Ryan Reynolds has expressed interest in becoming the next James Bond. The James Bond film franchise, which is based on the popular novels by Ian Fleming, has spanned decades, running consistently since Sean Connery's first outing as the suave British superspy in 1962's Dr. No. Over 59 years and 25 movies, the character has been recast multiple times, with Connery being followed by George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.
Daniel Craig has played Bond since his debut in 2006's Casino Royale. This year's No Time to Die marked his final outing as the character, ushering in a new era of Bond with the next film. There has been wide speculation about who will next don the Bond tuxedo, as producers haven't yet cast the next iteration of the role. Rumors have swirled about No Time to Die's Lasha Lynch or The Suicide Squad's Idris Elba stepping into the role, and other actors have expressed their desire to play the role, including British actor Tom Holland and the decidedly non-British Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
If non-British actors are under consideration, Ryan Reynolds wants in on the fun. During an interview with The Times, the Free Guy and Red Notice star jokingly bids to take on the mantle of agent 007. He says he's interested if producers can accept a "Canadian sipping gin and tonic instead of a martini," referencing his company Aviation American Gin. Check out the full quote below:
I hear they’re looking for a new Bond. Could you accept a Canadian sipping gin and tonic instead of a martini? If so, I’m interested.
Ryan Reynolds has played many roles throughout his career, though it's difficult to find a role that feels comparable to the iconic figure of James Bond. He's played an astronaut, multiple superheroes, an art thief, a talking Pikachu, and a racing snail, but he's only played a spy once in the lesser-seen action thriller Safe House. He's certainly proven his action chops in films like The Hitman's Bodyguard and the Deadpool franchise, however.
While it's incredibly unlikely that Ryan Reynolds will actually become the next James Bond, it would certainly be an intriguing prospect. The star's brand of sardonic humor doesn't gel well with the more self-serious turn that the Daniel Craig era took, but it would fit right in with some of the Bonds from earlier eras. Reynolds could continue the longstanding tradition of a quippier Bond who always has a saucy thing to say before taking out a villain's henchman.
Source: The Times