A new report has given some hints about casting the next James Bond, and it promises to be a much different decision from what fans are expecting. Denis Villeneuve was announced as the next director in the Bond franchise, marking the beginning of a new era for 007. Following Daniel Craig’s final bow in the role in 2021’s No Time to Die, Villeneuve will help introduce a new Bond actor to the world.
While there has been endless speculation and rumors about who will take on the role of Bond, there are some new hints about what they’ll be looking for. The casting is still a way off, as Villeneuve will not turn his attention to his Bond movie until he completes his work on Dune: Part Three. However, a report from Deadline suggests the director will be looking for an unknown male British actor to take the iconic role.
The latest actor cast as Bond will be the seventh person to play the character in the main franchise, following in the footsteps of Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. The new Bond movie will be the 26th installment in the series, marking the first since the original producers relinquished full creative control to Amazon MGM.
Villeneuve’s reveal shatters most James Bond predictions and rumors
James Bond is perhaps the most speculated bit of casting in Hollywood right now, alongside the new Batman in the DCU. Obviously, this has led to a lot of rumors and predictions about who will be the next actor to take on the role of 007. However, with Villeneuve's confirmation that it will be an unknown male British actor, many of the top contenders are no longer in the running.
Recently, some of the most popular names that have been thrown around have been Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Tom Holland. However, neither actor would qualify as being “unknown” as they have already led their own high-profile franchises. It also rules out non-British actors who have been linked to the role, including Austin Butler.
There has been a lot of discussion about whether the new Bond will see a shift in how the character is typically portrayed, with some suggestions of a female 007. However, this new report suggests that it is not being considered. It is worth noting that while the report specifies a British actor is being sought, it does not rule out a non-Caucasian British actor in the role, as the likes of David Jonsson and Dev Patel have been suggested.
There has been a lot of discussion about whether the new Bond will see a shift in how the character is typically portrayed, with some suggestions of a female 007. However, this new report suggests that it is not a path being considered. It is worth noting that while the report specifies a British actor is being sought, it does not rule out a non-Caucasian British actor in the role, as the likes of David Jonsson and Dev Patel have been suggested.
While some fans may be disappointed that their favorite picks for the next Bond will not be considered, it is not surprising that they chose to go this way. In the history of Bond, an A-list actor has never been cast as 007. The role has certainly turned its actors into stars, but most of them were lesser-known talents before getting the job. Of course, whoever is eventually cast will be a household name in no time.
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