Casting Agents - The Search For James Bond

Wanted: Secret Agent Man; tall, dark and handsome; thirties; good with guns, girls, cocktails & quips
Start date: ASAP
Salary: To be negotiated (but it will probably cover the rent)
Perks: Worldwide fame; licence to kill
Mission disclosure: Nov 17, 2006
Director of Operations: Martin Campbell ( Goldeneye, Mask of Zorro, Beyond Borders)

There aren't many other occasions, except perhaps those involving the Dalek-bothering Timelord from Gallifrey, where a changing of the guard causes so much interest and speculation. And while the release date is still some 14 months off, Eon Productions need to find the man who would be Bond, pronto.

But 007's tux is not re-tailored on a whim, and with franchise concerns to the fore, all manner of candidates seem to have some sort of chance at the role. So here, for your eyes only, are the MI6 files detailing those agents in consideration…

MI6 file: Front-runners
Most cash movement on these candidates, hence the top odds (which have been changing daily)

	Clive Owen - age: 40. Nationality: English. Odds: 11/2 On the up after Sin City and Closer. Oscar nod hasn't entirely dismissed accusations that he's more MFI than MI6, but experience with director Campbell on Beyond Borders weighs well in his favour.
	Daniel Craig - age: 37. Nationality: English. Odds: 11/2 Packs the rough, edgy quality of Timothy Dalton and early Sean Connery. Has held his own amid big budgets (Tomb Raider) and shouty gangsters (Layer Cake). Not as pretty or obvious as his rivals, but that may be no bad thing. Recently spotted searching for a first-edition copy of Casino Royale.
	Dougray Scott - age: 39. Nationality: Scottish. Odds: 3/1 Action chops established opposite Tom Cruise in M:I-2, though that may have reinforced suitability for villain duties rather than the lead. Wore a cod-piece and smarmy expression in Ever After, which is hardly a plus. But really, really wants it.
	James Purefoy - age: 41. Nationality: English. Odds: 5/1 RSC trained, looks the part, and has suave and brooding down pat. Effectively auditioned - albeit for comedic effect - through his character in Maybe Baby. He might actually want it even more than Scott.
	Julian McMahon - age: 37. Nationality: Australian. Odds: 6/1 Nip/Tuck and F4 villain screen-tested in July. Allegations of his agents asking outrageous sums and threatening his chances met this reply: "I would not allow money to get in the way of a dream project, we're talking about James ******* Bond." Well, quite.

MI6 file: Big Kahunas
Star names guarantee bums on seats, but doesn't the brand itself do that?

Hugh Jackman - age: 36. Nationality: Australian. Odds: 10/1 Shoulders leading man responsibilities well. Useful air of inner darkness allied to beefy, handsome appearance (see X-Men, Swordfish, possibly not Van Helsing) gives him cross-gender appeal. George Lazenby was Australian, though. And Jackman's probably still crying about the Ashes. Plus he's said he's not going to do it. Cunning ploy…
Hugh Grant - age: 45. Nationality: English. Odds: 16/1 Could he be more English? Might he stammer and fluster when a gun goes off? And possibly be moving to the wrong end of the age bracket? "Erm, sorry, sorry, but I just wondered, by any chance, er, in short, to recap in slightly clearer version, whether you might have access to a Vodka Martini, or indeed any form of Martini, shaken but not, erm, well, you know, stirred."
Colin Farrell - age: 29. Nationality: Irish. Odds: 20/1 See S.W.A.T. for action credentials, Minority Report for intrigue capabilities, Hart's War and Tigerland for standing up to superiors, and The Recruit for young Bond potential, should that be the producers' intent. Daredevil and general roguish reputation might sit him more readily in the villains file, though.
Russell Crowe - age: 40. Nationality: New Zealander. Odds: 20/1 Too well known, possibly too much of a bruiser, and would certainly push the budget higher, but there's no doubting he can handle the action. Brings Oscar-winning thesp talents to the table as well. And in leading man mode, he's a mesmerising presence. Think Proof Of Life, rather than Virtuosity.
Ewan McGregor - age: 34. Nationality: Scottish. Odds: 16/1 Has backing of Sir Roger Moore: "I respect all of the people who have been reported as being in the running for the role, but for me, Ewan is the best." Charisma and action ability all in order, but lack of inches might count against him (hang on, though - you might be thinking - I've seen Young Adam). Height doubts (he's 5'10") rubbished by both Moore and Pierce Brosnan, the apparently outgoing Bond. Or is he… ?

MI6 file: Outsiders
Big money to be won from long odds, but that's all very Bond, no?

	Pierce Brosnan - age: 52. Nationality: Irish. Odds: 8/5 Stated publicly more than once that Bond is a thing of his past, but also: "They know where to find me." Now concentrating on production and starring duties for his company, Irish Dreamtime - including a Thomas Crown Affair sequel - a return to the super-spy's brogues looks unlikely. But then, never say never…
	Jeremy Northam - age: 43. Nationality: English. Odds: 16/1 Has dark good looks, plummy tones and brushes up well in posh togs. Saw a spot of skulduggery in The Net, and action sleuthing in Mimic. Plus turns in Enigma and Cypher hardly hurt his case. Perhaps the wrong side of 40, though this wouldn't be a problem if villain status was considered.
	Jude Law - age: 32. Nationality: English. Odds: 16/1 No problem on the seductive womaniser front, but possibly not dark or tall enough. War-mongering fare like Enemy At The Gates or Cold Mountain showed a certain heroic versatility, as did his lead in Sky Captain. Might make for an excellent co-agent - 005, or some such?
	Ioan Gruffudd - age: 32. Nationality: Welsh. Odds: 20/1 Little questioning Horatio Hornblower's commitment to Her Majesty's international cause, and the recent King Arthur displayed a usefully darker edge. With looks and leading-man presence to fill the tux and action ability to do the spy stuff, he's surely strongly in the running. And these odds make him well worth a flutter.
	Angelina Jolie - age: 30. Nationality: American. Odds: 50/1 If there's a dramatic swing towards Jane Bond, then Mr & Mrs Smith and Tomb Raider must make her the only candidate. She can do sexy, manipulative, aggressive, action - perfect for the part, in other words, save for her gender. "If she wins then I would think Ian Fleming will be turning in his grave," said Rupert Adams of bookmakers William Hill.

MI6 file: Newcomers
Perhaps most likely, since Casino Royale was Fleming's first Bond yarn, and going back to beginnings is much in vogue.

Goran Visnijc - age: 33. Nationality: Croatian. Odds: 5/2 ER's brooding Euro-doc certainly sets hearts a-flutter, Elektra saw a more sympathetic side and Visnijc proved he can handle himself in battle as the TV Spartacus. But can he bend that potent accent around the received pronounciation of the Queen's English?
Matthew MacFadyen - age: 31. Nationality: English. Odds: 4/1 RADA trained, and all tooled up when it comes to dark-haired glowering after Pride & Prejudice. Unfazed in the company of female beauty, too. And certainly knows his way around the spy kit after Spooks. Another one for the co-agent dept, though?
Colin Salmon - age: 43. Nationality: English. Odds: 12/1 Has MI6 experience, of course, as Charles Robinson, from Tomorrow Never Dies, T.W.I.N.E. and D.A.D. - though that might require awkward explanation. Perhaps more likely, as with Law and MacFadyen, to be upgraded to Bond back-up status, possibly with 00 prefix.
Rory McCann - age: 34. Nationality: Scottish. Odds: 16/1 6' 6" and bears more than a passing resemblance to countryman Connery. If producers decide an unknown is the way to go, McCann's surely in the box seat after quiet toil in TV and support roles on Alexander and Young Adam.
Karl Urban - age: 33. Nationality: New Zealander. Odds: 20/1 Talk of a screentest for the Rider of Rohan. Sharp, tough appearance and roles in The Chronicles of Riddick, as assassin in The Bourne Supremacy, and in the upcoming Doom might suggest Bond villain status is more likely.