Rupert Friend, star of the Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi, has revealed he intends to begin campaigning for the coveted role of James Bond. Making his film debut in Johnny Depp’s 2004 period drama The Libertine, Friend recently brought the animated Star Wars villain known as the Grand Inquisitor to life in the Disney+ series opposite Ewan McGregor. He is also best known for his role as CIA black ops officer Peter Quinn in the espionage thriller series Homeland.
During a recent interview with Variety, Friend revealed that as a young actor he was first approached to audition for James Bond before Daniel Craig was selected for the role. While he ultimately declined the offer, the actor now feels as though he has the experience necessary to do the character justice. Revealing that his High Desert co-star Patricia Arquette recently encouraged him to talk to his agent about the role, Friend believes “the universe is sort of saying something here”. Check out his comments below:
But very, very recently, last week [in mid-April], it started to come back into my consciousness that, let’s put it this way, maybe I’ve got the scars and the bruises now. [laughs] From having literally been around the block or in the school of hard knocks, but also having navigated film sets and directors and difficult situations. You sort of realize you’re at a point where you can take things on that perhaps you couldn’t before. Well, I had this revelation last week, so this interview is very prescient. And I wrote to my manager, saying, “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. . .” and told them what I sort of told you. My manager remembered coming to stay with me and my wife in our house a couple years ago and asked me, after maybe one or two bottles of wine too many, what I thought about the prospect of playing the character. I said back then that I felt daunted by it, or that I would somehow not serve it. And last week, I literally decided that I was ready. Now they may or may not be interested, and that’s totally fine, but it’s one of those things where everyone I was working with. . . Patricia Arquette texted me last week to say, “I love the show, you’re so funny, and why the hell are you not Bond? Talk to your agent about it!” So I thought, OK, the universe is sort of saying something here, even if it’s only to say, yes, you weren’t ready and now you are. It doesn’t matter if you do it or not, but it’s important to listen to the cycles of life and understand the universe is always on time, just sometimes you and I are a bit early or a bit late.
Second Chances Have Always Been An Important Part Of James Bond Casting
While all eyes are currently on who will be the next actor to follow on from Craig’s turn as 007, the task of selecting the next James Bond has long proven itself a difficult decision. Though some might suggest that Friend has already had his chance when producers approached him the first time, history would argue that the Bond franchise has always been built on second chances and getting the timing just right.
When Sean Connery first resigned as Bond during production on 1967’s You Only Live Twice, producers would ultimately approach a young Timothy Dalton to replace him for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. In a story directly echoing Friend’s own, Dalton turned down the role feeling that he was far too young for it, only to later come back decades later for 1987’s The Living Daylights. Similarly, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan had also been provided earlier opportunities to play Bond before their own debuts, but both were prevented by their respective television commitments on The Saint and Remington Steele.
Currently, there is no indication as to when producers might announce the next James Bond, and speculation is rampant. With an all-star roster of names already rumored to be in contention, Friend might have a difficult time proving himself a worthy successor to Craig, but history seems to be on his side. Perhaps the Homeland actor is right, and the universe may just align to deliver him a much deserved second chance at being the next 007.
Source: Variety