The new star of the James Bond franchise will reportedly be a “fresh face” and will be British.
Daniel Craig departed the film series with 2021’s No Time To Die and speculation has been rife ever since about the identity of his 007 successor. Earlier this year, Amazon took over creative control of the franchise, with Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight having since been confirmed as director and writer, respectively.
The decision over who will take the role has yet to be made, but Deadline have reported that Villeneuve and the producers are seeking a “fresh face” and will only be choosing from British actors. Their preference is said to be to cast “an unknown” that is in his late 20s or early 30s.
It was recently reported that unknown actor Scott Rose-Marsh had tested for the role, while it has also been claimed that Harris Dickinson, Jacob Elordi and Tom Holland were being eyed for the part by Amazon – with the latter recently addressing the rumours by saying it is “the pinnacle of working in our industry”.
Kingsman actor Taron Egerton – who has also been a fan favourite for the role – has seemingly taken himself out of the running: “I don’t think I’m a good choice for it,” he said. “I think I’m too messy for that… as far as I’m aware, nobody’s asking me to do it. But also, it’s possibly not quite the thing that would make me happiest. I do think it’s a big old undertaking, it kind of consumes your life, a role like that.”
Helen Mirren recently said that she believed Bond has to be played by a man. “I’m such a feminist, but James Bond has to be a guy,” she said. “You can’t have a woman. It just doesn’t work. James Bond has to be James Bond, otherwise it becomes something else.”
NME awarded No Time To Die four stars, writing: “For the most part though, and with so much at stake thanks to COVID decimating cinema, No Time To Die producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson should be applauded for taking some bold risks. The gobsmacking ending, in fact, may be the biggest in Bond history. Yet when the credits finally roll on Daniel Craig’s last hurrah, all those difficulties fade into the background. If we didn’t know better, we’d say it even looked like he enjoyed himself.”
