007 fans are up in arms: an Instagram post is proof enough for them to believe that the next James Bond actor could already be set.
Everyone wants to succeed in this one. No wonder it is currently undoubtedly the hottest, most coveted, and most lucrative vacant position in the film business: we are talking about the role of Agent of His Majesty James Bond 007. After 15 years and five films (“Casino Royale”, “Quantum of Solace”, “Skyfall”, “Spectre”, “No Time to Die”), the Daniel Craig era came to a glorious end in 2021. In his time, Daniel Craig has introduced some traits and character traits that have made his Bond and Bond in general fit for modern society.
The MI6 agent had never before even been portrayed as vulnerable, as emotionally driven, and as human. Sure, Craig’s predecessors were charming, shrewd, and extroverted, but also considerate and extraordinarily intelligent. On the other hand, they were also calculating, manipulative, and sometimes sociopathically inclined. Craig shaped his Bond iteration into a real human being. One trusted his Bond to have a compassionate and emotional side despite all the ice-cold precision in his job and as an agent, to not completely negate every consequence that his actions entail. Not for nothing was Craig’s Bond driven by a desire for revenge. Bond has never been tougher but has never been more sensitive.
For the next actor, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the executives behind the ancestral Bond production company Eon Productions, want an actor in his late thirties. In their opinion, actors who are too young do not have the necessary experience and sophistication to embody James Bond, while actors who are too old might not have the stamina to play 007 for the necessary length of time.
Another requirement is that the actor in question should not have played a defining role before; Bond should not be just one of several well-known roles in his resume, but should stand out from the crowd. In addition, every actor should be aware that Bond will turn his (private) life upside down. You have to be able to deal with this popularity. It must not go to your head. For this reason alone, a stable actor in his late thirties is preferable.
One actor who meets just about all the requirements is Richard Madden. He is British, 36 years old and, above all, a well-known and popular actor, but not a superstar. Currently, the “Game of Thrones” star, who has already made an appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with “Eternals,” can be seen in the new Amazon agent series “Citadel” from “Avengers: Endgame” directors Joe and Anthony Russo, which is available at no additional cost with the Prime subscription.
Richard Madden as the new James Bond: hint or hoax?
With “Citadel” and the 2018 thriller series “Bodyguard,” Madden has delivered two extremely impressive performances that alone could be considered a promising bid for the Bond role. In fact, he is one of the hottest contenders, along with other colleagues such as Ben Barnes, George MacKay, Henry Golding and Joseph Quinn.
Now, he and “Citadel” co-star Stanley Tucci have released a clip via Instagram in which they enjoy a glass of martini in a bar. This is known to be James Bond’s favorite drink. In the clip, Tucci asks Madden what his drink is like, to which he replies, “Excellent:
Needless to say, the fans gush. This is the next Bond actor, the majority is sure. This hint is more than clear, according to the tenor. Others, however, believe that Tucci and Madden are merely joking to fuel the rumor mill. And seriously, no actor would cross conversations that had been treated with a high level of secrecy in advance in such a way. It’s quite possible that Broccoli and Wilson are once again planning the unveiling of Craig’s successor as a big event and certainly wouldn’t appreciate a candidate dropping such hints.
