Over the years, the names being banded about to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond have been growing steadily worse. The character is supposed to be a retired naval commander turned MI6 operative who can pull off being an action hero with a dry sense of wit, playful chauvinism, and a cold ruthlessness necessary for the job.
Clive Owen and Gerard Butler? Great picks. Hugh Jackman or Ewan McGregor? I could definitely live with either. Eric Bana? He's good but no Bond. Orlando Bloom? Get the f**k out of here.
Now the trend continues. E! Online reports that this week "Nip/Tuck" star Julian McMahon (pictured above) is meeting with Barbara Broccoli and the producers to talk about taking over the 007 role. The Aussie actor is best known and has achieved some deserved acclaim in the US for his small screen work in "Charmed", "Profiler", "Another World" and "Nip/Tuck". His profile also got a boost recently as he's been cast as the villainous Dr. Doom in "The Fantastic Four".
Overseas though, the 36-year-old is more known for his work back in the very early 90's on the international hit Aussie soap opera "Home and Away", some very bad local movies like 1992's "Exchange Lifeguards" and his former relationship with Kylie Minogue's singing sister Dannii. Thus when I mentioned this news to Aussie and English people today, the reaction was - "you must be joking!".
The other day before the McMahon rumour hit, a better choice was being discussed over at AJB007 in the form of James Purefoy. The suave 40-year old English actor of such films as "Bedrooms & Hallways", "Mansfield Park", "A Knight's Tale", "Resident Evil" and the upcoming "Vanity Fair" was rumoured a long time ago but the name has resurfaced again of late. In a fun twist of coincidence, Purefoy came to many people's attention when he co-starred with "Nip/Tuck" actress Joely Richardson in the British film "Maybe Baby".
Thanks to '006'
