We've learned way too much about the Fake News stories spread across Legacy Media platforms.
Russian collusion? Very Fine People? All the hallmarks of Russian disinformation?
The entertainment press can be just as maddening.
Rumors. Leaks. Whisper campaigns. They often lead to stories that end up being flat-out false. Like the current search for the next James Bond.
Daniel Craig retired from the gig in 2021, although that film sat on the shelf for a spell during the COVID-19 overreach. We haven't had a new 007 adventure since then, nor do we know what actor will don the signature tuxedo next.
(All we know is that talented director Denis Villeneuve of "Dune" fame will be behind the camera ... phew)
That let the usual media suspects weigh in on rumors, false information and more. Will we even care once the final decision is made?
We've been told in recent days that the finalists for the gig are Callum Turner, Josh O'Connor, Jack O'Connell and Jack Lowden. The actors are hardly newbies, but none are household names (yet).
Good. We don't need an A-list actor to become the next Bond. That would be distracting at the very least.
Except O'Connell isn't in the mix, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Huh?
Now, we're learning a few recognizable faces screen have tested for the iconic role - Robert Pattinson ("Primetime," "Twilight") and Nicholas Hoult ("Superman").
What's going on? And why is this taking so long?
The process to find the next 007 goes back to the spring, when the studio announced casting director Nina Gold was joining the project and that the search was underway. Following two months of meetings, Deadline reported the first round of auditions would take place in August; since then, the studio, producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman and director Denis Villeneuve cut the list to its final group and worked out test offers in September.
The James Bond franchise began in 1962 with "Dr. No." It's a miracle that it has survived and routinely thrived since then. We've seen gadget-friendly Bonds (Roger Moore), no-nonsense types (Timothy Dalton) and a return to the rugged hero Sean Connery first brought to the big screen (Craig).
Now, what?
At least we know it won't be Jane Bond or a race swap affair. The Left would love to weaponize the ultimate spy hero for its purposes, but Team Bond has resisted those efforts.
Mostly.
Craig's Bond fell in love rather than wine and dine a series of "Bond Girls." The latter concept may not survive much longer given Hollywood's aversion to "toxic masculinity."
Either way, we're getting a bit bored by the endless search. We should be getting production updates, teaser clips and other goodies to goose interest in 007's return.
When he does, finally, will modern audiences crave an old-school spy with a License to Kill? Or will we have moved on to other heroes?
If the franchise's new owners — Amazon MGM — are smart, they'll resist the urge to "modernize" or "re-imagine" the saga and just give us 007 unfiltered.
That's why the character has survived more than 60 years.
