AMAZON MGM Studios are considering casting Bond as “somebody completely out of the blue” ruling out the likes of current bookies’ favourite – CallumTurner 4/6 and Henry Cavill and Idris Elba – both now considered too old.
It has even been suggested by one MP that it should be a woman!
Debbie McWilliams has been the casting director for more than a dozen Bond films and is thought to be in favour that the new Bond should be British or an actor from another closely related English speaking nation, such as Ireland or Australia.
Sean Connery played James Bond in “Dr.No”, “From Russia with Love,” “Goldfinger”, “Thunderball”, “You Only Live Twice” and “Diamonds are Forever” between 1962-71, which all produced iconic hit songs, including the Shirley Bassey’s classic 1964 rendition of “Goldfinger” – which, surprisingly, was not a commercial success only reaching Number.21 in the UK Singles Charts and peaking at Number 8 on the other side of the pond. But Shirley’s second Bond theme tune – considered by many music critics as the best of all time – “Diamonds Are Forever” won an Ivor Novella Award and, although it spent six weeks in the UK charts, never rose higher than Number 38 in the Top Forty.
In July, Carly Simon, now 83, announced she had Parkinson’s disease and revived memories for many music and James Bond fans of her 1977 hit “Nobody Does it Better” – the romantic classic ballad associated with the film “The Spy who Loved Me” which reached Number 7 in the UK Charts.
George Lazenby made a one off appearance as Bond in 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” but the theme tune is equally unique as it was an instrumental by John Barry. It was later recorded as a beautiful love song by Louis Armstrong with lyrics by Hal David, called “We Have All the Time in the World”.
That was somewhat prophetic – as it took 25 years to gain popularity when it was used in a Guinness advertisement, which thrust it into the UK Charts peaking at Number 3 in 1994.
Lazenby never did comeback and was succeeded by Roger Moore who, from 1973-85 played 007 in seven Bond movies including “Live and Let Die”. This saw the franchise return to the method of releasing a song in tune with the film – this time performed by Wings, the band led by former Beatle Paul McCartney. It reached the top spot in one US chart and Number 9 in the UK singles chart although – when it was covered by Guns N’ Roses in their album “Use Your Illusion 1” – it proved a commercial success.
Timothy Dalton also played James Bond twice – in “The Living Daylights” and “License to Kill” before being replaced by Pierce Brosnan in “GoldenEye” and “Tomorrow Never Dies” before Daniel Craig netted five Bond films with “Casino Royale”, “Quantum of Solace”, “Skyfall”, “Spectre” and “No Time to Die”.
Popular music from those films includes 2012’s “Skyfall”by Adele which won an Academy Award, Grammy and a Golden Globe.
“GoldenEye” – by Tina Turner in 1995 written by Bono and The Edge of U2 – was not a success but Tina did have 11 Top Ten singles in the UK charts, including “River Deep, Mountain High” with former husband Ike, in 1966 and “What’s Love Got to Do with it” in 1984.
Other songs associated with James Bond films include “From Russia with Love” recorded in 1963 by Matt Monro, which made the UK Top 20, and Nancy Sinatra’s version of “You Only Live Twice” in 1967.
If you research the history of the James Bond films and the music associated with them, you will see how many Top 10 hits have been recorded and how many men were Knighted for their efforts in either genre – not forgetting Dame Judi Dench who appeared in eight 007 films, over two decades, playing “M”. Although Judi did not win any accolades for her role in Bond films, she is one of the most decorated actresses of her generation with an Academy Award, Tony Award, two Golden Globe Awards and more than 10 BAFTA Awards. I will always remember her introduction to 007 when her lines included “I think you’re a sexist, misogynist dinosaur, a relic of the Cold War, whose boyish charms are wasted on me but appealed to that young woman sent to evaluate you”.
So in that iconic line do we have any clue as to who the casting director might turn to? Could it be indeed a liberated woman? Could it be a black British actor or actress? Your guess is as good as mine but, whoever is chosen, will be onto a winner and whoever writes and produces the title song, could be aiming for Number One in the music charts.
The most popular female artists appear to be Rihanna and Taylor Swift – if the new franchise owners are prepared to part with a significant amount of cash!
Commercially successful male actors such as Tom Cruise, Matt Damon and Tom Holland have all been ruled out as the next 007. Who the franchise chooses is likely to be a complete unknown and, as the National Lottery advertisers tell punters, “It Could Be You”!
My own choice would be Ben Affleck for his outstanding role as Christian Wolff in “The Accountant” but, at 51 years, he is thought to be too old but I wouldn’t rule out Dua Lipa to deliver the award-winning title song after husband Callum Turner was ruled out as the next 007.
But my tips are worthless and, until you see a bookmaker riding a bicycle smoking “Woodbines”, keep your hard earned cash in your pocket!
Author: John
Author of Around The World In 80 Years