Latest news with #casting
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Smooth with a sinister edge': readers on who the next James Bond should be
Bond should have an element of danger about him. So yes Tom Hardy immediately springs to mind. I also think Tom Hiddleston would be good at a more lighter touch Bond though, the Roger Moore to Hardy's Connery. All the other candidates either sound way to young or in the case of Idris Elba, great actor though he is, a bit old for the role. machinehead Whilst Idris and Tom Hardy would undoubtedly have been excellent – Tom Hardy, in particular, has that undercurrent of menace that Connery always carried – as, I think, would Christian Bale, their time has passed. I did think Nicholas Hoult might be a reasonable pick, though possibly too 'pretty'. But were I casting it, my money would go on Jack O'Connell: right age, English, dashing and could probably do rugged, thuggish violence if SAS Rogue Heroes is any guide. EvanByrne2 Ten years ago I'd have said Tom Hardy was a gimme, I think he still has the action chops for it, but is now over 50 so … Norton as the first ginger Bond? I reckon he's a good shout, Richard Madden and Kit Harington have also got to be in with a shout having both done pretty well in spy caper action roles before. DezzyDisco Jack O'Connell. Very impressed with his Paddy Mayne in SAS Rogue Heroes. The right blend of charm and danger. JudeScorpio I never would have believed that I would ever have typed the names James Bond and Eddie Redmayne in the same sentence. It would have been a bit like suggesting Kenneth Williams should on the shortlist. However, Mr Redmayne was chillingly good in The Jackal and he would be a very different kind of cold and calculating Bond. Nigeleastsussex I think the next one needs to be JANE BOND. Since fact is stranger than fiction, there are plenty of real life examples of heroic women of the cold war intelligence/espionage world, from which an excellent writer can draw upon. An exemplary performance was provided by Noomi Rapace in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009). Consider the economic success of the Wonder Woman movies – which may be difficult for Bezos to grasp. NotACustomer Definitely James Norton. He has the looks, the acting skills and experience and would be perfect as the next 007. christinen101 No more Bonds, for Heaven's sake! They lost the plot, over-hyped the character, killed any humour or charm and turned Bond into some kind of American action cartoon. Just watch Dr No or something and move on. fabcat21 Matthew Goode. I have nothing to add. Riotsnotdiets Hugh Laurie, obviously. He can play anything, especially upper-class Englishmen who can morph into convincing Americans when required. Erbium Boris Kodjoe! Handsome, tall, fit, wryly funny, and a pretty decent actor. Knowitallie I quite like the idea of Tom Ellis. He would be smooth after Daniel Craig's more gritty performance. I guess more in the Roger Moore range. But with Denis Villeneuve in the director's chair not sure it would work. Tom Hiddleston would also make a good choice. MillyTant I think George MacKay (1917) would make a great Bond. He's got that look that mixes vague meanness with woolly competence, so he could fit all kinds of different scenarios. Trying to replace Daniel Craig (RIP) with another toughie street fighter would be too easy. I think MacKay also adds a spoonful of the eccentric enigmatic, would make him tough to pin down but still quite vulnerable. studious1 Tom Hiddleston. Another visceral actor would just look shite compared to Craig so I would go for a more cerebral Bond but with enough gravitas to stop it looking like a parody (unlike Brosnan). FeedTheEnemy Chris Hemsworth might be a good option. Depends if they want to go hardcore like Craig's Casino Royale or if they want to ham it up like Roger Moore's tenure. TheMrGaffer Jack Lowden would be a good shout. I'd like to see the role reclaimed for Scotland. mikebhoy Tom Hiddleston, after seeing his work as Jonathan Pine in The Night Manager. Smooth with a sinister edge. DewinDwl Robert Pattinson. He played a suave agent in Tenet. He's got the looks, the charisma, the elegance. BTW my solution to the reboot problem is to take a leaf from The Man With the Golden Gun's book (literally, from the book). Bond has lost his memory (so no need to include his new family from No Time To Die). He also suffered burns in the explosion and has had to have plastic surgery so, cough, he looks completely different. But we get to keep his found family of SIS team members who I love – Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris and Ralph Fiennes. catwhowalksbyitself How about Matthew Macfadyen? He can do the upper-class British thing, but after seeing him be a real asshole in Succession I think he can do just about anything. kirkmc1 My pick would be Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, he has the action stuff, he has the acting chops; just check out the first few episodes of Gangs of London for the audition tape. Richlieu Like the idea of Tom Hardy; Idris – maybe a little too old? Don't know? Am I being ageist here? I see someone has mentioned James Norton – he has great charisma and range. JojoSum Tom Hardy is probably too old now, as he's pushing 50. Proper reboot territory should have Bond mid to late 30s. Theo James is a good call, he's already done the 'posh hardman' routine in The Gentlemen, like Craig, who basically got the gig after his turn in Layer Cake. Owlyross Regé-Jean Page is the obvious contender. He has a solid fanbase but is not yet typecast, and has a fluidity that would enable the role to be reimagined without changing 007 completely and alienating diehards. Not exactly unknown of course. Estella1960 Dan Stevens would be my choice. About the right age, looks the part and can prove experience in both action and comedy. And he did an excellent film a few years back called The Guest where he played a steely-eyed murderous bastard to perfection. Sadly he's one of those 'tipped for big things a decade ago' actors who might be regarded as a bit of a yesterday's man for such a high-profile role these days (although he's done fine work since). Kevcoe I would personally go for Jack O'Connell as an outside bet. It won't happen of course. And he's a bit short, but so was Craig. But he definitely has the charisma and the acting chops to pull it off. Lazygunn As a longtime fan of the Bond franchise, I'm surprised that one actor's name hasn't come up in casting speculation, and that is Tom Weston-Jones, who I first became aware of via his starring role in Copper. After just a couple of episodes, I thought from the intensity he projected, especially with his eyes, that he would make a great James Bond. Creative_Conquest
Khaleej Times
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Dubai could be the next big acting hub, says leading casting director Mukesh Chhabra
For someone who has spent his life helping others take centre stage, Mukesh Chhabra rarely seeks the spotlight. But when he enters a room, he doesn't need it. His energy does the work for him. He's warm, quick with a joke, and quicker still to notice what most people overlook — a flicker of doubt, a hint of potential, a person just beginning to believe in oneself. It's this understated superpower that has made him one of Indian cinema's most trusted casting directors. From breakout choices in Kai Po Che!, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Dangal to recent hits like Scam 1992, Laal Singh Chaddha, and Jawan, Chhabra is widely credited with reshaping how Bollywood discovers talent, consistently introducing fresh, unexpected faces who've gone on to become household names. Think Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, Tripti Dimri, among many others. His company, Mukesh Chhabra Casting Company, has worked on over 300 films and hundreds of web series and commercials, redefining the role of the casting director from a behind-the-scenes, often mysterious, figure to a frontline creative force. But behind the successes, and the infectious laughter, is a story of someone who's been carrying more than he lets on. 'Humour is the only way to deal with stress,' says Chhabra, who was recently in Dubai to host his first acting workshop, JUST ACT, a seven-day masterclass co-led with Kabir Khan, the acclaimed director of the Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan. One of the most sought-after casting directors in Bollywood, Chhabra works in a space where every decision carries weight, shaping lives and dreams in ways one can only fathom. 'The stress, the tension... My work comes with immense responsibility. People come to me with hope in their eyes. If I show them my heaviness, I'll end up taking something from them. And that's not fair.' He may work in one of the most competitive film industries in the world, but he refuses to pass on the burden. 'I've been through my share of grief,' he says, with a softer voice. 'And it doesn't go away. It just changes shape. Sometimes it's loud. Sometimes it sits in the corner of the room. But it's always there. You learn to walk with it.' Chhabra never once considered stepping away. Not when he lost his lead actor and close friend Sushant Singh Rajput weeks before the release of his debut directorial, Dil Bechara. Not even when he lost his mother, Kamla Chhabra, in 2023. Through it all, he's continued to show up — to classes, to auditions, to crowded rooms filled with nervous newcomers. He's kept nurturing young talent, kept laughing with them, kept believing in the magic of fresh starts. 'I think the only thing that saved me was work. I love it so much. I have never taken a vacation in my life. Not because I couldn't, but because I never felt the need. This is my holiday. I rest through work. It's what keeps me alive.' Hunger to do more But if you think he's driven purely by ambition, you'd be mistaken. Because what guides him isn't just his hunger to do more, but also his intuition. A quiet, almost spiritual kind of gut instinct that's only sharpened over time. 'In this world of reels and filters and likes, it's so easy to get lost,' he says. 'Everyone's trying to be seen. But very few are actually listening to their gut. That inner voice? It's still the most honest thing you have.' He says he protects his intuition like it's a fragile heirloom. And perhaps it is. In an industry where voices get shaped, smoothed, and sometimes jaded by the machinery, Chhabra stays rooted by surrounding himself with people who knew him before the fame. His old friends. His family. People who see him, not his filmography. 'The moment your circle keeps changing, your gut gets diluted. You forget who you are. And in this line, if you forget that, you've lost everything.' It's this clarity that informs his casting choices too. He reads a script again and again until the characters feel like people he knows. Then, and only then, does he begin imagining who can carry that truth on screen. 'I don't go by faces. I go by feeling. Sometimes someone walks into the room and surprises me. I can't explain it. But I know they're right. That's the magic of it. The surprise.' When asked what he's usually looking for in an audition as a casting director, he's quick to respond, 'The truth is, the more honest someone is in an audition, the more powerful it is. Even if they mess up lines. Honesty moves people. That's what I'm always chasing.' The Dubai factor Recently, that search brought him to Dubai, where he conducted an acting workshop that left him unexpectedly inspired. He was taken aback by how much raw, untrained talent exists here and how little of it has access to platforms that could truly nurture it. He envisions a future where Dubai becomes a casting destination in its own right. Not an extension of Mumbai, but a new, parallel space where stories from this region can take centre stage. And he doesn't want to wait. 'There's a massive gap,' he says. 'I want to do so much more in Dubai. I want to come back, host a full-fledged masterclass, maybe even collaborate with local theatre groups. This isn't just a one-off visit. It feels like the beginning of something long-term.' Lastly, when asked about one faux pas an aspiring actor should never commit, Chhabra doesn't mince his words. 'Don't ask me 'When will I get the part?'' he says, smiling but firm. 'That's not how this works. You're not here to chase roles, you're here to chase honesty. If you're doing it just to be picked, you'll lose the joy of the process. The right part will come when you're ready, but you can't force it.' Because, after all, 'You don't need to be perfect,' says Chhabra. 'Acting is not about showing off. It's about showing up. Just show up with your truth. That's all I need to see.'
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Smooth with a sinister edge': readers on who the next James Bond should be
Bond should have an element of danger about him. So yes Tom Hardy immediately springs to mind. I also think Tom Hiddleston would be good at a more lighter touch Bond though, the Roger Moore to Hardy's Connery. All the other candidates either sound way to young or in the case of Idris Elba, great actor though he is, a bit old for the role. machinehead Whilst Idris and Tom Hardy would undoubtedly have been excellent – Tom Hardy, in particular, has that undercurrent of menace that Connery always carried – as, I think, would Christian Bale, their time has passed. I did think Nicholas Hoult might be a reasonable pick, though possibly too 'pretty'. But were I casting it, my money would go on Jack O'Connell: right age, English, dashing and could probably do rugged, thuggish violence if SAS Rogue Heroes is any guide. EvanByrne2 Ten years ago I'd have said Tom Hardy was a gimme, I think he still has the action chops for it, but is now over 50 so … Norton as the first ginger Bond? I reckon he's a good shout, Richard Madden and Kit Harington have also got to be in with a shout having both done pretty well in spy caper action roles before. DezzyDisco Jack O'Connell. Very impressed with his Paddy Mayne in SAS Rogue Heroes. The right blend of charm and danger. JudeScorpio I never would have believed that I would ever have typed the names James Bond and Eddie Redmayne in the same sentence. It would have been a bit like suggesting Kenneth Williams should on the shortlist. However, Mr Redmayne was chillingly good in The Jackal and he would be a very different kind of cold and calculating Bond. Nigeleastsussex I think the next one needs to be JANE BOND. Since fact is stranger than fiction, there are plenty of real life examples of heroic women of the cold war intelligence/espionage world, from which an excellent writer can draw upon. An exemplary performance was provided by Noomi Rapace in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009). Consider the economic success of the Wonder Woman movies – which may be difficult for Bezos to grasp. NotACustomer Definitely James Norton. He has the looks, the acting skills and experience and would be perfect as the next 007. christinen101 No more Bonds, for Heaven's sake! They lost the plot, over-hyped the character, killed any humour or charm and turned Bond into some kind of American action cartoon. Just watch Dr No or something and move on. fabcat21 Matthew Goode. I have nothing to add. Riotsnotdiets Hugh Laurie, obviously. He can play anything, especially upper-class Englishmen who can morph into convincing Americans when required. Erbium Boris Kodjoe! Handsome, tall, fit, wryly funny, and a pretty decent actor. Knowitallie I quite like the idea of Tom Ellis. He would be smooth after Daniel Craig's more gritty performance. I guess more in the Roger Moore range. But with Denis Villeneuve in the director's chair not sure it would work. Tom Hiddleston would also make a good choice. MillyTant I think George MacKay (1917) would make a great Bond. He's got that look that mixes vague meanness with woolly competence, so he could fit all kinds of different scenarios. Trying to replace Daniel Craig (RIP) with another toughie street fighter would be too easy. I think MacKay also adds a spoonful of the eccentric enigmatic, would make him tough to pin down but still quite vulnerable. studious1 Tom Hiddleston. Another visceral actor would just look shite compared to Craig so I would go for a more cerebral Bond but with enough gravitas to stop it looking like a parody (unlike Brosnan). FeedTheEnemy Chris Hemsworth might be a good option. Depends if they want to go hardcore like Craig's Casino Royale or if they want to ham it up like Roger Moore's tenure. TheMrGaffer Jack Lowden would be a good shout. I'd like to see the role reclaimed for Scotland. mikebhoy Tom Hiddleston, after seeing his work as Jonathan Pine in The Night Manager. Smooth with a sinister edge. DewinDwl Robert Pattinson. He played a suave agent in Tenet. He's got the looks, the charisma, the elegance. BTW my solution to the reboot problem is to take a leaf from The Man With the Golden Gun's book (literally, from the book). Bond has lost his memory (so no need to include his new family from No Time To Die). He also suffered burns in the explosion and has had to have plastic surgery so, cough, he looks completely different. But we get to keep his found family of SIS team members who I love – Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris and Ralph Fiennes. catwhowalksbyitself How about Matthew Macfadyen? He can do the upper-class British thing, but after seeing him be a real asshole in Succession I think he can do just about anything. kirkmc1 My pick would be Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, he has the action stuff, he has the acting chops; just check out the first few episodes of Gangs of London for the audition tape. Richlieu Like the idea of Tom Hardy; Idris – maybe a little too old? Don't know? Am I being ageist here? I see someone has mentioned James Norton – he has great charisma and range. JojoSum Tom Hardy is probably too old now, as he's pushing 50. Proper reboot territory should have Bond mid to late 30s. Theo James is a good call, he's already done the 'posh hardman' routine in The Gentlemen, like Craig, who basically got the gig after his turn in Layer Cake. Owlyross Regé-Jean Page is the obvious contender. He has a solid fanbase but is not yet typecast, and has a fluidity that would enable the role to be reimagined without changing 007 completely and alienating diehards. Not exactly unknown of course. Estella1960 Dan Stevens would be my choice. About the right age, looks the part and can prove experience in both action and comedy. And he did an excellent film a few years back called The Guest where he played a steely-eyed murderous bastard to perfection. Sadly he's one of those 'tipped for big things a decade ago' actors who might be regarded as a bit of a yesterday's man for such a high-profile role these days (although he's done fine work since). Kevcoe I would personally go for Jack O'Connell as an outside bet. It won't happen of course. And he's a bit short, but so was Craig. But he definitely has the charisma and the acting chops to pull it off. Lazygunn As a longtime fan of the Bond franchise, I'm surprised that one actor's name hasn't come up in casting speculation, and that is Tom Weston-Jones, who I first became aware of via his starring role in Copper. After just a couple of episodes, I thought from the intensity he projected, especially with his eyes, that he would make a great James Bond. Creative_Conquest
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Trash' Kim Kardashian slammed as she lands major role in the Bratz movie: 'Why is she an actress now?'
Kim Kardashian has been fiercely scolded after it was reported she has an acting role in the upcoming Bratz movie, with disgruntled fans so furious by the casting news that they're urging others to not give over their money to see it. On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Amazon MGM Studios landed the live-action movie revolving around the famous doll line after a bidding war. Deadline reports that businesswoman Kim, 44, is 'being eyed to play the villain in the project.' The news, however, has rattled social media users who have hit out at the decision to cast Kim and have begged cinemagoers to not part with their hard-earned cash to further line the pockets of the Kardashian family. In a Reddit post titled 'When are we, as a society, finally going to move past the Kardashians?' one furious user said: 'Nobody asked for this. Why is Kim an actress now?' Another agreed, adding: 'As someone who grew up with Bratz it pains me to have to give this a miss, but I hate the Kardashians and don't want to give any of them my money.' 'I refuse to watch anything she is in or buy any product she is associated with,' a third added. A fourth continued: 'Both Bratz and the Kardashians needed to go straight in the trash circa 2010 but here we are continuing to watch the dumpster fire burn bright.' 'Guys don't give this money please,' said another. A sixth blasted: 'Maybe, collectively, if we stop giving them attention, any attention, **they will go away**.' The Bratz fashion dolls previously took center stage in the Bratz: The Movie, released in 2017. Directed by Sean McNamara, the film was the first live-action based on the doll line after numerous direct-to-video animated films and a television series. The new Bratz film update comes after the success of Greta Gerwig's Barbie, which smashed box office records following its release in 2023. Kim's acting career has certainly ramped up in recent years. In 2023, she played a lead role in Ryan Murphy's anthology thriller American Horry Story: Delicate. She has since reunited with Ryan for his upcoming legal drama, All's Fair, which also stars Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash, Teyana Taylor, Sarah Paulson, and Glenn Close. Kim also serves as an executive producer on the series, set to premiere on Hulu in the fall. Prior to working with Ryan, Kim has made appearances as herself in the sitcoms 2 Broke Girls and How I Met Your Mother, as well as 90210, Last Man Standing, and 30 Rock. In April, legendary actress Glenn Close heaped praise on Kim's acting capabilities. Speaking to she said: 'Frankly, if she wants to be an actress, that's one road. But she could be. She's a great executive. 'She's a great businesswoman. She's a very, very involved mother. She's getting her law degree. 'So, I think she has huge potential and that she's fulfilled already as a woman. And frankly, I will be fascinated to see what she chooses to do.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jonathan Bailey drops major Bond hint with latest collaboration as he unwinds on the Mediterranean - after emerging as hot favourite for vacant 007 role
With a Martini in hand and the Mediterranean serving as an appropriately cinematic backdrop, one could be forgiven for thinking Jonathan Bailey had already answered one of the biggest casting calls in Hollywood. Sadly for James Bond fans, the iconic role remains open to offers some four years after Daniel Craig ditched the tuxedo, hung up the Walther PP and handed over the keys to his beloved Aston Martin. And with Amazon having bought the rights to Britain's longest running film franchise - the next film will be its 26th - the debate around who will seize the baton and become Bond number seven remains hotter than ever. To date, the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, Regé-Jean Page, Richard Madden and Idris Elba have been touted as potential candidates for the role - but it was another contender who stood out on the Italian Riviera this week. Joining forces with MARTINI - Bond's tipple of choice - for a new promotional campaign, Bailey emanated the iconic character's debonair sophistication while posing for an accompanying series of photos. Bailey and the iconic Italian aperitivo brand are calling on audiences to break from routine and try a different path in a new campaign for MARTINI Spritz. Together, they're inspiring people to go 'Off Script' this summer, by swapping predictable plans for spontaneous moments, and raising a spritz glass to life's 'simple unplanned joys'. Filmed in southern Italy - a favourite spot he returns to every year - Bailey left his carefully scripted characters and cult on-screen roles behind to embrace a summer of spontaneity, effortless Italian style - and plenty of MARTINI spritzes. 'Going off script is the ultimate way to allow space for fun, and new experiences,' he said in an accompanying press release. 'Unplanned moments end up being the most unforgettable. 'This summer, I invite everyone to take a breath, dive in, swerve off piste and be playful. Live a little differently… with a MARTINI Spritz in hand, of course.' Fans have been patiently waiting to find out when the new James Bond film will be announced after Daniel Craig left 007 facing an uncertain future in his final offering, the 2021 blockbuster No Time To Die. Amazon recently took over 'creative control' of the much-loved franchise and are said to be fast-tracking the new film, with Hollywood producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal hired to usher in a new era. Bookmaker William Hill sees Aaron Taylor-Johnson the most likely to take over at odds of 11/8, while Theo James sits at 7/2. Filmed in southern Italy - a favourite spot he returns to every year - Bailey left his carefully scripted characters and cult on-screen roles behind to embrace a summer of spontaneity Right behind Aaron Pierre and Henry Cavill is Happy Valley actor James Norton, and chasing his tail is Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden. Earlier this month, betting companies released their odds for the next James Bond villain - with one unexpected household name topping the list. The favourite was then none other than Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy, who sits at the top of OLBG's odds at 9/2. The Irish actor - best known for playing Thomas Shelby in the hit BBC show - had previously been touted for the part of Bond but played down speculation, telling Deadline: 'I think I'm a bit old for that.' Also in the running to play the Bond bad guy are American actor Paul Giamatti (11/2), The Boogeyman star David Dastmalchian (13/2), and unlikely contender Zendaya (7/1). Pierre's odds put him at the same likelihood as longtime Bond front runner Henry Cavill (seen in June) Despite 'usually playing the good guy' in her previous roles, the female actress told Elle in 2023 that she's ready to enter her villainous era. 'I would love to play a villain of sorts,' the 28-year-old said. 'Tap into the evil, supervillain vibes. Whatever that manifests in, I don't think necessarily in a superhero sense, I just mean in like an emotional sense. 'I feel like I usually play the good guy, so I'd like to play the bad guy.' Amazon bosses are currently said to be considering locations in which to set the much-anticipated new film, which experts predicted is likely to be released at the end of next year or in 2027. Due to a filming ban being imposed in Central London next year, new locations are reportedly being considered - with Liverpool a frontrunner, according to The Sun. An insider told the publication: 'This will no doubt irk Bond purists who already fear Amazon taking over the 007 franchise may lead to them making big changes. 'But Liverpool is a well-known alternative to London for film-makers. 'It has appeared in everything from The Batman to Captain America and Harry Potter movies, doubling up as international cities.' The source added that it doesn't necessarily mean the story will be set in Liverpool - though eagle-eyed Merseysiders will no doubt spot their city centre in the background.
