Who will succeed Daniel Craig as next 'James Bond'? Casting director explains why young actors do not fit in
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: James Bond will inevitably return, but since Daniel Craig decided to leave the franchise with 'No Time To Die,' fans have been left wondering who will be the next 007. While there have been many rumors about which actor could carry on the James Bond legacy, casting director Debbie McWilliams has now decided to share some perspectives about the procedure and how they opted to search for someone in their 30s to be the next James Bond.
At the moment, Bond fans are at the mercy of half-sibling producers - and longtime Bond custodians of EON Productions - Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, who can offer solely real clues to Bond's next move. However, Bond is at an intriguing crossroads, not merely because the next film will be a complete reboot, but also because Amazon has closed on a nearly $9 billion deal to acquire MGM and, with it, a stake in Bond, James Bond.
READ MORE
Is Aaron Taylor-Johnson the new James Bond? 'Bullet Train' star's audition 'went well'
‘Younger actors don’t have the gravitas to play James Bond'
McWilliams, who has worked as the casting director for the 007 franchise since 1981, revealed in a recent conversation with The Radio Times that when they started to look for actors at the time for 'Casino Royale' who could step in and take James Bond's legacy further, they felt that several young actors didn't have "the gravitas" or the experience along with the mental ability to play a character like James Bond. McWilliams asserted that it's not just a character one has to play on-screen, but a massive responsibility that the actors must take on, which is one of the reasons they scrapped the idea of a young actor playing James Bond.
The casting director, on the other hand, clarified that an older James Bond does not necessarily mean that the actor should be a well-established movie star, but rather a person who would be a good fit for the character, and emphasized how different James Bond actors have enjoyed varying degrees of fame and success before taking on the role of 007.
Debbie said, "Timothy Dalton was known, but he was known as a Shakespearean actor, really. Pierce was known, but that was basically from television. Roger Moore was known from television. Sean Connery wasn't [known] – nobody had ever heard of him. A certain audience had heard of Daniel Craig, but much more the kind of independent cinema audience. He hadn't done any huge commercial film at all, really – [2004 film] Layer Cake I suppose was the most popular, should we say, of the things he had done prior to Bond, but he wasn't a hugely well known actor." McWilliams also said that James Bond has to look like a regular guy who has a great physique and demands a high level of fitness - but he shouldn't stand out in any situation.
Who will be the next 'James Bond'?
People have been beginning to suspect and trying to imagine their own potential James Bond actors since the announcement that actor Daniel Craig will be bidding the franchise farewell with 'No Time To Die'. The potential names that came forward include Henry Cavil (39), Regé-Jean Page (34), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (32), Idris Elba (50), 'Slow Horses' star Jack Lowden (32), Tom Hardy (45), and James Norton (37). These names come after franchise producer Michael G Wilson stated in a previous interview with Deadline that they were considering an actor in their 30s for the role. Wilson explained, "Remember, Bond’s already a veteran, he’s had some experience – he’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something. He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off."
Because Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson have insisted that the search for Bond Mk 7 has not even started, no actor has been finalized or acknowledged to be in the running. Broccoli stated at the BAFTAs in February that the casting decision will be made in a couple of years and that they are now looking for someone who can commit to a 10-12 year commitment.
'No Time To Die' is now available on Prime Video.