At the moment, the casting rumour mill has gone into overdrive with regards to the role of James Bond.
Following Daniel Craig's retirement from the role at the conclusion of No Time to Die, there have been dozens of actors linked with the role of 007 including Idris Elba, Kit Harrington, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Hardy, Rege-Jean Page, Richard Madden, Paul Mescal, Henry Cavill and Jamie Dornan.
It is, naturally, one of the most sought-after characters to play in the movie business.
Even though a new story seemingly comes out weekly linking another actor for the role, Bond author Charlie Higson reckons that it probably means the opposite for the actor in question.
“As soon as the papers say so and so is being considered as the next James Bond, you know that they’re not going to be the next James Bond, you know that they’ve been rejected," he said at the release of his new novel, On His Majesty's Secret Service.
READ MORE: One major front-runner emerges to be the next James Bond
“Eon (Productions) who make the films play their cards very close to the chest and a lot of times they really surprise people... in particular, Daniel Craig, nobody had any idea at all that he might be Bond and if you’d been asked in advance, you’d have said: ‘Daniel Craig, James Bond, surely not?’.
“But then he’s just so good in Casino Royale... any doubts you might have had immediately go out the window, so they’re pretty clever on that front and they will inevitably wait to make the announcement at the right time to get the maximum amount of publicity.”
Higson not a fan of No Time to Die
Higson has been an outspoken critic of the last Bond movie, No Time to Die.
It was released in 2021 to acclaim, with much of the praise focused on the humanisation of Bond, played again by Daniel Craig.
Near the conclusion of the movie, it is revealed that 007 has had a child with former partner Madeleine Swan. The plot sways away from the usual womanising, martini-drinking version of the character.
Higson believes that is not what people want to see from a James Bond movie, however.
"Bond is a fantasy, he's got no wife, no kids, you rarely see him at home, he lives in hotels, eats in restaurants, sleeps with as many women as he wants and gets to kill people," he said at the Chalke Valley History Festival.
"It's the best job in the world. You never see him mowing his lawn, washing his car or asking his bank manager for a loan. He's one guy on a mission. You don't have to worry about a back story or any boring discussions with his girlfriend. Which is why I absolutely hate No Time To Die.
"They put in all the boring stuff you don't want. The start of the film is great – he's in a really flash car, having a car chase around Matera. But he's got his girlfriend with him and they're having a row. What kind of fantasy is that? Find the ejector seat button, get rid of her and have an adventure."
Comments (0)