Starring as James Bond This is a fantastic deal for actors in Hollywood. But, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli & Michael G. Wilson have stated that they have yet to pitch prospective actors for these films.
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According to Variety, the producer’s search has been quite hectic, and they claim it’s still “early days.” But whoever lands the role, the producers said they must be in for the long haul. Initially, that actor was Idris Elba but the actor said he didn’t see Bond when he “looks in the mirror”.
The producers did not speak with Elba during the interview. However, they said they understood. “He’s great,” says Wilson, and Broccoli quickly adds, “We love Idris.”
“The thing is, it’s going to be a couple of years off,” Barbara notes. “And when we cast Bond, it’s a 10-, 12-year commitment. So he’s probably thinking, ‘Do I really want that thing? This is not something that everyone wants. It was difficult enough. [Daniel Craig to do it].” Wilson interjects: “And he was in his early 30s at the time!”
Henry Cavill should be the New James Bond. He is a great choice. pic.twitter.com/EdxNb9WvtH
— David Thompson (@Davey2356) September 21, 2022
While Daniel Craig as 007 has been quite successful, when the news of his replacement came, Broccoli and Wilson have already been fielding questions about the franchise’s next chapter for years. They also add how most young actors think they want to do Bond, but don’t fully fathom the commitment of carrying a franchise across many years. “A lot of people think, ‘Oh yeah, it’d be fun to do one,” Broccoli laughs out loud. “Well. That ain’t gonna work.”
Wilson also mentioned the issue of Eon Productions’s resources. “It’s a big investment for us, too, to bring out a new Bond.” Thus, it’s not simply about choosing an actor for a role. “That’s why, when people go, ‘Oh, who are you going to get?’ it’s not just about casting an actor for a film. It’s about a reinvention, and ‘Where are we taking it? What do we want to do with the character?’” says Barbara. “And then, once we figure that out, who’s the right person for that particular reinvention?
“With [Craig]We had the conversation about you know when we sat down at this table. [whether he was] going to do it, he said, ‘Well, I’m going to do it. I really want to be a part of it, the whole thing.’ And he lived to regret that,” says Barbara. “But it’s a big commitment. It’s not just showing up for a couple of months of filming.”
Andrew Scott is a hugely underrated actor. I would love for him to play Bond’s villain. It would be a great role for him.
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She quotes Pierce Brosnan, saying, “More people have walked on the moon than have played James Bond.” (So far, there have been only six actors who played the role since 1962: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Brosnan and Craig.)
As producers, and with changing times, both Michael and Barbara have changed the way Bond is perceived, especially to humanize “the once-womanizing spy” and nuanced roles for the women stars in the films. Barbara assures that these qualities will be maintained in the next films. “It’s an evolution,” she says. “Bond is evolving just as men are evolving. I don’t know who’s evolving at a faster pace.”
She adds, Craig “cracked Bond open emotionally,” which allowed audiences a glimpse into the character’s inner life. “The films over his tenure were the first time we really connected the emotional arc.”
Michael and Barbara are now able to focus their attention on the British Film Institute. It will soon release its next 10-year strategy. “We have a skill shortage, and we have a diversity issue,” she says. “For me, I kept saying, ‘Let’s put them together.’ Let’s train people from diverse backgrounds for jobs that are needed. There are lots of people who are super talented but have not necessarily felt that the film industry was for them.”
They are also the recipients two Hollywood honors. The pair will be leaving their footprints in the ceremony in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre. The Pioneer Award of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation is also presented to them. This foundation supports industry leaders in philanthropic endeavors and provides financial support for those in need in the exhibition and distribution sector.
“[Those who work in distribution and exhibition] are in many ways unsung heroes because it’s been very challenging times,” says Broccoli. “Movie houses are the places people go to dream, and we have to fight to keep them going. These are the people who fight the good fight. We have to support them.”
