Mind Your Ps and Q

The cat’s out of the bag.

Following weeks of speculation about who’s who in Skyfall, Daniel Craig’s third outing as dapper superspy James Bond, we’re finally getting some answers. We now know for sure that up-and-coming British actor Ben Whishaw, perhaps best known to American audiences for his lead role in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, has been cast as none other than the gadget guru himself, Q. The iconic character has been absent from the franchise for nearly a decade, ever since the blond-haired, blue-eyed Craig slipped into Bond’s signature tuxedo for Casino Royale.

Whishaw has large shoes to fill – the ones once occupied by Welsh actor Desmond Llewelyn, who portrayed the role for nearly forty years. (After his sudden passing, John Cleese briefly took over the role in Die Another Day.) Llewelyn equipped five James Bonds (Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan) with such memorable gadgets as the Aston Martin DB5 with ejector seat in Goldfinger, the underwater Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me, and the high-tech Q Boat in The World is Not Enough. Llewelyn’s Q was more than just a colleague, he was also an important ally, mentor, and friend of 007.

Whishaw is twelve years younger than Craig, and just a wee bit younger than Llewelyn, so we can safely assume that their relationship will be a lot different. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Too much tinkering with the formula is never a good idea, but I’m really digging the idea of Whishaw’s Q as a sidekick to Craig’s 007. Besides, Dame Judi Dench’s M has assumed the role of Bond’s mentor in recent flicks. Word is the head of MI6 will take a front seat in Skyfall, which will delve into secrets from her past. 

Are you excited to finally meet Q? Are you pleased with the decision to cast the much younger Whishaw in the role? Who would you have liked to play Q?

Has Bond Finally Met His Match?

In one of the most exciting bits of casting news I’ve heard in a while, Anthony Hopkins is reportedly in early talks to join Daniel Craig in the yet-untitled James Bond 23.  The best part?  Word is the esteemed actor would be tackling the role of the film’s Big Bad, and following in the footsteps of such iconic Bond villains as Blofeld, Goldfinger, and Dr. No.  The role wouldn’t be too big a stretch for Hopkins, who’s Dr. Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter ranks as the greatest screen villain according to the American Film Institute.  (Bond, meanwhile, came in third on the list of the greatest screen heroes.)  I must warn you, though, nothing has yet been confirmed, and Hopkins already has enough projects lined up to keep him busy for some time.

The idea to cast Sir Anthony as the next Bond villain is inspired to say the least.  After the train wreck that was Quantum of Solace, what the franchise really needs is a formidable opponent for 007, and I believe that an actor of Hopkins’ calibre could truly do the role justice.  As someone who grew up with James Bond, not to mention someone who’s seen The Silence of the Lambs more times than I can count, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for a Hopkins/Craig showdown.