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Is JACKASS 3 in 3D Arriving in 2010?Will Michael Sheen Play Blofeld in the Next JAMES BOND Movie?
by Matt Goldberg Posted:June 16th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Well this is definitely going to be interesting if it turns out to be true: According to The Guardian, Michael Sheen (”Frost/Nixon”) is apparently in negotiations to play James Bond’s arch-nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the next James Bond movie. The Guardian notes that the new film is being co-written by Peter Morgan who has previously collaborated with Sheen on “The Queen”, “Frost/Nixon”, and “The Damned United” which has already hit theatres in the UK and is expected to arrive in US theatres this September.
I have mixed feelings about bringing in Blofeld. One of the things I liked best about “Casino Royale” was how it acknowledged the past of James Bond but then moved forward. It understood that Bond’s name had become his biggest commercial liability and having to drag around “Q” and Moneypenny and the gadgets and all that history made a revitalization impossible. However, Blofeld’s been dormant since 1981 (1983 if you count “Never Say Never Again”) unlike “Q” and “Moneypenny” who were only recenty laid to rest.
But if they brought back Blofeld, they would have to re-invent him since he wasn’t killed by Bond, but by Mike Myers spoofing him to death as Dr. Evil.
The big question is whether or not Blofeld fits in with the new ethos of the James Bond franchise. I have no problem with Michael Sheen and if this rumor does turn out to be true, I’ll be excited to see how they play it. My larger question is whether looking back to past villains is the smart move for this series (because if so, does that mean we get new Jaws, Oddjob, etc?) but if a supervillain like Blofeld really gels with the realistic, Bourne-style it seems like the Daniel Craig-Bond movies are going for.
I’m highly curious to hear your thoughts about this bit of potential casting and if you think bringing back Blofeld is a good idea for the next James Bond movie. Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
UPDATE: It turns out that this story originates with the British tabloid The Daily Express which is far less credible than The Guardian so take this whole noise with a grain of salt. Still, it’s interesting to consider insofar as what direction Bond will go next.
I don't think it would be the best move for the franchise to start bringing back old characters. Daniel Craig is a different interpretation of James Bond and a great one at that. The direction that the last two films took the Bond franchise really was the right way to go as far as I'm concerned and they should keep moving ahead and not rely on characters from the last 40 years to push them forward. Bringing an old, classic villain back would be fun and interesting but I think it would only serve to give us a comforting sense of nostalgia for a few moments. Also, with bringing back an old villain there are certain and definite expectations that people will have and these are most definitely not going to be met. At least with new characters people will not have high expectations going into the film. The only thing we expect is for Bond to take us on a fun and exciting ride and that's what we will definitely get.
I think a modernised interpretation of Blofeld could work in the film series. Obviously they'd have to change his appearance away from the Dr. Evil suit and big facial scar, but it worked for Le Chiffre, who was a character from the novel of Casino Royale and Blofeld is in a few of the books too. The weak villain was one of the major areas where Quantum of Solace was so disappointing, so if it means a return to the philosophy of what made Casino Royale so great (taking the skeleton of the novel, updating the context and adding a few more _well-directed and well-edited_ action scenes), I don't see a problem with it. Plus, Michael Sheen is a hell of a character actor and I'd like to see him sink his teeth into a really evil role.
It is my understanding that Casino Royale stayed pretty close to the novel. I think that is what they are going for. So I would worry less about comparing the new Daniel Craig movies to the old movies, and start comparing them to the source material. Additionally, it’s disturbing that people get caught up in the characters, as if it their fault that they may be written poorly, or with too much camp. It isn’t Moneypenny or Q’s fault, and I’d love to see them represented in this more realistic way. It does seem that they’ve been leading up to introducing us to this international villianous group, and Ernst Stavro Blofeld was Ian Fleming’s archrival for James Bond. Why should the movie maker change that? Who could they possibly invent that would be better than what the author invented? As usual, with any material, the story just needs to be told well.
The filmmakers need to keep the writing top notch, the direction excellent (Quantum was just O.K.), and to keep the action riveting. No more terrible “Christmas Jones” characters, campy unrealistic dialogue, or overwrought situations. That’s why Bourne has nearly stolen the Bond mantle for spy movies. Excellence in all areas, and it feels real.
They should remake the novels, in order, and try to be as true to them as possible. We’ve never actually seen most of them as they were written. The Roger Moore movies were a travesty, with Moonraker being based on the Ian Fleming novel in-name-only.
I think bringing back Blofeld and SPECTRE is a great idea. After all, he was Bond’s arch-nemesis in the Fleming books. Any new villian they create will be a re-interpretation of a classic Bond archetype anyways. Makes him a bad ass though, that is all I ask.
“It understood that Bond’s name had become his biggest commercial liability and having to drag around “Q” and Moneypenny and the gadgets and all that history made a revitalization impossible”
If you don’t want to make a fucking movie about James Bond, the womanizing spy with enough gadgets to level a small city then don’t make a shitty movie and wrap it in bond’s name to make money. QoS and Casino Royale were absolute shite. I might’ve liked them if it didn’t claim to be a Bond movie and instead was it’s own movie.
Bringing back blofeld will create another era of JB Era 1: James Bond Era 2: F*CK*N’ SH*T!!!
I think it would be an excellent idea to re-make the movies that were not close to the books - but please never, ever touch From Russia with Love.