There’s been plenty of speculation about James Bond 26 over recent weeks and months, with Amazon seemingly offering more details about who could be playing the next 007 in their upcoming rebooted franchise. Although nobody has officially been cast yet, the film is clearly taking important steps forward in the casting process.

Speculation has run rampant since even before Daniel Craig departed the franchise, implicating a number of actors. It’s gotten to the point where actors have had to publicly address whether they’re truly up for the role, or if they want to be. There has been very little outward progress on the overall search, which took some time off in the aftermath of No Time to Die‘s release in 2021.

Names such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Aaron Pierre, and Henry Cavill have frequently found themselves in the conversation over the past few years, but it seems like Amazon is moving in a slightly different direction for their fresh, original take on 007. As long as the studio can find a Bond actor who fits Denis Villeneuve’s vision for the sequel, the project could be a huge success.

Taron Egerton Is Pushing For A Younger James Bond

Although his name hasn’t been mentioned too frequently of late, Taron Egerton was once considered among the leading candidates for James Bond following Daniel Craig’s departure in No Time to Die. Unfortunately, the actor has firmly dispelled these rumors in recent months by claiming that the role would be “wasted” on him, as it’s not what he’s looking for at this stage in his career.

Although he’s not interested in tackling the role for himself, Egerton was keen to share his thoughts about what kind of actor should be given the iconic mantle for Amazon’s upcoming James Bond reboot (via SlashFilm). Egerton was clear that the studio should be looking for somebody younger and less famous, giving them a chance to break through into the industry and reinvent Bond for a new generation:

I really love James Bond and particularly Daniel Craig’s tenure. But I think I wouldn’t be good at it, and I think there’s so many cool, younger actors who would be great for it. I think it would be wasted on me, probably.

The concept of a Young Bond movie for Bond 26 is nothing new, and judging by Amazon’s reported criteria for the role, it’s something the studio is open to exploring. Neither Villeneuve nor Steven Knight, the movie’s writer, has offered any insight into the time period that Bond 26 will take place in, so it’s still entirely possible the sequel will actually be a prequel.

Egerton’s comments seem to advocate for a very different take on James Bond, and one that pushes the franchise into the future rather than tethering it to the past. There have been lots of incarnations of James Bond already, and Villeneuve’s upcoming movie will need to do something radical and interesting to keep audiences invested in this long-running franchise after so many decades.

A young, unknown actor playing the тιтle role would be a fascinating way of accomplishing this, and it’s not too different from the approach that Eon previously took in casting Daniel Craig. While the actor may be a household name today, that certainly wasn’t the case at the time of his casting. He became famous through the role, which is exactly what Bond 26 should aim for.

There will almost certainly be backlash regardless of who’s ultimately chosen to play Bond in Villeneuve’s movie, but this remains the perfect opportunity to give a young, lesser-known actor their big break in one of the film industry’s most prestigious franchises. The decision should not merely be made on the grounds of who’s the most famous, as certain sources seem to indicate.

It’s Unlikely That Amazon Will Opt For A Lesser-Known Actor

Amazon’s reported shortlist for their ideal James Bond revealed that the studio is seemingly only interested in A-List candidates, with names such as Tom Holland and Jacob Elordi at the top of its rankings. While these actors would definitely be fun choices who could bring their own unique strengths to the role, the prospect of simply casting the most popular choice seems underwhelming.

The actors mentioned on the shortlist certainly aren’t bad choices; they were chosen because of their proven track record, their undeniable popularity, and their box office reliability. They would bring a very dependable audience to Bond 26, and that’s understandably what Amazon is looking for.

However, as Egerton pointed out, this isn’t all that matters when building a franchise from the ground up. Amazon’s new Bond era is said to be a soft reboot of everything that came before, and that means there’s bound to be a rocky start to the franchise – no matter how reliable the chosen actor is.

There will never be a better time to take a risk on a new, young talent than right now. Even if Bond 26 isn’t the mᴀssive success that it could have been with a more high-profile lead actor, the longevity of the franchise will be in safer hands. Just like with Daniel Craig, the time spent with this new James Bond actor should win audiences over.