Fans have been looking forward to seeing who Denis Villeneuve will cast to play the next James Bond in the upcoming 26th film of the franchise, and whether the new face will be an unknown or an established actor.
For the past few months, we've been hearing updates on the development of the next James Bond movie, which will now be under the purview of Amazon MGM Studios. Fans have also made suggestions on who they should cast to play the next 007, with most of them being familiar names that we've been hearing for many times now.
Is the Next James Bond Going to Be Played by an Unknown Actor?
According to a new update from Deadline, Villeneuve is set to begin the casting process for the next James Bond movie after he finishes production on Dune: Part Three.
If you're wondering what kind of actor he is looking for, as it turns out, he is seeking a "fresh face" and an actor who hails from the British Isles (so no chance of casting an American or Australian for the part).
As for the age range, they are ideally looking for someone in their late 20s or early 30s and a talent that can play "a blunt instrument" who is lethal, but an "extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened." The film is being planned to start shooting in 2027.
This rules out a lot of the actors that fans have been suggesting for the part, since most of them are not unknowns or outside the age range.
The story might also focus on "Bond’s beginnings as a Royal Navy Commander before being recruited by MI6," but nothing has been finalized yet. There is also no ruling out casting a non-Caucasian for the role as long as the actor is the right choice.
Who Are the Rumored Actors for the Next James Bond?
Several actors have been rumored to be the next James Bond, including the likes of Tom Holland, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Taron Egerton. However, based on the criteria that Villeneuve is aiming for, none of them might be qualified.
Another alleged frontrunner that has emerged is 37-year-old actor Scott Rose-Marsh, who reportedly had screen-tested to play the next James Bond last June.
Rose-Marsh was asked to read sides from GoldenEye and potentially read pages from Steven Knight, who is penning the screenplay for Bond 26.
The actor was given a direction during the screen test not to impersonate any of the previous versions of James Bond. What made this tidbit significant is that Rose-Marsh is a redheaded actor and, if he ends up getting cast in the role, he will be the first "ginger Bond."
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