Daniel Day-Lewis poses on the red carpet upon arrival to attend the annual BAFTA British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House in London on Feb. 10, 2013.
If Hoagy Carmichael is James Bond, James Bond must next be Daniel Day-Lewis, or so goes the logic of William Boyd, the latest author tapped to continue the exploits of the world’s most famous secret agent.
As Boyd promotes his latest 007 novel, Solo, he reveals that his Bond character—at least the one in his own mind—resembles almost that exactly of original author Ian Fleming’s character. But on whom did Fleming base the distinctive physical characteristics of his character? American jazz singer Hoagy Carmichael. The quintessential British spy is actually a reflection of a singer-songwriter.
Once you’ve fully come to terms with that nugget that Boyd helped give a bit more publicity to, then you’re bound to stumble onto the next obvious question. Who does Boyd, a prize-winning author who is now the Fleming estate-authorized Bond writer, picture in his head if not for Carmichael? None other than actor Daniel Day-Lewis.
With Boyd paying homage to the Carmichael comparison, he tells the AP “Daniel Day-Lewis looks like Hoagy Carmichael. He is a tall, lean, rangy, very dark-haired, good-looking man. Almost swarthy. And there is a sense in which that image was what he saw Bond looking like. So that’s why I’d choose him.”
This will only amplify the rumors that Day-Lewis has a realistic shot at landing an upcoming Bond film role.
Boyd’s first foray into the literary world of James Bond puts the spy at age 45, slightly more matured and seasoned than in the past. Set in 1969, Solo sends Bond to a fictional African nation, but not without traditional characters M and Miss Moneypenny.
While Solo won’t likely appear on film anytime soon due to its “retro” setting, this rangy man Boyd envisions for Bond lives on, at least in print. Watch out, Daniel Craig.