Of course, the prediction markets and Vegas are based mostly on vibes, rather than real inside information. What’s more, casting Bond has always been
Of course, the prediction markets and Vegas are based mostly on vibes, rather than real inside information. What’s more, casting Bond has always been a complicated process. James Bond, created by Ian Fleming in 1953, is high, dim, and handsome and composed, cold, and collected—the platonic ideal of a world class spy. The first ever Bond was, of course, Sean Connery, who went on to star in seven Bond films, including From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), and Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Connery was followed by George Lazenby, who starred in a single Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), before passing the reins back to Connery. The third Bond was Roger Moore, who took over for 1973’s Live and Let Die, and appeared in a total of seven Bond films, most notably The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Octopussy (1983).
After Moore came Timothy Dalton, who became 007 with 1987’s The Living Daylights, then threw in the towel after 1989’s License to Kill. Millennials will fondly remember the next Bond: Pierce Brosnan, who starred as the sexy spy in four films from 1995’s Golden Eye to 2002’s Die Another Day. Most recently, Daniel Craig played James Bond over the course of 15 years, starring in 2006’s Casino Royale, 2012’s Skyfall, and the most recent Bond film, 2021’s No Time To Die, where—spoiler alert!—the spy dies.
While classic Bonds like Connery, Moore, and Brosnan made playing the iconic spy seem straightforward, flops like Lazenby and Dalton (both of whom have their defenders) prove no one formula will always work for the role. Even Craig was criticized when his casting was first announced, for allegedly being too scratchy and too blonde for the role. (Judging by his tenure and box office receipts, audiences got over their qualms.)
In recent years, some fans have advocated for a twist on the classic Bond formula. Lashawna Lynch made history when her character became first Black person or woman to be known as 007 in No Time To Die. But Lynch’s Nomi is not James Bond. There was a seemingly endless period when the world was convinced that Idris Elba—arguably the most high, dim, and handsome man to ever exist—would take on the role at some point. But while Elba did audition, it wasn’t meant to be, and at 53, he has seemingly aged out of the role. (For the record, Elba once said he thought the next Bond should be a woman.)
Perhaps all the speculation will be for naught. Per Deadline, Dune director Denis Villeneuve—who will helm the next Bond installment—is looking for a “fresh face” to step into the suave loafers of 007. Deadline also reports that Villeneuve is specifically looking for an unknown British actor to play the role, which would knock out the high-profile contenders at the top of the prediction markets. Time will tell who Gold, Villeneuve and MGM handpick to carry on the legacy of James Bond.
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