Posted on 12/02/2004 6:32:50 PM PST by aculeus
A leading black actor, 6ft 4in Colin Salmon, emerged last night as a front-runner to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in the next 007 adventure.
Noted for a deep, commanding voice, the 41-year-old actor already has a recurring role in the Bond series as Charles Robinson, M's suave chief-of-staff.
The chance to promote him, while startling, would not be unexpected. The Broccoli family, who are casting the film, the 21st in the series, are said to fear that the films have become anachronistic.
They told Brosnan they wanted to "go in a new direction".
Initially, this was taken to mean that they were turning away from the special effects and high-tech gadgetry to update Casino Royale, Ian Fleming's first Bond book.
The feeling is that despite the vast profits from the last movie, Barbara Broccoli, whose father Cubby made the early Bonds, and Michael Wilson, her step-brother and partner at Eon Productions, are anxious to make a more hard-boiled thriller.
Speculation about Salmon, who was born in Luton, stems from a sudden rush of unusually large bets on him. Warren Lush, a spokesman for Ladbrokes, said yesterday: "They have come out of nowhere, with sums like £500 apiece. These are huge bets for what is really a novelty wager.
"The suspicion is they may be being placed by people, or spies out there, in the know. So we have temporarily closed the book on the next Bond, as we don't want to get out fingers burned."
Until now, the favourite was Dougray Scott, whose play, Becket, closes in London's West End in a fortnight. Ewan McGregor was also a runner until he accepted his latest stage role.
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Yup I suppose :D
He's a millionaire pretty boy but you're right.
I'd type a response but I can't think right now.
That is a great idea for W! He's a healthy man and will be one for a long time. When he get's out, he could be a star as an actor (if he is allowed to be himself)- and turn the tables on H-wood. Just to tweak perceptions one more time:)
He be having those blue eyes. Oh, Mama!!!!
Is the new guy cute?
I can't see a good pic...
Yep from his mom's side of the family. Irish I think.
He looks like Philip Michael Thomas.
I always thought Hugh Jackman could do a passable imitation of Clint Eastwood. He'd be a better Dirty Harry.
I had heard a rumor of Hugh Jackman being in the running for Bond. I think he'd make a good one!
Don't mind me, I'm just here for the pictures...
Someone needs to post some pictures of Gerard Butler. I THINK he's been mentioned in connection with a possible Bond role, and even if he hasn't...he's nice to look at. ;-)
Sean Connery wasn't the first Bond.
I loved that show! Why do they keep the crummy ones and toss the witty ones?
I always thought Alec Guinness was the better Bond, or George Smiley, or whoever it was he played. Best movie spy-guy anyway.
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