Now that you mentioned Avengers, what about Ralph Fiennes, he has the rugged look of some one who has his way with the ladies but also a warn face that shows an agent who has seen his fear share of action.
How about in 2003, Pierce Brosnan, declines to do a fifth film claiming Die another day, was his last, the idea of a new Bond film is taken up by Mel Smith.
Cast
Hugh Laurie as James Bond.
Joely Richardson as Helen Back, an NSA agent.
Stephen Fry as M.
Tony Robinson as Q.
Miranda Richardson as Miss Moneypenny, M's secretary.
Bill Nighy as Prince Michael, 3rd in line to the throne.
Maggie Smith as Queen Anne II of Great Britain
Rowan Atkinson as Prince William of Wales, 1st in line to the throne.
Tim McInnerny as Prince John, 2nd in line to the throne.
Emma Thompson as Princess Elizabeth.
Plot: After the failed "assassination attempt" on Prince Michael, the royal family is thrown into more grief, when his two older brothers are killed in a suspected IRA bombing.
However at the end it turns out, Prince Michael, had planned the whole thing as to get him self onto the throne, when this is found out a week before the coronation, he is sent to prison with his sister Princess Elizabeth, becoming Queen Elizabeth II.