Next James Bond still not cast and role remains “wide open”, says MGM boss
It's partly been to allow for Daniel Craig to enjoy his final outing as 007
The next actor to play James Bond in the film franchise has still not been chosen, with an MGM boss saying that the opportunity remains “wide open”.
Pamela Abdy, MGM’s President of Motion Pictures, said in an interview that no decisions have been made yet, partly to allow Daniel Craig to enjoy his final 007 outing in latest film ‘No Time To Die’.
Abdy told The Hollywood Reporter: “It’s wide open. We’ve had very early preliminary conversations with [producers] Barbara [Broccoli] and Michael [G Wilson], but we wanted Daniel to have his last hurrah.”
Idris Elba had long been touted as a favourite to replace Craig however he recently confirmed that he wouldn’t be taking the role.
Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy, Regé-Jean Page, James Norton, Richard Madden are among other British actors that are rumoured to be in consideration for the next 007.
Elba spoke to ITV London in October while on the red carpet for the opening gala of this year’s London Film Festival about the Bond rumours: “No, I’m not going to be James Bond,” he told a reporter.
When pressed on whether he’d like to take the part on one day in the future, he replied: “who wouldn’t?”
Elba was attending the world premiere of his new film ‘The Harder They Fall’, a Jay-Z-produced western with an all-black cast, and responded enthusiastically to the idea of a first-ever non-white Bond. “How amazing would it be to have a black James Bond? It’s a sign of the times when we can stop talking about black, white, and colour.”
Meanwhile, Cavill recently addressed speculation that he could be Craig’s replacement in the franchise, saying “nothing is off the table”.
His ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ director Christopher McQuarrie agreed that he’d “make an excellent Bond”, and while Cavill has remained coy about the possibility, he admitted that he would like to sit down with the Bond producers.
‘The Witcher’ star and MCU Superman actor told the Hollywood Reporter earlier this month; “I think it would be very exciting to have a conversation with the producers.
“In an ideal world, I’d never have to turn anything down. Nothing is off the table. It’s an honour to even be part of that conversation.”