These are exciting times for James Bond fans. Amazon/MGM, along with director Denis Villeneuve, are about to finally name the next 007. It seems like the race is down to four candidates: Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, and a potential fourth mystery candidate who could be anyone from Jacob Elordi to Jack O’Connell or even a complete unknown. Yet, as a Bond fan, I must admit that none of the choices strike me as too exciting.
Now, here’s the thing – whoever they cast could be amazing, even if the choice initially seems meh. I wasn’t 100% sold on Daniel Craig when he was signed twenty years ago, and he became an outstanding 007. So take my critical breakdown of each with a grain of salt. I would be happy to be proven wrong, but here’s why I think each of the candidates is a tad dull.
Callum Turner
I have nothing against him as an actor. I enjoyed him on Masters of the Air, and especially the romantic comedy Eternity. But Turner lacks any sense of edge or danger. Daniel Craig has this brooding nature that gave him a real edge, and you need that for Bond. I don’t believe Turner has the physical threat needed for the role, with him very much the kind of lead you’d maybe see in a Marvel superhero pic, but not a Bond movie. His one strength is that he’s good in the romance department, but as an action guy? I’m not sold.
Jack Lowden
Another guy who seems way too affable to be 007 and lacks physical threat. Sure, he’s good as a more grounded spy on Slow Horses, but 007 is larger-than-life, and he strikes me as just a nice British bloke who, again, I don’t necessarily buy doing action or being a Bond-like lady killer. He seems more from the Roger Moore school of James Bond, which worked back then because they did lighter movies. But, with someone like Denis Villeneuve directing and Stephen Knight writing the screenplay, you know this is going to be a brooding James Bond movie, and I’m not sure he can cut it.
Josh O’Connor
Actually an interesting, if unusual, choice. Of all of them, he’s the one I think Barbara Broccoli, were she still involved, might go for in that he’s an outside-the-box choice. Again, like Turner and Lowden, I don’t buy him as a physical threat, but unlike the other two, I could imagine him undergoing a huge physical transformation to play the part and totally reinventing himself. He’s also a superb actor, and he was solid in a tougher-than-usual (for him) role as a pugnacious ex-boxer turned priest opposite former 007 Daniel Craig in Wake Up Dead Man. Of the current batch, he’s the most intriguing.
Jacob Elordi
A few months ago, Elordi seemed like a no-brainer. Unlike the other guys, he definitely has the physical threat, and also has the sex appeal. He also dipped his toes into action with The Dog Stars, and even if the movie failed, he had some cool scenes, including a moment where he used a cigarette and some moonshine to set some bad guys on fire. He’s also very broody, but recent reports say he’s no longer in contention. He’s also very young, at only twenty-nine. Maybe he would be a better Bond in a decade?
Dark Horse Candidates
Jack O’Connell
There are a few other guys who have been linked with the part. For me, the most interesting is Jack O’Connell. He’s maybe a little street to play Bond, but he’s more posh in Danny Boyle’s Ink, and has the edge and sex appeal to nail the part. Next to O’Connor, I’d also wager he’s the best all-around actor linked to the role, but would he actually want to do it? His career is already going well, and once you’re James Bond, that’s how you’ll always be remembered.
Richard Madden
A few years ago, he seemed like the logical contender, especially following his turn on the limited series Bodyguard. But he’s had a few big roles since then, including Eternals and playing a Bond-like spy in Citadel, and they didn’t seem to connect with audiences. He’s also forty, and it seems like they want a younger actor (although both Brosnan and Roger Moore were in their forties when they were cast and played Bond for years).
Who do you think should be 007? Let us know in the comments.
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