Meet the new 007.

[Hat and Rehat]

What if it turns out that "James Bond" is itself simply a cover identity assigned down thru the decades to various different individuals? Make that concept canon, and you've got an explanation for why there have been so many distinctively different "Bonds," and an opening to tell new and interesting stories rather than rehashing the same old thing time after time. To say nothing of the possibility of "multi-Bond" stories. Admit it -- you guys would love to see Craig-Bond beat the snot out of Brosnan-Bond while Connery-Bond stands at the bar with a drink in his hand, watching with bemusement.

Absolutely, but not at the bar. The Baccarat table would be more apropos.

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[Seb Lucas]

You say that as if it's axiomatic, yet that's what I don't see. I see folks making "business" decisions based on appealing to the small audience of Hollywood (sweeping generalization which of course is not true across the board). Reportedly, American movie theaters sold fewer tickets in 2017 than any year since 1992. I've pointed out some of the underperforming box offices previously, and why I think they underperformed.

I just think Hollywood has been ignoring a good portion of audience share in service to their own egos and stroking from their fellow members of the industry. There are numerous examples of independent films which buck certain "PC" trends and perform very well. With a Hollywood push behind them, they could perform spectacularly. I believe this is due to group think.

Back to the point at hand, however. Perhaps this publicity is for marketing purposes, and the new 007 isn't James Bond, and Mr. Bond will continue to be Mr. Bond, as we know him and love him. Or perhaps they are doing exactly what some are complaining of and if so, I predict it will kill the franchise.

On the other hand, I've always wanted to know what all those other "double-nought spies" were up to. We only get to see Bond. One of the streaming services could have a field day with an anthology which features 002 one week, 009 the next, and so on. Then you can introduce any type of character you want: male, female, gay, straight, conservative, progressive, furry...

Yep, I say that like it's axiomatic because I believe it to be axiomatic.

If ticket sales are down it's more likely because people enjoy services like Netflix and many stay away from cinema (like me) because too many films are made for children - Bond films a case in point.

Movies tend to fail because they are simplistic and badly written rather than the material or themes. As a rule I don't tend to like films with lofty messages because I hate didactic writing.

For my money whether the character is female or male only matters if it is well written and produced. The chances of that, given my poor assessments of the last Bond films is slim. Hope I am wrong.

 

[Frunobulax]

What if it turns out that "James Bond" is itself simply a cover identity assigned down thru the decades to various different individuals? Make that concept canon, and you've got an explanation for why there have been so many distinctively different "Bonds," and an opening to tell new and interesting stories rather than rehashing the same old thing time after time. To say nothing of the possibility of "multi-Bond" stories. Admit it -- you guys would love to see Craig-Bond beat the snot out of Brosnan-Bond while Connery-Bond stands at the bar with a drink in his hand, watching with bemusement.

That's been a theory for some time, but Skyfall laid it to rest, so to speak.

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[Harp]

even the most innocent of movies like Wizard Of Oz has political messages.

The guild munchkins are UAW, and what's good for General Motors is good for Oz.

 

[Bushman]

The guild munchkins are UAW, and what's good for General Motors is good for Oz.

The Lollipop Guild wants their dues, or somebody might get a house dropped on them.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Solidarity with all Munchkin labor, from UAW-NWU Local 1981 card #96278.

 

[scottyrocks]

What if it turns out that "James Bond" is itself simply a cover identity assigned down thru the decades to various different individuals? Make that concept canon, and you've got an explanation for why there have been so many distinctively different "Bonds," and an opening to tell new and interesting stories rather than rehashing the same old thing time after time. To say nothing of the possibility of "multi-Bond" stories. Admit it -- you guys would love to see Craig-Bond beat the snot out of Brosnan-Bond while Connery-Bond stands at the bar with a drink in his hand, watching with bemusement.

Yes, I would.

 

[scottyrocks]

Furry? Would that be "Double-0-K9?"

 

[MisterCairo]

The producers of Bond are in the business of making money. Lots of it. They obviously think there may be a market for this.

The people who brought out the female Ghostbusters film* thought the same thing. Are you looking forward to the sequel to that? Oh, that's right, it made so much money, I understand that Ivan Reitman's son is bringing back sexagenarians Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd for a GB 3.

*My family saw this in the theatres, we loved it, and we own it on Blu-ray. It still tanked and don't hold your breath waiting to see how "Zuul" turns out...

 

[Harp]

What if it turns out that "James Bond" is itself simply a cover identity assigned down thru the decades to various different individuals? Make that concept canon, and you've got an explanation for why there have been so many distinctively different "Bonds," and an opening to tell new and interesting stories rather than rehashing the same old thing time after time. To say nothing of the possibility of "multi-Bond" stories. Admit it -- you guys would love to see Craig-Bond beat the snot out of Brosnan-Bond while Connery-Bond stands at the bar with a drink in his hand, watching with bemusement.

Ian Fleming's character is literally a singular individual: Cambridge, Royal Navy, and stamped a veteran of World War II;
film incarnations and various thespians have added to the mix and mold but essentially 007 is the same persona.
Interesting to note that Fleming killed off Bond in From Russia With Love.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Ian Fleming's character is literally a singular individual: Cambridge, Royal Navy, and stamped a veteran of World War II;
film incarnations and various thespians have added to the mix and mold but essentially 007 is the same persona.
Interesting to note that Fleming killed off Bond in From Russia With Love.

Or less kindly - Bond is a series of unsophisticated pulp fiction cliches that movie makers have tried to rehabilitate to varying degrees of success. And these days it seems to be the law of diminishing returns.

I agree with Edward on this - they should have filmed the novels and made them cold war period thrillers. Bond is of it's time and is now pretty clumsy stuff - hence the idea of a black, lesbian agent to make it interesting. Maybe.

 

[Seb Lucas]

The people who brought out the female Ghostbusters film* thought the same thing. Are you looking forward to the sequel to that? Oh, that's right, it made so much money, I understand that Ivan Reitman's son is bringing back sexagenarians Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd for a GB 3.

*My family saw this in the theatres, we loved it, and we own it on Blu-ray. It still tanked and don't hold your breath waiting to see how "Zuul" turns out...

That's a really good example. No doubt the producers thought this recalibrated reboot would make millions in the box office. It was a package put together in the hope it would be a break through and it was PC only to the extent this casting was thought to have direct financial and entertainment value. I've not seen it. May do so given your comments. But I didn't like the original. Maybe the new one is better.

 

[Tiki Tom]

I confess that the new Doctor Who has not gotten a hold on me. Not because of the new Doctor (inoculating myself against judgement), but because of the writing.

 

[GHT]

I confess that the new Doctor Who has not gotten a hold on me.

Me neither, and I'm talking about William Hartnell. My generation will always remember the first showing of Dr. Who, it aired the day after President Kennedy was assassinated. It was also the day that I passed my driving test. Saturday tests where unheard of, but due to a backlog Saturday was the temporary answer until recruitment filtered through.

The program was in black & white, William Hartnell had long flowing, white hair, a stereotype for mad professors. The so called, special effects and the wooden acting were just too much, besides, at seventeen, Saturday night was not spent in front of the TV. Back then, recording television programs at home was science fiction in itself.

 

[MisterCairo]

The people who brought out the female Ghostbusters film* thought the same thing. Are you looking forward to the sequel to that? Oh, that's right, it made so much money, I understand that Ivan Reitman's son is bringing back sexagenarians Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd for a GB 3.

*My family saw this in the theatres, we loved it, and we own it on Blu-ray. It still tanked and don't hold your breath waiting to see how "Zuul" turns out...

"Rust City" is filming in and around Calgary, Alberta as we speak. Jason Reitman is directing, dad Ivan one of the producers. "Rust City" is expected to star Paul Rudd, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, possibly Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts, along with Finn Wolfhard from Stranger Things.

"Rust City", a working title, is apparently about a young girl who has a dream about a proton pack, whatever that is. "Rust City" is expected to be released in 2020. Curiously, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones are not listed as cast members in "Rust City", no explanation given in the article...

 

[Edward]

What if it turns out that "James Bond" is itself simply a cover identity assigned down thru the decades to various different individuals? Make that concept canon, and you've got an explanation for why there have been so many distinctively different "Bonds," and an opening to tell new and interesting stories rather than rehashing the same old thing time after time. To say nothing of the possibility of "multi-Bond" stories. Admit it -- you guys would love to see Craig-Bond beat the snot out of Brosnan-Bond while Connery-Bond stands at the bar with a drink in his hand, watching with bemusement.

What I want to see is Connery come back as a villain - the original 007, who was forcibly retired / left for dead on his last mission, and has now turned on the system that used and discarded him. I'd like to see him in a scrap with Craig (the *only* credible replacement for Connery in the history of the franchise), ultimately killing Craig, thus leaving the way open for the new, female James (Janis) Bond 007, who would then be charged with tracking down and assassinating Connery. Perfectly meta. If only the old boy would come out of retirement for a few scenes....

The people who brought out the female Ghostbusters film* thought the same thing. Are you looking forward to the sequel to that? Oh, that's right, it made so much money, I understand that Ivan Reitman's son is bringing back sexagenarians Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd for a GB 3.

*My family saw this in the theatres, we loved it, and we own it on Blu-ray. It still tanked and don't hold your breath waiting to see how "Zuul" turns out...

That's a shame, not heard that. It seemed very popular here in the UK. Must have been more shrieking 'MRA' twits refusing to see it because the leads had no winkies than I realised.

Ian Fleming's character is literally a singular individual: Cambridge, Royal Navy, and stamped a veteran of World War II;
film incarnations and various thespians have added to the mix and mold but essentially 007 is the same persona.
Interesting to note that Fleming killed off Bond in From Russia With Love.

Fleming's Bond and screen Bond were never entirely the same person, though. I think there was enough variation that we cant really regard the books as definitive for the cinematic character.

"Rust City" is filming in and around Calgary, Alberta as we speak. Jason Reitman is directing, dad Ivan one of the producers. "Rust City" is expected to star Paul Rudd, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, possibly Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts, along with Finn Wolfhard from Stranger Things.

"Rust City", a working title, is apparently about a young girl who has a dream about a proton pack, whatever that is. "Rust City" is expected to be released in 2020. Curiously, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones are not listed as cast members in "Rust City", no explanation given in the article...

The long-talked-about GB3 was always intended to be set in another city, the premise being that, with GB established as a successful business, Peter was either establishing the first franchise, or another franchise in the line. It would be a logical way of incorporating original cast while also having younger actors to do the running / jumping / screaming.

 

[Hat and Rehat]

Fleming had him in a Bentley.

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And his Unione Corse princess bride to be gave him a run for his money in, perhaps, her Aston Martin. Teressa, I believe, Contessa if I'm not mistaken. She dies in the final pages, leaving James in tears.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service, my favorite of the series by far. The only time James married for love.
That's heady stuff for adolescent readership, when you wish the girl you have a crush on but are afraid to speak to falls off a cliff, just so you can save her.

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[Hat and Rehat]

I just remembered this.
Commander Bond didn't want the PPK.. He was angry when they insisted he train with it.
His weapon of choice was a .25 Beretta. I used to own one.
Firepower like that won't hit the screen these days.
I always like Chandlers' Farewell My Lovely (I'm pretty sure) because when Marlowe ends up at the farmhouse up the coast in the sticks, his main concern is the fellow in denim (I'm sure an OR too) who packs a Colt .22 SA in his hip pocket. The city thugs with their .38s dont seem to concern him much.

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[redlinerobert]

Idris Elba would make an exceptional James Bond. Why he's not getting the role is beyond me.

 

[MisterCairo]

Idris Elba would make an exceptional James Bond. Why he's not getting the role is beyond me.

I'd love to have seen him in the role, but as I noted somewhere up above, the producers look at his current age of 46, he'd be 49 or 50 before the first film would come out, and then 2 or 3 or 4 years older with each subsequent film. They have said they need at least four films out of the next actor, so he'd be pushing 60 by the end of his run.

Again, a shame. Maybe if they'd not waited for Craig to stop dithering, and just hired him three years ago, he'd have had a shot at a decent run.