What is it about the new James Bond film that is attracting some big gun talents? We’ve had Academy Award winner Sam Mendes set to direct the film for some time now and just this past week we learned that Oscar winner has been offered a role and that he is thinking it over. And now it has been reported that twice-Academy Award nominated Ralph Fiennes has is also in discussions with producers for a role in the film.
The Daily Mail is siting an unnamed source for their story, and they stress this is not the same role that Bardem has been discussing.
The Mail‘s source explained Fiennes interest in appearing in the film by stating that “the part is one of extreme complexity and only an actor of great ability and dexterity can take it on — and Ralph’s name is top of our list.” The paper further quotes an unnamed Hollywood executive as saying “It’s the first of a new generation of Bond films, and the ideas Mendes has push the film into darker territory where the characters are modern, mature and challenging.”
While there is plenty of speculation going on as to what role Fiennes may be playing, I think the really interesting thing going on here is that Mendes seems to have plans for this film strong enough to get the likes of actors like Fiennes and Bardem interested in participating? For years, it seems that the producers of the Bond franchise have played things safe, never really pushing the franchise’s long-standing formula in any new directions. But it seems that 2005’s reboot of the series in Casino Royale has emboldened producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Brocolli to make the series more than just escapist fare and that makes me excited to see what the end result will be.
