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Topic: James Bond - now a title? Post ReplyPost New Topic
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Andy Mokler
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Posted: 23 May 2018 at 7:11pm | IP Logged | 1 post reply

Was talking to someone the other day about Idris Elba possibly playing James Bond at some point and he said that he didn't have a problem with it because James Bond wasn't a person, it's a title.  That when someone becomes 007, they also become "James Bond".

I've never heard of this but he said they actually state it in one of the recent movies.  I confess that I totally missed it and knowing my penchant for getting things wrong, I hope some of the Bond experts around here can set matters straight.

I can fathom each new guy becomes 007 but I always thought that it was Fred Smith 007, Bob Jones 007 and eventually James Bond 007.  Does each new agent's identity actually become James Bond?
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Conrad Teves
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Posted: 23 May 2018 at 7:17pm | IP Logged | 2 post reply

There comes a time when you have beat the dead horse with one hand, switched to the other, and now must use both hands.
I believe we have reached that time in this instance...

Heaven forbid someone should create a new spy character that suits all their desires than try to jam them into an existing one to leverage the branding.
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John Byrne
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Posted: 23 May 2018 at 7:48pm | IP Logged | 3 post reply

This was the premise of the comedic version of CASINO ROYALE. And that's where it should stay.
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Peter Martin
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Posted: 23 May 2018 at 7:58pm | IP Logged | 4 post reply

This notion has been knocking around for a long time. I don't believe there is anything that states this in any recent movies, though there is a weak argument to be made that the throwaway line at the beginning of On Her Majesty's Secret Service of how 'this never happened to the other fellow' supports the idea.

The idea doesn't hold any water, as far as I'm concerned. You take on the mantle of 007 and the name of James Bond and then what... You must also adopt the mandatory aspects of the role, such as having a dry vodka martini as your drink of choice, Felix Leiter as your old friend and visiting the grave of Teresa Bond? What a crock.
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Kevin Brown
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Posted: 23 May 2018 at 8:31pm | IP Logged | 5 post reply

Even if that was true, I think people would notice the difference from one "Bond" to the next....  Especially if you go to Elba.
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John Byrne
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Posted: 23 May 2018 at 8:36pm | IP Logged | 6 post reply

I'd hate to see Elba reduce to taking scraps from the White man's table. He's much too good for that. He even managed to stand out in a POS like PROMETHEUS.
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Eric Jansen
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Posted: 24 May 2018 at 1:18am | IP Logged | 7 post reply

I think this is one of those things that (some) people WANT to be true, so this guy convinced himself that he actually heard it--unless he is indeed quoting the comedic CASINO ROYALE.

Certainly not an issue in the books, where Bond is described as looking "like Hoagy Carmichael."


Edited by Eric Jansen on 24 May 2018 at 1:18am
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Petter Myhr Ness
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Posted: 24 May 2018 at 1:18am | IP Logged | 8 post reply

Sigh. Maybe they're also inspired by Jason Bourne, which is not the character's real name?

I'm a big fan of Idris Elba, but he'll will never be Bond. He's simply too old. When the producers replace Craig, probably after the next movie, they'll be looking for someone to play the part for at least 3 or 4 movies. Elba will already be pushing 50 by the time Bond 26 is due. 
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Kevin Brown
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Posted: 24 May 2018 at 6:37am | IP Logged | 9 post reply

If they want to make Idris Elba a "00", then create a new character for him and have him team-up with Bond.  Then spin him off into his own movie series.

Then they could "retire" Bond if they wished or alternate years when the "00" movies came out.
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Brian Hughes
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Posted: 24 May 2018 at 7:16am | IP Logged | 10 post reply

The most recent Bond movies went out of their way to state that James Bond is the true name of 007.  They gave a whole Bond family history.  
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Gundars Berzins
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Posted: 25 May 2018 at 9:04am | IP Logged | 11 post reply

As a Bond fan I'd like "them" to at least represent to some degree the Ian Fleming character. Changing the sex or race of this character will lose me. 
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Geoffrey Langford
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Posted: 26 May 2018 at 6:54am | IP Logged | 12 post reply

The reply to Idris playing Bond is to ask if they're okay with Tom Cruise playing Black Panther, Will Smith playing Superman or Indiana Jones, Jackie Chan playing Luke Skywalker....etc etc etc

I was at a convention last year and in a panel with Charleze Theron (spelling?) when she was asked by a fan to respond to the rumors she would be playing a female James Bond.  My son had to almost hold me down to her reply.  I wanted to race to the mic and ask if she would consider playing Batman, too.  The person next to me heard me grumbling that question to my son.  They said to me - "that's stupid.  She could play Batgirl".    THAT'S MY FRACKING POINT !!!!

James Bond -- white guy, about 40.  Pretty simple.

#MeToo -- my childhood is getting raped by Hollywood.


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