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Now in its 63rd year of existence, the James Bond franchise has experienced its share of turbulence, but though it all has managed to adapt its formula to the ever-changing times without losing its old-school sense of fun. Even when an individual film fails to deliver the goods, fans are still guaranteed the globetrotting exhilaration — be it gripping or goofy — of several major action set pieces jam-packed with practical stunt work. The viewer also knows there will be an array of new gadgets, and they can be fairly certain Bond will team up with a stunning beautiful foil who, now that we live in more enlightened times, will prove every bit his equal in the combat department.

There's also a pleasing sense of continuity with the actors. Starting with Sean Connery, Bond aficionados came to love actors like Bernard Lee as M, Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny, and Desmond Llewelyn...

The James Bond movie franchise has been running since Dr No. in 1962, with 25 official James Bond movies and seven James Bond actors, with an eighth actor yet to be announced for Bond 26. While no James Bond actor has made a cameo in a different 007 movie the Bond franchise is well-known for featuring cameos from celebrities and people involved in production.

Among many celebrity James Bond cameos, Madonna plays a fencing instructor in Die Another Day, pre-Stranger Things David Harbour sports a mustache in Quantum of Solace, and Virgin Airlines owner Richard Branson is searched by an airline in Casino Royale. Still, one man has made more James Bond movie cameos than any other person, sometimes playing more than one character in a single movie. This is James Bond co-producer Michael G. Wilson, the actor who appears most in James Bond movies, along with the late Desmond Llewellyn,...

Since Daniel Craig’s exit from the popular spy action franchise, James Bond, there have eagerly awaited to see a new actor take on the mantle of the super spy. While Aaron Taylor-Johnson has become the frontrunner to replace Craig, there has been no official update regarding the same.

Daniel Craig stars as James Bond in Skyfall | Credit: MGM/Eon Productions

Amid speculations about who can take over the iconic role, Ben Whishaw, who starred alongside the former Bond, has hinted that he may not reprise his role as Q while suggesting that the franchise could be gearing up for a complete reboot.

Ben Whishaw Hints at a Potential James Bond Reboot

Daniel Craig’s third installment in James Bond franchise, Skyfall, introduced Ben Whishaw as the gadget master Q, a popular character from the spy action franchise, previously portrayed by actors like Desmond Llewelyn and John Cleese.

Ben Whishaw...

When it comes to Bond girls, Daniel Craig has a favorite—and surprise, it’s not Ana de Armas or Eva Green. In fact, this particular Bond girl was so iconic that she almost overshadowed the entire movie. Now, that’s saying something! Craig, who’s seen his fair share of powerful women in the 007 universe, revealed a surprising pick that made jaws drop.

Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas in No Time to Die | Eon Productions

So, who’s the lucky lady that outshined the action, the intrigue, and even James Bond himself? Let’s just say she was nearly bigger than the film. Ready to uncover who stole the spotlight? Buckle up, because this revelation is about to shake the Bond fandom!

Diana Rigg: The Bond Girl Who Outshone Even 007, Says Daniel Craig Diana Rigg as Countess Tracy di Vicenzo from On Her Majesty’s Secret...

Ben Whishaw suggests that the entire cast may be replaced for the next generation of James Bond 007: more here.

Speculation remains rife as to the future of the James Bond movie saga, even as franchise guardians Eon keeps up its policy of radio silence until it’s ready to talk. Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson are presumably moving things along behind the scenes, but even as the rumour mill throws in names of directors and potential successors to Daniel Craig, we’re still seemingly as we were come the end of 2021’s No Time To Die.

Still, when someone involved with the James Bond saga has a thing or two to say, it does come with a little more weight. And while Ben Whishaw – being interviewed on the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg programme over the weekend – is just proffering his opinion, it does suggest more clues.

Expanding supporting characters like Q and Moneypenny gives depth to the Bond franchise. Films like "Casino Royale" and "Diamonds Are Forever" make changes to the source material for better storytelling. Bond films have evolved tone-wise, balancing humor and seriousness over different eras to maintain broad appeal.

The James Bond movies have never been afraid to make changes to the original 007 novels, some better than others. Every James Bond movie prior to 1989's License to Kill shares a title with one of Ian Fleming's works. While some serve as faithful adaptations that make only minor tweaks to the source material, others are unrecognizable from the original novels in almost every way but name. As time has gone on and as Fleming's material has run out, the films have increasingly chosen to tell original James Bond stories. Many of these, however, still take small fragments of inspiration from the books.

Ian Fleming is perhaps best known for being the creator of James Bond and the series of novels that center the character, but he's also the mind behind the 1964 children's novel "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car," which was subsequently turned into the beloved, Academy Award-nominated fantasy movie musical and later, a stage musical. The story focuses on the Potts family, namely, siblings Jeremy and Jemima, who desperately try to set up their widowed inventor father Caractacus with a beautiful woman named Truly Scrumptious. And people had the audacity to make fun of the character names in "The Hunger Games" series? Tsk. Tsk. During a day at the beach, Caractacus tells the children a fantastical tale about the villainous Baron Bomburst, the tyrant ruler of the land of Vulgaria, and his attempts to steal their magical family car, the titular Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" is a whimsical story through and through,...

James Bond 26 should break canon to bring back Ana de Armas' Paloma, as her character stole the show in No Time To Die. Paloma's return may cause continuity issues but would be worth it, considering her unique and memorable role. Ana de Armas deserves to play Paloma in Bond 26 and could be a significant part of James Bond's future.

James Bond 26 must break canon to bring back one Daniel Craig era star, and a 2024 action movie will prove why. The next installment of the James Bond franchise will be without Daniel Craig, who played Bond in five movies over a 15-year period. Daniel Craig's James Bond death in No Time To Die confirms the actor will be stepping away from the role and allowing a new actor to take the mantle. Alongside casting a new Bond, the other classic supporting roles will likely all be recast, as has been the case over the years.

Movie franchises often recast characters due to reasons like actor availability, aging out of roles, or financial restrictions. Examples of recasted characters include War Machine in Marvel Cinematic Universe, James Bond in the James Bond franchise, and multiple actors playing Batman. Other franchises like X-Men, Back to the Future, Vacation, Atlas Shrugged, Scooby-Doo, The Wizarding World, and Frankenstein have also recast characters.

There are certain movie franchises that have become notorious for their tendency to recast characters. Recasting is a necessary phenomenon in some movies, required because of actors' availability or because they have aged out of the role. Other instances are driven by financial restrictions and the franchise's longevity.

There are countless examples movie franchises rebooting and hiring a fresh cast of actors to play familiar roles. On the other hand, some franchises recast characters midway through. These are typically attempts to maintain an overarching narrative or established film...

Q, the head of Q Branch in the James Bond franchise, was inspired by real people with impressive knowledge of mechanical and technological application. The character Major Boothroyd, who first appeared in Dr. No, is an homage to weapons expert Geoffrey Boothroyd and served as a precursor to Q in subsequent films. Q's legacy in the franchise has been influential, with Q-like characters appearing in other franchises, and the real head of technology for MI6 being named "Q" as a homage.

Q is responsible for making sure that James Bond is always prepared for every mission, but was he based on a real person? Fans have postulated the inspirations behind 007 for decades, with everyone from Serbian double agent Dusko Popov to Flemings' dashing brother being cited, and it's believed Q also has roots in the real world. As the head of Q Branch, the fictional research and development division of the British Secret Service,...

Bond 26 will serve as a soft reboot and may recast key roles like Q, making it the perfect opportunity to introduce a new Q with humor that matches the tone of the new James Bond. Ncuti Gatwa, Barry Keoghan, Richard Ayoade, Sarah Snook, Matt Berry, and Ruth Negga are all potential actors who could excel as Q, each bringing their own unique talents and qualities to the role. While Ben Whishaw, the current Q, may not have plans to return, there is no reason he couldn't come back, as previous actors like Desmond Llewelyn and Judi Dench remained in their roles through multiple Bond actors.

The next entry in the James Bond franchise, currently known as Bond 26, will serve as a soft reboot, and several key roles could be recast, including Bond's tech wizard, Q. Unlike James Bond, who is regularly recast, only three actors have played Q over the franchise's 60-year history.

Whishaw's exit as Q allows the Bond franchise to bring back the fantastical elements of the earlier movies. Previous Bond films reinvented the character as a more serious and realistic version, removing the iconic gadgets. Viewers want to see Bond return to fun and frivolous adventures, and replacing Q could be the way to achieve that.

No Time To Die star Ben Whishaw has provided an honest answer to questions about whether he is set to return as Q in the next James Bond entry. Making his franchise debut as the Mi-6 Quartermaster in 2012’s Skyfall, Whishaw is the third actor to assume the coveted title after Desmond Llewelyn and comedian John Cleese. One of the franchise’s key recurring characters, Q’s first official appearance occurred in 1963’s From Russia with Love when Llewelyn replaced Dr. No’s Mi-6 armorer Major Boothroyd (Peter Burton). Since then, Q has appeared...

One of the many James Bond franchise staples introduced in 1964's "Goldfinger" was 007's Aston Martin DB5. Throughout his 60-year cinematic run, Bond has had the pleasure of driving some of the finest vehicles in the world, but none have become as synonymous with England's greatest spy as the DB5. Which is why, to this day, Aston Martin's 1963 luxury grand tourer remains the best James Bond car.

Prior to "Goldfinger," there had been two Bond movies: 1962's "Dr. No" and 1963's "From Russia With Love." In the former, 007 was seen riding in a Sunbeam Alpine, and in the latter a Bentley Mark IV — an odd choice considering the car had been around for a good 30 years prior to Sean Connery's Bond making use of it. And in Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, "Casino Royale," the MI6 agent drove a 1930 Blower Bentley, a racing version of the Bentley 4½ Litre.

Among James Bond movies, "Goldfinger" stands as the film that cemented 007's status as a global icon. Guy Hamilton's 1964 effort has since become known as the blueprint for all future Bond films, establishing longstanding tropes that still define the franchise today. A globe-spanning adventure, "Goldfinger" introduced that gadget-filled Aston Martin DB5 alongside legendary Bond girl Pussy Galore, played by the late Honor Blackman. Then there was that famous laser beam scene, in which Sean Connery's Bond is strapped to a table and forced to await an inexplicably slow death.

But it wasn't just gadgets and Bond girls with dodgy names that "Goldfinger" brought to the table. Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn's script also introduced more subtle staples to the 007 saga, including an opening sequence seemingly unrelated to the film's main plot and a testy relationship between the titular spy and Desmond Llewelyn's Q that established the pair's dynamic going forward.

Jeffrey Wright discussed a possible return as CIA agent Felix Leiter following the character's death in No Time to Die. Making his initial appearance in the James Bond franchise's first film Dr. No, Bond's frequent ally returned periodically throughout the film series. Eight actors portrayed Leiter with Wright reprising the role three times, more than any other performer.

Speaking with Deadline, Wright discussed his possible return to the James Bond franchise despite Leiter's death in No Time to Die. When asked if he would return in an eventual reboot, Wright admitted that he would and shared his enjoyment working on the latest run of Bond films. Read what Wright said below:

Yeah. Or if there’s a ‘ghost of Felix Leiter’ moment, then I’ll certainly consider doing that [laughs]. But, at the same time, I had a great run on those films, together with Daniel [Craig], Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson...

British comedy veteran John Cleese appeared in two James Bond movies, prompting some viewers to wonder why the actor never showed up in Daniel Craig’s 007 debut Casino Royale. The Bond series has been through various eras over the decades, but there are a few elements of the franchise that remain relatively consistent. Bond has a beautiful love interest in every movie, the suave super-spy is always seen driving fast cars (and frequently trashing them in high-speed chases), and he can always rely on his MI6 boss, M. However, his other colleagues have been less consistent throughout the years.

Miss Moneypenny and Q don’t appear in every James Bond movie, much like 007’s American friend Felix Leiter. Not only that but when they do appear, they are often recast. For decades, both Q and Miss Moneypenny were played by the same actors consistently, but Lois Maxwell’s...

Every Pierce Brosnan James Bond movie hit differently with audiences, with the actor appearing in some of the best and worst entries in the franchise. Brosnan was originally cast in The Living Daylights as a replacement for Roger Moore; however, his contract for the TV series Remington Steele forced Brosnan to drop out, with Timothy Dalton replacing him. Thankfully, the role came back around to him in 1994, which led him on a four film run. In many ways, the Brosnan era of the series is key, because if his first outing had bombed, the Bond franchise itself may have ended.

Instead, his charm and wit helped revitalize the property, proving Bond could survive past the end of the Cold War. Brosnan was set to return for a fifth Bond adventure, but after producers struggled to chart a new path, he was dropped in favor of rebooting the series with Casino Royale.

Whether you want to know about kitting out James Bond or sinking his claws into Paddington Bear, Britain’s most likable actor is here to tell all

You’ll probably know Ben Whishaw best for taking over from Desmond Llewelyn (and briefly John Cleese) as Q in the past three James Bond films. And as the voice of Paddington Bear, where he was brought in at the last minute to replace Colin Firth.

Whishaw brings something so very likable to every role he plays: John Keats in Jane Campion’s Bright Star, Sebastian Flyte in the 2008 version of Brideshead Revisited and the grown-up Michael Banks in Mary Poppins Returns. And that includes his TV work: Norman Scott in A Very English Scandal and junior doctor Adam Kay in This Is Going to Hurt.

Halle Berry celebrates the James Bond movie Die Another Day's 20th anniversary. Premiering in 2002, Die Another Day starred Berry as Bond Girl Jinx opposite Pierce Brosnan's 007. The fourth and final appearance of Brosnan as the MI6 agent, Die Another Day, is often cited as the worst film in the franchise, despite being the highest-grossing Bond film at the time. Drawing criticism for its over-the-top use of humor and camp style, Berry's outing as Jinx at least offered a more empowered version of the typical "arm candy" function of the Bond Girl, having a more active role alongside Bond.

Halle Berry took to Twitter to celebrate her Bond role and Die Another Day's 20th anniversary, sharing a special tribute to Brosnan. Alongside her message, Berry includes a video of an iconic scene from the movie, where Jinx and Bond meet for the first time. See Berry's tweet below:

… it’s been 20 years.

Pierce Brosnan's tenure fronting the James Bond movie franchise holds a surprising 007 record. Pierce Brosnan played James Bond for a total of four movies, starting with 1995's Goldeneye and ending with Die Another Day in 2002. During that period, Brosnan's Bond encountered a string of iconic figures from the James Bond universe, including Judi Dench as M, Desmond Llewelyn and John Cleese as Q, and Samantha Bond as Miss Moneypenny. More curious than who Brosnan did meet as 007, however, are the characters he somehow missed.

Pierce Brosnan's James Bond remains the only iteration of 007 that neither works alongside CIA counterpart Felix Leiter, nor faces off against arch-nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld. George Lazenby is the only other James Bond incarnation who never met Felix Leiter, but Lazenby battled Telly Savalas' recast Ernst Stavro Blofeld in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Timothy Dalton never tested himself against Blofeld, but met John Terry...

While everyone has their favorite James Bond movie, you’ll be hard-pushed to find someone who doesn’t love Sam Mendes’ Skyfall. A decade after the credits rolled on Daniel Craig’s third outing as the martini-swilling spy, it’s time to look back on the movie that could’ve been. Because the rumors are true: Skyfall once planned to pull Sean Connery out of retirement. Yet 10 years later, that twist now looks like it might’ve ruined the franchise forever in retrospect.

In Skyfall, things culminated in a bloody showdown between 007 (Craig) and the villainous Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) at the titular Skyfall estate, Bond’s surprise childhood home. Also along for the ride were M (Judi Dench) and the estate’s jolly gamekeeper, Kincade, with the latter being a tie to James Bond’s childhood. Although Kincade was played by the legendary Albert Finney, the original plan was...

This meticulous docu-drama is still the best show about the Titanic, the awesome disaster that has never lost its grip on the imagination. Roy Ward Baker leads an enormous cast of Brit character actors through 2.5 hours of true-life terror in the icy Atlantic — Kenneth More, Honor Blackman, David McCallum, Laurence Naismith, Anthony Bushell. No stupid subplots and no insulting anachronisms, just an awful sinking death trap and 1600 passengers facing the freezing water. [Imprint] brings some new extras to the mix, too.

A Night to Remember

Blu-ray

Viavision [Imprint] #135

1958 / B&w / 1:66 enhanced widescreen / 123 min. / Street Date June 29, 2022 / Available from / 39.95

Starring: Kenneth More, Honor Blackman, David McCallum, Laurence Naismith, Anthony Bushell, Alec McCowen, John Cairney, Michael Goodliffe, Ronald Allen, John Merivale, Jill Dixon, Kenneth Griffith, Frank Lawton, Tucker McGuire, Ralph Michael, George Rose, Joseph Tomelty, Jack Watling, Michael Bryant, Bee Duffel, Thomas Heathcote, Andrew Keir, Jeremy Bulloch, Desmond Llewelyn, Derren Nesbitt, Beth Rogan,...

One of the staples of the iconic James Bond movies is the never-ending collection of gadgets. Q has been providing Bond with ingenious Q-Gadgets since the first films of the series. And as Desmond Llewelyn's Q said in Licence to Kill, "If it wasn't for Q-Branch you would have been dead long ago."

Related: 10 James Bond Ally Deaths That Hurt The Most

With over twenty-five Bond films produced to this day, many of the gadgets have found repeated use. And while cars such as the Aston Martin DB5 have been well-documented, what are the most used non-vehicle gadgets in the Bond films?...

Cinema Retro's 18th season begins with issue #52, which is now shipping  worldwide.

Highlights of this issue include:

"The Sand Pebbles"- James Sherlock explores the trials and tribulations behind the filming of Robert Wise's epic film which gained Steve McQueen his only Oscar nomination. "Dr. Syn: Alias the Scarecrow"- Dave Worrall's in-depth history of the character in film and literature, concentrating on the evolution of the Walt Disney three-part TV episodes starring Patrick McGoohan which would later emerge as a feature film.

"Tarzan's Greatest Adventure"- Nick Anez argues it's the best Tarzan film ever and his analysis might convince you to agree with him. Gordon Scott starred as the King of the Jungle and te gang of villains included young Sean Connery. "The Pink Panther"- John LeMay presents the fascinating history behind the first film to showcase Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau.

"The Golden...

This article contains Tenet spoilers.

Throughout the Daniel Craig era of James Bond, the influence of Christopher Nolan has been hard to miss. A year after Nolan reinvented Dark Knight mythology with Batman Begins, and created the industry term of a “reboot” in the process, 007 had his own back-to-basics reset in Casino Royale. And following The Dark Knight’s praise for reconfiguring its iconography again for a post-War on Terror world, Skyfall would receive similar acclaim a few years later for its chilly, realpolitik tone.

But no matter how many developments in the Bond canon end up attributed to Nolan’s influence, it should be recognized that Bond influenced him first. That fact is almost inescapable after watching Tenet, which just premiered on HBO Max. It’s the filmmaker’s latest time-bending thriller, and the one that most resembles a 007 flick. With its smoothly dressed secret agent hero, its allusions to British intelligence,...

James Bond has used every imaginable gadget to get him out of all manner of jams, but he would be nothing without his technologically-inclined aide. The secret agent’s contraptions are given to him by a man known as Q, which is short for quartermaster. Q is the department head of the experimental research and development division of MI6. Despite never appearing in any of author Ian Fleming’s original texts, Q and his laboratory of engineers have been a constant presence throughout the Bond franchise and have supplied the super spy with gizmos aplenty in all but a few of the films. The armorer’s first appearance was in 1962’s “Dr. No” where he played a character by the name of Major Boothroyd who equipped Sean Connery’s James Bond with the secret agent’s signature Walther Ppk handgun for the first time.

Across Eon Productions’ 25 Bond films, Q...

Here’s the latest episode of the The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the ever-growing podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.

For those unfamiliar, with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors. They also shoot the breeze about their new films, The Dare, World of Darkness,...

By Todd Garbarini

Laemmle’s NoHo 7 Theatre in Los Angeles will be presenting a Digital Cinema Package (Dcp) screening of John Glen’s 1989 James Bond outing Licence to Kill. The 133-minute film, which stars Timothy Dalton in his second and final stint as 007, also features Cary Lowell, Robert Davi, Anthony Zerbe, and Desmond Llewelyn. Director Glen also helmed For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983), A View to a Kill (1985), and The Living Daylights (1987).

Licence to Kill will be screened on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 7:30 pm.

Please Note: At press time, Licence to Kill actor Robert Davi will participate in a Q&A after the screening at the NoHo on Thursday, August 23.

The NoHo 7 Theatre is located at 5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA. The phone number is (310) 478 – 3836.

Click here for tickets.

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By Todd Garbarini

Laemmle’s NoHo 7 Theatre in Los Angeles will be presenting a Digital Cinema Package (Dcp) screening of Peter Hunt’s 1969 James Bond outing On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The 142-minute film, which stars George Lazenby as James Bond in his only performance as the beloved spy, features Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Lois Maxwell, Bernard Lee, and Desmond Llewelyn.

It will be screened on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 7:30 pm.

Please Note: At press time, George Lazenby is scheduled to appear in person for a discussion about the film following the screening.

The NoHo 7 Theatre is located at 5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA. The phone number is (310) 478 – 3836.

Click here for tickets.

Highlights of this issue include:

"The Sand Pebbles"- James Sherlock explores the trials and tribulations behind the filming of Robert Wise's epic film which gained Steve McQueen his only Oscar nomination. "Dr. Syn: Alias the Scarecrow"- Dave Worrall's in-depth history of the character in film and literature, concentrating on the evolution of the Walt Disney three-part TV episodes starring Patrick McGoohan which would later emerge as a feature film.

"Tarzan's Greatest Adventure"- Nick Anez argues it's the best Tarzan film ever and his analysis might convince you to agree with him. Gordon Scott starred as the King of the Jungle and the gang of villains included young Sean Connery. "The Pink Panther"- John LeMay presents the fascinating history behind the first film to showcase Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau.

"The Golden Lady"-  Tim Greaves shines the spotlight on the little-seen and little-remembered spy...

Can a pirate be a substitute monster? Hammer Films gives yet another genre a spin with this box-office winner that launched a sideline in costume adventures. The Hammer crew makes it work: Christopher Lee, Marla Landi, Marie Devereaux, Michael Ripper, Oliver Reed and Andrew Keir, plus yank assistance from Kerwin Mathews and Glenn Corbett.

The Pirates of Blood River

Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1962 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 87 min. / Street Date October 17, 2017 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store / 29.95

Starring: Kerwin Mathews, Christopher Lee, Andrew Keir, Glenn Corbett, Marla Landi, Michael Ripper, Peter Arne, Oliver Reed, Marie Devereux.

Cinematography: Arthur Grant

Production Design: Bernard Robinson

Art Direction: Don Mingaye

Film Editor: Eric Boyd-Perkins

Original Music: Gary Hughes

Written by John Hunter, John Gilling, Jimmy Sangster

Produced by Michael Carreras, Anthony Nelson-Keys

Directed by John Gilling

Hammer Films didn’t start out as a horror studio, but after their big Technicolor successes in 1957-...

In the James Bond films, the character Q heads the fictional research and development division of MI6 and provides Bond with all of the gadgets he needs on his various missions. Though the character has always been played by a man since the first Bond film in 1962, CNN reports that the real head of MI6 Alex Younger has now revealed that “the real-life Q is a woman,” though her actual identity obviously remains a secret. Watch the video unpacking the news below.

Read More: Tom Hardy on Whether or Not He’s in Contention to Play James Bond: ‘If I Mention It, It’s Gone’

“Glass ceilings are being broken,” says former Chief of Disguise for the CIA Jonna Mendez. She believes that a woman might bring “an empathy, an ability to communicate with people, a kind of softness, not so much of an edge, but a natural ability to...

The character has been played by Ben Whishaw, John Cleese, Desmond Llewelyn and, just once (and very briefly), Peter Burton.

But it seems 007 casting directors have been getting one crucial thing wrong about James Bond's legendary provider of rocket-firing cars, nifty last-minute life-saving gadgets and that magnetic watch that can undo zips: Q.

Delivering the keynote speech at the Women in It Awards, held in London Wednesday, the head of Britain's Secret Service, Alex Younger, revealed that the real-life Quartermaster is female.

"If any of you would like to join us … the real-life Q is looking forward to...

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We complete our series looking back at the James Bond movies, with a detailed look at Spectre, starring Daniel Craig...

This article contains big spoilers for Spectre and Star Trek Into Darkness.

Daniel Craig’s fourth or Roger Moore’s eighth? The former of course but you get the point. The almost-realistic stylings of early Craig have given way to the full blown pantomime excess of mid-Moore (or late Connery, in fairness). Desert lairs, endless car chases, free-wheelin’ helicopters and indestructible airplanes are all very much back in vogue. The result is a largely enjoyable, extremely silly film which attempts to tie previous Craig outings together at the expense of consistency and logic. There isn’t a plot: more a succession of scenes stitched together. And it still can’t manage a decent finale! Fun but ultimately frivolous. Now who does that remind me of?

The Villain: It’s Blofeld!

Back in 2012, our staff decided to group together and come up with a list of the best films in the 007, James Bond franchise. With Spectre rolling out this weekend, we decided to republish the article. Let us know which is your favourite, and be sure to check out our review of Spectre here.

#1: From Russia With Love

Directed by Terence Young

Written by Richard Maibaum and Johanna Harwood

1963, UK

50 years later, and with twenty three “official” entries, From Russia With Love represents the very best of the Bond franchise. Skyfall is the closest to be considered, at best – almost equal to what was achieved in ’64 – but From Russia With Love is still unparalleled. Although it is the second in the series, and although it feels like no Bond film that followed, it is the film that solidifies all the Bond elements into a formula – a template that carries on,...

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Written by Richard Maibaum

Directed by Peter Hunt

UK, 1969

To call On Her Majesty’s Secret Service underappreciated is to call the sky blue. Only in the years since the release of Daniel Craig’s introduction to the series, Casino Royale, has Ohmss begun to be reappraised as a realistic, character-driven approach to the Bond series. Its failure at the box office compared to the Connery entries that preceded it led to the producers, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Salzman, returning to the Goldfinger formula of larger than life villains, iconic henchmen, ludicrously elaborate take-over-the-world schemes, and a generally heightened sense to the proceedings, all of which are noticeably absent from Ohmss.

Sean Connery had a rough experience during filming of 1967’s You Only Live Twice. The media scrutiny, long filming periods, and promotional duties caused him to leave the role that had made his career.

From Russia With Love

Directed by Terrence Young

Written by Richard Maibaum and Johanna Harwood

1963, UK

50 years later, and with twenty-three “official” entries, From Russia With Love represents the very best of the Bond franchise. Skyfall is the closest to be considered, at best – almost equal to what was achieved in ’64 – but From Russia With Love is still unparalleled. Although it is the second in the series, and although it feels like no Bond film that followed, it is the film that solidifies all the Bond elements into a formula – a template that carries on, even today.

Spectre’s Persian-stroking nemesis/mastermind Ernest Blofeld makes his first appearance and so does Desmond Llewelyn’s gadget-friendly Q (starting a run that continued until his death in 1999). Screenwriters Richard Maibaum and Johanna Harwood return, as does director and editor Terence Young and Peter Hunt. John Barry supplies the fine score by utilizing Monte Norman’s theme,...

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A peroxide Terminator, a magnificent M, and stunning set-pieces. We revisit Sam Mendes' first Bond film, Skyfall...

The film: Brilliant first half, problematic second. But even the second half is still pretty good. Manages to celebrate the traditions/clichés of the franchise without ever descending into parody. Stunning set-pieces in Istanbul, Shanghai and Macau showcase the globetrotting and glamour that has served the franchise so well (naturally, we end in Scotland). The plot disappears halfway through and finale is again underwhelming, although less so than the previous Craigs. Ultimately Skyfall is a great Bond film on first watch, a very good one thereafter.

The Villain: A fine antagonist, although certainly not the best ever. The first camp baddie since Wint and Kidd in Diamonds Are Forever (and they were only henchmen). Silva is a heap of fun. His deep, sexy voice charms you, but those cold...

Max Williams Nov 19, 2018

Christmas Jones? Robert Carlyle not feeling pain? Welcome to the 3rd Pierce Brosnan James Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough.

This article comes from Den of Geek UK.

This one is a real curate’s egg (and not the Faberge' type). A daring twist on the formula or a tired limp into the new millennium? The case for the prosecution: mostly dull action sequences, a Bond girl memorable for the wrong reasons, an underpowered climax and a plot thinner than a dieting ghost. The case for the defense: a unique duo of villains, a welcome abundance of M, some really interesting ideas, and perhaps the most affecting of all James Bond’s kills.

The Villains: A couple to give a relationship counselor nightmares. He’s a slowly dying terrorist who can’t feel pain, she’s a seductive oil heiress with an overwhelming urge to nuke Istanbul.

Before Casino Royale took James Bond down a darker path, there was Timothy Dalton's final 007 outing, Licence To Kill...

So this is the anti-Bond. Stripped of the requisite wit and mischief. Short of temper, heavy of touch. The SPECTREs of yore replaced by a drugs cartel. World domination downgraded to a heroin monopoly. Glamour smothered by grit. Joy drowned in the bloodshed. The icon of British cinema reduced to an American cop show – MI6 Vice, Hawaii 007 – timeless style swamped by the vulgarity and cash of the late-1980s, a case of ‘Sayonara, Mr Bond’ and everything you stand for. Derivative, needlessly violent, no identity, no soul – it’s just Not Bond, dammit! All nonsense, of course. The open-minded know this brutal, brilliant outing is about as good as the series can get.

The Villain: Franz Sanchez is unquestionably the great forgotten villain of the franchise. He possesses all the vital characteristics: charm,...

I interviewed Pierce Brosnan in conjunction with his third outing as James Bond, in Michael Apted's The World Is Not Enough, in 1999. Brosnan was alternately charming, erudite, thoughtful and intense during our two hour chat. His native intelligence shone through it all, as did a sense of decency which many people seem to acquire after enduring and surviving hardship in their formative years.

Bonding With Brosnan

By

Alex Simon

There are several dangers in becoming a cultural icon, not the least of which is the stigma that your public will forever keep you imprisoned in the mold of your iconography, allowing the recipient a privileged, if imprisoned, existence, particularly if that person is an artist. Sean Connery faced just such a dilemma during the height of James Bond-mania in the mid-60's. A serious actor, Connery desperately wanted to break out of the action hero mold that was British Superspy James Bond,...

The first of Timothy Dalton's pair of James Bond 007 adventures. We look back at The Living Daylights...

This one's strong, if uneven. The Living Daylights has a lot going for it, not least a lean, sharkish Timothy Dalton, tight of smile and cold of eye. Other strengths include a plot that actually goes places (even if they aren’t always the right ones), a great soundtrack, a palpably menacing hitman and the enjoyably retro prominence of the Cold War. All well and good. However, the central villains are a weakness, neither really working alone or as a duo. The girl is admirable but a little trying. The pace sometimes flags and the stakes never rise. Despite a standout fight aboard an aeroplane (as good as Bond gets) the film never quite takes off.

The Villains: A three-in-one deal. Never a great sign: quality is rarely offered in quantity. Georgi Koskov is a cheerful,...

Sean Connery as Bond. Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore. Auric Goldfinger. Oddjob too. Our 007 lookbacks arrive at the iconic Goldfinger...

For many this is the Bond film. The quintessential Bond facing the ultimate villain who utters the greatest line midway through the most iconic scene. Plus you have the coolest henchman, the best car, the most memorable death, the loudest song, and the Bond girl with the silliest name. Plus Honor Blackman could easily lay a claim to being the premier leading lady. While Goldfinger can’t claim all the aforementioned categories, there’s little doubt that the film is a peak, a marrying of critical acclaim and popular appeal rarely achieved since.

The Villain: Monumental. A hugely charismatic figure and the most jovial of baddies, the Big Man utterly dominates the film. He interacts with Bond perhaps more than any other antagonist: over golf, cocktails and, immortally, beneath a laser.

John Cleese has criticised the direction of the new James Bond films.

The actor - who played long-time Q actor Desmond Llewelyn's assistant in The World is Not Enough and his replacement in Die Another Day - complained that the comedy has gone out of the classic spy franchise.

"I didn't see [Skyfall], because I have criticisms of the new Bond movies," the Monty Python legend told Shortlist.

"Two things went wrong - the plots became so impossibly obscure that even professional writers couldn't figure out what they were about, and the action scenes, which are supposed to make the adrenaline run, go on far too long.

"They discovered these movies were popular in places such as the Philippines and South Korea, and so they dropped the humour because no one there is going to understand jokes about the English class system. They're financially incredibly clever, as the take goes up by $100m every movie,...

The James Bond series - based on Ian Fleming's spy novels - is one of cinema's biggest ever film franchises, thrilling fans now for over half a century.

1962's Dr No and the following year's From Russia with Love lay the groundwork, but it was with 1964's Goldfinger that the 007 movies became a true global phenomenon.

A 50th anniversary Blu-ray re-issue of the Sean Connery classic is available to buy from today (Monday, September 22). To mark the occasion, Digital Spy explores how Goldfinger shaped Bond as we know and love him.

1. The Extravagant Pre-Titles Sequence

The previous film, From Russia with Love, was in fact the first Bond to feature a pre-titles sequence. But that scene, which saw Robert Shaw's Red Grant stalk and kill a 007 impersonator, was short and simple - and didn't even feature the real Bond.

Goldfinger was the first film to take full advantage...

It.s hard to look back on Skyfall and not consider the film a raging success. The reviews were among the best the James Bond series has ever received. The box office netted more than one billion dollars in worldwide grosses, and the majority of fans seem to think the franchise is in better shape now than at any point since Sean Connery was leading the charge in the early to mid 1960s. The majority of fans, however, does not include everyone, and for a reminder of that, I now bring you Monty Python co-founder and beloved actor John Cleese. The seventy-four-year-old Englishman famously worked with 007 on The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day, first as the assistant to Desmond Llewelyn.s Q and later as Q himself. When the series rebooted with Daniel Craig as James Bond, however, he was not asked to return, and if John...

With Hugh Jackman currently negotiating to play Wolverine for a seventh and eighth time, Cinelinx takes a look at actors who’ve played the same role eight times or more. Who has played the same character most often? Come in and find out.

Hugh Jackman has already played Wolverine five times--x-Men (2000), X2: X-Men United (2003) X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), and The Wolverine (2013)—as well as a cameo in X-Men:First Class (2011). Soon we’ll be seeing him fully clawed again on the big screen in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Recently, he told Collider that he might shoot Wolverine 3 and X-Men: Apocalypse “back-to-back”, which would make a total of eight times (9 times with the cameo) that he’ll portray the Canadian mutant.

You might be thinking “Wow! That’s amazing! I’ve never heard of anyone playing the same role so many times.” Well, for those who may not know it,...

From the arrival of cinema and a train steaming into La Ciotat Station cinema audiences have long been in love with both the fast and the furious. The adage ‘the car’s the star’ has long been evident in Hollywood’s annals with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Herbie, the Batmobile or the family of Minis (Minions?) in The Italian Job taking centre stage and linger in the memory.

In association with the people from Van Monster we stood atop our internet tower and gazed at the past, then plucked five of the most iconic vehicles to appear in movies.

5) 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

As featured in: Smokey And The Bandit (1977)

Registration plate: Ban One

Hired by Texan double-act Big Enos and his son Little Enos to transport then-prohibited Coors beer to Georgia in under 28 hours, Bo ‘Bandit’ Darville requests a fast car to act as a blocker – a distraction for...

This Sunday afternoon at 12.45pm, ITV1 screens the second James Bond film – which perfectly captured Fleming's incorrigible spy, and brought us the unforgettable Rosa Klebb

Reading on mobile? Watch the trailer here

"Oh James, James, will you make love to me all the time in England?" - Tatiana

After a period of being tucked away on Sky, the James Bond films are back where they're supposed to be – filling up huge swathes of the ITV weekend schedule until it's time to show all the Harry Potter films in order again. This is undoubtedly a good thing. James Bond is as much a part of ITV as Ant and Dec and those upsettingly sexually aggressive e-cigarette adverts. So, to welcome him back, here's a recap of 007's second cinematic outing, From Russia With Love.

From Russia With Love is over 50 years old now, and it stands a perfect document of James...

Though he spends much of his time hacking into computer systems and revealing top secret information as Q, actor Ben Whishaw chooses to remain very quiet about his private life.

In light of his announcement as the star of the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic, Digital Spy brings you ten facts about this multi-talented individual, who is being widely hailed as one of the finest actors of his generation.

1. Benjamin John Whishaw was born in Bedfordshire on October 14, 1980 to Linda and Jose Whishaw, a cosmetics worker and an It consultant respectively. He has a fraternal twin brother, James.

2. Whishaw has been interested in acting from a young age; he was a paying member of the Bancroft Players Youth Theatre and eventually graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2003. Whishaw has a career that spans radio, stage, television and film! Do you think he just couldn't make his mind up?...