & Plums? I’m not a big fan of the fruit, but both of those sound scrumptious.
ETA: nevermind. I can’t top rumtopf.
I wondered if Tay stayed in USA as she knew about jury duty and planned to head to Oz after that, but I haven’t heard of any movement eastward so far. I hope you are wrong Sixer as I was just ordering my “I ❤️ TIDDLES 4 EVA” t-shirt and would hate to think I wasted my money.
Bonzo – I’m inclined more to crumbles than pies and tarts because, well, they take less time and I am lazy. BTW – Fleabag. You must watch. Very rude but very bittersweet funny. I almost didn’t watch past the first episode because I thought it was going to be a Britisher version of Girls (you’d say bah white feminism, Britishers would say bah posh wankers being wanky) but I’m glad I carried on. It was super-duper.
Fleabag was one I had downloaded to look at when I get a chance… good to hear it’s view-worthy!
I’m rediscovering ‘murican TV again and have gotten sucked into a Revolutionary War spy series called “Turn” with Jamie Bell. The spy networking is not something widely known about, so it’s inspiring me to read more up on it. I’ve always loved history and that war doesn’t get covered in the entertainment realm as much as WWII , Vietnam and the Civil War, so I’m gobbling it up.
I still haven’t got to Stranger Things! A few days away has pushed it even further back. I need school to go back LAST WEEK.
A relationship has room for only one narcissist, if that. Whenever TommyAnnE settles down, it will be with someone who is willing to take the backseat to his career, and I suspect it will not last. Boy is a workaholic.
Sixer: If you wait until 2017, you can watch first TWO seasons back to back… they just announced that another one’s coming.
Miss Jup: YES to everything you said.
Secret Squirrel: perhaps if you wear that shirt, they will draw out the breakup reveal for a few months, just to keep your hopes alive.
Sixer, forgot to mention that dopey Russell Tovey inspired me to watch Him & Her. It’s got the cringe I expected.
God bless you, Sixer. Can I get an Amen?
Miss J, completely agree.
Also I just finished Stranger Things and it was PHENOMENAL. Sh*t was DEEP.
You must watch it.
Do you make rumtopf? I made it one year with plums and cherries (because that’s what grew in our rented garden) and it was amazingly good in the winter, warmed up and served over ice-cream.
I don’t know what that is but I am going to google RIGHT NOW!
Mostly, I just stuff my face with them straight off the tree but I do stew some, freeze them and use them for pies and crumbles in winter.
It’s German. My German mother gave me her Rumtopf pot and her recipe. Pick, clean, slice and stone fresh fruit. Layer a few inches in your pot. Sprinkle with sugar (and spices if you want). Cover with rum. Repeat. The nice thing about this is that you can pick fruit at its absolute peak of ripeness and just do a little at a time until the end of harvest. Put the lid on your pot and store in a root cellar type environment. Mom’s pot was clay. I imagine glass jars would work as well.
I need that now! Alas, there is no stone fruit! But I do have rum! I’ll just pretend I have plums and cherries.
I have jars! This sounds right up my alley! Thanks!
I like the type of cooking that is low prep and gives me lots of time to do other things. This is my kind of recipe,
@ Bonzo – do you mean ready meals? 😆
Mr Joseph (Joe Spidey) Spider,
I mean meals…
-that are natural, healthy and frozen that I can heat up in minutes
-that involve less than 5 ingredients that I keep in my kitchen
-in which all I have to do is DUMP, STIR & BAKE
-that someone else prepares, such as the Mister
I don’t have time to cook… but thankfully, there are options so we aren’t stuck with TV dinners, Mac & cheese and hot dogs each night!
Tee hee. Well those are ready meals – they have just been made by someone else so they are ready for you. 😆
I am female by the way.
Ha ha… I knew that! I was just recounting your old moniker and making it stiff & formal for sh!ts & giggles.
Ha ha… I knew that! I was just recounting your old moniker and making it stiff & formal for sh!ts & giggles.
Ha ha… I knew that! I was just recounting your old moniker and making it stiff & formal for sh!ts & giggles.
@ Bonzo – That’s ok. But are you ok, looks like you had an attack of jittery fingers 😆
Now I’m just picturing Chiwetel as Bond, and Riz Ahmed as Q.
It’s not gonna happen, but a girl can dream…
Roger Moore was a dang grandpa while he was playing Bond. Elba isn’t too old in that respect, but I think he may be too far in his career development to consider Bond films.
I like Aidan Turner for the role. Mitchell my heart!
Barbara Broccoli has declared there will be no more old guy Bonds and that’s why she wouldn’t re-sign Pierce Brosnan.
Lilacflowers: Actually Pierce Brosnan was removed because he is Irish. The studio ( not the production company) that makes Bonds was having financial issues and by the time they sorted themselves out, Britain had brought in new film financing rules that pretty much guaranteed that Pierce, being Irish, had to go.
Coupled with the emergence of Jason Bourne franchise. Pretty much everyone had to go back to drawing board to make a much more relevant, gritty Bond instead of the usual stylised affair.
Yay! Someone else who wants Chitwel. We should start a club or petition to get him the part. There really is something about him. You can just see him in the part.
Oh, Sixer, after just seeing two young men start to climb the three flights of stairs to my neighbor’s rental apartment with what looks to be very heavy sectional pieces that I know won’t fit in that tiny space and a young woman wrestling with a Queen Anne chair and her friend lugged a desktop computer onto the T, I am reminded that a major, yet unofficial, Boston holiday is upon us. Alston Christmas! That special time of year, which corresponds with the national Labor Day holiday, when tens of thousands of college students and their parents descend upon our city and try to stuff tiny apartments and dorm rooms with all sorts of furnishings and then abandon various items on the sidewalks for other students to adopt. One set of friends once furnished a three bedroom flat, including a large living room, except for their beds with items found on the sidewalks of Allston and Brighton. Streets will be impassable. Public transit will offer fascinating sights, like a woman pulling a futon onto a crowded trolley during rush hour. Much beer will be drunk! Much pizza, spaghetti, and Chinese takeout consumed! Happy Allston Christmas!
The son of a friend is starting at BU this fall and his dad posted a portion of the moving instructions from the school on FB this week:
“Good news about this year’s Move-in: the Red Sox are out of town over Labor Day weekend, which should make navigating Kenmore Square considerably less painful.”
They lived here when we did so they know the significance of that statement!
@Bonzo, BU is a known liar and also likes to forget it isn’t the only school in the vicinity of Kenmore and there might be concerts at Fenway (*waves at Simmons, Emmanuel, Wheelock, MassArt, School of Pharma, SMFA, and Northeastern. Hurls a stuffed Wally the Green Monster wearing a Save the CITGO sign t-shirt in the direction of BU.*} Even with the Sox out of town, Kenmore will be a nightmare. Although I do think BU is the only one that hands out instructions on how to cross a street. With Emerson and Suffolk adding dorms, the fun has spread across the city with Downtown Crossing made impassable too. Spare furniture abounding! Anyone need a couch?
Happy Allston Christmas! That is both hilarious and cool. Like, niche dumpster diving!
@Sixer, it has been described by one of the local papers as a “city-wide flea market where everything is free.” There are Allston Christmas songs, Allston Christmas poetry. an Urban Dictionary entry, a short film, and a Facebook page for it. The City distributes flyers on how to deal with the chaos and what items are best left on the sidewalk. One of my brothers lives in one of the most affected areas, which fortunately is near the river, and if he leaves his house this weekend, he will travel by kayak.
I love it! Equal parts pain in the neck and joyous daft tradition.
Alston Christmas!!! Yeeesss! I had never lived in a city where you could put your unused furniture on the sidewalk for trash pickup until Boston. It WAS like Christmas. I picked up a number of things as I was roaming the streets when I was poor and needy back in a day.
Found a red leather barrel chair in Somerville that was the perfect nursing chair later on when the kidlets arrived. Sadly, I had to ditch it when we moved out west. I miss having the treasure trove of goodies found on Boston sidewalks now that I’m in a “normal” city.
I forgot to mention the Allston Christmas version of coal in the stocking and that is “storrowing.” Storrowing occurs when a moving van or uhaul rental trailer lodges itself into one of the low underpasses on Storrow or Memorial Drive, damaging bridges, messing up traffic, and incurring a $500 fine. Several trucks have storrowed this week.
Chiwetel? Err…no. No playful spark there at all…….just like Fassbender. Please, please give it to McAvoy!
I wanted to play with Chiwetel through the entirety of The Martian.
Ejiofor is far too courtly and gentlemanly to play Bond. He’d be a better Bond villain, because he can be scary in a silkily heartless way (as he showed in Serenity).
I agree with your short list. Aiden and Idris. Hell cast them both in the movie for something.
Tom is not sexy enough to be Bond sorry not sorry.
Second that!
All this talk about Tom being Bond just emphasizes how not sexy enough he is to play the role over and over and over.
Tom has beautiful hands, but not when he stands to pose for a formal picture.
Gorgeous hands.
He does? All I see is fingers. 😉
Such lovely, long fingers😉
Yes but they’re not just any fingers!
They’re Long. Lovely. Nimble and capable fingers.
I must excuse myself now.
Idris seems like the best fit for sure. I’m not familiar with Aiden. I can get on board with Luke Evans who I am just SO attracted to! I’m not sure how “Bond” he is but I’d watch the man in anything.
Aidan Turner!!!! *swoon*
Aidan for the win, then he can shave off that beard.
He also needs to shave the Amazon forest growing on his chest.
I double your swoon and that 2 way zipper jacket he has on, I want it and I want him in it.
@Tegteg, Becy, and koko – I will see your double swoon and raise to triple. Right age, right look, sly, hot, hairy, sexy . . . that towel scene in “And Then There Were None” finished me off. “Well, well, well, Miss Claythorne . . .” in that silky voice . . .
Honk for Aidan!
Can we get these guys in a movie together?
And sure, the studio executives would share their prospective casting list with The Sun. Especially while Daniel Craig is still under contract.
Maybe it’s because he’s been everywhere for the last couple of months but Tom has an annoying face. He always looks smug and well punchable. I just want to hit him everytime I see him.
Idris or Hunnam. Never would have thought of Hunnam as Bond, but I like that idea. I would watch that. No love struck puppy please. and really, I never thought that the Bond target audience is teenage girls (the actor cast in the Bond role is one of the key testaments to that fact). Because that is what Tommy would be bringing at this point. Unless they want to REALLY rebrand the Bond franchise. On the other hand, come to think of it – even if they do (no they don’t), Tommy would be a risky choice. What if they break up by the time the film comes out? There literally will be no audience for the film.
Yes, Hunnman is a wild card- but it would be great!
I was joking about it in another post, glad the casting gods are listening.
Absolutely not Hunnam. He couldn’t pull it off. Not to mention his British accent is so messed up now from doing weird but acceptable American accents for so long, and he’s never done a Bond-Brit accent as far as I’ve seen.
And if he goes back to his native Newcastle accent nobody will understand him. And I don’t just mean in the States!! 🙂
Anyone would be better than Daniel C. with his duck face expression, sorry…the best Bond is already retired – Pierce was the ONE 😉
And yes, Hiddles is just the night manager in the hotel where Bond will check in with his Bond-girl 😀
Hiddles’ American accent isn’t bad. He could be the CIA sidekick that shows up every odd film or so.
@graymatters – LOL – Hiddles would probably rather slit his wrists than play Felix Lighter to someone else’s Bond. He would be better off as a Loki-style Bond villain.
Felix Lighter !
I actually think he would make a good MoneyPenny, he could camp it up a treat, sighing over Bond and typing up memo’s etc.
I loved Timothy Dalton best myself, but that was a very…formative period in my development to womanhood. 😉
@Sue – I was visiting a friend in New Mexico when Cowboys and Aliens was filming there, and Craig appeared behind us at the local Whole Foods one Sunday morning. I can tell you he was anything but duck-faced – those intense blue eyes were exactly as they are on screen and you could see how sleekly fit he was (much less bulked up than in Bond). Dusty pink Italian knit crewneck top with the sleeves pushed up over gorgeous forearms, and khakis . . . will never forget it! Although it must be said I don’t think he looks like that now – this was maybe 6 years ago. Duck face – noooooo.
I am still holding out hope for Mark Strong, as I have stated before…But I know its not going to happen.
Chris Hemsworth has also been mentioned by “sources” that would be so funny.
OMG that is a FABULOUS idea! Mark Strong is a phenomenal actor and has that rugged charm.
Chris Hemsworth – Wooden Bond”
I would kind of love that
I might even watch a Bond film if Idris or Hemsworth were chosen. And I haven’t seen one since 1981.
Hemsworth is too gruff. He’s more like the straight up, football, action hero. Bond is a sly, sophisticated cad hero.
But Mark’s forehead is bigger than Tom’s!
blonde men dont look manly enough to be Bond and most women dont find them to be attractive at all. besides its time for a black man to play the role anyway.
Speak for yourself.
Blond men can be some of the most masculine men alive, vikings anyone? Also saying blond men are too feminine or whatever, you are essentially saying dark haired or red haired women are less feminine than blond women, talk about shooting yourself in the foot if you aren’t a blond woman.
im not only speaking for myself, there are various studies showing women prefer men with dark hair and eyes. why do you think it says “tall DARK and handsome”?
http://www.bustle.com/articles/103217-women-dont-want-to-date-men-with-blonde-hair-says-new-survey-but-heres-who-they
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/relationships/a33858/women-dont-prefer-blonde-men/
and no thinking blonde men, especially blonde and blue eyed men look feminine, does not say anything about the hair colors of women.
Are you aware that tall dark and handsome is a white man with dark brown hair with or without brown eyes? It’s not used to refer to black men or even men with olive complexions so to use that is a bit…silly? Actually it does say somethig about women with non blonde hair and if you are a black woman you should know that because those masculine stereotypes are used against black Women and robs them of their womanhood and femininity.
As for these studies, I would not give them any serious thought because the majority of women around the world have not been asked. Look at a list leading men and you’ll see brad pitt, Chris Hemsworth, Robert redford, Daniel Craig etc so to say blond men are less manly is just stupid.
Hiddleston pulled it off in the Night Manager but he actually isn’t handsome and comes across as a bit of a dweeb. Non-shagable.
Idris? he covers EVERY demographic! I fancy him, my mum fancies him, my auntie fancies him….and they haven’t even seen him as String…at his sexiest!
Totally agree with this…he was the main reason I watched The Wire. I have never been a Bond fan, but I would actually go to the theater to watch Idris. ❤️
I would have loved to see Richard Armitage make that list, but he seems to prefer smaller, under-the-radar roles. Which is probably great for him as an actor, but IMO a terrible missed opportunity as a fan of both him and the Bond series.
Yes! Let’s hope he made the real list, if not the tabloid one.
Me too
Richard would be an awesome Bond as he was phenomenal on Hannibal. I like Luke Evans too. A gay actor playing Bond? That would be historic.
I really like the idea of charlie hunnam as Bond!
I assume all the people who don’t want Idris to play Bond because he’s not ‘British’ enough, are also angrily tweeting about the inclusion of Aidan Turner and Michael Fassbender on this shortlist.
How is Elba not British enough ? Goddamn these racists just keep coming up with excuses.
Turner and Fassbender are irish which automatically rules them out.
Pierce Brosnan is from Navan. Being Irish didn’t stop him playing Bond. So I wouldn’t assume Irish actors are out of contention just because they’re Irish.
Ninks, he was hired before that rule was brought in.
As soon as it was applied, Pierce had to go.
.
Some parts of Ireland are still technically in the UK…
it would depend on what side of the border they’re on.
Northern Ireland is UK, Ireland is not. The town of Navan in the county Meath in Ireland, no where near the Northern Ireland border to cause confusion.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navan
Irish actors from Northern Ireland are eligible because they are British. Irish actors from Ireland aren’t British and therefore ineligible.
@ LAK – those of us who believe in reunification do not distinguish the north of Ireland as a separate entity from the south.
But you kind of made my point anyway.
And I can’t quite believe the “rules” re. the Bond role are that strict. Kind of stupid if you ask me.
M16: i’m not here to make a political statement nor am i making one. These are simply the rules of film financing/ investment put together by Gordon Brown for the UK.
As long as Northern Ireland is part of UK, they are included in the rules. Just as Ireland has it’s own film financing/ investment rules that exclude Northern Ireland because it’s not part of Ireland.
MI6 – politically-speaking, I also favour a reunified Ireland. But the rule isn’t a daft one in the slightest. It’s just a tax break for BRITISH films given by the BRITISH government for the BRITISH film industry. Every country does it. Under the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Irish people can identify as British or Irish or dual. But not Irish people. Irish people are Irish. So an 007 film with Turner as Bond would lose the tax break. Not stupid, just standard stuff for tax breaks to encourage any particular sector with any particular country.
Who is saying he’s not British enough? SIGH. SIGH. AND SIGH AGAIN.
I have seen he’s not posh enough. And I won’t lie – not sure Idris’s range does push to that posh. Mind you, I don’t think Craig does a posh enough 007 either. Chiwetel has that range.
There was Anthony Horowitz, who did the “not street enough” twattishness and had to try and explain his way out of it, but even he was being intentionally classist and only unintentionally racist.
Idris is just too old. It’s a 12 year gig. He’s too old. And I say that as the world’s biggest devotee of his status as world’s hottest man.
I actually don’t mind Luke Evans. He looks like men’s man. If they want a bit different type, why not Lee Pace? He’s got that tall look and looks good in suits. I’d like to see him portarait someone like Bond, might be interesting. Oh yeah, sorry forgot it has to be a Brit. But in the end I would totally vote for Armitage. He’s got the package. Even his name sounds like he was made to play Bond. He’s my choice.
Somebody really liked the Hobbit 🙂
Hahahhaha would you believe me if I told you it was the best nap in the movie theatre I ever had? hahaha
Mmm… I’d be okay with Evans. Or Armitage.
Lee Pace – I ended up LOVING pushing daisies when it was on tv, then somewhere along the line developed such a hate for Ned and Chuck that I almost didn’t finish it. I rewatched the first couple episodes the other day, and was back to not being annoyed with them. But I find he has such a … soft? Soft face? I don’t know how to describe it. He looks great in a suit, and he’s got a decent build, but I just find he doesn’t have a super masculine, hardened face. Which is fine, but I don’t think he’d be great for Bond.
I kind of wish they’d find someone who isn’t already big… like someone who is more up and coming. If they cast someone who’s incredibly well known, there’s a certain amount of their previous roles that come along with them.
Lee Pace is so cuddly tho. I could never imagine him as Bond. Armitage is an amazing choice but i feel like his window has passed.
My interest is piqued by having Evans on the list, although I haven’t watched a Bond film in ages. But he is slightly lesser known than the others which may help him blend in to the role and it would be interesting to have a (sort of?) openly gay man playing Bond. I do love Lee Pace as well, but he gives me a slightly goofy vibe. It’s completely lovable, but not necessarily Bond-esque. Maybe that’s just because I mostly know him from Pushing Daisies though.
A Brit would need to play Bond, not an American like Lee Pace.
Would Bond’s core audience be OK with a gay man playing an iconic womanizer? I like Bond – well, not most of the franchise – and I’d love to see Luke Evans in the role, but judging by the rest of Bond-fans I know, some would go bonkers over that. The same way as they are angry about Idris being mentioned for this role.
I have turned off Tiddles and now burned out on Bondles..
Now it seems we can Build A Bond from all of the above males.
Aiden’s face
Hiddles voice
Hunnam or Evans body
Idris’ attitude/personality for a rough n tumble Bond
or mix and match what works for you.
James Norton is 31 ?? Damn they dont lie about British genes.
Preference is Elba obviously and then Poldark. After the melting face of Daniel Craig we deserve some hotness. I dont think Elba will want it anymore but lets hope.
The Telegraph is saying that Tom Hughes from Victoria has now been thrown into the Build a Bond mix. Don’t know who he is but I’m sure someone here may.
First (and only thing so far) I saw him in was as Aumerle in Richard II with Ben Wishaw in The Hollow Crown series. He has been pretty busy since.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hughes_(actor)
none of them look elegant, polished enough, but Hiddleston seems like the worst choice. he looks so young and old at the same time.
why are they still making Bond movies? yes, i know, money, but let it rest. they were fun during Moore and Connery, but now just meh.
“He looks so young and old at the same time”
I KNOW RIGHT??!?!?! That’s exactly why I have never found him even remotely sexy.
Skyfall and Casino Royale were great. Quantum of Solace was so boring. Haven’t watched the other Craig films. I don’t have any feelings for the franchise other than I absolutely do NOT want Tom Hiddleston to play the role.
I’m surprised to see Fassy on this list. I think he’s one of the best actors out there, and deserved the Oscar any day over Leonardo shameless dicaprio. But he’s notoriously ambivalent about doing the press circuit to promote his films and seems to have acquired a bad rep. None of his latest films have done well and TLBO looks to be another pretty film that fades into the wallpaper. Also surprised Tom Hardy didn’t make the list. I don’t know if Hollywood has become open minded enough to cast an openly gay actor as bond – Luke Evans sort of came out years ago.
I’d love to see the bond films become less white. How about an Asian actor for Q? Like, i don’t know, a certain Riz Ahmed? The U.K. has a big south Asian population, it’s time this was reflected in our modern bond films.
I’m loving Riz Ahmed in ‘the night of’. Even though he doesn’t have a whole lot of dialogue. what a presence. I hope we see more of him in film.
I still do not understand why Bond is considered “a thing”. It’s out-of-date and trite. If the world never got another Bond movie, would anyone notice?
The films still make mountains of money.
It makes shed loads of money. As long as it continues to do that, we shall continue to have new Bond films.
I know right? I think of Bond as such an outdated unnecessary franchise maybe they could give it a rest for a few years. Unless they were actually willing to cast a man of color or a woman I can’t see any compelling reason for another movie.
As Bond or in general?
Bond has a pretty good track record of casting non white actors in various roles, from Bond girls to villians to civil servants/ agents.
LIVE AND LET DIE is practically an all black cast Bond.
Genderwise it remains sexist as hell, but it is what it is.
Live and let die is filled with so many racist stereotypes that it’s not something to be held up as proof of diversity.
Hell yes to a black Bond.
Has Bond ever been anything BUT stereotypes?
That particular BOND was a riff on 70s Blaxploitation movies which were a trend at that time. Might as well dismiss that entire genre and Tarantino films since he heavily ‘borrows’ from that genre.
However, even if we ignore that particular BOND, the point stands that franchise as a whole has hired many non white actors in various roles.
Btw, i’m not saying it’s perfect or that it can’t do better or that better roles, but considering the few opportunities non whites have across mainstream film franchises, Bond is doing better than many franchises now and then.
The non white actors aren’t cast as background filler only. They’ve been villains, sexy bond girls, agents right from the beginning of the franchise in the 60s.
And Miss Moneypenny is of Afro-Caribbean descent. (I hope that is still PC, if not, I apologise in advance)
Spidey: yep she is.
Not just racial diversity, but diversity in other ways eg Nick Nack, Blofeld, Jaws, oddjob…..not exactly conventional casting.
I know the fantasy list is a fantasy, but in reality anyone British isn’t in contention even if the media talks them up. That rules out Aidan Turner.
Wasnt Hugh Jackman offered the role and he turned it down ?
I’m not a bond fan but if Idris have anything to do with it I’m all in.
I don’t know if he was offered the role. I find it highly unlikely because he was locked into X-MEN 1 and 2 which he made almost back to back, plus other action films straight after that from 2000-2006.
By the time he could have been available for Bond, the new film financing rule would have ruled him out.
The version I heard was that Barbara Broccoli didn’t think he was manly/butch enough to play Bond, but that was before she saw him as Wolverine and by then it was too late.
I can see why she would think that because i remember when he first became a star – sort of – in London. He was the lead in west end production of Oklahoma at the same time as Adam Garcia, a fellow aussie, was the lead in Saturday Night Fever.
London was on fire for Adam. Hugh barely got a look in. Great things were being predicted for Adam, he was on the cover of magazines yadayadayada.
The fact that Hugh got XMEN barely registered. At best he was considered a capable song and dance man, but not a star and definitely not butch/manly.
And then Hugh’s X-MEN came out vs Adam’s COYOTE UGLY……
And as you are saying, by the time the movie came out, it was too late. He was already locked into X-MEN francise etc and by the time he was free, new rule made him ineligible for Bond.
Adam Garcia! I’d totally forgotten about him, I thought for sure he was going to be the next big heartthrob back in the day and then he just disappeared.
An Aussie? Strange…..
If it is not Idris, I am not against Jamie Bell. I think he can pull it off. He is extremely talented.
Were people anti-Tom for Bond before this summer’s happenings?
I don’t know about the public, but the media were talking him up as a sure thing after TNM aired.
After Tiddles, not so much. Public or media.
Yes.
Yes, we were saying it back in March…
http://www.celebitchy.com/474527/tom_hiddleston_on_the_idea_of_playing_james_bond_i_love_the_whole_thing/
And we were also talking about the wonders of Eamonn Walker and Bill Nighy, saying Idris was too old, and comparing Henry Cavill to a plank! Just as we are here! I’m delighted in our consistency. Plus Eve!
Looking over those comments I was missing Eve AND Fanty. Not enough snark on these threads anymore…. *le sigh*
But we have Secret Squirrel back with her lively chatter so not all is lost from the Thornfield days.
I’m already seeing stories that theorize the go-to Halloween costume for a lot of couples this year will be paying homage to the Hiddleswift “I Heart TS” beach display. If that turns out to be the case, I think that would pretty much kill any last remaining Bond chances, which are already probably slim to none.
There were both pro and anti Tom for Bond. Most of the anti Tom Bond were people that either didn’t know him at all or knew very little like that he’s posh. Most of the pro Tom seemed to be hiddlestoners, the younger tumblr set. After TNM aired more of the general public were pro Bond, but there were still those that didn’t buy Jonathan Pine/Hiddles as Bond.
I don’t think he’s a good fit if they’re trying to match Craig’s Bond. And that’s fine, if more Craig Bond is what they want, then let’s have some Elba up in there. Other than Elba and Chiwetel, the rest would ALL be boring Bonds.
John Hamm!
Tom Ellis!
Also MADS!
Mads Mikkelsen?
He is the villain in CASINO ROYALE ( 2006)
Well that puts him out..Id take anything to see him more however. He is just dreamy..
I also think Ewan or McAvoy could pull it off.
Ding Ding!!
Last one! Promise! CLIVE
Clive Owen?
Too old. Not been good in any action roles he has taken.
just saw the pic of AT and nope. No way this guy rings bond to me.
But anyway, I don’t care about bond. Gosh I always hated the way they used women like disposable trash.
I hate bond. I wish Tom, Elba, Fassy don’t get this role. Don’t care about others.
I think I’d watch any of them being Bond. Promising list.
I think it needs to be an unknown actor. Bond needs to be transformed from its misogynist past to a modern hero that is, dare I say, more politically correct. The sequels are ending. Yes it’s had a better run that anything else but to be it’s about to cut short. It’s time for a drastic Bond makeover. If they want to bank on name then my suggestions are:
1) Idris Elba (because duh, his voice alone gets me hot like Connery does so can you imagine the rest of that package…)
2) Matt Bomer (He is incredibly good looking, charismatic and has proven to play an array of characters)
3) James Dornan (because damn he’s hot and better than 50 shades of blah)
4) Robert Pattinson (not necessarily now but he has the hunky, brooding type down and could take it in a new direction)
5) Anyone that embodies Matt Damon in anyway.
Matt Bomer is American.
i Il add my : Richard Armitage 😀
I second that!
Literally everyone else on this list is better than Tom Hiddleston.
Charlie Hunnam better than Hiddleston. I don’t think so. I don’t want Tom to play Bond. I don’t think he’s a good fit for the role, but with a few tweeks, he’s a better fit to play a Bond “type”, maybe not Craig’s Bond, than Hunnam. Hunnam is too much “the bloke”, and he has very little acting range to think that he could all of a sudden morph into a intriguing, distinguished and charming British spy. There just is not a Bond type that he could do. Just cause he’s tough and sexy like Daniel Craig, doesn’t mean he has the rest of what Craig brings to the character.
Sophisticated. That’s what I was looking for. He can’t play sophisticated, urbane, cosmopolitan. Bond has to have these traits down. Period. Otherwise you’re just making a British Jason Bourne movie.
Bond is sophisticated, urbane and cosmopolitan above anything else which is mostly why I think Tom is seen as a candidate for the role.
Historically these qualities were absolutely essential to the Bond role. They signify him as the stereotypical British ideology where the world is his play ground. There is nowhere he can’t go on the planet and be triumphant. I argue that regardless who plays him, it is more important that the Bond character unquestionably and unreservedly be iconic English-British than be tough or even pretty.
It’s only been with Craig that the role has more significantly veered away from the classic English gentry stereotype. I think they’re going to stay with this style Bond as it’s more representative of modern times. Still, who ever plays Bond not only has to be tough and sexy but must also embody British sophistication and prestige.
Fleming partially modeled the character on Christopher Lee, his step-cousin. Lee was a spy during WWII before becoming an actor.
I’ve been in love with the idea of Idris as Bond since day one. Chiwetel is an interesting suggestion, I’d dig it. I would just love to see an African-American man as Bond!
Americans are ineligible.
Idris and Chiwetel are British.
Err…no. Like me, they’re not African-American, they’re Black British.
Jaime Lannister please! I know he’s not English, but he can play English and he’s Bond-hot.
Definitely Idris!
Fassbender is my choice, but maybe he’s too good an actor for this.
Let’s throw Nicholas Hoult’s name in the hat to make the reboot worthy. It would be interesting to see 007’s origins while watching a young actor mature with the role but I suspect this will be another case of watching the same movies again and again with a new actor.
I think Matthew Goode should be considered.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/matthew-goode-ruins-chance-playing-7802932
But he does have lovely eyes.
Idris is honestly the best choice. I can’t imagine anyone on that list making as wonderful a Bond as he would. He’s *perfect* for that role.
And, as much as I genuinely like Hiddleston, he’s the one I think would make the least-convincing Bond out of everyone on the list. Even though he has muscles, his slim build keeps me from ever seeing him as physically threatening. It’s a pity; he does creepy really well, but I don’t think he can sell the looming, tuxedo-clad brick of sex and death that Bond is supposed to be. Even the more elegant Bond actors still looked like they could stomp you into the pavement, if need be.
Idris because not just his looks or acting but his VOICE. Yes please. He also looks like he could kill you or f— you and I think that is what makes a good Bond… You don’t know what will happen!
Well thanks to all those above for replying to my earlier question on people’s views..
But…………..now with my boring hat on I am going to call the Sun article out as BS. I can’t believe that Barbara would in any way have issued a official shortlist for a start. However, to be slightly less boring, i wonder if Tom saying he hadn’t got the role was to stop the stories because they had become a distraction or because he really knew he hadn’t or “shock horror” didn’t actually want the role, but knew it would be very unwise to say so.
Discuss.
But there have been more stories about it AFTER he said he wasn’t in any discussions for it.
This is true, but I wonder if he really knew he wasn’t going to do it?
Have you got any nice drinks on ice, because it is pretty warm here?
We have that blueberry vodka Spidey Cop martini thingie we invented for you –
Yes please, with salty snacks?
Home made potato chips. (crisps)
Spidey. Before the summer of Tiddles while promoting TNM or ISTL he said to a journalist asking him about Bond that it was getting to a be too much with all the Bond questions and that he wished “the Bond questions would just stop!” It was one of those few times he couldn’t hide his exasperation, and he just blurted it out. He then recovered himself and qualified his outburst by saying that there was just nothing to tell, he had not been approached, and the rumors where just that, rumors.
Even before that while promoting CP I saw him be quite surprised when American mainstream show host said he was going to play Bond. He was definitely caught off guard, and I’ve always felt that his stupid management and PR really started pushing the Bond angle more than he realized or was prepared for. I do feel bad for him cause even though it’s part of the job, he puts up with so much repetitious crap, more than normal imo.
It was during ISTL promotion and he said the questions were becoming very distracting. He definitely seemed exasperated. But the questions kept coming throughout all the various interviews he did for ISTL and TNM and High-Rise. And when he got back to England, the Sun or the Mirror had paps trailing him everywhere, which is how that historian got linked to him.
Barbara should offer him a villain role in the next one.
my shortlist pick for bond is Idris….just stops there. I like Fassbender but no, he looks to old for it and Marvel was enough. Bond would have a fresh reboot with Idris Elba and possobly be good again..?
My pick is Idris because he would make an AMAZING Bond. It’s a choice that would make the films relevant again.
The charades video is killing me this morning. Just killing me. I don’t really understand what it is promoting and I couldn’t figure out Josie’s charade at all but I’ve been giggling all morning.
Taming of the Shrew?
https://twitter.com/twhiddleston/status/771647072932012032
I think Mark Gatiss’s is The Tragedy of King Richard III
And Josie’s I worked out was Measure for Measure. But had to cheat with Hadley’s which was sounds like Back Breath – Macbeth!
Glad I’m not the only one lilacflowers. But they seem to know what they are doing.
And I presume that is Tom’s trailer from Thor III?
How bout we really throw some life into this tired old franchise and have a LADY bond?
Gemma Arterton would be great! La Jolie!
I vote for Hayley Atwell. I think her glib style would work nicely as Bond-feminina . I hope she is cast in the next movie either way. There needs to be more smart Bond women overall. She’s smart and capable while still being very feminine.