Grass Roots Push for Travolta as BOND!

In an interview with GQ Magazine, 52 year old Pierce Brosnan has hinted that he may be open to returning to the role of James Bond in a fifth outing in the upcoming 21st official film incarnation of the agent’s adventures. Meanwhile, LDJW Films has cited a source at Pinewood Studios in predicting 37 year old Daniel Craig is a front runner to take over where Brosnan left off with the Bond character. However, both scenarios are contradictory to the idea of a 28-year old James Bond as described in the original Ian Fleming novel "Casino Royale" upon which the next film is to be based.  Screenwriter Paul Haggis stated to the Hollywood Reporter that his vision, too, is of a young Bond and that is reflected in how he is scripting the upcoming feature for director Martin Campbell.

Fans of the James Bond films that favor the 28-year old character created in the book "Casino Royale" that started the billion dollar 007 entertainment empire are taking the casting director job into their own hands. Prime Time Entertainment, the U.S.-based management office for actor Rikki Lee Travolta of the famed entertainment family, has been inundated with copies of the Fleming novel from fans. Thousands of copies of the book have swamped the offices of Travolta’s managers – each inscribed with the simple message "You’re the One." "It appears to be a rather well organized grass roots marketing push of some kind," observed a movie insider from an adjacent office building.

While Travolta fits the youthful qualifications of Ian Fleming’s original vision of Bond, he appears at first glance as an odd favorite for diehard fans to be placing their hopes on. Born on foreign soil to a Scottish father and Swiss mother, the character of James Bond is a secret service agent in United Kingdom’s external security agency known commonly as MI6 (derived from the original title Military Intelligence, Section Six).

Travolta, however, is American; born in Marlon Brando’s hometown of Libertyville, Illinois. The film series producers, Eon Productions, under the guidance of the late Albert R. Broccoli, late Harry Saltzman, Barbara Broccoli, and Michael G. Wilson have never shied away from the idea of an American actor playing Bond. Adam West was offered the role of Bond in "On Her Majesties Secret Service" but declined the offer. John Gavin was actually signed to play Bond in "Diamonds are Forever" before Sean Connery was ultimately lured back at the eleventh hour.

Burt Reynolds was offered the role of Bond in "Live and Let Die" but declined the offer. James Brolin was signed to play Bond in "Octopussy" and in preparations to begin filming when Roger Moore was lured back to reprise the role. Other American actors to have been offered the role and decline it include Patrick McGoohan and Robert Wagner. American Barry Nelson did in fact play Bond in a television adaptation of "Casino Royale" in 1954, but is not considered one of the official Bond actors (Connery, George Lazenby, Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Brosnan). Film producers are familiar with the Hollywood mindset. Their embrace of an American actor as one of Great Brittan’s most high profile characters is understandable; the concern is on worldwide box office return.

So the question is: why on earth literary purists seemingly committed to Fleming’s dark original Bond are so actively campaigning for this American-born actor to play the quintessential British icon? Bond ended up serving the Queen in the secret service and sporting a fine brogue from British schooling, but he was foreign born. According to "James Bond: The Official Biography of 007" by John Pearson under the commission of official Bond publisher Glidrose, the character was born near Essen, Germany. A recent reinvented young James Bond novel "SilverFin" by Charlie Higson puts the birthplace in Switzerland, but still far from Mother England. Travolta too was born on foreign soil. Like Mel Gibson, Travolta was born in the United States but did not stay long. His father Michael Salvatore Travolta, was an Australian resident.

Although capable of a convincing American accent, in truth Rikki Lee Travolta speaks with a voice seasoned by the lyrical flow of the Australian Outback. Toby Miller, Professor of Cultural Studies and Cultural Policy at New York University, who originally hails from Australia and has diligently researched the James Bond phenomena, reported that the character of James Bond can only be convincingly played in cinema by someone who appears to have roots outside of England.

Connery was from Scotland; Dalton was North Wales-born of Italian descent; Lazenby hailed from Australia; Brosnan was Irish; and although born in England, Moore was a product of many years in Rhodesia resulting in an Australian-like accent. However, Bond is much more than an accent and, with apologies to Kevin Costner, almost any decent actor worth a leading man’s salary can pull off an authentic English Commonwealth accent. It has to be more than his voice that makes Travolta the object of this books-by-mail, fan-based campaign flooding his representatives’ offices

James Bond is known for his trademark tuxedo, the image of pure elegance from which deadly force can be drawn out at any moment in the form of his famous long-barreled sidearm. Considered one of the sexiest men alive, Travolta has modeled alongside Fabio, and has the physique and style to fill out a tuxedo to maximum effect. As witnessed in the film "Diminished Capacity" and the series "Literary Justice" he is no stranger to firearms, handling rifles and sidearms with eerie precision.

Yet, again the character of James Bond is defined by more than how he fills out a tuxedo or handles a gun. Important factors? Assuredly. But, not the end-all definition. James Bond is larger than life, yet believably so. Men want to be him; women want to be with him. That charisma is something that can’t be acted. It is a commanding presence that cannot be taught. Although unseen, somehow it is an aura that translates through the film lens.

It is an intense yet cool charisma few possess. Connery, assuredly, was one. Cary Grant, Charlton Heston, and Errol Flynn are all classic examples that possessed that calm dangerous confidence as well. It is that innate magnetism that has James Bond fans around the world buying up every available copy of Ian Fleming’s "Casino Royale" and inscribing it with their personal plea to the one actor they feel capable of carrying on the storied tradition: Rikki Lee Travolta.

More than a few reporters have written about meetings with Travolta in almost religious terms. One Hollywood insider described the charisma of the actor with references to Fonzie and Jesus. The New York Post once proclaimed that Travolta so perfectly represented the ideal leading man, he could have been the creation of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas based on the 50 most charismatic actors of all time from including Connery, Heston, Brando, Antonio Banderas, Brad Pitt, and James Dean.

Displaying Bond-like dry wit and charm, Travolta quipped, "While I respect the work of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, I credit my parents and God and God with my creation." Like Clive Owen and Hugh Jackman before him, Travolta is the hotly pursued "well known unknown."  Considered an odds-on favorite to be one of the next A-list leading men, he is highly respected and pursued by casting directors on both coasts of the U.S. and across the pond. The race is on to find the perfect vehicle to translate that highly regarded inner circle potential to a worldwide audience.

For Jackman, the magical star vehicle arrived when Dougray Scott dropped out of the Marvel comic book inspired "X-Men" at the eleventh hour. Owen toyed with fame in "King Arthur" and found his propulsion to stardom in the form of Oscar contender "Closer." Perhaps the perfect vehicle for Travolta will be to take the reigns of the James Bond legacy.

Online casino Bodog.com has refused to accept wagers on Travolta becoming the next James Bond, suggesting knowledge of his intentions. Casino odds makers are not in the business of taking bets they know they will have to pay out on. Then again, perhaps Travolta may pass on Bond to take a lesson for Jackman’s book and launch his star turn with the comic-book inspired adaptation of "Thor" for Marvel Entertainment. Perhaps, still, his guide will be the career of Owen, and he’ll snub Bond offers for an Oscar caliber dramatic vehicle.

While actors such as Craig, Julian McMahon, and Gerard Butler have openly publicized their interest in becoming the future face of James Bond, Travolta has never issued a comment on the Bond casting circus. Instead he maintains the perfect James Bond poker face, never flinching or showing signs of interest or disinterest, just a cool confidence. The mountains of fan-delivered copies of "Casino Royale" bombarding Travolta’s managers are being donated to public libraries and schools.