The BJMDDS General Discussion Thread......

[bjmdds]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85lUyVB-ZSs

[Kristatos]

A subtle nod to James Bond’s bisexuality almost didn’t make it into SKYFALL. His line to Silva, “What makes you think this is my first time?” was nearly cut, but Barbara Broccoli fought to keep it. Sam Mendes called it a “homoerotic undertow.” -----you see what Broccoli's priorities were for the franchise.

Oof. WTF.That is all.

Actually, can we talk about that picture?He looks SCARY. “Aged like milk”, anyone?

I don't know if it still exists, but many years ago, there used to be a website called Men Who Look Like Old Lesbians. Not sure why I thought of that all of a sudden.

[kater23]

*trying not to do a spit take*

[James]

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/jame ... 236749108/

James Bond Auditions Have Officially Started, ‘Game of Thrones’ Casting Vet Nina Gold Tapped to Find Next 007 (EXCLUSIVE)

The hunt for the next James Bond has officially kicked off.

Amazon MGM Studios started auditioning actors for the part of 007 in the past few weeks, Variety has learned, with the studio enlisting the help of Nina Gold to find the man with the suaveness and danger necessary to replace Daniel Craig as Ian Fleming’s super-spy.

“The search for the next James Bond is underway,” Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement. “While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”

Gold did not respond to a request for comment, but a source with knowledge of the production confirmed her involvement. Her enlistment in the 26th James Bond makes sense. Gold understands the complexities of big franchises and is best known for filling out the world of Westeros on HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Her credits include the Netflix series “The Crown,” as well as five films in the Star Wars franchise. The latter gig saw her cast Daisy Ridley as Rey in “The Force Awakens.” Gold’s credits also include “Les Misérables,” “The Martian” and “Conclave.” She was nominated for an Oscar for her work on “Hamnet” in 2025 — the first year that the Academy had an award for casting.

Debbie McWilliams served as casting director on “The Living Daylights,” “Goldeneye” and “Casino Royale,” helping to find Craig, Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton. Sean Connery, Roger Moore and George Lazenby are the other actors who have been granted Bond’s license to kill. Even before auditions started, there’s been rampant speculation about who might wield Bond’s Walther PPK, with everyone from Jacob Elordi to Callum Turner and Aaron Taylor-Johnson rumored to be in contention for the role.

[Kristatos]

OK, well Variety is a reliable source, so I guess it's finally official.

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[bjmdds]

The actor chosen to play the next James Bond has got “to OOZE sex appeal,” as well as the obvious stuff, like well, actually being able to act, says 007 casting director Nina Gold. Plus, as this column noted way back, the successful applicant picked to take on Ian Fleming’s Commander Bond should be young enough to play him in three or four, or more pictures.........age should not matter unless they plan on doing a film every 5 years! So this woman will pick the best man for the role of a secret agent: How well did Broccoli's instincts work out?

[acid]

If I hadn't just about given up on new Bond movies, all this waiting would be almost painful. I wish I could say it means they are taking their time to get everything exactly right. But given recent history, well, I won't get my hopes up.

[Kristatos]

It feels like we're getting close now. It just depends on how long the casting process takes, now that it has finally begun.

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[acid]

Yeah maybe they'll just pick another actor I can't watch and I can just go back to sleep for the next 15 years!

[Kristatos]

Yeah maybe they'll just pick another actor I can't watch and I can just go back to sleep for the next 15 years!

I hope not. I want to enjoy the next few Bond films, after 20 years of not enjoying them.

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[kater23]

The actor chosen to play the next James Bond has got “to OOZE sex appeal,” as well as the obvious stuff, like well, actually being able to act, says 007 casting director Nina Gold. Plus, as this column noted way back, the successful applicant picked to take on Ian Fleming’s Commander Bond should be young enough to play him in three or four, or more pictures.........age should not matter unless they plan on doing a film every 5 years! So this woman will pick the best man for the role of a secret agent: How well did Broccoli's instincts work out?

The usual talking points..whether they stick the landing or not is another matter entirely.

[Omega]

I think the usual talking points are not going to work because the whole way promotions work today is not the old school talking points. Social media and streaming have changed the pace of things.

Judging by our nieces and nephews, leaking photo shoots to certain magazines and newspapers or bringing actors to shore on a boat to introduce them, takes too long.
I’m not certain how much the younger generation will care about a relaunched James Bond series. In their lifetime they’ve had so many good series come and go and spinoff of those series start.
. I just I think the studio is trying to say the right things, but that’s my generation that cares to hear them. The generation is gonna buy the tickets and support the franchise further isn’t gonna be impressed by all this.
We could try to argue that the Craig movies are part of the generation however, there really hasn’t been anything for them six or seven years. And even then the pace of release was slow, and the stories were not all that good. I would argue cubby series have memorable things you talk about years later. Craig’s series copied so many other things for other franchisees, and the old series where they needed to get holy , prove they’re still James Bond , and I don’t remember people talking about stuff like that when Craig’s movies were new, and I don’t hear much about the Craig series all these years later.

Let me just clarify my thoughts just a little bit, I’m glad to hear they’re not changing things from the talking points that are coming out now but for the success of the series, they gotta have someone that in touch with the current generation. That’s not me , I know it. That wasn’t Babs either.
Amazon doesn’t wow me, anything they do with their streaming empire, but maybe I’m just too cynical after being disappointed for so long.

I think the day I hear my nieces and nephew say something about a new 007. Will change how I feel about things going on. In today’s world going to the movies isn’t the event it used to be six years ago. We used to always make a special trip to take them to see movies, in the last few years it’s just not a thing we do much anymore. And maybe that’s part of them getting older too. They don’t need their aunts and uncles. And they definitely don’t wanna be seen in public with their mom and dad.
Their world’s is a world of social media and streaming. Everything happens so fast.


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[kater23]

Per the last part: Or I wait until it’s on HBO where I can basically watch it for free.

[James]

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/jame ... 236749910/

James Bond Search: ‘Sunset Boulevard’ Star Tom Francis Auditions to be Next 007 (EXCLUSIVE)

Tom Francis, best known for appearing opposite Nicole Scherzinger in Jamie Lloyd’s unconventional revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard,” may be ordering his martinis shaken, not stirred.

The 26-year-old British actor, whose reputation rests primarily on his stage work, has auditioned to play James Bond, a source with knowledge of the 007 search tells Variety. He’s one of many performers jockeying for the part in a casting process that is ongoing and being overseen by Nina Gold. Reps for Francis and Amazon MGM Studios, the producer and financier of the Bond franchise, had no comment.

Francis won an Olivier Award for his work in “Sunset Boulevard” and was nominated for a Tony Award. His performance of the title song saw him walking through New York City’s theater district as cameras captured his every move — a show-stopping theatrical moment that became a cultural event in the city.

However, the multi-talented Francis has a lean resume when it comes to screen performances. He had a small role in “Jay Kelly,” the recent George Clooney vehicle, but is set to appear in Peter Berg’s “The Mosquito Bowl,” a sports drama set in World War II that also features Nicholas Galitzine and Bill Skarsgård. Francis made his TV debut in the final season of the Netflix series “You.”

[Kristatos]

Hard to give an opinion based on one photo, but he doesn't make me think "please, God, no" like some of the names touted.

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[James]

I did an image search and he looks a bit like the wrestler William Regal in a lot of his photos.

[acid]

Maybe a bit better than Craig, but I am unconvinced. I think he could play Dario in a Licence to Kill prequel. About 5 years too young as well (yeah I get the point about needing a young actor if they take ages between films, but realistically what are the chances of the same actor sticking with this for decades anymore?).

[Kristatos]

It depends how many films they're contracted for. I just think the days when they could knock out a film every 2 or 3 years are gone, and with them, the age of casting an actor aged around 40 in his first film.

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[Omega]

Well, also you get actors that are still hungry for the role if they’re younger, they don’t have to be exclusive anymore so they can do a Marvel movie then they can go back to bond.

But honestly, I don’t think we’re gonna see the kind of staying power like Hugh Jackman had in the wolverine. That’s the kind of actor I’d like to have his bond, dedicated to the role for decades. But I just don’t think actors are wired that way anymore. Even Sean Connery burned out after a few.


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[Kristatos]

And Connery was 32 when he made Dr No, but he looked about 60 by the time he appeard in DAF.