@singlemaltgirl I think the two are pretty close, and I'd happily watch more than the third if Johnson wants to keep making them.

Agreed on Norton. He almost always delivers the goods.

Craig is maybe my second-best Bond, but I hadn't seen many of his other roles, and him going full Foghorn was an unexpected delight.

@horacemajeur i liked craig as bond. i didn't think i would but he brought a depth to the character & maturity i really liked. i 💜 judi dench as m! but i digress.

i 💜 the call out of the 'foghorn' broad southern accent in the actual movie. that was brilliant!

some critics have said what kind of fucking southern accent is that? but i think the point is that it's a trope of a combo of ALL the southern 🇺🇸 accents & deliciously foghornian in its comedic value. just not sure i 💜 him in the role 🤔

@singlemaltgirl Since I'm thinking about it, much of Blanc, to me, is the against-type casting. Curious who would be a good alternate in the role?

Someone with more of a detective mien, or someone else against type?

@horacemajeur mmm..good question. off the top of my head, i think hugh laurie could do a great job in the role & he could lay on that accent pretty thick, too. he also has a dry comedy background that would be ideal for the role. it would be against type for the roles he's been known for in the past 20 yrs.

the other person i think of is denzel washington. his sneaky knowing smile would just work. very much against type from what we've known him for. would the accent work on him, tho? 🤔

@horacemajeur what are your thoughts on alternatives for blanc?

@singlemaltgirl Laurie is a great choice for the combination of smart and broad. I keep getting pigeon-holed by A-listy names, many of whom have done comedy(or adjacent) roles like Clooney or McConaughey, but with some additional thought for against type (and he seemingly takes any project he likes now): Idris Elba, hamming it up and exasperated by stupidity.

@horacemajeur i thought of idris as well! but i don't think he can do the accent convincingly which would get in the way.

he is pretty versatile in terms of style. he can go comedy & deep dark drama.

@singlemaltgirl I wonder if he could be coached for it like Craig. I didn't know Elba was affecting an american accent (spottily at times, on rewatch, as much as West) for the Wire. It's good to imagine anyhow.

@horacemajeur honestly, i'd love to see him as the next bond. if they didn't pick gillian anderson.

wishful thinking, i know. 🙄

@singlemaltgirl Maybe he can be a future Doctor.