Because
we
have far too much time on our hands, we have decided to become the
first site on the internet to begin the search for the next James Bond.
We have no idea how many films Craig will make but it would
be
nice to think that James Bond number 7 is out there somewhere.
Scroll down to look at the candidate profiles and then register your
vote on the box suplied at the bottom of the page. If you have a
suggestion for a new candidate not on our list send us an e-mail.
Richard Armitage
Nationality:
British
Pros:
A Bondish look put him the list of possibilities for quite a few fans.
Big female following.
Cons:
Needs to move beyond British television.
Chances Of Eon hiring him: Unknown.
Gerard Butler
Nationality:
British
Pros:
Tall, handsome, charismatic, adept at humour and a decent
actor. A fan favourite to
replace Brosnan.
Cons:
Will he be too famous next time around?
Chances of Eon hiring him: Iffy. The 'Butler is Bond' headlines of 2000
didn't do him any favours. Completely obvious compromise option for
Casino Royale but inexplicably ignored.
Christian Bale
Nationality:
British
Pros:
A highly regarded actor and fan favourite.
Cons:
Has Batman ruled him out for good?
Chances of Eon hiring him: They should have moved for Bale earlier.
He's
the equal of Craig as an actor and would have fitted a young Bond
project far better. They didn't and the Batman people moved in. The
dream of a Nolan-Bale James Bond film remains just that.
Henry Cavill
Nationality:
British
Pros:
Handsome young English actor who came very close to landing the part in
2005.
Martin Campbell allegedly wanted Cavill instead of Craig.
Cons:
Only known for the parts he lost out on (Bond, Superman). Can
Cavill get some good parts and boost his profile while Craig is Bond?
Chances of on hiring him: Very good. He's on the radar. If he boosts
his profile without becoming too famous he'll be short-odds next time
around.
Hugh Dancy
Nationality:
British
Pros:
Good actor with an interesting look. Another good candidate that
never was during the Casino Royale search.
Cons:
Might be seen as a 'heritage fop' type. Could he be tough enough?
Chances of on hiring him: Unknown. May crop up in the next Bond
running.
Jack Davenport
Nationality:
British
Pros:
Another fan favourite. Handsome, good actor in things like 'This
Life' and 'Ultraviolet'. The Pirates Of The Carribean films have
boosted his profile.
Cons:
His voice.
Chances of Eon hiring him: Strangely, Davenport has yet to appear on
the Eon radar at all.
Rupert Friend
Nationality:
British
Pros:
Another actor who tested for Casino Royale. Still a potential Bond.
Cons:
Like Hugh Dancy, might be seen as a 'period fop'.
Chances of on hiring him: On the radar.
Daniel Goddard
Nationality:
Australian
Pros:
Handsome, known from Beastmaster tv series...the new Adrian Paul
anyone? (!)
Cons:
Is he a good actor?
Chances of Eon hiring him: Rumoured to be someone they looked
at.
Matthew Goode
Nationality:
British
Pros:
Rumoured to have tested for Casino Royale. Building a solid film career.
Cons:
Can he be tough?
Chances of Eon hiring him: On the radar.
Ioan Gruffudd
Nationality:
British
Pros:
The Welsh actor shot to fame with his dashing turn in the Hornblower
television series. Still young and a decent actor who can be
charming.
Cons:
Wasn't great in the Fantastic Four film. Might be seen as
lightweight.
Chances of Eon hiring him: Like Davenport, Gruffudd was an obvious Bond
contender absent from the Casino Royale shake-up. Must surely come into
the running next time around.
Martin Henderson
Nationality:
New Zealand
Pros: Quietly
picking up parts in Hollywood. Conventionally handsome actor with a
rakish charm. Won raves for work on the London stage.
Cons:
At 5'9 Henderson is even shorter than Craig.
Chances of Eon hiring him: Henderson is on the radar and may yet be a
darkhorse for Bond#7.
Hugh Jackman
Nationality:
Australian
Pros:
Well known, popular and charismatic. Was favourite to replace
Brosnan.
Cons:
Is he too big for Bond now?
Chances of Eon hiring him: Jackman's relationship with Eon and Bond is
confusing to say the least. Rumours suggest he was offered the part
but unhappy at not being allowed to see a script.
Luke Mably
Nationality:
British
Pros:
Yet another young British actor who was tested for Casino Royale and is
building a fanbase.
Cons:
He's blonde (!)
Chances of Eon hiring him: Depends on how his career pans out.
Julian McMahon
Nationality:
Australian
Pros:
Well known from Nip/Tuck tv series. Underrated actor who could
take Bond in more than one direction.
Cons:
Like Craig, not everyone's cup of tea.
Chances of Eon hiring him: Apparently Michael G Wilson's choice to
replace Brosnan. Has a bit of time on his side but 2005 may have been
his best chance to land 007.
Wentworth Miller
Nationality:
United States
Pros: The
British born
American actor is a rising star with a big following. His mixed-race
heritage gives him a darkly handsome 'un-English' look. Just like
Fleming described Bond.
Cons:
Can he do the accent?
Chances
of Eon hiring him: No idea.
Alex O'Loughlin
Nationality:
Australian
Pros:
Tested for Casino Royale. Interesting actor who can be tough.
Role in tv show 'The Shield' will improve his chances if he impresses.
Cons:
At least one wag would have compared him to Lazenby ('unknown
Aussie') if he'd done Casino Royale but O'Loughlin is way beyond that
now.
Chances of Eon hiring him: One to watch.
Guy Pearce
Nationality:
Australian
Pros:
Versatile and interesting actor, from Memento to Ravenous to LA
Confidential.
Cons:
Would he be interested?
Chances of Eon hiring him: Rumoured to be a favourite of Barbara
Broccoli a few years ago. Impossible to say if those rumours contained
any truth.
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
Nationality:
Irish
Pros:
Golden-Globe winning actor. Dashing, handsome and on the up.
Cons:
Can he be tough enough?
Chances of Eon hiring him: On the radar but may not need Bond next time.
Christian Solimeno
Nationality:
British
Pros:
Looked at for Casino Royale and impressed. The 6'1 actor is a karate
expert and boxer.
Cons:
Needs more films on his curriculum vitae.
Chances of Eon hiring him: Remains to be seen if he'll be considered
again.
Antony Starr
Nationality: New
Zealand
Pros:
Read for Casino Royale. A respected actor with a good look for Bond.
Cons:
Not widely known yet.
Chances of Eon hiring him: May crop up again with the right roles.
Karl Urban
Nationality:
New Zealand
Pros:Well
known from big Hollywood pictures and has a good following. His role in
the second Jason Bourne film gave a glimpse of the tough, no-nosense
James Bond he could play.
Cons:
Can he carry a picture?
Chances of Eon hiring him: Unknown
Dominic West
Nationality:
British
Pros:
Recognition from work on US tv show 'The Wire'. Good actor.
Cons:
Time running out.
Chances of Eon hiring him: Tested before. His chances are
fading
Sam Worthington
Nationality:
Australian
Pros:
Auditioned for
Casino Royale and got to the last three. Did so well that recent
stories indicate he was close to being signed as the new James Bond.
Cons:
No, we have no idea who Sam Worthington is either but that is set to
change. Already starting to be linked to big films.
Chances of Eon hiring him: The Worthington/Bond link looks to have some
life in it yet.
