B.S. Watch: Sheen to Play Blofeld in ‘Bond 23′
The Rumor: Hot on the heels of news that Peter Morgan would be co-writing the screenplay for James Bond 23, the UK’s Daily Express is claiming that Morgan regular Michael Sheen “is being lined up to play” Bond bad guy Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
Why it could be true: Sheen has worked with Morgan five times including the The Damned United (not yet released in the US) and the upcoming Bill Clinton/Tony Blair project The Special Relationship. He’s a known actor who would lend the project more of the cachet that Morgan is already bringing to it.
Why it’s probably not: It’s a vague, anonymously sourced claim in a British rag and somehow I doubt the filmmakers will bring back the head of SPECTRE to run Quantum, the SPECTRE-like group of baddies who’ve been set up since the Casino Royale reboot. It’s possible Sheen could end up playing the head of Quantum, but I’ll be surprised if it’s Blofeld. Sheen is already in pre-production on Submarine due in 2010 and The Special Relationship due in 2011, though that doesn’t preclude his involvement in Bond 23 also estimated for 2011.
Do we care? Not really, but it’s kind of funny that LiC commenter Villalba hoped openly the other day that Sheen would turn up as the bad guy in the next Bond. Perhaps Villalba should consider a gig with the Daily Express…
The verdict: It’s possible, but this sounds like pure fantasy spun from the fact that Morgan and Sheen have worked together a lot. I’m not buying it.
Will we see it? Well, yeah. Whether Sheen is in it or not, we’ll be seeing the next James Bond movie.
Filed under: Rumors
Tags: James Bond 23, Michael Sheen
I wouldn’t be surprised considering the “Why it could be true” portion of the post, but who knows?
I wish they would go the other route, and have an imposing man play the villain again, someone who could possibly stand up to Daniel Craig’s Bond onscreen without it looking a little funny.
Nothing against smaller-framed actors, but (SPOILER) that “climactic” fight between Craig’s Bond and Mathieu Amalric’s villain was downright laughable for me considering the respectively lopsided bodies/expertise in hand-to-hand fighting, etceteras.
Of course in my world they wouldn’t have a fistfight between Blond and Blofeld, but this is the rebooted Bond, so it’s probably a prerequisite.
Ernst Stavro Blofeld = one of the best villains ever.
And the kitty cat was cute. :D
My favorite Blofeld was Donald Pleasence in YOLT.
I feel the villain can be scrawny as long as he has a big and memorable henchman…a gimmick they’ve seemed to have done away with in the reboot.
I agree about Donald Pleasence in YOLT. In fact, that’s who was in my mind when I typed my comment.
The best Blofeld was Telly Savalas in OHMSS. Cool, cold and mean. Fun but never a caricature. He’s my favorite Bond-villain.
But still, I agree, they won’t bring Blofeld back. If they bothered enough to avoid the name “SPECTRE” for this continuity’s evil organization — in the attempt, I assume, to distingish themselves from the past — the presumption should be that they will invent a name of their own again for a Blofeld-like character.
“Perhaps Villalba should consider a gig with the Daily Express…”
I’m conflicted. I’m also considering a gig as a Fox News commentator.
Savalas definitely gets the best workout as Blofeld on OHMSS, but my only problem is that I saw OHMSS after I was already familiar with Telly from Kojack. Having said that, you’re right he makes a good Blofeld.
“I’m conflicted. I’m also considering a gig as a Fox News commentator.” Could be worse. Could be a manure salesman.
Better Sheen as a villain than someone like John Travolta.
Oops, this isn’t the Pelham thread?