January 19, 2005
Globe for Clive Owen increases his odds for Bond role
I am starting to get bored of this, but I'm still letting you know, how sad is that? Anyway it looks like after Clive Owen won his Golden Globe and is looking more and more favourable at the Oscars, his profile is being raised enough to be reflected in the UK Bookmakers.
William Hill have placed him at 6-4 favourite to land the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Closer. They've also halved his odds to be the next Bond. Oh give me strength. Reuters carry the story:
"Since winning the Golden Globe, we have had a succession of calls from punters who think he would make an excellent Bond," said a spokesman on Tuesday.Owen is now priced at 4-1 from 8-1.
But "Van Helsing" actor Hugh Jackman is still 2-1 favourite to take over from Pierce Brosnan and land the coveted role of the world's most famous spy. Second favourite at 7-2 is Ewan McGregor.
IMDB also carry the story but have a comment from an spokesperson at Ladbrokes, bear in mind that's another betting company, not an insider in the movie industry:
A decision on who will replace Brosnan has been delayed while a power struggle wages between Bond movie makers the Broccoli family and MGM over who should be offered the role. The spokesperson adds, "Who takes on the role could well depend on who comes out top in the power struggle behind the scenes. If the Broccoli family win we could well see an unknown actor, while if the money men have their way we could see a top star in the role. Last year, a source told us that the producers had a list of ten actors that they were looking at."
Why can't they just hurry up and decide?! I wonder now if Owen has just a little too much exposure to take the role. He's just won a Globe and could be coming away with an Oscar. Perhaps that's just a little too much success for an actor to walk into the Bond role. The debate will no doubt continue for some time yet.
Posted by at January 19, 2005 04:05 AM
Comments
Posted by: Mark at January 19, 2005 04:14 AM
Bear in mind these self same bookmakers have made Celebrity Big Brother's Jeremy as anywhere between 50-1 to 66-1 to be the next Bond! What do they know? I still say none of the above will be Bond, and a less famous actor will take the role.
Posted by: David Terry at January 19, 2005 04:17 AM
Did they ask Julian McNahon ?
Posted by: jb at January 19, 2005 04:52 AM
Apparently they did jb, and his Mum (of all people) revealed that he was not going to do it.
Posted by: Richard at January 19, 2005 08:15 AM
Ioan Gruffudd is still my outside bet!
Posted by: David Terry at January 19, 2005 08:22 AM
How is Clive Owen not the new Bond already?Just look at that picture above.
Posted by: thesecretsafe at January 19, 2005 11:45 AM
i think thats the best idea i've heard about who should be bond. i don't know why it wasnt suggested earlier.
Posted by: Marla Singer at January 19, 2005 03:08 PM
Marla, it's been suggested a lot -- Clive Owen as the next Bond. It's just that other names (McGreggor, Jackman, etc.) have gotten more press/hype, though they have never been realistic choices.
Posted by: Mark at January 19, 2005 04:11 PM
The next Bond will be a little known actor by the name of Steven Busheme (sp?). Just you wait and see.
Posted by: Chris at January 19, 2005 08:43 PM
YA! Steve Buscemi!! What a stud!
Posted by: Marla Singer at January 20, 2005 02:18 PM
Hey did you all not see Clive Owen as the oh so wooden King Arthur?
Sorry guys Ioan Gruffydd has class and presence as he proved as Lancelot. And it has to be a Brit. Now if there was to be a remake of the Michael Caine character Harry Palme in the Picress Filesr, Owen's underplayed style might work - The names' Bond, James Bond - oh please!
Posted by: david at January 25, 2005 04:34 PM
Hey did you all not see Clive Owen as the oh so wooden King Arthur?
Sorry guys Ioan Gruffydd has class and presence as he proved as Lancelot. And it has to be a Brit. Now if there was to be a remake of the Michael Caine character Harry Palmer in the IpcressFiles, Owen's underplayed style might work - The name's Bond, James Bond - oh please!
Hey I got the spelling and grammar right this time!!!
sorry
Posted by: david at January 25, 2005 04:36 PM
Clive Owen would be a disaster as Bond. Hugh Jackman IS James Bond 007.
Posted by: laurent at April 19, 2005 04:03 PM
Clive Owen would be the best new Bond if they want to go the same route -- continue off from Brosnan. But if they want to reinvent/restart the franchise, they might want to skew toward a younger actor.
I doubt Jackman or McGreggor would be interested. It just doesn't seem to be sort of thing they're into, and thus all this speculation about them has always seemed silly to me.
The question is if Owen would even want to do it now. I think they'd have to give him lots of serious money for it, and there would have to be something fresh about the next Bond film to lure him in.