Fans of certain film franchises will dream cast roles when they are vacated. Who would you like to see playing Spider-Man in the next movie? Who should play Batman now that Christian Bale is done? These are conversations that we’ve had in recent memory, AFTER an actor has moved on. But why do so many people continue to make suggestions for a new 007 while the current James Bond is still very much alive and kicking?
Daniel Craig has held down the role of the Spy Who Loved Us for three films (two very good ones), and has his fourth coming to theaters next month in Spectre. And yet, too much talk during the lead up to Spectre’s release has been about who will play Bond next… as if Craig has said that he’s done after this. (He hasn’t. In fact, he has said the opposite.) The latest person willing to offer a 007 replacement, though, is none other than former Bond Roger Moore, who just told IB Times UK that either Hugh Jackman or Damian Lewis should step into the Aston Martin next. O RLY, Mr. Bond?
These names are no real surprise. In fact, both men recently have had their names attached to the James Bond Rumor Mill, with Jackman admitting to an Australian television program that he would seriously consider the offer if it came back around again. He phrased it that way because allegedly, Jackman was approached by the 007 producers to take over the role before they landed Craig, and he passed because he was wrapped up in playing Wolverine – another beloved character – and couldn’t imagine taking on another signature franchise like that. However, his time as Wolverine is about to end, so maybe there can be a shaken martini in Jackman’s future?
As for Roger Moore’s second choice, Homeland star Damian Lewis, he has seen his name sit atop the leaderboard created by UK oddsmakers and gamblers, but there hasn’t been much development beyond that. Fans, meanwhile, have made it clear that they’d love to see Idris Elba in the role, though even Pierce Brosnan admits that the next Bond more than likely will be white and male.
Listen, at the very least, can we all get behind Jessica Chastain’s dream of one day playing a Bond villain? Because that has to be the closest thing to perfection we can imagine at this point. Spectre opens in theaters on November 6. Are you down?
