lesterlong

James Bond contender Clive Owen has snubbed the legendary franchise - by dismissing it as unchallenging. The British hunk is reported to be a frontrunner to replace departing 007 Pierce Brosnan when he hands over the superspy role after the next film. However, Gosford Park star Owen is nonplussed about the prospect of being the world's most famous hero - in fact, he doesn't want the job. According to British tabloid The Daily Express, he told a pal, "I think it's too formulaic, too tried and tested and a little past it's sell by date. I would not consider it to be a challenge. I've just come back from Los Angeles where I had a meeting with Francis Ford Coppola who wants to cast me in an exciting new project, which will be Bond-like but more challenging and relevant today. I'm really excited about it."

Goldberg74

... he all know the next Bond will be Clint Howard.

Mopower

He'd make a great James Bond. Jason Statham would be a good choice but I don't think he fits the look.

DonnachaOne

Here's to you, mister Owen. You're a stronger man than I - I would have taken the job in a second.

He can still be a very Alec Trevalyan-esque villain though...

CitizenKaneRBud

I agree, it's good to see an actor with artistic integrity for once.

jarofclay73

I'm actually interested in this Coppola movie which is kind of like Bond...

PalmerJoss

I thought he would have made a great Bond, especially after seeing him in the BMW films from the past 2 years. He seems more like Bond in those short films than Pierce Brosnan has in the past 2 Bond movies put together.

Stoolie

I'm glad he doesn't want to be Bond. Maybe he's against being horribly animated with CGI.

Skorp

Nonplussed means bewildered, perplexed, puzzled etc. It does not mean disinterested, unfazed, or couldn't care less (which seems to be how the writer is using it).

Here endeth the vocabulary lesson for the day.

Giles

maybe Clive Owen has rejected the notion because the scripts for the latest Bond's have been rather lame.

Quote:
"I think it's too formulaic, too tried and tested and a little past it's sell by date. I would not consider it to be a challenge"

How very true.

I still like Jeremy Northam.

rennervision

I'm not as concerned about the next guy to play Bond as I am about the guy AFTER the next guy to play Bond. Traditionally, the even-numbered actors that played Bond (#2 Lazenby & #4 Dalton) have not been widely accepted in the role, and they are hastily replaced before the series is killed faster than Blofeld can say, "Goodbye Mr. Bond."

dude_dan

He would have been an inspired choice.

Christian Bale gets my vote now.
He is Welsh, after all, and Bond has to be from one of the British Isles, right?

Cheers

Corvin

As if the vast majority of the American audience really cares if he comes from the proper British Isle.

That being said, I wouldn't mind Christian Bale, either. Although I wouldn't want him to get pigeonholed into that Bond role.

DonnachaOne

George Lazenby was Australian and Pierce Brosnan is Irish.

And if you call Ireland one of the "British" isles, so help me I will slug you.

Tarantino

Russell Crowe would make a terrible bond.

They should use Sean Connery and make it called "Bond 20...years from now..."

garmonbozia

Woohoo!! This is good news to me!
I've been a big Clive Owen fan since I first saw Croupier.....and I feared he would be the next James Bond since SO many people had commented on how perfect he would fit the role......and well, uh, I find James Bond movies to be incredibly boring.

Giantrobo

Since he's so HOT right now I vote BERNIE MAC for the next Bond.

Why not?

dude_dan

Wow chill, the Bristish isle reference was tongue in cheek.

There are a lot of short fuses here.



P.S.
NY Yankees suck.

Trigger

What about Patrick Stewart?

B.A.

Damn - he was my first choice to replace Brosnan. I would like Jeremy Northam, but I thought a lot of us had already agreed previously that he might be a little too old to begin starring in the franchise.

flipn408

Jason Statham would make a really great Bond!......maybe he needs to grow his hair or wear a wig............

Face/Off

I read somewhere that Christian Bale turned down a Bond villian role so he could BE Bond later down the line. Of course, I read it on the internet...

What about Adrian Paul?

jhansla

Colin Farrell all the way. He's the only man for it when Brosnan's done with the series. We all know Farrell can play this type of person. Just look at his part in Minority Report.

joeydaninja

what about Robbie Williams as Bond, directed by Baz. HAHA!

or Ewan Macgregor, his career doesn't seem to be going anywhere anyhow, IMO.

Goldberg74

This topic will never die!!!!!!

but I have to say it again... Jeremy Northam for Bond! Hurry, before he's too old!