As 23rd Bond chapter “Skyfall” preps for its public bow Stateside next month, and with many early reviews, including ours, calling it a fine return to franchise form, the pairing of Daniel Craig and director Sam Mendes looks to be one with a promising future if sustained. However, even in safe waters, Bond fans can still speculate toward the series’ future, and recently two lingering questions regarding dream additions to the series have finally been addressed.
Craig's confirmed of late that's he's signed on for at least two more movies in the tux, but there'll always be a thought to the future among fans and filmmakers, and as “Skyfall” star Naomie Harris recently revealed, one interesting, if potentially controversial, choice might turn out to be "The Wire" and "Prometheus" star Idris Elba. “I didn’t realize that there was this talk and then I did a film with Idris [Elba] and he said that he met Barbara Broccoli [James Bond producer],” Harris explained, “It does seem like a possibility in the future that there could very well be a black James Bond.”
The change would certainly rile some (idiot) fans up, if the reaction to the actor playing a space viking in "Thor" is anything to go by, but Elba’s a talented presence that could certainly do a good job in the role, although given that he's now 40, he may turn out to be too old by the time Craig hands in his Walther PPK. Having just come from working with Elba on his Mandela biopic "Long Walk To Freedom," which recently wrapped in South Africa, Harris also gave her vote in support of his abilities. “I didn’t even realize [Elba was a London native] until I started to work with him. I thought he was an American based on his role on 'The Wire.' " Another one fooled, then.
Aside from Harris’ interesting hints toward the future, much focus has also been around the idea of Christopher Nolan’s possible contributions, given his confessed fandom of, and debt to, the Bond movies, and Nolan revealing he'd met with producers in the past. Even Mendes publicly tipped his hat to the director as a source of inspiration for “Skyfall,” but what about an actual full scale Nolan Bond film?
Well, Gregg Wilson – son of famed Bond producer Michael G. Wilson, and associate producer of "Skyfall" – recently took more of an optimistically cagey approach to the question. “We would of course be interested to have a discussion with him. We would like to do the same type of movie,” Wilson said, “It would be a dream to be with Nolan. But we always have an open mind when it comes to directors.”
So it seems the matter of a Hans Zimmer-scored Bond offering still remains hazy, but by all accounts Mendes seems to have put out an excellent installment in the meantime, and one that will satiate fans just fine when “Skyfall” is released November 9th. [HuffPo/Moviezine]
You know, Idris might actually work for the role… In fact, he reminds me a bit of Connery; he's tall and he has that same sarcastic smirk and playful twinkle in his eye.
But obviously changing Bond's race would be a major break in continuity, unless the producers suffers from the Spiderman-syndrome and wants to reboot right after Craig's done.
Henry Cavill should play 007 next.. He is only 29 so he will be ready say in the next 5 to 10 years. He has the looks, he is British. He would awesome in the role!!
Daniel Craig was injured during Skyfall and has asked producers to be released from his commitment to make 2 more movies because he does not think he is physically capable of making 2 more Bond films. I think Idris Elba would be the PERFECT James Bond, if Craig does indeed need to be replaced. I strongly disagree about Nolan making a Bond film. The last thing I want is a cerebral Bond film ala Inception or The Batman Series. I hope they keep Sam Mendes as he did an awesome job with Skyfall.
I agree. This isn't a case of throwing as many gimmicks at the screen and seeing what sticks. That's totally not what this is. Nope.
Tom Hardy needs to be the next Bond. Cotillard and Caine would probably end up in it as well.
Nolan would be great if they got some one else to direct the action scenes.
Holy shit. Friend and I made this image a few weeks ago..
http://imageshack.us/a/img14/3140/jamesbondn.jpg
WHAT HAVE WE DONE!
Nolan? Hell yes.
Elba? Hell yes… but only when/if Craig wants to move on.
Richard Ayoade, anyone?
I would love to see Nolan direct the next Bond film with Craig, especially since he seemingly doesn't have another project lined up yet. Elba would make a great Bond but he might be too old; but he's only four years younger than Craig. Even if Fassbender would be the next Bond, he'd likely be in his early 40s before he got the role.
If Craig does to more films, Elba would be 46 by the time his first one comes out (provided they follow the stratagem of releasing one every other year). As such, age not race will prevent Elba from being Bond. Last time a Bond started close to his 50s, you had Roger Moore, which became more and more ridiculous.
As for Nolan, would be great. However, I don't think this will be a reality for the next film. The Dark Knight, Inception, and The Dark Knight Rises were all huge films that were shot back to back. I think that along with producing Man of Steel and Transcendence, he'll want to do something smaller ala The Prestige.
Michael Fasssbender should be next Bond enough said!
Nolan on board will be the death of the Bond franchise.
I love Idris Elba, but I dislike Nolan.
sorry for the caps but… PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
Idris will be too old, tragic, but let's be honest, David Oyelowo is perfect for the new Bond!
If Nolan is on board, I can see the twist being something about Bond thinkin he's black that's why he's black.
If Nolan is on board, I can see the twist being something about Bond thinkin he's black that's why he's black.
Idris Elba can play whatever he wants as far as I'm concerned. James Bond? Hell yes.
Tom hardy would be a nice choice along with Nolan.
Nolan needs to do his Bond film at some point. But why not with Daniel Craig as Bond?
I would love to see this happen. Not because of some desire to see people get crazed at the thought of a black Bond, but because the talent involved would be fucking dynamite. Plus, it would just give further weight to the concept that "James Bond" is just the code name of a revolving door of Special 007 agents, and not the actual name of one man who's age and appearance have fluctuated randomly over the past 50 years.