CORRECTION:
Much like every Bond girl in nearly every Bond film, Bond girl rumors are just as they seem: false. As is the case with Olivia Wilde (Tron Legacy). A few days ago rumors started to swirl that she was in the running, but Wilde recently denied these claims via twitter. Here’s her unsurprising response:
“Despite the rumors, I have no plans to do Bond, but the internet may be confused as I am doing Cowboys & Aliens with Daniel Craig. fun!”
Ewan McGregor, who’s currently revamping a tired career with meaty performances in meaty films (The Ghost Writer, I Love You, Philip Morris), will play King Edward VIII in Madonna’s second directorial effort, W.E., a film with dual-narratives, one past and one present. He joins Vera Farmiga and Abbie Cornish to fill up the cast. [Screen Daily]
Here’s a rundown of the plot:
McGregor will portray King Edward VIII in the film’s period narrative which will follow his character’s famous abdication of the throne in 1936 to marry American socialite and divorcee, Wallis Simpson, who will be played by Vera Farmiga. Abbie Cornish will lead the contemporary parallel narrative, such as that in “Julie & Julia,” and will play Wally Winthrop, a character who has romantic problems of her own as well as an obsession with the life of the aforementioned Duchess of Windsor, Simpson. Winthrop’s adulterous romantic interest — a Russian security guard — is presumably yet to be cast though Madonna had been noted as completing that in the following weeks. [The Playlist]
It all sounds a bit like Neil Labute’s underrated dual romance Possession, based on the A.S. Byatt novel of the same name. In that film, Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart play two modern-day academics reading between the lines of romantic poet Randolph Henry Ash (Jeremy Northam), falling in love in the process. It’s been done before, but not by Madonna, which may be an even worse thing. That said, with a cast like this, there’s a opportunity to be sure.
In other (much different) casting news, it appears rumors of Freida Pinto’s being offered the Bond girl role in the third upcoming Daniel Craig installment are unsubstantiated, as it now appears Olivia Wilde may have the part.
Pinto’s spokeperson confirmed as much:
“I would like to confirm that as of today, Freida Pinto has not been approached to be part of the next ‘Bond’ film,” the spokesperson tells India’s site NDTV. “It is of course very flattering to even be rumoured to be part of a Bond film but she has certainly not been approached for the role of the next Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig as yet.” [Ace Showbiz, via The Playlist]
As for Wilde, she has alledgedly been offered the role of “a double-crossing UN worker based in Afghanistan.”
That is literally the most plot the next Bond film has been given. Aside from that, we know Sam Mendes is attached to direct, Peter Morgan‘s writing the script and Craig will reprise the role. However, when reading the short description of Wilde’s potential character, it suggests TWO Bond girls in the mix, which is usually the case anyway. Perhaps Pinto still has a chance?
Stay tuned, fingers crossed.
What did you think of Quantum of Solace? Will Bond 23 be an improvement?