LONDON, England (AP) -- The suspense is almost over.
Sony Pictures said Thursday it would end months of speculation on Friday, revealing the name of the next James Bond at a press conference in London.
Producers announced last year that they were seeking a replacement for Pierce Brosnan, who has played the suave British spy in the last four Bond films.
Since then, rumor has linked many actors to the part, including Britons Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gerard Butler and Ewan McGregor, Irishman Colin Farrell and Australians Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger and Eric Bana.
British tabloid reports this week said the role will go to Daniel Craig, a blue-eyed British actor who would be the first blond Bond.
Although he's not well known in the United States, Craig, 37, has a busy British career that includes roles in the landmark 1990s TV drama "Our Friends in the North" and films including "The Mother," "Enduring Love" and "Layer Cake."
He played Paul Newman's sinister son in "Road to Perdition," was poet Ted Hughes opposite Gwyneth Paltrow's Sylvia Plath in "Sylvia" and appeared in this year's thriller "The Jacket" with Adrien Brody.
Craig is also the tabloids' dream Bond. He once dated headline-grabbing model Kate Moss and has been linked to Sienna Miller, his "Layer Cake" co-star and on-off fiancee of Jude Law.
Earlier this year, Craig praised 007 as "an iconographic figure in movie making."
"I think you'd have to be stupid not to consider something like that," he said, but added that he hadn't given the role "any serious thought."
The 21st Bond film, "Casino Royale," is due to be released next year. It will be directed by Martin Campbell, who also directed Brosnan's first Bond outing, "GoldenEye," in 1995.
I'm still surprised they replaced Pierce Brosnan..
He's got a look. . (and is better looking than that photo). . but 37 years old??? I thought he was at least 10 years older. . and short! Shouldn't Bond be played by someone. . .taller?
I think Orlando Bloom as an innocent, but trying real hard to learn the James Bond slick stuff would be just ... just ... just the BEST !!!!
(I'm an old lady, what in the hell is going on?)
facially, he does look like you would expect Bond to look. Dalton had the same problem...
Bloom looks like one of the deputy assistant under-secretarys to the Home Secretary that brings Bond his coffee when he is in the Mid-lands. Not Bond material at all.
mrsmcg wrote:I think Orlando Bloom as an innocent, but trying real hard to learn the James Bond slick stuff would be just ... just ... just the BEST !!!!
(I'm an old lady, what in the hell is going on?)
mrsmcg wrote:I think Orlando Bloom as an innocent, but trying real hard to learn the James Bond slick stuff would be just ... just ... just the BEST !!!!
(I'm an old lady, what in the hell is going on?)
Isn't James Bond supposed to look like a man?
yeah.. not a poofty Elven-type with a fondness for dandelions and Hobbits.
Hey, I don't know what most peeps look like, but maybe we should nominate one of our male BNers to be the next Bond?
Well, ya never know when Hugh might give Deborah the flick ..... and he is a free agent ... I know I saw him first ... .in a mini series in Australia - so I claim first place in line
I thought he was at least 10 years older. . and short! Shouldn't Bond be played by someone. . .taller?
