Bond , Jane Bond? Who will play the next 007?
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 by D.J.C. (Jeff)

   Diamonds are forever - but can the same be said of James Bond? MGM would
like to think so. The studio has just announced plans for a 17th Bond thriller
, even though many Hollywood insiders think 007's number is up. I think Bond is
stuck in the 70's and 80's. Certainly the whole "playboy" notion is completly
prehistoric.
  But MGM can never afford to say never again. The studio is awash in red ink
and BADLY needs a hit. And Bond is the most profitable franchise in movie
history - 31 years and 2 billion worldwide. Even the last outing 1989's
lukewarm LICENCE TO KILL , starring Timothy Dalton , earned 152 million dollars
worldwide.
  Confident it can carry the old agent into a new age , MGM and the series'
longtime producer , Albert 'cubby' Brocoli have hired Cliffhanger writer
MICHEAL FRANCE to bang out a new script. The studio hopes to have the movie in
England by the end of '94. A few Hollywood power players also think Bong can
be revived , if MGM does the followeing :

1. LOSE TIMOTHY DALTON - neither MGM or Dalton is saying whether the 47 year
old will be back as 007, but there is a strong feeling that something is
missing in the actors secret agent. Many people feel he is way too serious.
Here is an intresting piece I found in "Entertaiment" magazine , screenwriter
Robert Towne wants Sean Connery to play 007 again - "I dont care how old
he is. I guarntee you'll have a hit if you cast him again" , but it is most
unlikely that the 62-year-ol actor will sign on. But there's allways Mel Gibson
(erroneously rummored to have commited to playing Bond last year) or Liam
Neeson. However it is unlikely that Bond will be British , for the first time
in 31 years of Bond films.
  Others want to change the ols spy's image even more. Forget about 40 year
old white guys in tuxedos saving the world. Bond should be Sharon Stone or
Wesley Snipes. He should reflect England today. Maybe M should be from Punjab,
an Anglo-Indian played by Ben Kingsley. And Miss moneypenny could be half
Eskimo!
2. GET A GOOD VILLIAN - when the communists went , so did the whole idea of
superheros and supervillians. So Bond should move on from bad Russkiees and
maniacal industrialists to heavies like Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lector. In
fact Hopkins HAS been approached about playing the bad guy , although the
actor first wants to see a script. As another switch , it has been suggested
that Connery should be the villian. However , I dont feel it is really about
who plays the villian , it's about the writing. It has to be something very
unique but simple.
3. GET RID OF THE BOND BABE - No matter how tough or aggressive, all Bond
women end up as purring sexual pussycats. It's a tired, older male type of
fantasy. Bond women are decorations , they're easy sex , and you(maybe sadly)
cant get away with that anymore. She needs to be subtler, more of a 
sophiscated , brainy type. Then again , this is James Bond here. You cant
make a postmodern , politically correct , feminist-approved version. There are
only so many ways you can pull a piece of taffy.
4. OR KEEP PUSSY GALORE , BUT MAKE THE MOVIES SEXIER - Although Goldfinger
actually pushed the sexual enevelope in 1964 , the Bond series has since
delivered nothing but smirking, playboy-style inmuendo. They should definitely
be made for adult audiences. But , we've allways thought of Bond films as
family entertainment. 
  Even with that kind of thinking , MGM pormises the next Bond movie will
put the series back on the map. It will have a totally different look. We
are talking about a revelation....Hmmmm , lets talk about the soundtrack. 
Whats Shirley Bassey doing these days?
  We will wait for next 007 movie with eagar. Will this new Bond be cool , or
just a fucking waste of time.