A former James Bond movie director speaks about whether any past candidates should be re-considered for the next 007. The most recent James Bond movie, 2021’s No Time to Die, saw Daniel Craig make his final stint as the iconic 007 agent. For years, the search has been underway for an actor to play James Bond in the upcoming Bond 26. Several names, including Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Mescal, and Idris Elba, have been floated over the years, but no one has officially been chosen yet.

In an interview with ScreenRant for his new movie Cleaner, director Martin Campbell discussed whether past Bond candidates should be considered for the part. He was asked if there were “any actors that [he] auditioned for Bond in the past that [he] think[s] would be good for this time around.” The filmmaker responded that he does not think so because they are “all too old.” He pointed out that Bond contracts will usually span five movies, making it best for an actor in their 30s to play Bond. Check out the full quote from Campbell below:

No, they’re all too old. They’re all too old. You’ve got to realize that whoever plays Bond will be contracted for five movies, right? So I think you have to have somebody in their thirties, 35, 36, if they’re going to see five films. I mean, look at Roger Moore, I think he was 56 or something by the time he finished his run. I didn’t know how old Pierce was, but they’re going to go on until their fifties, basically. So they always want to get somebody who will be able to do that many movies, and in order to do so, they have to get someone, I think, in their mid-thirties too.

What This Means For Bond 26

Campbell Echoes Past Sentiments

Campbell is an expert in the Bond franchise, so he knows what it takes to make a 007 film. He directed the debuts of Pierce Brosnan and Craig in GoldenEye and Casino Royale, respectively. His statement also aligns with previous comments that franchise producer Barbara Broccoli has made about the search for the new Bond, mentioning the necessity of casting a younger actor who will be available for multiple movies. Combined with Campbell’s statement, this doubles down on the condition that the next Bond will be an actor in their 30s.

These parameters would rule out one of the most popular fan castings of James Bond: Henry Cavill. Not only is Cavill turning 42 this year, but he has previously auditioned to play the character. He nearly won the role had it not been for Craig. While Campbell has hinted at some inaccuracies about Cavill auditioning for Casino Royale, this would rule him out as Campbell does not see any of the past contenders as appropriate choices to play the new 007.

Our Take On This James Bond News

Signs Are Stronger For One More Recent Candidate

While Campbell’s statement rules out past potential candidates like Cavill and Elba, the strict age restriction points to some newer contenders for the part. Paul Mescal, who was recently in Gladiator II, has seen his name floated around. Mescal is 29 years old, so he is a bit younger than Campbell is suggesting, but that might be even better for a series trying to get several films out of a Bond actor. The actor is also rising in his career, so Bond could be a good move, making his candidacy more likely.