Drama over the next James Bond

[Eelementary]

Btw I love the Bond franchise, both the novelsand films.

But I also recognise that Idris Elba is a terrific actor.

 

[saint.nick]

I said it because you could retcon it that way to explain it.

Elba is a fine actor.

You can't retcon it that way to explain it, it's his family name. Let's completely change his backstory just so we can have the novelty of a black Bond? Come on!

I don't care if Elba is an amazing actor. He's not the only great actor out there.

 

[Timbo]

Craig has one more on his contract. They offered him $127 million for two more which he knocked back. Eon Productions have indicated they'd release Craig from the final film if he wanted, as they want the actor to be committed.

I still think he'll do one more. They'll give him space and eventually he'll agree to do the last on and finish his Bonds arc. Spectre was essentially a remake of the first half of On Her Majesties Secret Service so I reckon they'll convince him to finish it off with the conclusion of that and what would have been Lazenbys second film (where he hunts and kills Blofeld for killing his wife).

If they don't, it really shouldn't matter who it is as long as they're a decent actor. However, they will almost certainly go for a white man aged 35-45. It would be financial suicide, especially in middle America and the North of England, for the movie if they went with a black man or a woman, and the hysteria that has surrounded the mere suggestion of it confirms that. I think Elba would be a fantastic Bond.

I think they'll go with a safe choice and revert Bond to a more serialised format instead of an arc like Craig, and go wth someone like Damian Lewis who checks all of the 'conventional' boxes.

 

[shiznit]

Meh... I think the hysteria is overblown...

Infact I think it will end up drawing more people to watch it considering the attention it would receive.

I do get some of the angst... I didn't at first but someone made the point to me about what the reaction would be if they named a black actor to play batman or captain america...

Which if I'm honest I would find it difficult to get my head around... I don't know why James Bond seems easier for me to envision as black.

I think it might be as I think Elba himself would be a great option... I can't see any other black actors being Bond.

 

[age.s]

If it was anyone but Elba I'd consider it pandering, but he'd to a pretty fantastic job in the role imo.

 

[Misanthrope]

Christ, some of the comments in this thread are just blatantly racist.

Multiple people seem to think that Idris, a hugely talented actor who has played a huge variety of roles, can only play 'ghetto Bond' or channel Denzel Washington.

Is that seriously what you think all black actors are capable of regardless of genre or role?

I don't necessarily want a black or female or Asian or whatever Bond, but Elba is immensely talented and implying that a black Bond would automatically be 'ghetto' or 'gangster' is just insanely idiotic.

 

[lafai]

Will Smith for Blackman.

 

[Timbo]

I mean, of all the characters to get hung up on - Bond?

This character has the most non-linear, floating timeline of any fictional character.

On Her Majesties Secret Service he marries Tracy and she dies. But one film later in Diamonds are Forever there is no reference to his dead wife and he's f**king half of Las Vegas. But six films later in For Your Eyes Only he visits her grave, and at Felix's wedding in Licence To Kill he gets sad because Felix points out he was married.

So, who was married? Lazenby, Moore or Dalton? Were Connery and Brosnan? They both appeared in Bonds after he was married in OHMSS.

Not to mention - Connery (Scottish), Lazenby (Australian), Moore (English), Dalton (Welsh), Brosnan (Irish) and Craig (English)... People are worried that Elba is black? He's already been played by five bloody nationalities. They always cover this by illustrating he was adopted - why can't his parents still be Scottish and Swiss if they're black? These are multicultural countries an it's 2016.

Felix has been played by a dozen actors, of different ethnicities and ages. He's worked for the CIA and DEA with no explanation as to how he moves between the two.

Blofeld has been played by 5 different actors of differing backgrounds, from English to American to German.

And at the end of all that, none of this bothers me at all because the films are so much goddamn fun. As long as the core elements of the films are in tact, and it's not an unwatchable mess like Die Another Day or A View To A Kill then I am on board.

 

[saint.nick]

I mean, of all the characters to get hung up on - Bond?

This character has the most non-linear, floating timeline of any fictional character.

On Her Majesties Secret Service he marries Tracy and she dies. But one film later in Diamonds are Forever there is no reference to his dead wife and he's f**king half of Las Vegas. But six films later in For Your Eyes Only he visits her grave, and at Felix's wedding in Licence To Kill he gets sad because Felix points out he was married.

So, who was married? Lazenby, Moore or Dalton? Were Connery and Brosnan? They both appeared in Bonds after he was married in OHMSS.

Not to mention - Connery (Scottish), Lazenby (Australian), Moore (English), Dalton (Welsh), Brosnan (Irish) and Craig (English)... People are worried that Elba is black? He's already been played by five bloody nationalities. They always cover this by illustrating he was adopted - why can't his parents still be Scottish and Swiss if they're black? These are multicultural countries an it's 2016.

Felix has been played by a dozen actors, of different ethnicities and ages. He's worked for the CIA and DEA with no explanation as to how he moves between the two.

Blofeld has been played by 5 different actors of differing backgrounds, from English to American to German.

And at the end of all that, none of this bothers me at all because the films are so much goddamn fun. As long as the core elements of the films are in tact, and it's not an unwatchable mess like Die Another Day or A View To A Kill then I am on board.

I'm sorry but when it's said that you have Scottish or Swiss ethnicity, that would never equate to be being black. Scottish is Scottish. Swiss is Swiss. Black is Nigerian, or Kenyan, or African American, or whatever.

I don't see how your comment on the different nationalities that have played Bond is relevant though. At the end of the day, did Bond change? No, he didn't. With a Scottish actor, he was still a white Englishman. With an Aussie actor, he was still a white Englishman. With a Welsh actor, he was still a white Englishman. With Elba, he would be a Black Englishman.

I just think that continuity and authentic characterisation is important. Non-linear, floating timelines are unimportant and irrelevant. The order in which things happened is insignificant against the matter of who he actually is.

I agree, Elba would otherwise make a fantastic Bond. He's got the personality and charm, the acting, the looks and even the age. But I just can't see him as an authentic Bond. Not when the creator specifically made him white, and not after he's been white for so many years. They only just explored his background in the Skyfall movie. That Skyfall movie means shit if they cast Elba. If Flemming were alive while they tried make Bond black, he wouldn't let it happen.

 

[Timbo]

And the Moore movies invalidated most of Connery. As did Dalton with Moore.

Who cares if Elba would contradict Craig? They all contradict each other.

 

[shiznit]

I'm sorry but when it's said that you have Scottish or Swiss ethnicity, that would never equate to be being black. Scottish is Scottish. Swiss is Swiss. Black is Nigerian, or Kenyan, or African American, or whatever.

I don't see how your comment on the different nationalities that have played Bond is relevant though. At the end of the day, did Bond change? No, he didn't. With a Scottish actor, he was still a white Englishman. With an Aussie actor, he was still a white Englishman. With a Welsh actor, he was still a white Englishman. With Elba, he would be a Black Englishman.

I just think that continuity and authentic characterisation is important. Non-linear, floating timelines are unimportant and irrelevant. The order in which things happened is insignificant against the matter of who he actually is.

I agree, Elba would otherwise make a fantastic Bond. He's got the personality and charm, the acting, the looks and even the age. But I just can't see him as an authentic Bond. Not when the creator specifically made him white, and not after he's been white for so many years. They only just explored his background in the Skyfall movie. That Skyfall movie means shit if they cast Elba. If Flemming were alive while they tried make Bond black, he wouldn't let it happen.

The thing that I don't understand with the stance your taking is if continuity with the previous movies is of such importance then why has there been no mention of the fact that Moneypenny who's been strictly white in every adaption right up until Skyfall where they made her black??

 

[Misanthrope]

I'm sorry but when it's said that you have Scottish or Swiss ethnicity, that would never equate to be being black. Scottish is Scottish. Swiss is Swiss. Black is Nigerian, or Kenyan, or African American, or whatever.

I don't see how your comment on the different nationalities that have played Bond is relevant though. At the end of the day, did Bond change? No, he didn't. With a Scottish actor, he was still a white Englishman. With an Aussie actor, he was still a white Englishman. With a Welsh actor, he was still a white Englishman. With Elba, he would be a Black Englishman.

I just think that continuity and authentic characterisation is important. Non-linear, floating timelines are unimportant and irrelevant. The order in which things happened is insignificant against the matter of who he actually is.

I agree, Elba would otherwise make a fantastic Bond. He's got the personality and charm, the acting, the looks and even the age. But I just can't see him as an authentic Bond. Not when the creator specifically made him white, and not after he's been white for so many years. They only just explored his background in the Skyfall movie. That Skyfall movie means shit if they cast Elba. If Flemming were alive while they tried make Bond black, he wouldn't let it happen.

Don't they all essentially "mean shit" once they recast the Bond anyway? I don't see any continuity between Brosnan's Bond and Craig's Bond. They're entirely different people playing entirely different characters. All the have in common is a job, a name, and a few iconic things like what they drink and how they dress.

Brosnan's Bond was a relatively carefree womanizer, whereas Craig's has always been a somewhat sullen, violent, and not especially friendly individual.

 

[Pete Cash]

James Bond isn't a codename, it's his real name.

Why would the most famous spy in the world go around using his real name

 

[ceagle]

Idris wouldn't be a bad choice, he's tall and physical looking also fits the role of charismatic, sophisticated, masculine and rugged, although Fassbender would be my personal choice if I could pick anyone. A women Bond is also probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

 

[Pete Cash]

I know that GW is trolling but does idris ever really play gangstas like the stereotype he put out. His character in the wire was so popular because he was so different. Stringer bell was a pretty complex character that he was so desperate to be out of that world but he ironically couldnt out hustle the politicians.

Luther is basically the male anti hero that is so popular now days. Could be played by anyone really with a few rejigs of the characters background. He is basically the english vic mackay in a lot of ways.

Possibly his weakest race based troll yet. Pick up your game gw. Low energy effort.

 

[azzah72]

I remember people freaking out about Daniel Craig because he was blond.

Who cares. They will still be good movies ....... unless it's a female. :sarcasm:

 

[saint.nick]

The thing that I don't understand with the stance your taking is if continuity with the previous movies is of such importance then why has there been no mention of the fact that Moneypenny who's been strictly white in every adaption right up until Skyfall where they made her black??

Because in the books, Moneypenny is a very minor character that Fleming hardly paid attention to and never physically described. It's given moviemakers license to play around with her character.

And the Moore movies invalidated most of Connery. As did Dalton with Moore.

Who cares if Elba would contradict Craig? They all contradict each other.

But they never invalidated Bond as a suave, white British guy. Obviously, different actors will give their own little twists on the character.

By this logic, there is license to also make Batman black, because West, Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney, Bale and Affleck were all a little different to eachother.

Why would the most famous spy in the world go around using his real name

His codename is 007. Bond is his real name, his parent's names in the books are Andrew Bond and Monique Delacroix-Bond.

Don't they all essentially "mean shit" once they recast the Bond anyway? I don't see any continuity between Brosnan's Bond and Craig's Bond. They're entirely different people playing entirely different characters. All the have in common is a job, a name, and a few iconic things like what they drink and how they dress.

Brosnan's Bond was a relatively carefree womanizer, whereas Craig's has always been a somewhat sullen, violent, and not especially friendly individual.

Please, you make Craig's Bond sound like a deadbeat bouncer in King's Cross.

They are not entirely different characters. Brosnan's Bond is white, British, around the 40 year mark, a womanizer, carefree, witty, and violent when he needs to be. Craig's Bond is white, British, around the 40 year mark, a womanizer, carefree, witty, and violent when he needs to be. Craig's Bond is a little more serious, but so what, it doesn't justify transforming his racial profile and family background.

 

[Wizardman]

Christ, some of the comments in this thread are just blatantly racist.

Multiple people seem to think that Idris, a hugely talented actor who has played a huge variety of roles, can only play 'ghetto Bond' or channel Denzel Washington.

Is that seriously what you think all black actors are capable of regardless of genre or role?

I don't necessarily want a black or female or Asian or whatever Bond, but Elba is immensely talented and implying that a black Bond would automatically be 'ghetto' or 'gangster' is just insanely idiotic.

I totally agree. The media need to take some sort of responsibility though as more often than not, black people are portrayed as jive talking people with limited intelligence. My mother cringed at that when she was younger.

 

[Wizardman]

Idris Elba would be a badass James Bond...

He would be the first James Bond in history who actually looks like they would be able to handle themselves in a fight...

If you HAVE to have a white actor... There's some guys from down under who could do it... Those Hemsworth boys are decent sized units...

Maybe Karl Urban from here in NZ...

I'd prefer someone who can act to someone who looks the part.

 

[Wizardman]

Actually.... What about Henry Cavill... He's a Pom isn't he...

He certainly looked the part in the man from uncle...

I'd rather Elba than him. Cavill has the acting range of a piece of wood. Watching Cavill play Superman makes you realise how criminally underrated Christopher Reeve was.