On the new friend of James Bond
Despite the general downturn in popularity of the franchise for decades now, James Bond movies still draw their fair share of hype and speculation; today, with perhaps no casting complete outside of Daniel Craig and no shooting dates set, folks are apparently ponying up to bet on 007’s main squeeze for the film.
Never one to pass on an opportunity to talk babes, the Os Man considered a few of the pulchritudinous posse of females listed under the Paddy Power’s recently updated prop “Who Will be the Next Bond Girl?”
The heavy favorites look like so.
Freida Pinto: 3/1
Jennifer Aniston: 4/1
Megan Fox: 6/1
Keira Knightley: 8/1
Since we’re so far ahead of schedule vis-à-vis actual casting decisions and due to recent media blitzes on the top two here, this quartet gets the focus today.
First, the Os Man is going to hedge emphatically that Bond’s girl this time out won’t have been a previous action girl. Sure, Halle Berry and Grace Jones have gotten in on the franchise, but i’m just not feeling it this time, so eliminate Natalie Portman (10/1), Jessica Alba (10/1), Angelina Jolie (12/1), Jennifer Lopez (33/1), and Catherine Zeta-Jones (50/1).
Pinto, lovely female lead of Slumdog Millionaire, would seem like a logical choice, particularly to take the career to that international blockbuster level. For some reason, the rumor mill ground overtime in cranking out gossip that Pinto would be given the part, had auditioned, was a shooin, etc., before the actress herself dispelled the fantasy.
The official news service of India informed the remainder of the English-speaking world about Pinto’s announcement on television there that she “was no Bond girl” and that British tabloid reports of her screen-testing with Bond film executive producer Barbara Broccoli were abjectly false.
Despite the denial, odds on Pinto as Bond girl are shrinking. Sure bets for Pinto are her upcoming roles in print as Estee Lauder face and as Woody Allen’s female lead for his 2010 release “Whatever Works.”
Meanwhile, a playful remark from Jennifer Aniston seems to be growing into an informal campaign to get the ex-Friend next to Bond. Said Aniston in early March, “I’d love to do an action movie. James Bond. Glamour. Daniel Craig. Shitloads of fun.” Well, just yesterday, UK media had the kitten “apparently being lined up to be a Bond girl in 007’s next outing.” A source at the production company was quoted as saying, “After [Aniston’s] comments it’s likely she’ll be called in to meet Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson when we start on the next one.”
Now, on one hand, the British tabloids are masters of unfounded rumor-mongering. (Hey, they started the Pinto rumors, right?) On the other hand, Aniston’s status as sex symbol is still fresh enough in the red blooded male’s mind and a big American name may again prop up the box office a bit. This cast is just crazy enough that it seems plausible.
Forget Megan Fox and Keira Knightley for now; names like these (and, for some bizarre reason, Amy Winehouse, here at 250/1) always draw punter’s pounds in prop bets.
The Os Man’s advice: Go ahead and devote a few bucks on Aniston right now at Paddy Power’s perfectly fair 4/1, but don’t break the bankroll. In addition, be prepared to cover others as decision times slowly approach.
And hey, EON Studios, how about Christina Hendricks? Any chance there?
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