The son of a former James Bond actor has given his opinion that the legendary spy should only be played by an English actor. As one of the most successful movie franchises in the world, the James Bond film series has grossed over $7.8 billion globally across 25 different movies, with the first installment being 1962’s Dr. No and the most recent being 2021’s No Time to Die. The latter was Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as agent 007, and his departure has led to speculation about who might be cast in the role next.
Geoffrey “Jaffa” Moore, son of the late Roger Moore, who portrayed Bond from 1973 to 1985, gave his opinion that the next actor should be English, like the character. In an exclusive interview with English newspaper The Express, he claimed it was “ridiculous to hire an American.” Read the musician’s comments below:
“I mean, there’s a lot of talent out there, but he has to be English. It’s ridiculous to consider Bond being an American. You know, even if he’s got a flawless accent, he’s got to be British. It is an English franchise.”
Who Could Be In Contention For The Next Bond?
While an American actor playing Bond would seem highly improbable for such an iconically English role, it is important to note that only two Englishmen have ever portrayed him in the franchise, Craig and Moore. The other Bond actors in the Eon series have been Sean Connery, a Scotsman, Roger Lazenby, an Australian, Timothy Dalton, a Welshman, and Pierce Brosnan, an Irishman. Therefore, there is certainly precedent for James Bond to be portrayed by someone who is not English.
The search for Craig’s Bond successor has received much media attention, though the process will be a slow one. It’s worth noting that Eon coveted Brosnan for the role for several years, and were prepared to wait to make sure they got the right actor for the role; a similar approach could happen here. Some of the popular names being mentioned for the next James Bond are former Superman actor Henry Cavill, James Norton, Tom Hardy, and Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson. There have even been whispers that a woman may be cast in the role, though this seems unlikely.
While there has been no definitive decision regarding casting yet, it remains likely that the next actor to play Bond will indeed be an Englishman, and the rumors would support this. It is an important decision for the future of the franchise, and whomever the next actor may be, they will have big shoes to fill following Craig’s 15-year stay in the role. The popularity and box office success of the James Bond franchise has shown no signs of waning in recent years, but choosing the next 007 wisely will be key for ensuring even greater longevity.
Source: The Express
