Though there may still be some time until the franchise's return, a new report claims that the next James Bond may be younger, ruling out Henry Cavill and other favorites. Created by Ian Fleming for the long-running espionage novel franchise, Bond is a member of the United Kingdom's secret service agency, MI6, who primarily works under the designated codename, 007. Fleming would ultimately write 12 novels and two short-story collections centered on Bond, which chronicled his globe-trotting adventures to protect the world from a variety of sinister threats.
James Bond would make his way to the big screen for the first time in 1962 with Dr. No, based on the novel of the same name, with Sean Connery portraying the super spy. Connery would play the role in four sequels before departing and instituting a revolving door of actors to take over, including George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan. Most recently, Daniel Craig took up the mantle with Casino Royale, closing out his 15-year tenure with last year's No Time to Die, and now audiences may have an idea of what to expect for the franchise's future.
On a recent episode of Lorraine (via ComicBook.com), UK entertainment correspondent Ross King shared rumors regarding the search for the next James Bond. King reports that producers of the franchise ar looking for a much younger Bond, subsequently ruling out Henry Cavill and other fan-favorite picks, as well as Outlander's Sam Heughan. See what King said below:
The latest rumour – and in some ways part of this is very much true – which is, basically, the Bond producers are looking for a younger Bond. Someone probably in their 30s. At the end of the day they want someone who will be Bond for the next three movies ... For the franchise, they want someone who will carry it through the same way Daniel Craig did it. The other thing they're saying is they have to be taller than 5'10.
It should be noted that King's statements that the next James Bond may be younger are only rumors at this point, with franchise producer Barbara Broccoli having said frequently around No Time to Die's release that there would be some time before any casting decisions were made. Broccoli even spoke on the 007 casting possibilities this past June, confirming that filming likely wouldn't begin for another two years as they seek to find a way to reinvent Bond and that no one was in the running for the role. Given the timeline Broccoli has given, it seems unlikely that the producers behind the James Bond franchise have already begun making decisions for the role, save for someone who can carry the franchise, as King mentions above.
Should the rumors that the next James Bond will be younger, some may be disappointed at its ruling out multiple fan-favorite choices to take over as 007. Henry Cavill and Idris Elba have remained at the top of many fan cast lists, believing they have the necessary level of charm needed for the role, while some have expressed an interest in both Tom Hardy for a more rugged Bond and Stranger Things' Joseph Quinn for a refined younger incarnation of the super spy. While audiences await further details on who may take on the mantle, they can revisit Craig's swan song with No Time to Die streaming on Prime Video now.
Source: ComicBook.com