UPDATE: Fresh off yesterday’s story comes the news that Amazon is doing one final round of screen tests this weekend for four potential 007’s. According to THR and multiple online sources, Jack Lowden, Josh O’Connor (not Jack O’Connell as some are reporting) and Callum Turner are among the final four, with Jacob Elordi not testing. Now, this doesn’t mean he won’t be playing 007 – it only means he’s not in this round of testing. Whatever the case, I’d expect an official annoucement to drop soon – maybe even as early as next week. My pick would be O’Connor. While certainly an unusual choice, I think he could be terrific in the part.
Original Story: No doubt, the biggest casting story of the year—if it actually happens by December 31st, that is—will be who is going to be playing James Bond 007 in Amazon/MGM’s upcoming movie, which is set to be directed by Denis Villeneuve. With the year rapidly drawing to a close, everyone is convinced that a casting announcement is imminent. It makes sense, as Villeneuve is about to launch into a global press tour for Dune: Part III, and one assumes he’s not going to want to have to deal with the “who’s going to play Bond” question throughout the junket, lest it overshadow his new movie. As such, I’m thinking the announcement will come in weeks, if not days.
So who is going to be James Bond?
According to the latest rumors, there are two pretty big contenders, and that’s Jacob Elordi and Jack Lowden. The latter is considered a somewhat safer bet, with him closer to the usual age for a new James Bond (he’ll be thirty-seven when they start filming, the same age Daniel Craig was when he filmed Casino Royale). He’s also got a long history of having played a Bond-like role on Apple TV’s Slow Horses, and none other than Gary Oldman has been championing him for the part. He’s also English.
But one shouldn’t count out Elordi. He’s younger, as he’ll be thirty when they start filming, but for me, the thing that I think could stop him from taking the role is typecasting. Once you play 007, it defines your career. He’s coming off an Oscar nomination for Frankenstein and is considered an up-and-comer. Then again, his solo starring film The Dog Stars bombed last summer, and certainly taking Bond could elevate him to superstar status overnight—if that’s what he wants.
One other reason Elordi could say yes is Denis Villeneuve, as he’s one of the biggest directors in town and everyone wants to work with him—including Elordi. Then again, I also think Amazon/Villeneuve could potentially go outside of the box and cast either an unknown or someone we never considered.
Who do you think will don the tuxedo? I still think Harris Dickinson would be a great choice, but we’ll see.
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