It's James Blond (New Bond is Daniel Craig)

ThisIsLondon ^ | 10/11/2005 | Nicole Lampert

[Callahan]

He has just proved his ladykilling credentials by seducing Sienna Miller from under the nose of his friend, Jude Law.

Now Daniel Craig is about to become the biggest seducer of all - Ian Fleming's James Bond.

The actor, who found fame as Geordie in the BBC series Our Friends in the North in 1996, got the job after an 18-month mission to replace Pierce Brosnan.

Scores of others, including Law himself, Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell and Orlando Bloom, were considered but rejected.

In the end a shortlist of two emerged - Craig and newcomer Henry Cavill. The pair were auditioned again and tried on tuxedos to see how they would look in the quintessential Bond clothing.

Craig, 37, whose choice will be confirmed by producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson later this week, will be the sixth Bond, but the first blond.

He will star in the 21st Bond film, based on Ian Fleming's first book Casino Royale.

Craig has said he does not like the fact that the films are more about gadgets than feelings.

He added: 'It's a big machine and it makes a lot of money - so why would you change something that makes a lot of money?'

[Callahan]

Looks like they went for a craggier fellow. Hopefully, this will breathe some new life into the series. The last couple with Brosnan were crap.

[BibChr]

Disagree with that last. Brosnan was the best since Connery.

Of course, Connery was IT.

Dan

[Rummyfan]

Scores of others, including Law himself, Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell and Orlando Bloom, were considered but rejected.

Orlando Bloom??? And what happened to Clive Owen?

[KevinDavis]

I hope this is true this time... We shall see.. Brosnan was good.. Lazenby was the worst...

[TX Bluebonnet]

He looks more the part. Brosnan look like he might have to call off a mission if it interfered with his manicure appointment.

[edcoil]

Hells bells, Peter Sellers did Casino Royale...

[neutrality]

I heard Owen refused, but can't find a source

[wideawake]

Looks like a British Steve McQueen. Could work.

[lilylangtree]

Reminds me of Roger Moore.

[USNBandit]

He will star in the 21st Bond film, based on Ian Fleming's first book Casino Royale

He's no David Niven. :)

[wideawake]

But CR was outside the original franchise.

Broccoli & Co. had no say in the matter and fought its making in court.

[dead]

He looks like an accountant.

[PISANO]

Somehow a BLOND Bond just doesn't equate. The original [Sean] is still far and away the BEST.

[blackie]

He said he didn't want to get stereotyped.

[LIConFem]

"Hells bells, Peter Sellers did Casino Royale..."

You mean David Niven... Sellers wasn't really James Bond, unless I'm not remembering correctly.

[Kenton]

I don't know, I used to be a big Bond fan, but the whole genre seems to have gotten a little long in the tooth... and Cubby Broccoli's obsession with Rube Goldberg devices that explode made a mockery of of Ian Fleming's story line.

I've often thought that it would be great if somebody would hijack the Bond series and do it true to the post-WW2 and early '50s time period in which it was written, without all the special effects.

[HEY4QDEMS]

Brosnan's acting was OK, he just wasn't really convincing as 007.

Not that it really matters much anymore, there are no Ian Flemming screenplays left. Bond the character lives on but the stories will never be the same.

[derllak]

They should have gone feminist and Made James Bond into Jaime Bond. Let's get with the times here! Anything James can do, Jaime can do BETTER! I vote for a woman in the role for a change!

[Clemenza]

Much like the remake of Thunderball aka "Never Say Never Again."

[Tijeras_Slim]

Looks like Putin.

[Clemenza]

You were expecting someone else?

[Clemenza]

I always had a thing for Moneypenny.

[FormerACLUmember]

Most of us have already seen Craig in a memorable role. He was Paul Newman's psychopath son in the movie Road to Perdition.

[alwaysconservative]

Looks like Putin.

Don't you mean Dobbie? (LOL!)

This new guy does nothing for me as Bond, I'm afraid. Brosnan was too insubstantial to be convincing. He is a good actor, and on Remington Steel, his air of mystery overcame his lack of masculine "heft". Yes, he has to be a ladies' man, but he has to be a "man's man", also, and Brosnan and this new guy just don't seem to cut it.

[Chode]

looks more like an east europian

[rockthecasbah]

I'm underwhelmed by the extreme makeover of the Bond series. Maybe when Casino Royale comes to theatres, I'll just stay home and watch Goldfinger again for the 25th time.

"Ejector seat. You're joking?!"

[K-oneTexas]

He needs to be verry British cause he has a Soviet/KGB/SMERSH kind-a face.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Actually, Lazenby was the second-best. When I'm in charge, all will be made aware.

[K-oneTexas]

Sorry Lazenby was second-rate. Diana Rigg made that movie.

Connery, then Moore (but he'll always be The Saint), then Brosnan (but he'll always be Remington Steele), then Dalton.

Now it is harder to rank the Bond Girls, cause they all (from first movie to latest) were pretty much 'all right'. As well as the villans, some have been first rate.

But as had been said before we need to go back to the way Fleming wrote the books, not the way Hollywood and their ilk see things.

[KC_Conspirator]

Brosnan was good, despite his recent anti-American remarks in the press, which makes me want to throw him in a trashcan. I think the script for the last Bond fell apart with that stupid ice castle.

[weegee]

James Bond surfing around sea mines?

Sooooo video game.

And what was Remmington Steele doing calling himself James Bond? Was that some kind of a Korean trick?

[Callahan]

"On Her Majesties Secret Service" is one of my favorites, maybe the favorite. Just shows that a good script is more important than who's wearing the tux. The last three movies with Brosnan had horrible paint-by-the-numbers hackjob screenplays. Lazenby and Dalton, don't get much love from the general public, but their movies had strong plots.

[KevinDavis]

It was boring... Maybe if Sean was in that movie it could have been better. I did not like seeing Bond cry..

[Callahan]

Quentin Tarantino offered to do a "back to the Fleming basics" Bond movie and promised to keep the budget under $30 million. I'm sure it would have been totally awesome because Tarantino has a knack for getting to the essence of what makes stuff cool--think the fight with Red Grant and Bond saying "That's a Smith & Wesson. And you've had your six" before coolly plugging the bad guy. Of course the producers turned him down. No vision.

[Callahan]

Brosnan had the look, but you're right, he wasn' brawny enough to be convincing in fist fight. Bond should weigh at least 200lbs. Unfortunately, Craig is pretty slight too.

[Kenton]

I would have liked to see that.

[Dashing Dasher]

I believe they need our expert opinion over here...

New bond dude announced.

[Dashing Dasher]

Not bad at all....

[rockthecasbah]

Here is a perfect recipe for a Bond comeback: Tarantino in the director's chair, Uma Thurman as the Bond babe reprising a variation of her "Kill Bill" role, and finally, Christian Bale reprising a variation of his "American Psycho" role. That would be a killer combo!

[najida]

Hmmm,
Not my type at all...

Something kinda recovering heroin addictish about him.

[dfwgator]

--think the fight with Red Grant and Bond saying "That's a Smith & Wesson. And you've had your six" before coolly plugging the bad guy. Of course the producers turned him down. No vision.

LOL, he would cast Samuel L. Jackson as Bond. "And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee...."

[Dashing Dasher]

I like him...

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Orlando Bloom has the HOT and SEXY thing working for him.

[najida]

OK, he looks like even I could arm wrestle him to his knees.

He looks like the Butler from from
Oh, I forget the show, but he looks like the Butler! :)

[Dashing Dasher]

The nanny?

[najida]

Karl Urban gets my vote.

[Dashing Dasher]

Okay - he could probably use a soloflex and a tan - but let's give him a chance.

[najida]

YES!

He looks like the Butler from the Nanny!

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Not bad, but I have a thing for Orlando Bloom. He is so damn sexy!

[najida]

He's cute, but he always looks like he's 14 to me (not bad, but not Bondish enough).

BTW, want me to get you the calendar for Christmas??! :)