I scored 460 British and Irish actors against six decades of Bond casting decisions to see who actually fits the brief, and where the audience and the studio are pulling in opposite directions.
Deciding on the next Bond casting is the current multi-billion dollar quandary for Amazon. While your findings corroborated my understanding of the preference for a male British actor among audiences and the studio, it’s the first time I’ve seen data suggesting acceptance of racial diversity. Nabhaan Rizwan is a new name to me, but considering the other candidates, including Callum Turner, Rizwan is the one who most intrigues me.
Very early in what turned out to be a long showbiz career, I was in the room--a small screening room at Shepperton Studios--with three elders (Harry Saltzman, Cubby Broccoli and United Artists' head of international marketing, Fran Winikus) when they screened a reel of what seemed to be a Scottish army comedy featuring a young actor wearing a tank top and fatigues. I don't think any data was involved but they seemed very enthusiastic and quite pleased with themselves. (I, who had understood very little of the dialogue that came out of the young actor's mouth, stayed silent and concentrated on digesting the steak I had just ingested at the studio restaurant.) I don't know if the decision was made on that day but I did recognize the suave guy in the black tie when DR. NO opened.
I see Nicholas Hoult in one of these charts, always fascinates me that he doesn’t pop up more in these discussions. Suppose he’s mostly in the Callum Turner range on most metrics, which is a shame. (Also, I can’t help but wonder if the Jonathan Bailey miscasting stat is a 🚩 for some subtly persistent homophobia.)
A wonderfully accurate AND comprehensive look, sir.
We're in an age of heightened socio-politics, economic upheaval, deep distrust and consumer laze. Not long ago, I would have expected Elliot Page to take the role, since, at the time, social conditioning of the consumer, virtue signaling of the studio and dissemination of Goodthink was at its height. - I still believe those efforts dominate our industry, but, perhaps not as much as before.
Deciding on the next Bond casting is the current multi-billion dollar quandary for Amazon. While your findings corroborated my understanding of the preference for a male British actor among audiences and the studio, it’s the first time I’ve seen data suggesting acceptance of racial diversity. Nabhaan Rizwan is a new name to me, but considering the other candidates, including Callum Turner, Rizwan is the one who most intrigues me.
Very early in what turned out to be a long showbiz career, I was in the room--a small screening room at Shepperton Studios--with three elders (Harry Saltzman, Cubby Broccoli and United Artists' head of international marketing, Fran Winikus) when they screened a reel of what seemed to be a Scottish army comedy featuring a young actor wearing a tank top and fatigues. I don't think any data was involved but they seemed very enthusiastic and quite pleased with themselves. (I, who had understood very little of the dialogue that came out of the young actor's mouth, stayed silent and concentrated on digesting the steak I had just ingested at the studio restaurant.) I don't know if the decision was made on that day but I did recognize the suave guy in the black tie when DR. NO opened.
All one needs to do is watch Bullet Train and you'll know who the next Bond should be. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is absolutely perfect for the role.
I see Nicholas Hoult in one of these charts, always fascinates me that he doesn’t pop up more in these discussions. Suppose he’s mostly in the Callum Turner range on most metrics, which is a shame. (Also, I can’t help but wonder if the Jonathan Bailey miscasting stat is a 🚩 for some subtly persistent homophobia.)
A wonderfully accurate AND comprehensive look, sir.
We're in an age of heightened socio-politics, economic upheaval, deep distrust and consumer laze. Not long ago, I would have expected Elliot Page to take the role, since, at the time, social conditioning of the consumer, virtue signaling of the studio and dissemination of Goodthink was at its height. - I still believe those efforts dominate our industry, but, perhaps not as much as before.