Actor Simon Russell Beale wins licence to thrill?

[Blowfeld]

Maybe they want him to be the new M or Q

Actor Simon Russell Beale wins licence to thrill
Simon Russell Beale, the celebrated stage actor, is involved in talks about playing a good character in the next James Bond film.
By Tim Walker 6:30AM GMT 06 Jan 2011

There was a certain inevitability, given his shape and form, that when Simon Russell Beale was mooted for a part in the next James Bond film it was assumed that Sam Mendes, the director, was considering casting him as the baddie.

Such "fattism" obscured the truth, however. Mandrake can disclose that the distinguished stage actor, pictured, is in fact in detailed talks to appear as one of the good guys.

"It's too early to confirm anything, but the part he is up for is not a baddie," confirms his spokesman. "There was this assumption he was up to play such a character, but it was never the case."

The actor, who is currently on fine sinister form in the West End play Deathtrap, has made little secret of his desire to appear in a Bond film and has admitted that he approached his old friend Mendes to plead his case.

The travails of MGM, which made the Bond films, put the project in doubt, however, and it was only last month that David Arnold, who arranged the scores for Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, said it would go ahead.

this story can be found at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film ... hrill.html

[Alessandra]

Oh Good LORD.

Well at least he's not playing the baddie 'cause really my ADORABLE 8-month-old niece is FAR more threatening than him when she wants to grab a chunk of pear (she loves pear, and literally grabbed my mother's shoulder and moved her to get to the piece of pear tonight at dinner hahahah). I guess he could be Q. While he doesn't have the looks of Q and our beloved Desmond will always be my favorite, I could see him do that far more than I could see him as M. This guy as M, seriously?!



Or maybe he plays a new friend of 007, another MI6 agent? Retired MI6 agent, maybe? 'cause really, with these looks... Man.

The good news is: THINGS ARE MOVING. Now get those asses moving and produce this freaking movie because I want to get rid of the image of Daniel Craig as Bond ASAP. This d**n better be out by 2012 so we can FINALLY all move on if Craig is to star in it. Not that them casting this guy makes it any more likely that they find the production partner they're looking for, but still. At least they're doing SOMETHING.

[Kristatos]

Maybe Ronnie Vallance will finally appear in a Bond film. It's only taken half a century and 23 films.

[Alessandra]

Maybe Ronnie Vallance will finally appear in a Bond film. It's only taken half a century and 23 films.

haha, good point! This dude really doesn't have the M looks at all. Not even Q , but at least more like it than M. But, he'd be better to play someone else so who knows.. you may be right.

[Omega]

This may not be moving forward but old news coming around again. I remember hearing this guy some time back. Bond 23 may be the bast movie they never make as long as the never make it they can talk about how good it was going to be.

[katied]

There's no way he's a villain. He is NOT threatening. It wouldn't be the first time they have had lame henchmen. *cough*QOS*cough*

[Thunderpussy]

all the reports claim He's a friend of S Mendes, so I wonder if he's just going to be in One movie or will he be a returning character.

[Alessandra]

all the reports claim He's a friend of S Mendes, so I wonder if he's just going to be in One movie or will he be a returning character.

This is the part I'm having trouble with. MGM DENIED that Mendes is directing the movie. So could this be OLD NEWS rehashed? Except the Daily Telegraph is a reputable source, so I'm unsure what's going on. I don't think this guy would make a commitment to a franchise for multiple movies, given he's a Shakespearean actor. Seriously, if they cast him as M I'd laugh. Q, I could kind of see, even though he isn't ideal. But really, not M.

[katied]

all the reports claim He's a friend of S Mendes, so I wonder if he's just going to be in One movie or will he be a returning character.

If he *is* a friend of Mendes',if he really is directing,that is the worst kind of nepotism.

[Alessandra]

all the reports claim He's a friend of S Mendes, so I wonder if he's just going to be in One movie or will he be a returning character.

If he *is* a friend of Mendes',if he really is directing,that is the worst kind of nepotism.

I just hope that won't be the case. I mean really. I understand when a famous director can bring in big stars because of friendship, but this is Mendes, nobody sensational, and this actor while certainly a great actor is not someone who would bring any attention to the franchise. So it really sounds kind of iffy if he's cast because he's friends with Mendes. That said, MGM denied Mendes is directing, so who knows... There's basically absolutely NOTHING known about Bond 23 at this point. It's all rumors and no substance (As in "we've started pre-production" for example) so it's just really weird to speculate even because I literally can't see anything that is certain about it. I don't think this is even like what happened with Dalton, because at that point it was pretty clear he wasn't coming back and we had to wait. Here, it's all up in the air, and it's just strange to me. how is it possible that NOBODY has news one way or another? It just makes me think all they are doing is hiding the truth.

[katied]

Apparently Babs, et al have been to see Beale in the play he's in..sounds like there might be some validity to it.. Worst.Bond villain. ever if it is true.

[Omega]

I thought he was going to be a good guy?

[Alessandra]

I thought he was going to be a good guy?

Yeah except that part is still unclear. Nikki Finke, who always has the facts right and knows more than anyone else, said he declared he wanted to be a villain. Then some UNNAMED source close to him was quoted as saying he instead is a good guy. Since Finke had a quote from the actor, I will for now believe that over unnamed sources. But, considering both possibilities, I just hope he ends up being a good guy. Bad guy looking like a teddy bear really doesn't cut it That said maybe they will give him a scar, a mask, some particular kind of makeup that will make him look creepy. As he is, he just doesn't have the looks of a villain at all. I'd see him more as a retired Bond ally or something. Mendes is now confirmed as director so this will probably end up happening (worst kind of nepotism, but this movie seems to be having a lot of it. Actor cast because producer had crush on him, director appointed because he's friends with the actor, another actor now being talked about because he is friends with the director. If Weisz ends up being a Bond girl the circle will be complete

[katied]

I can see Bond 23 coming under a lot of scrutiny, especially with Beale, and now the rumors about Weisz.

[Alessandra]

I can see Bond 23 coming under a lot of scrutiny, especially with Beale, and now the rumors about Weisz.

We'll see who ends up actually being cast in the end. This Beale guy seems pretty much a done deal though and while he for sure is an excellent actor, I just dislike the way this happened. And, remains to be seen who they make him play, because if he plays a villain That is, unless they use makeup and make him look like a freak of course. But, another non-threatening FREAK for a villain? Haven't we had enough with "I cry blood" Le Chiffre and Greene?

[katied]

Give me a villain like they had in the old days(I mean obviously, not bring them back.They're dead. ANYways).Not the non-threatening types. Greene was awful. I don't think Le Chiffre could have fought his way out of a paper bag-indeed,he had his goons do all of his work for him.Same with Greene.

[Alessandra]

I don't want the villain to be a henchman, but can he at the very least look devious and be able to effing shoot a gun? I mean, seriously!

[buffybond]

Mark Strong would be good as the villan ,well that is his forte.

[katied]

Yeah,it is.I was never a big fan of his(and he's been suggested for Bond.. .) But I saw him in a Masterpiece Theater movie I really liked not too long ago.

[Omega]

The old villains and henchmen were more intimidating. The last two villains are not worth mentioning, not worth remembering really.

The property of a lady stuff with Weisz being Quantum's Blofeld or directly working for Blofeld, some places are going on about a female villain to match wits with Bond. I think one of the most effective villains and one of the must under the radar villains was Elektra King in TWINE. Her henchman was misidentified as the mastermind, TND the Stamper and Dr Creepy were good Henchmen the main bad guy I felt watching it was a menace who need to be stopped. The new bad guys I feel if they happen to lose their Asthma inhaler it's all over. The henchmen are only slightly dumber then Bond charging around killing people.

What I liked about Dalton's (and Brosnan's) Bond is yes he was violent but he was a thinker, refined and ready to meet violence with violence as a last resort. Craig's Bond seems to do his thinking while smashing and resorts first to violence. Not saying that is Craig fault but it is strange to make Bond more about nothing than he was, the Bond of recent memory had a lot of action and stunt work but also a reason for why everything happens. CR we don't know why Bond's life is spared it seems to contradict the interest of Quantum, if the object was to turn Bond why not have the agent Vesper stage mock escape and get the d**n numbers as she did later. With an agent already next to Bond the whole kidnapping plot makes no sense. I am not even going to justify QOS by writing about all the stuff in it that didn't make sense or why cast a man who looks old enough to have retired from the post office as a newly minted 00 agent.