Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming Bond 26 is still searching for its elusive lead actor, and Amazon has recently unveiled a shortlist of ideal actors for the part. This list included Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson, and Jacob Elordi, and certain names have already caused plenty of discussion online. But despite major updates about Bond 26’s production, there’s still no definitive name for the role.

The cast of Bond 26 is one of the most important things to get right, as the actors will likely stick around for several projects as Amazon builds their new franchise from the ground up. That’s exactly why the studio is looking for a younger actor — reportedly somebody in their early thirties — to lead the upcoming sequel.

Jacob Elordi Would Be The First Non-British Or Irish Actor To Play 007 In 56 Years

George Lazenby Was The Only One To Break The Trend

While Amazon’s James Bond shortlist isn’t necessarily the most reliable evidence for who’s going to play 007 in Villeneuve’s movie, it certainly sheds some light on the kind of actors that the studio is looking for. One of the most interesting names on the list was Jacob Elordi, the Australian actor best known for his roles in Euphoria and Saltburn.

The decision to hire a non-British or Irish actor in the iconic role would certainly bring some controversy, but it wouldn’t be the first time that James Bond has been played by an Australian actor. George Lazenby adopted the lead role in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service following Sean Connery’s original run. Since then, Bond has exclusively been portrayed by British or Irish actors.

However, of the actors named on Amazon’s wishlist, Elordi certainly feels like one of the most interesting candidates. With upcoming roles in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, the actor is clearly booked and busy at the moment, but that certainly wouldn’t stop Amazon executives from waiting a little longer for one of their top three choices.

Elordi’s Bond Casting Would Be Controversial For This Reason

Elordi Would Be The Second Australian Bond

That being said, many fans would definitely take issue with James Bond being played by an Australian actor. Not only was Lazenby’s performance met with hugely divisive reviews at the time, but he’s also become renowned as one of the least popular James Bond actors ever — and it’s hard to believe that his nationality has nothing to do with this perception.

James Bond is a quintessentially British character, not just in his history but in the qualities that he stands for in Ian Fleming’s original novels. From his role within the British Secret Service to his stark patriotism and dry humor, Bond’s stories have always felt integrally British since his first appearance in Dr. No. It would be difficult to change this without major backlash from fans.

However, it’s important to draw a distinction between James Bond the character and the actor who’s portraying him. Some of Elordi’s most popular roles have been British or American characters, so there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that he could turn in a wholly convincing portrayal of this English spy.

Would Jacob Elordi Be A Good James Bond?

The Actor Has A Brilliant Filmography

Beyond the actor’s nationality, the most important question to ask when considering who’s going to play the next James Bond is simply whether they’d be suited to the role. There’s no denying that all three candidates on Amazon’s shortlist are very talented at what they do, but whether they could actually embody the spirit of James Bond is a very different question.

The most effective way to speculate on this question is to look at the roles that Elordi has played in the past. While his breakthrough performance in The Kissing Booth doesn’t bring the kind of suave, smooth-talking charm that audiences would expect from the next James Bond, his roles in Saltburn and Priscilla are much more convincing.

These projects both demonstrate the depth of Elordi’s acting talent and prove that he’s got the kind of on-screen magnetism that makes James Bond such a compelling hero. In fact, both of these roles rely on him being charming and charismatic — it’s a major aspect of his Saltburn protagonist, and they’re qualities often ᴀssociated with Elvis that Priscilla really leans into.

Does James Bond Need To Be Played By A British Actor?

The Character May Not Even Be Entirely British After All

Ultimately, the central question of this debate is whether it’s important at all that James Bond is played by a British or Irish actor. This has typically been the case throughout the franchise’s history, with Scottish actor Sean Connery kicking things off in 1962 and Lazenby being the only one to break the trend seven years later.

However, this doesn’t have to be the case. In Fleming’s original novels, it’s even hinted that James Bond has Scottish and Swiss heritage; the focus on Britain was primarily an invention of the movies. This should be evidence enough that other nationalities are more than welcome to play the character, especially when they’re as talented and popular as Elordi.

There would definitely be backlash surrounding the casting, but that shouldn’t stop Amazon from making the most logical decision if Elordi is the man for the job. The studio has the opportunity to push the James Bond franchise into a whole new era, and that’s only going to succeed if they’re willing to take risks and break tradition in certain ways.