Casting James Bond For Amazon’s New 007 Era

With the recent news that Amazon has acquired creative control of the James Bond franchise, the future of the iconic series looks incredibly uncertain. There’s now plenty of room for some exciting spin-offs, sequels, and prequels that could expand this universe laterally from the direction of the movies. Though Barbara Broccoli losing the rights to James Bond is bad news for the franchise’s history, fans can expect much more from the series in the future.

Amazon’s acquisition of James Bond makes it much more likely that Ian Fleming’s works will find a home on Prime Video in the future; both in the form of cataloging the existing films and making a place for new movies and shows to be released. There have been talks of the “next phase” of James Bond happening with Amazon, and if that’s true, the studio will need a new actor to adopt the iconic character’s mantle.

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Rege-Jean Page

Known For Bridgerton & The Gray Man

Bridgerton’s Rege-Jean Page is one of the perennial favorites to play James Bond, and his name has been in the conversation ever since Daniel Craig stepped down from the role in No Time To Die. This was helped by the fact that Page was starring in Bridgerton at the time, but he managed to stay as many audiences’ firm pick for the character in the years since he first entered the conversation.

After appearing in Bridgerton, Page has appeared in plenty of big-budget blockbusters that seem to suggest he’d be willing to work alongside a studio like Amazon for this new era of the franchise. Whether that’s Netflix’s The Gray Man or Paramount’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thievesthe actor is clearly no stranger to taking on these expensive projects and working alongside big studios in the process.

9

Robert Pattinson

Known For Tenet & The Batman

Robert Pattinson’s name isn’t one that frequently gets mentioned when discussing new candidates for James Bond, but he’s an underrated choice who could give the series a breath of fresh air. Casino Royale’s Martin Campbell has recently agreed with the view that Bond’s new actor should be in their thirties, and Pattinson manages to fit neatly into this age range while displaying all the experience necessary for such a major undertaking.

While Pattinson never would have been considered for a role like James Bond in the past, his recent projects have made audiences view him somewhat differently. Movies like Tenet and The Batman were more mature and gritty than the romance and fantasy films he was once known for, and this is exactly the kind of style he’d need to bring to Bond.

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Josh Hartnett

Known For Pearl Harbor & Trap

Another major aspect about James Bond that could hypothetically be changed now that Amazon has creative control of the franchise is the necessity for the character’s actor to be British. This has always been a defining feature of the casting process, but with Broccoli’s input severely reduced, the studio could make a controversial choice and cast a non-British actor for the first time.

Josh Hartnett would be an excellent choice for this, as he’s always been able to balance serious drama with witty humor in a similar style to the early James Bond actors. He’s also been making a cultural resurgence recently with appearances in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and M. Night Shyamalan’s Trapso this could be the major role that his comeback is leading towards.

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Robert Aramayo

Known For The Empty Man & The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power

Robert Aramayo is another actor whose name hasn’t been thrown around too frequently in these casting discussions, but he could bring a very specific style to James Bond that would help usher the franchise into its new era. The actor is best known for playing Elrond in Amazon’s The Rings of Power serieswhich could prove beneficial for his chances now that the studio controls James Bond.

However, it’s been confirmed that Aramayo will return for The Rings of Power season 3’s cast – which could hold him back from committing to Bond. If Amazon truly does intend on turning James Bond into its next big priority, with multiple spin-offs and prequel shows, it may not be the best idea to cast such an important actor from their other big property in the lead role.

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Nicholas Galitzine

Known For The Idea Of You & Red, White and Royal Blue

Nicholas Galitzine is one of the latest additions to the list of James Bond candidates, but he could prove to be an inspired choice – particularly if Amazon is looking for a younger version of Bond. Thanks to Bond’s death at the end of No Time To Die, the simplest path forward for this franchise is a complete reboot that ignores the existing movies and starts again from the beginning. This is why the producers are looking for a younger actor, and Galitzine could do a brilliant job of playing Bond during his early years.

Galitzine’s charming performances in The Idea of You and Red, White & Royal Blue have already proven that he’s got the charisma and youthful energy necessary to pull off this era of James Bond’s story. Additionally, his existing relationship with Amazon makes his involvement in their vision for this franchise even more likely.

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Fabien Frankel

Known For House Of The Dragon & The Serpent

When Daniel Craig was cast in Casino Royale back in 2006, he was nowhere near the global star that he is today. While it’s unfair to say that he was “unknown”, he only had a couple of projects under his belt and wasn’t as recognizable as some of the candidates he was up against. If Amazon wants to achieve a similar thing with their new version of James Bond, casting House of the Dragon’s breakout star Fabien Frankel could be the way to go.

Frankel appeared as Criston Cole in HBO’s House of the Dragon seriesand his character displays a similar kind of bravery and stoicism that audiences currently associate with James Bond. He’s charming and likable, but he’s also proven that he can give dark performances when the script calls for it. At just 30 years old, Frankel would be another ideal choice for a younger James Bond.

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Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Known For Kickass & Bullet Train

Aaron Taylor-Johnson was the frontrunner to play James Bond before Amazon’s sudden acquisition of the franchise, but there’s nothing to suggest that his chances have diminished at all. The British actor has appeared in some of the most successful and dynamic action movies of the past few years, from Bullet Train to The Fall Guybut he’s also got a level of prestige from films like Nosfer that could get critics on his side.

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Johnson also has plenty of experience working on big-budget studio movies, thanks to The requirement The Hunter and Avengers: Age of Ultron – both of which are parts of long-running franchises with huge fan bases. This makes him a very safe choice for the role, but safe could be exactly what Amazon is looking for if they’re planning a huge renovation of the series.

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John Boyega

Known For Pacific Rim Uprising & Star Wars: The Force Awakens

John Boyega is another example of somebody who can please critics and general audiences at the same time. While many fans will recognize him as Finn from the Star Wars sequels, he’s also appeared in some lesser-known indie films like Breaking and They Cloned Tyrone that performed well critically. This could be the secret ingredient for Amazon’s next James Bond.

Boyega was one of the James Bond frontrunners in the months after No Time To Die’s release, but the actor’s chances have seemingly diminished in the years since then. But the recent Amazon acquisition has clearly shaken up the race, and this could be the perfect opportunity for the British leading man to make himself known again. It’s also been over five years since the end of the Star Wars sequels, so the timing is perfect for Boyega to enter his next franchise.

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Jack Lowden

Known For Slow Horses & Dunkirk

While some actors are considered for James Bond on the grounds of their personality and reputation, others manage to spark the idea through roles they’ve played in the past. This is the case with Jack Lowden, whose role in Apple TV’s spy drama Slow Horses quickly made audiences realize he’d be perfect for James Bond. Although Slow Horses was renewed for season 6 and may involve Lowden for several more years, there’s no reason he can’t do James Bond at the same time.

Though Jack Lowden is Scottish (not English, like James Bond himself), this has never stopped the casting department before; Sean Connery was famously Scottish, while Pierce Brosnan was Irish. Additionally, Lowden fits perfectly into the desired age range – and his acclaimed work on Slow Horses has already proven that he’s perfect in this specific genre.

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Dev Patel

Known For Slumdog Millionaire & Monkey Man

Dev Patel isn’t a name that’s frequently associated with the action genre, but this all changed with his filmmaking debut Monkey Man in 2024. Straight away, this project cemented him as an indisputable action star capable of leading an incredibly dark, complex narrative on his own. This is exactly the kind of star power needed for James Bond.

Patel would also be an excellent choice if Amazon is looking for somebody with more accolades under their belt; the actor was nominated at both the Golden Globes and Academy Awards for his work in The Personal History of David Copperfield and Lion respectively. His dramatic work is just as engaging as his more physical action roles, which could make for a very compelling iteration of James Bond.

James Bond

The James Bond franchise follows the adventures of British secret agent 007 as he combats global threats. With a license to kill, Bond faces off against various villains and criminal organizations, employing high-tech gadgets, espionage, and charm. The series spans multiple films, featuring exotic locations, thrilling action sequences, and memorable characters. Bond’s mission to protect the world and uphold justice remains central, making the franchise an enduring icon in the spy genre.

Upcoming Films

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