Category: James Bond

Categories
Helen Mirren James Bond

Helen Mirren is not a fan of James Bond, doesn’t want a female Bond

helen-mirren-is-not-a-fan-of-james-bond,-doesn’t-want-a-female-bond




The world is in James Bond limbo right now, on a couple fronts. After decades of safeguarding the franchise, producer Barbara Broccoli relented in February and handed over total creative control to Jeff Bezos/Amazon, for a cool $1 billion. And, of course, there’s the fact that Craig, Daniel Craig, has officially retired from the role. Remember when people were outraged by Craig’s casting? “But Bond can’t be blonde!!” LOL. Well those naysayers need to get their pearls ready to clutch, because fans have been hoping this will be the time we finally get a POC Bond (I’ve seen support for Idris Elba, Dev Patel, and Regé-Jean Page), or — GASP — a female Bond. You know who’s neither shaken nor stirred by that idea? Helen Mirren. But only because she thinks James Bond is sexist to begin with, and there are plenty of original stories to tell about women spies, thankyouverymuch. Mirren shared her thoughts while promoting her new Paramount series MobLand, which costars a former Bond himself, Pierce Brosnan.

The name’s Bond, Jane Bond? Not if Helen Mirren has anything to say about it.

The “1923” star, 79, voiced objections to the idea of there being a female James Bond in an interview with The Standard, calling instead for more films about real women from the world of espionage.

“The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism,” she said. “Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, they’re amazingly, unbelievably courageous. So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who’ve worked in that world.”

Though Mirren stars alongside former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan in the Paramount show “MobLand,” she admitted she is no fan of the spy franchise. Mirren’s late cousin, Tania Mallet, was also a “Bond girl” in “Goldfinger.”

“The whole series of James Bond, it was not my thing,” Mirren told The Standard. “It really wasn’t. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond.”

The actress did note, though, she’s a “massive fan” of Brosnan and that Daniel Craig, the most recent Bond actor, is a “lovely gracious person.”

Mirren’s comments come amid questions of who will play Bond next after Craig retired from the role in 2021’s “No Time to Die.” In the past, Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has ruled out the possibility of a woman succeeding Craig in the role.

“(Bond) can be of any color, but he is male,” she told Variety in 2020. “I believe we should be creating new characters for women — strong female characters. I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that.”

But in February, Broccoli and her producing partner Michael G. Wilson stepped back from the franchise and handed creative control to Amazon, leaving it unclear what the casting criteria is under the new leadership. Just after news that Amazon had taken full control of Bond was announced, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos posted on X, “Who’d you pick as the next Bond?”

[From USA Today]

Oh my Goldfinger, I didn’t realize Tania Mallet was Helen Mirren’s cousin! Tania really is stunning in that movie as Tilly Masterson. Although, if you’re anything like me, then you watched Goldfinger completely blinded by Sean Connery. No, I don’t mean by his beauty. I’m referring to the powder blue terry cloth hot pant belted onesie Connery wears in the pool sequence. And boy, does he wear the sh-t out of it. [insert Thunderball double entendre here] I would totally have watched more Bond films if the enigma agent’s wardrobe had continued along those (skimpy) lines! So I’m with Helen on this one, cause I think James Bond isn’t an interesting enough character to be played by a woman. To me, he’s not even the most interesting spy. (That title belongs to Derek Flint.) But all this talk is likely moot, because the current betting favorite to be the next Bond is Theo James. A great actor and great choice! If exactly the same lane Bond has always been in. So the better question for Bezos to ask might be who we’d pick as the next Bond villain. In which case I would advise him to look in a mirror.

Photos credit: James Warren/Bang Showbiz/Avalon, Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, Backgrid

Categories
Barbara Broccoli James Bond

Barbara Broccoli, 007 producer, thinks Amazon executives are ‘f–king idiots’

barbara-broccoli,-007-producer,-thinks-amazon-executives-are-‘f–king-idiots’

I don’t always agree with Barbara Broccoli’s decisions, but I admire her a great deal with how she’s acted as advocate and caretaker for James Bond as a franchise and “property.” Broccoli and her step-brother Michael Wilson own the James Bond character and the franchise. The Broccoli family has retained a completely unique position in today’s entertainment landscape – they are not lured by fast cash, they are not interested in over-leveraging their franchise and they are not known for tolerating fools. Wilson is less visible than Barbara Broccoli, who is the more public face of Bond-ownership. The 007 franchise had a home at MGM for decades, then MGM was sold to Amazon. Because of the unique terms around the Bond franchise, all roads still go through Broccoli and Wilson, and as it turns out, Broccoli f–king hates everyone at Amazon. And that’s why no one has found the new Bond, and that’s why there’s been no move to reboot the series after Daniel Craig. From the Wall Street Journal:

Nearly three years after Amazon acquired the right to release Bond movies through its $6.5 billion purchase of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio, the relationship between the family that oversees the franchise and the e-commerce giant has all but collapsed. The decaying partnership has scuttled any near-term hope of a new Bond film—a black eye for Amazon’s ambitions in Hollywood, since at the time of the MGM sale, the Bond franchise represented a significant share of the $6.5 billion the company paid for the studio.

When it comes to Bond’s future, the power lies in the hands of Barbara Broccoli, who inherited the control from her father, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, and who for 30 years has decided when a new Bond movie can go into production. She has told friends she doesn’t trust algorithm-centric Amazon with a character she helped to mythologize through big-screen storytelling and gut instinct. This fall, she characterized the status of a new movie in dire terms—no script, no story and no new Bond.

To friends, Broccoli has characterized her thoughts on Amazon this way: “These people are f— idiots.”

The Broccoli family’s control of James Bond has few comparisons in contemporary Hollywood, where cherished characters are gobbled up by conglomerates eager to exploit them across screens, toy shelves and theme parks. For decades, studio executives have salivated over the chance to do the same with Bond. Broccoli, 64, had already turned down TV shows, videogames and at least one tie-in casino before Amazon entered the picture. For much of her career, Broccoli has made those calls with her stepbrother, 82-year-old Michael Wilson. She has emerged more recently as the primary steward of Bond as Wilson nears retirement.

Broccoli has complained that Amazon isn’t a good home for Bond, since the company’s core business is selling everything from toilet paper to vacuums—a perspective Amazon executives find unfair. But since she makes the creative calls that come first—script, casting, story—Broccoli can hold Bond hostage from Amazon for as long as she sees fit. In doing so, she quotes a refrain attributed to her father, a film agent who’d sold hair driers before he secured the rights to adapt Ian Fleming’s novels. “Don’t have temporary people make permanent decisions.”

The company’s tech-centric focus loomed over the franchise as soon as merger discussions began. Some executives at MGM were concerned that Bond and other titles would be given at-home launches in an era of ascendant streaming services like Amazon Prime Video. Before agreeing to the deal, MGM made sure that Amazon was committed to releasing Bond on the big screen, a critical point for Broccoli, who waited out 18 months of Covid-19 lockdowns to play “No Time to Die” in theaters. Amazon has held firm to its commitment to release Bond in theaters, should a new movie come together.

Broccoli and Wilson had been looped in on the deal before it was announced. Broccoli had reservations, but didn’t want to complicate what many in Hollywood viewed as a massive payout for MGM’s owners—plus, she and her family would retain final say over all creative matters, including who plays Bond. Before the purchase closed, Amazon executives brainstormed among themselves how Bond could be plugged into their machine. Would Amazon produce a James Bond TV show for its Prime Video service? What about a Moneypenny spinoff? Or a TV spinoff centered on a female 007? Broccoli’s response to such enthusiasm, one friend said, is often the same: Did you read the contract?

[From WSJ]

There’s so much more in the WSJ piece – Broccoli goes with her gut instincts when casting a new James Bond, while Amazon executives freak out over anything they deem too “risky,” like casting a virtual unknown, a blonde indie-film actor as 007, which is what happened when Broccoli chose Daniel Craig. Broccoli also gets a say in stories and villains, obviously, and Amazon can’t even push her to agree what a new Bond villain should look like. It’s so funny to me that Amazon executives were dreaming about getting their hands on the Bond franchise and doing what Kathleen Kennedy did to Star Wars – make a sh-tload of money but burn through the core stories, disappointing fans and causing Star Wars fatigue. Broccoli knows that the easiest way to ruin the franchise is by giving the greenlight to streaming shows like “M: After Hours” or “(Spy)crafting with Q.” Mostly, I just enjoy the fact that Barbara Broccoli is one of the rare people in “Hollywood” with a unique kind of power and authority and she’s not selling out to the highest bidder.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

Categories
Aaron Johnson James Bond

Aaron Taylor Johnson met with James Bond producers, ‘the meeting went well’

aaron-taylor-johnson-met-with-james-bond-producers,-‘the-meeting-went-well’

I’m sitting here with the sudden realization that the next James Bond will probably be younger than me! For all of my life, James Bond has always been played by an actor older than me. I’ve never rejected the idea that Bond could be played by someone younger, but the character needs the gravitas of someone who is (at least) in their mid-30s. Bond producers have let it be known that when they get around to casting the post-Daniel Craig 007, they will likely look for an elder Millennial and not a Gen-Zer. Meaning, someone in their early 40s or late 30s, at least that’s what we hoped. Except now there are reports that Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s audition went really well? Aaron is 32 years old but he seems a lot younger.

According to a new Puck report from Matthew Belloni, Aaron Taylor-Johnson isn’t just a name picked by fans for the next Bond – he’s met with the producers.

“And, obviously, the granddaddy of casting coups: James Bond. The Aaron Taylor-Johnson rumors are true – he sat with producer Barbara Broccoli, and the meeting went well, per sources,” he wrote.

However, there is a small problem. “While Taylor-Johnson fits the bill—great actor, British, fits the younger direction the Broccolis want to go, accomplished but not particularly famous – he’s about to be a much bigger star. If Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff Kraven the Hunter or Universal’s Ryan Gosling two-hander The Fall Guy works, Taylor-Johnson might end up, ironically, too famous to take on Bond.”

No official details regarding the casting of the next James Bond have been announced, but Broccoli said in September 2022 that it’d be a “couple of years off” before we know anything.

[From Dexerto]

Weirdly, I always wondered if the “he’s too famous to play Bond” issue was at play with Idris Elba too – granted, Barbara Broccoli seems utterly unwilling to cast a person of color as 007, but I wonder if Idris was simply too well-known, too famous and too accomplished already. Anyway, if Broccoli is letting Aaron audition, then surely she’ll allow 32-year-old Dev Patel to audition? That would be amazing. As for the Aaron rumor in particular… I don’t think he would be a good James Bond, although I admit that he’s good-looking and good at action movies. He *seems* too young though.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

Categories
Daniel Craig James Bond

James Bond producers: The next 007 will be a Millennial, not a Gen Zer

james-bond-producers:-the-next-007-will-be-a-millennial,-not-a-gen-zer

No Times to Die came out this year, after it was filmed in 2019. It was Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond, after they roped him back in post-Spectre. Craig was, overall, a good 007. He was more of a surly street-fighter version of Bond, as opposed to dapper, elegant, man-of-the-world spy. I’m mildly curious about what direction producers will go in for the next Bond. Apparently, they’re not actively looking at the moment – they want to get some distance from Daniel Craig’s version, I suppose – but they have an idea of the qualities the next Bond will have. And it’s not going to be a Gen Z twenty-something 007. It probably will be an Elder Millennial.

James Bond film producer Michael G. Wilson, who runs Eon Productions with Barbara Broccoli, has revealed that a seduction scene from the 1963 thriller From Russia With Love is always used to test those aspiring to play Ian Fleming’s ruthless spy.

During an ‘In Conversation’ event at London’s British Film Institute to celebrate 60 years of James Bond, Wilson noted that they always need a good actress to play opposite the actor participating in the audition.

“We always use the same scene … and that’s the one in From Russia With Love ,where Bond comes back to his room after the assassination, and he starts taking off his shirt, goes into the room to bathe. Then he hears something, takes his gun, goes in and the girl’s in the bed,” he told the audience at the BFI on Friday night. He is referring to the moment where Sean Connery’s Bond finds Soviet military clerk Tatiana Romanova, played by Daniela Bianchi, in the middle of his bed, wearing only a black velvet choker.

Later, Wilson spoke to Deadline and reiterated a point he made to us several months ago: ”It’s a whole new world. We’ve got to see what happens with Amazon. But there’ll always be a Bond.”

He also stressed that casting has not started for the new 007, ”No matter what others tell you.”

However, he did reveal that younger actors are out of the running. ”We’ve tried looking at younger people in the past. But trying to visualize it doesn’t work. Remember, Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience. He’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something. He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That’s why it works for a thirty-something.”

[From Deadline]

It literally just occurred to me that Daniel Craig was the Generation X James Bond. He was born in 1968, and the internet says the Gen X birth years are 1965-1980. So he’s an Elder Gen Xer and a surly one at that. He had to count on Xennial Q (Ben Whishaw is 41) and Boomer M, Ralph Fiennes? And now they’ll get someone in their 30s? It will probably be someone in their 40s, I’m just saying. The evolution of this character – or lack of evolution – is pretty fascinating. They’re going to have a hell of a time finding the next guy.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

Categories
Idris Elba James Bond Rege-Jean Page Tom Hiddleston

The hunt for the next James Bond will begin next year, producers say

the-hunt-for-the-next-james-bond-will-begin-next-year,-producers-say

(FILE) Idris Elba Tests Positive for Coronavirus COVID-19

Years ago, I watched an interview with Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson, and I came away with the realization that Barbara is completely in charge of the Bond franchise. Because of the complex web of publishing and film rights back in the 1960s, the Broccoli family “owns” the James Bond character, which was of course created by Ian Fleming. Cubby Broccoli bought the character and when he died in the ‘90s, Barbara and Michael were put in charge of the franchise. Barbara is much more hands-on, and Michael is clearly fine with it. The next actor to play James Bond will have to impress Barbara, because she’s the decision-maker for all things Bond, that’s what I’m saying. But actors should not rush out and try to schedule those meetings right now. She’s not going to start looking for Daniel Craig’s replacement until next year.

James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has said the search for Daniel Craig’s successor will begin next year.

Broccoli appeared as a guest on BBC Radio 4′s Today program alongside her half-brother and fellow Eon producer Michael G. Wilson to discuss all things 007 ahead of the upcoming release of No Time to Die. According to Deadline, the two producers said they would not be giving any thought to Daniel Craig’s James Bond replacement until 2022.

“We’re not thinking about it at all,” Broccoli admitted after being quizzed on whether a decision had been made about who would take over the role of the iconic British spy following Craig’s fifth and final outing as the MI6 agent. “We want Daniel [Craig] to have his time of celebration. Next year we’ll start thinking about the future.”

Broccoli credited Craig for bringing different facets of the character to the surface in a way that allowed them to “really explore the emotional life of Bond and go into the person and complexity and conflicts that happen within the Bond character.” Wilson similarly praised Craig’s performance as he acknowledged that he was leaving behind some “big shoes to fill.”

[From IGN]

Broccoli’s quotes were enough to get “Idris Elba” trending on Twitter, because everyone clearly still believes that Idris should be 007. I think Idris was once excited about the possibility that he could play 007, but as the years passed, he kind of grew tired of the Bond conversation. In 2019, he was basically like “if it happens, it happens,” but he left the impression that he wasn’t going to fight for the role and he was kind of over it. Idris is 49 years old right now – I do think that Barbara Broccoli will probably want to go with someone younger. Someone like Rege-Jean Page. Or Tom Hiddleston! Whatever – Hiddles actually met with Barbara Broccoli back in the spring and summer of Tiddles (2016) but I think he talked himself out of the role too. Broccoli will probably go with someone we haven’t even widely considered, honestly.

Tom Hiddleston at the GQ Men of the Year Awards at Tata Modern in London, England. Wednesday 5th September 2018.

The 24th GQ Men of the Year Awards in association with BOSS at Tate Modern, London, UK

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

Categories
20/20 Ad art celebrities Celebrity Court fit H&M hair heart Idris Elba image James Bond Jimmy Fallon lips looks OWN photos real red Sad shorts size Star Trek tall tan The Game thin YouTube

Idris Elba wore shorts & a blouse to San Diego ‘Star Trek’ premiere: hot or not?

FFN_KM_STAR_TREK_2_07202016_52128781

The big Star Trek Beyond premiere was last night to kick off the San Diego Comic Con. Most of the men and women treated the premiere like it was a really big deal, and they wore proper suits and gowns and couture. But not Forever Bae Idris Elba! If Idris is going to a San Diego premiere, he’s going to wear shorts and light blouse. Because he’s Idris Elba, damn it, and he can wear whatever he wants and still be the hottest guy on the carpet. I’m also including photos of Chris Pine’s questionable new facial hair, plus Karl Urban and John Cho.

As for Idris, he’s been hitting the promotional trail pretty hard. It’s sad that he keeps getting questions about James Bond, but he has to realize at this point that he’s not getting the questions because people are truly curious. He’s getting the questions because EVERYONE thinks he would be an incredible Bond, and no one can understand why the decision hasn’t already been made. Big Driis also made his way to the Tonight Show this week. Some clips…

Here’s Idris dancing. MY GOD. This man in motion. This man dancing. The man is so tall and fit. I want to climb him like a tree.

And here’s Idris playing Box of Microphones with Jimmy. The game is cute, but you’ll stay to watch Idris move. Jesus, he looks good here.

wenn28659410

FFN_KM_STAR_TREK_2_07202016_52128744

Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

FFN_KM_STAR_TREK_2_07202016_52128744
FFN_KM_STAR_TREK_2_07202016_52128747
FFN_KM_STAR_TREK_2_07202016_52128781
wenn28659410
wenn28659430
wenn28659441

Special thanks Cele Bitch

Categories
Ad Album Albums art Celebrity Celebrity couples Dating Friends Gallery General HBO Hollywood image James Bond live LOL looks Married Owe OWN Paparazzi Party photos pot rap Rapper real red RIP stage style sur Taylor Swift thin thor Tom Hiddleston Win

Taylor Swift-Tom Hiddleston Relationship is Fake, Actor Regrets Agreeing to PR Stunt (EXCLUSIVE)

Taylor Swift’s relationship with Tom Hiddleston is nothing more than a contrived publicity stunt, a source close to the British actor tells THG.

Moreover, Hiddleston now regrets ever going along with it.


Hi There, Taylor Swift!

Tom Hiddleston Looks Serious

We have omitted certain details such as the friend’s name, the London neighborhood in which he lives, and the pub in which he met Tom.

While we believe the below account to be accurate, this is to protect our source’s identify for fear of retribution from Taylor Swift’s Squad.

Kidding. Yet not really.

Within the past seven days, this friend divulged to our source details surrounding the actor’s romance with a certain American pop star.

Details suggesting, as we have theorized numerous times in the last few weeks, that Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston’s romance is fake.

Not just flaunting it a little extra for the paparazzi, either. We’re talking full on arranged by publicists, staged kissing photos levels of fake.

How so? Let’s begin.

This friend, who describes Tom as “a pleasant guy who is very talkative, charming, and humble,” passed this along within the last seven days:

“Tom and Taylor’s relationship was initially set up by Taylor’s PR team after they bumped into each other at Anna Wintour’s house-party.”

This was fueled in large part by “Taylor’s desire to stay relevant within the public eye until she decides to release her next album.”

Given “Tom’s attempt to become James Bond,” and his involvement in Thor, Hiddleston was a prime target for Swift’s managers.

Did Hiddleston balk at this? Of course, however, “she is a beautiful, successful, and a generally lovely girl,” so … he ran with it:

“Tom was prepared to go along with it because he believed that he and Taylor would be able to find something in common with each other.”

“At least have some fun together. It worked, and whilst he does care about Taylor, he is now beginning to realize that he may have made a mistake.”

Most notably, our source hilariously adds, “after she insisted upon them meeting each other’s parents within the space of twenty four hours.”

LOL. That would be a red flag for most guys, even those agreeing to a fake relationship. Talk about going from 0-100, REAL QUICK!

“Taylor is practically glued to his side,” our insider adds.

“After only one month of dating, she is talking about moving in with him, getting married, and having children with him.”

“Tom has always had huge commitment issues, so Taylor talking to him about those things, and after such a short amount of time, is really beginning to freak him out.”

“He thought that he could handle the paparazzi intrusion, but he’s becoming tired of Taylor’s insistence that their every move is photographed by somebody.”

“He misses some of the anonymity that he had.”

“Tom is well aware of what people, such as his fans, his friends, and even his own family, have been saying about him.”

“But because he isn’t as used to the public scrutiny as Taylor is, he is finding it very difficult,” his friend laments.

“He has always been passionate about his acting, and he wants that to be what he is known for, not ‘Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.'”

“He feels like he has become a laughing stock, and it’s getting him down. Everything with Taylor is choreographed.”

“He feels like he has no choice but to adhere to her demands because he knows how much influence she has (her break up albums and the such).”

“He didn’t get with Taylor with the intention of having anything long term (the previous sources regarding him wanting to ‘have fun’ and ‘blow off some steam’ [are] correct).”

“But being under the spotlight and knowing who Taylor is makes it difficult for him … he’s beginning to feel like he has no choice (such as her deciding to go to Australia with him).”

How will this play out? It sounds like we know the answer, but it’s only a question of when, and how ugly the fallout will be:

“He knows that, sooner or later, he is going to have to be honest with her so that they can finally go their separate ways,” the source adds.

Well? What do you think? You buying it? Did Hiddleston get played by Taylor’s team? Or are we getting played by our inside source?

We think you know the answer to that …

View Slideshow: 14 Famous Dudes Who Have Dated Taylor Swift
Continue reading “Taylor Swift-Tom Hiddleston Relationship is Fake, Actor Regrets Agreeing to PR Stunt (EXCLUSIVE)”