1917 and Pride actor George MacKay wants to play a Bond villain, while his Rose of Nevada co-star Callum Turner has been heavily tipped to take over the Bond role from Daniel Craig.
George MacKay wants to play a Bond villain.
While the 1917 and Pride actor has been questioned about his interest in taking on the role of suave super-spy James Bond, he admitted playing the titular character is not his dream job.
However, he would jump at the chance to take on the part of a Bond villain, following in the footsteps of • Toby Stephens, Mads Mikkelsen, Javier Bardem, Christoph Waltz and, most recently, Rami Malek.
He told Variety: “I quite like the idea of a villain — maybe a one and done, chew the scenery a bit, come be part of it, get the best scenes and then get killed!”
Amazon MGM Studios has taken creative control of the James Bond film franchise from its long-time producers Barbara Broccoli, 65, and 84-year-old Michael G. Wilson.
Dune’s Denis Villeneuve, 58, is directing, and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, 66, is writing the script for the movie, which is reported to focus on the threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI).
Recent speculation suggested the untitled 26th Bond film is about to go into production at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, South East England, but a new lead actor has yet to be announced.
Amazon MGM Studios recently confirmed that the audition process has kicked off, saying said in a statement: “The search for the next James Bond is underway.
“While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”
Variety reported Amazon MGM Studios bosses have brought in star casting agent Nina Gold – who has worked on the Star Wars film franchise as well as Les Miserables and The Martian – to help find the next 007.
George’s Rose of Nevada co-star Callum Turner has been heavily tipped to take over the Bond role from Daniel Craig, along with Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jacob Elordi.
But, Paul Anthony Kelly recently threw his name into the ring as Amazon MGM Studios hunts for the next 007, after Daniel Craig, 58, quit the role following the release of 2021’s No Time To Die.
Paul told PEOPLE: “I want to be James Bond.”
Asked if he could do a British accent, the Canadian star joked: “Absolutely not”, before quickly adding: “No, I’m kidding.”
Paul – who shot to fame playing John F. Kennedy Jr. in FX’s Love Story, which told the story of the businessman-and-attorney’s turbulent relationship with publicist Carolyn Bessette Kennedy – sees James Bond as the kind of challenge he is looking for.
He said: “That would be amazing. I don’t know. I’m going with the flow. I think everything is going to be a challenge, and that’s really what I’m after right now is good, challenging, complex, creative characters.”
George MacKay wants to play a Bond villain
