Random thoughts, observations, and opinions of a software engineer in corporate America.
Brosnan says he is through
Published on July 27, 2004 By CS Guy In Entertainment
Piece Brosnan is hanging up his Walther PPK and Aston Martin. According to Brosnan, “Bond is another lifetime behind me.” The next Bond flick is scheduled to be released November 18, 2005, but it seems someone other than Pierce will be in the lead. Who will be the new man to personify the Bond legend?

Well, here are some of the choices being batted around.

Clive Owen
Clive is my choice. I haven’t seen King Arthur, so I do not know how he did there, but his short appearance in the Bourne Identity was Bond all-the-way. His earlier work shows he has the range to handle the various aspects of Bond. He’s got smooth; he’s got style; he’s got the predator intensity.

Ioan Gruffudd
I like Ioan a lot. The Horatio Hornblower TV movies are among my favorite shows. I just don’t know if he has that predator intensity that Owen does so well. Ioan does internal conflict and reluctant heroism very well, but neither of those are Bond.

Colin Firth
Colin has done a lot of quality work in movies, so I have heard. Looking at his filmography I notice that I have seen some movies in which he has appeared, but I do not recall this actor at all.

Hugh Grant
No. No. No. The thought of Bond cracking that idiotic smile before basting someone away makes me cringe.

Gerard Butler
I like Butler. I even liked him as Dracula in Dracula 2000. I liked him as Attila. He was my favorite character in Timeline. And I look forward to seeing him as Beowulf. But I think he is a bit too meaty for Bond.

Jude Law
Jude could be an okay choice. He certainly has smooth down. And I his work in The Road to Perdition makes me think he can do intense. I think he would be a good choice.

Ewan McGregor
As one of my friends puts it, “Obi Wan can not be Bond!” I think Ewan is too light to play Bond, even when he is trying to be dark.

Hugh Jackman
“Wolverine can not be Bond!” I can’t really articulate why I think Hugh would be a bad choice, but I think casting him would be a mistake.

Heath Ledger
Too freaking young. Too freaking annoying.

Eric Bana
Bana is one of my favorite actors these days. His work in Blackhawk Down was freaking awesome. I did not like The Hulk, but I liked Eric as Bruce. In Troy, Bana’s Hector was the only character with whom I sympathized. He does an amazing Taurus: strong, honor-bound, loyal, Leo’s champion. But I’m not sure he can pull off the smooth sophistication of Bond.

Comments (Page 1)
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on Jul 27, 2004
I place a huge vote for Colin Firth. I would also accept the bond like stylings of Jude Law or Ewan Mcgregor, but Colin Firth is definitely my top choice.
on Jul 27, 2004

Hugh Grant or Steve Martin would be great for a spoof on 007.

To satisfy me Errol Flynn would have to be resurrected.

on Jul 27, 2004
A friend just pointed out that Jasan Statham is in the consideration as well. I really like Statham (despite the questionable quality of the Transporter). I'm just not sure if the world is ready for a bald Bond, and I would hate to see Statham in a hair piece.
on Jul 27, 2004
I would choose Jude Law over Colin Firth. Although I absolutely love Colin, I can't see him as James. I do think he's sexy though!
on Jul 27, 2004
Great thread! Here are my thoughts on some of your choices:

Clive Owen: Also my choice, though I wonder if he's got the suave thing down. Hard to see him actually romancing a woman.

Ioan Gruffudd: Well, at least he looks British.... How do you pronounce "Ioan"? "Eye-oh-ahn"? I agree with you--don't see the predator intensity.

Colin FIrth: . Colin Firth was great in Pride and Prejudice and again in Bridget Jones's Diary, but if you watch the fight scene in BJD, you'll see why I'm ROFLMAO.

Jude Law: Too blonde. Maybe if he dyed his hair? But you're right--he's got the intensity. Saw that in "The Talented Mr. Ripley."

Ewan McGregor: Ditto your post.

Hugh Jackman: Maybe....hasn't he been on Broadway a lot recently? I have visions of Bond dancing and singing in a chorus line....

Eric Bana: DItto what you said about him in "Troy," but I don't think, and no offense Mr. Bana, but I don't think he's got the clean-cut looks for it. He looks great rugged and ragged, but not clean-shaven.

The qualities that Bond must have:
1. Sex appeal (Clive Owen)
1. Action star abilities (Clive Owen)
(yes, both #1)
3. Ability to deliver one-liners without coming across as stupid, i.e. Will Smith in "I,Robot"
4. Good bed head (Jude Law or Clive Owen)
5. Firm jaw for intense car chases (Jude Law)
6. Ability to grow stubble (there goes Heath Ledger)
7. Dark hair (Jude Law doesn't qualify; Clive Owen does)
8. And heaven forbid that we have an ethnic James Bond, so of course he must be white (Will Smith disqualifiies himself with "I,Robot" and the fact that he's American).

on Jul 27, 2004
I like Statham (and I liked the Transporter, which was at least internally consistent if you accept the basic premise), but I don't think he'd be a good Bond. The quality that Bond needs that I don't see in him is the ability to look and sound like a British aristocrat. Statham's voice wouldn't cut it, even if he got the accent right.

Actually I'm very disappointed that Pierce won't be doing another one. I thought he was on for at least one or two more pics.
on Jul 27, 2004
Actually I'm very disappointed that Pierce won't be doing another one. I thought he was on for at least one or two more pics.

There is speculation that this is just a bargaining ploy on his part. Connery did something similar to get more money.
on Jul 27, 2004
8. And heaven forbid that we have an ethnic James Bond, so of course he must be white (Will Smith disqualifiies himself with "I,Robot" and the fact that he's American).

Actually, listening to the commentary for Die Another Day, it seems that the makers (I forget what combination of directory/producer/writer/etc was commenting) were considering Colin Salmon for the role. He played the black MI-6 agent in that movie. He was also in Resident Evil and the Keen Eddie TV show. I think he has all of the Bond traits and would be a good choice. There is just the question of whether audiences would accept his ethnicity.
on Jul 27, 2004
Jude Law all the way!
on Jul 27, 2004
It is a shame that Bronsan is hanging it up. As a fringe fan of the James bond series, I thought he did great as Bond. His replacement will have some big shoe phones to fill.

Colin Firth seems to be a favorite, but he's not a action kind of guy, really. He is better off in the roles that he has become accustomed to. Could you really see him diving out of a plane or fighting someone?
Jude Law, I don't think, would do it. But he's sexy and cool, so maybe.
The guy from the Transporter is good at what he does as a actor. My favorite role of his was in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, plus the Transporter was decent. I think I could see his doing it more than than Firth.
McGregor: nope, sorry, no. At least in my opinion.
on Jul 27, 2004
Colin Firth seems to be a favorite, but he's not a action kind of guy, really. He is better off in the roles that he has become accustomed to. Could you really see him diving out of a plane or fighting someone?


Colin and Hugh Grant are the British bumbling fools - they pretty much play the same character in every single one of their movies - I just can not see either of them as Bond.
Ewan?? So no way - look I know Connery was Scottish but Ewan would so not work - I saw Down with Love the other week - I kept being reminded of Moulin Rouge

Hugh Jackman MIGHT be able to pull it off - Remember his Aristocrat Leopold in Kat & Leopold - He's done the Action in the XMen movies - we know he's a ladykiller

Heath Ledger is actually being considered??!?!? oh please --- Look I'm a pretty patriotic Aussie but he would be one of the worst choices imaginable

I know what he's been in - but I haven't seen any of Jude Laws movies
Pictures I've seen of Clive Owen - I think he looks the part but I haven't seen any of his movies

Ioan Gruffudd: Well, at least he looks British.... How do you pronounce "Ioan"? "Eye-oh-ahn"? I agree with you--don't see the predator intensity.

he's Welsh - it's Pronouced Yo-an Griff-ith - I remember his bit part in the Titanic and Black Hawk Down - I haven't seen King Arthur
on Jul 27, 2004
Gerard Butler was already in a Bond movie - he played Leading Seaman - HMS Devonshire in Tomorrow Never Dies.
Plus fans of Marian Keyes may have seen him in the Lucy Sullivan is getting Married TV Series - he played Gus. -- He looks like a Bad Boy rather then a Bond.
on Jul 27, 2004
Gerard Butler was already in a Bond movie - he played Leading Seaman - HMS Devonshire in Tomorrow Never Dies.

Yea. A friend and I noticed that today when we were looking at everyone's filmographies.

He looks like a Bad Boy rather then a Bond.

Right. I think Eric Bana has the same problem.
on Jul 27, 2004
It is a shame that Bronsan is hanging it up. As a fringe fan of the James bond series, I thought he did great as Bond. His replacement will have some big shoe phones to fill.

Agreed. Pierce was pretty much perfect for the role. I remember thinking that years ago when Remington Steele was on the air.

The guy from the Transporter is good at what he does as a actor. My favorite role of his was in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, plus the Transporter was decent. I think I could see his doing it more than than Firth.

I think my favorite role of Statham's was in Snatch.
on Jul 29, 2004
I know that I've seen The Transporter, and I just saw him in The Italian Job. Thanks for talking about Stratham and mentioning some of the other stuff he's done. But from the two movies, I can't see him as Bond either.

I love Ewan McGregor, but I think that it would be a disaster if he did this one. My bet is on Jude, and no Heath, PLEASE.
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