The 26th James Bond Film

[DKDetective]

That was a mistake. It's not like Dalton had a big career going on.
If he had agreed to continue, he would have been a bigger name than he is. Though perhaps he didn't want all that fame, but rather preferred to play interesting characters.

Stuff in Goldeneye actually do seem tailor made for Dalton. Like him being a leftover from the cold war, the old mission together with 006 etc. And perhaps even Bond revealing that being cold and distant it's what has kept him alive.
What I said earlier about Made Men means that Dalton could still play the role in TWINE (but likely with a somewhat different story and/or title). It could have been his last one.

Honestly, I think he could have gone as long as Brosnan. He looked younger and fitter than Brosnan in 2003 when he basically played Bond in Looney Tunes Back in Action:

If anything, his further receded hairline just made him look even more like Fleming's Bond:

Something worth mentioning youtfulness could happen before too. Not as much as today, but still.
Moore in his first film LALD, was 6 years older than Connery in DAF, yet could pass for a decade younger than him.

Well, Connery was in particularly bad shape in DAF (he gained a lot of weight fast right before shooting, which is why some of his suits didn't fit him) and the sideburns and untrimmed eyebrows just added to the aging image. If he was in the shape and groomed like he was in Never Say Never Again in 1971, I don't think he would have looked so old in DAF.

Have there been new reports after the ones that stated the producers wanted actors in their early 30s?
Perhaps many of those candidates appeared too young for the role? It's interesting to compare with Connery being only 32 when he started out.
What's the deal with actors being so youthful these days?

These are a big part of the difference:

 

[DeadlyWest]

But most people considered him too old (including himself by FYEO). Plus back then they made the films far more frequently. He had already made three films by the time he turned 50. By comparison, there were three films in the last 12 years.

True enough but we're also at a point in time where there's a lot of actors in their 40s and 50s who can still pull off mid to late 30s. So I think that balances it out and means we still easily can have an actor in the "median" age of Bond actors.

 

[Airwings]

Honestly, I think he could have gone as long as Brosnan. He looked younger and fitter than Brosnan in 2003 when he basically played Bond in Looney Tunes Back in Action:

If anything, his further receded hairline just made him look even more like Fleming's Bond:

It's nice with a long reply like yours here. It makes me happy. Thank you!

When I saw Looney Tunes during its cinematic run, I was surprised how much Dalton had aged in a couple of years. I remember thinking he couldn't have been 007 anymore.
But perhaps you're right, and he could have done his last entry during the franchise's 40th anniversary. But something else than DAD, then (lol).

Let's go back to Goldeneye. I got to think about a solution for Dalton.
He didn't need to sign for several films but rather one at a time. Moore did the same for his three Bonds in the 80s, right?
When/If Dalton had success with Goldeneye, wouldn't he want to continue?

 

[Deck Rickard]

I feel bad for Martin Campbell. He not only made two of the best Bond films (if not THE best two) but he also successfully relaunched the series twice with new actors and yet a lot of people act like he’s a hack because of that stupid Green Lantern movie (and from what I understand, a lot of the problems with that movie had nothing to do with him).

 

[Drizzle]

I feel bad for Martin Campbell. He not only made two of the best Bond films (if not THE best two) but he also successfully relaunched the series twice with new actors and yet a lot of people act like he’s a hack because of that stupid Green Lantern movie (and from what I understand, a lot of the problems with that movie had nothing to do with him).

Green Lantern is one of those movies where I'll blame the studio over the director for turning out the way it did, much like The Flash. His resume isn't flawless but he'll always get a pass from me for Goldeneye and more importantly, Casino Royale. I haven't seen The Mask of Zorro but I've heard that one is good too.

 

[Sawyer]

The trades really aren’t letting go of the possibility of ATJ…

 

[DKDetective]

Green Lantern is one of those movies where I'll blame the studio over the director for turning out the way it did, much like The Flash. His resume isn't flawless but he'll always get a pass from me for Goldeneye and more importantly, Casino Royale. I haven't seen The Mask of Zorro but I've heard that one is good too.

Highly recommend it. Such great swashbuckling fun. In my head canon, that is the movie that Battinson went to see with his parents the night they were shot.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

The Mask of Zorro might be a top ten superhero movie for me. Great, great stuff. It's also just an old timey Batman Beyond movie.

 

[flickchick85]

Highly recommend it. Such great swashbuckling fun. In my head canon, that is the movie that Battinson went to see with his parents the night they were shot.

The Mask of Zorro might be a top ten superhero movie for me. Great, great stuff. It's also just an old timey Batman Beyond movie.

Agreed. That movie is a swashbuckler action classic, imo. Honestly probably the last great swashbuckler we’ve gotten, in the traditional sense, anyway.

 

[Albright]

When Tenet was released, everyone was praising Robert Pattinson being the next Bond…and now it looks like commander in the end with 5min screentime will be the next Bond.
Just kidding, AAT is a great choice - always liked him

 

[Silvermoth]

It’s exciting it sounds like people are talking about story ideas too. Very good sign. Hopefully some good news soon!

 

[Deck Rickard]

It’s weird; I think ATJ is a good choice for Bond and a great actor, but he wouldn’t really excite me if he was announced. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s just that Kraven movie tainting everything lol.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

I don’t believe the ATJ rumours but I think he’s a fine choice and an underrated actor.

 

[Drizzle]

I haven't seen an ATJ movie where he gave a bad performance. I liked him in Kick-Ass, Nowhere Boy, Tenet and Bullet Train and I thought he was okay in Age of Ultron and Godzilla. Godzilla is the performance of his I liked the least out of those but I don't really blame him for that. The script didn't really do much for his character and apart from that he was maybe a little too young for the role at that time. I don't think he'd be a bad choice for Bond if he really does get the part.

 

[Hurm...]

I really don't want ATJ. He's not an exciting choice -- probably due to overexposure in blockbuster movies. He's very talented, but predictable.

 

[DyeLorean]

I think ATJ is too well known for other roles already. Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig weren't really "big" names back in the day. They should go with a new up-and-coming actor in his late thirties.

 

[Deck Rickard]

I haven't seen an ATJ movie where he gave a bad performance. I liked him in Kick-Ass, Nowhere Boy, Tenet and Bullet Train and I thought he was okay in Age of Ultron and Godzilla. Godzilla is the performance of his I liked the least out of those but I don't really blame him for that. The script didn't really do much for his character and apart from that he was maybe a little too young for the role at that time. I don't think he'd be a bad choice for Bond if he really does get the part.

Yeah, that Godzilla movie was stacked with talented actors and they all sucked because of the script. Ken Watanabe had nothing to do but stand around and look scared. David Strathairn was just a boring military commander. Elisabeth Olsen’s role mostly consisted of her making phone calls to ATJ. Sally Hawkins was… in the movie. And Brian Cranston and Juliette Binoche were mainly there to get killed. You can’t really blame ATJ for being dull and generic in a film full of dull and generic characters.

 

[Drizzle]

I think ATJ is too well known for other roles already. Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig weren't really "big" names back in the day. They should go with a new up-and-coming actor in his late thirties.

On a fame level I'd say Aaron Taylor Johnson is almost comparable to Brosnan when he was first cast as Bond. Recognizable but not a massive star by any means. The role he's probably most recognized for is Quicksilver and that was just a one-off appearance in the MCU where he was just a supporting player.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah, ATJ is well-known but I’m not sure if he’s a household name. Like, people would probably know who you meant if you referred to him as Quicksilver in AoU or that guy from Godzilla and Bullet Train but I’m not sure that a lot of people know him by name.

Of course, that will all change when Kraven makes $2.7 billion at the box office and wins Best Picture.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

I think ATJ is too well known for other roles already. Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig weren't really "big" names back in the day. They should go with a new up-and-coming actor in his late thirties.

Brosnan was a way bigger name than ATJ is. He was an A list TV star. ATJ is nowhere near that.

 

[Drizzle]

Brosnan was a way bigger name than ATJ is. He was an A list TV star. ATJ is nowhere near that.

Remington Steele was before my time but even as a kid I knew who he was from Mrs. Doubtfire.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Remington Steele was before my time but even as a kid I knew who he was from Mrs. Doubtfire.

It was a run-by fruiting!

RIP Robin.

 

[Albright]

When I tell people, that ATJ could be the next Bond, they ask: who?
He hasn’t had a big leading role in a movie yet (except, well, Kraven)

 

[Airwings]

I really don't want ATJ. He's not an exciting choice -- probably due to overexposure in blockbuster movies. He's very talented, but predictable.

I feel the same. Despite him having some kind of talent.
Boring choice, definitely.
I don't think he's 100% right for 007 either. Him often trying to be the edgiest guy in the room, doesn't really blend in with James Bond.

 

[Airwings]

Brosnan was a way bigger name than ATJ is. He was an A list TV star. ATJ is nowhere near that.

No offence but ATJ has done more high-profile work than Brosnan did pre-Goldeneye.