Given the recent announcement thatDenis Villeneuvewill be directing the next installment in theJames Bondfranchise, there has been rampant speculation about who could play the new 007.Daniel Craigwas so beloved in the role that it will be no easy task for a new actor to take on the role, but that hasn’t stopped the Internet from suggesting various contenders for the part.Taron Egertonis thelatest actor to deny interest in Bond, as he admitted that he would not be “a good choice for it,” despite his admiration for both the character and Craig’s legacy. Egerton is being humble, as he has a similar amount of exposure right now as both Craig andPierce Brosnandid before they accepted the role.
While it’s been an impressive ten years since Egerton gave his breakout performance inKingsman: The Secret Service, a film that heavily referencedRoger Moore’s Bond films, he has grown to be a more mature and nuanced actor. Between his Emmy-nominated role inBlack Bird, his Golden Globe-winning transformation intoElton JohnforRocketman, and his acclaimed performance in the Netflix hitCarry-On, Egerton has shown he has the range to take on a variety of projects. Being Bond is a commitment thatcomes with a heavy amount of expectations, butEgerton has the right qualities to deliver a unique spin on the classic character.
Taron Egerton Has the Experience To Play Bond
Although the casting process has begun for the film that Villeneuve will end up directing, it’s expected that the actor chosen to play Bond will sign a multi-picture project to appear in several sequels; Craig appeared in five films over fifteen years, and his replacement will likely be asked to make a similar commitment.Egerton does not have any conflicting projects that would prevent him from being in several Bond films, as the showsBlack BirdandSmokeare limited events, and will not be continued into multiple seasons. While rumors continue to circulate that he could be asked to return to play Eggsy, the lackluster reviews forKingsman: The Golden Circleand the box office disaster ofThe King’s Manmake it unlikely thatMatthew Vaughn’s cinematic universe will continue. Even if Vaughn does end up creating another spinoff,it’s unlikely that Egerton will be involved, as he has grown too old to play a young, hotshot character like Eggsy.
Egerton’s role inKingsman: The Secret Servicewas essentially an audition to play Bond, as he proved he could be a suave, charismatic secret agent who could be both an action star and romantic lead. While it may have felt derivative if Egerton had been cast as Bond directly after playing Eggsy, enough time has passed that he can realistically play a different character without drawing too many comparisons. The issue with casting someone likeTom Holland, who is rumored to be one of the front-runners, is that he is almost exclusively associated with his performance as Peter Parker. Egerton has played a diverse array of characters, and would likely drop the spunky, foul-mouthed sensibilities of Eggsy if he were cast as Bond. That being said, the fact that he has alreadyproven to be a box office drawis certainly a sign to Amazon Studios that Egerton can be relied upon to draw out a crowd.
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Egerton has a wealth of experience that has prepared him to capture the various assets of Bond. Villeneuve’s film will certainly be filled with action, and Egerton’s physical prowess is evident within his gritty role inBlack Birdand his stunt-heavy work inCarry On. However, Egerton alsoshowed in the underrated biopicTetristhat he can play a character with genius-level intellect; Bond may not be a superhero, but his quick wits and diverse skill set make him a compelling protagonist. Humor is also an integral part of the franchise, and Egerton showed in more lighthearted fare likeEddie the Eaglethat he can insert a playful amount of comedy without being too over-the-top.
Egerton’s Career Has Been Building to 007
Finding a completely unknown actor to play Bond may be a challenge, as Amazon will likely be looking to cast someone who has at least some level of experience working on a larger production.Egerton is at the right stage of his career where he is not overexposed, as many of his more recent projects have gone under the radar, despite being critically acclaimed. At 35 years old, Egerton isthe perfect age to play the character, asIan Fleming’s original description of the character is an experienced spy who has already earned his license to kill; it’s unlikely that Amazon will redo the origin story in order to not be derivative ofCasino Royale, and it’s reasonable to believe that the new Bond will have already made a name for himself in MI6. Given that Craig was 38 whenCasino Royalewas released, Egerton would have more than enough time to appear in several films before aging out of the part.
Egerton is an actor who has resisted being pinned down, as he has made exciting choices that subverted expectations. It’s important for Amazon to cast someone willing to experiment,as each actor who has played Bondhas done something radically different to distinguish themselves. Frankly, the notion of an actor of Egerton’s caliber being cast in a new action film from Villeneuve is exciting enough in its own right; the twist that it would be a new Bond film only makes it cooler.
No Time to Die
