August 2, 2004

"Do you expect me to yabber, Goldfinger?"
"No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to cark it."

Posted by pete at August 2, 2004 11:22 AM

I think everyone probably already heard this, but that's never stopped me before:

Australian actor Eric Bana may be set to be the next James Bond - beating Jude Law, Orlando Bloom and Heath Ledger to the part of the British spy. The Hulk star, 35, is still in negotiations with movie bosses to take over the coveted role from Pierce Brosnan in the next installment, which sees 007 on a mission to save the world from a killer virus. A source says, "Eric is the guy they want but he has a reputation for being demanding. They want to modernize Bond and turn him into a youthful, suave and modern hero to compete with the likes of Spider-Man and Keanu Reeves in The Matrix."

Bana was one of the few high points in Troy, and anyone thinking his sleepwalk through last year's big green bomb is indicative of his acting skills needs to go rent Chopper.

Not that modern James Bond movies require much in the way of acting, of course. More and more, I equate them with the Star Wars films: lots of green screen posing and ridiculously over-the-top villains. Bana will take a few paychecks for playing second fiddle to the flood of gadgets and product endorsements, then move aside for the next hapless sucker to be unfavorably compared to Sean Connery.

UPDATE: Now it seems Bana's rep is denying the reports, according to Moviehole:

London newspapers reported this past weekend that Eric Bana has signed to star as James Bond in the next 007 movie "The Man with The Red Tattoo", citing an anonymous source.

Moviehole checked in with a rep for Eric Bana today who debunked reports that the Melbourne-boy actor has been offered the role of 007.

"There's no truth to the story. He hasn't even been approached to play the role", says our source.

And so on.

So, you finally got around to seeing Chopper, eh Pete? Full-to-bursting with delicious vigilante justice, that one was. The failed betrayal/stabbing scene of Chopper will be forever stuck in my mind. Violent, but easily in the "great movies you've probably never heard of" category.

--Posted by denny on August 2, 2004 11:23 AM

I am entirely bitter about this for two reasons. One, it should have been Ioan Gruffudd. Two, Bale's also signing on to another big potential franchise, Batman, so that will really gum up the works.

Hopefully they can get Elle Macpherson to be the next Bond Sheila.

--Posted by HWRNMNBSOL on August 2, 2004 12:14 PM

we were just talking about this yesterday while driving up to estes park. we had written off jude law and orlando bloom as far too fey to pull off bond. hugh jackman came up, but i completely forgot about eric bana. i think he's an excellent choice -- just the right degree of manliness to get the Bond job done.

--Posted by boxing octopus on August 2, 2004 12:20 PM

The best Bond ever, George Lazenby, was an Aussie.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493872/

Remember when he stabbed Telly Savalas in the final battle and said "Now THAT'S a knife!"?

--Posted by norbizness on August 2, 2004 12:20 PM

"TBS Movies presents On Her Majesty's Secret Service, starring Diana Rigg as James Bond."

--Posted by Danil on August 2, 2004 1:32 PM

Of course Bana's playing it down. It's all part of Bond's classic "shaken not stirred" philosophy.

Norbiz is right: there's already been an Aussie Bond and it was Sean Connery. There, his secret's out.

--Posted by Simon on August 3, 2004 4:54 AM

I'm officially an old fart
...since I don't recognize a single damn name on this list of supposedly suave, handsome, and tough guys who Cromulent......
--Posted to The Fat Guy on Aug 3, 2004 8:45 PM:.


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