“The Role Of James Bond Is Interesting”: Rumored Bond Actor Belittles Superheroes But Would Star In Bond 26

Harris Dickinson addresses those James Bond rumors while putting down superhero movies. After Daniel Craig bid farewell to the role in 2021 with No Time To Die, the future of the 007 franchise has received a number of surprising updates.

After Amazon shockingly took over creative control of the franchise earlier this year, it was subsequently confirmed that Denis Villeneuve will direct Bond 26. Recently, it was reported that Villeneuve is looking to cast a “fresh face” British actor in his late 20s or early 30s.

During a recent interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Dickinson, who was noted as a potential 007 option this past summer, discusses his relationship to major franchise entertainment. When Horowitz asks whether Dickinson would be open to appearing in a superhero movie, the actor doesn’t seem all that interested. He explains:

“It depends on the role. If I’m being totally honest, I don’t think I’ve seen anything in the last five to 10 years in that universe that has been exceptionally interesting character-wise. The villains, on the other hand, maybe. But, if I’m being totally honest, yeah, working with auteur filmmakers that have a real distinct thing to say intrigues me more, with characters that are more closely related to the real world in some way.

When the conversation shifts to Bond and Villeneuve’s involvement in the next installment, Dickinson is notably more intrigued. “Of course,” he answers after being asked whether he’s thought about 007. Check out his full Bond comment below:

The role of James Bond is interesting. The circumstances of Bond are interesting. The character, the world, what he goes through, that’s interesting. You have a director like Denis, there’s no doubt that they’re going to be…yeah.

What This Means For James Bond 26

Harris Dickinson at the London premiere of Urchin

A recent Bond update suggested that audiences shouldn’t anticipate any major Bond casting announcements for quite a while. Villeneuve is currently working on Dune: Part Three, with his shift to 007 and finding the next actor for the role not expected to start until next year. Mid or late 2026, then, seems like when more concrete news could arrive.

At 29, Dickinson is in the right age range, and he also has action movie experience, having appeared in The King’s Man (2021). That being said, Dickinson’s role in that film, and others like Babygirl (2024) and The Iron Claw (2023), means he’s not exactly a “fresh face,” and he will only become a bigger star with his role in the upcoming Beatles biopics.

While it’s not clear whether Dickinson will seriously pursue Bond, reports thus far do mean that several long-rumored 007 candidates could be out of the running. Stars like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, and Henry Cavill, among others, are all too old and too well-known. Even Aaron Taylor-Johnson, at 35, could be too old, and he’s now a much bigger star.

If Villeneuve truly is seeking a “fresh face” for the next Bond, that obviously makes predictions tricky. If true, though, casting would generally align with previous iterations, with most 007 actors having not been major stars prior to taking on the role.

Our Take On Harris Dickinson’s James Bond Comments

Harris Dickinson carrying a wounded soldier as an explosion goes off behind them in The King's Man — Harris Dickinson carrying a wounded soldier as an explosion goes off behind them in The King’s Man

The King’s Man may not have totally connected with audiences or critics, but it does certainly suggest Dickinson has the chops to be an action star. It would be interesting to see him put in center stage as the British superspy.

Even if Dickinson doesn’t end up in the role, Villeneuve’s approach could be an effective one. After how successful and popular Craig’s run as 007 was, the James Bond franchise seems in need of a significant shakeup to kick off a new era. Given his filmography, Villeneuve seems like just the filmmaker for the job.