James Bond Producer Explains Why They’re Not Looking for a Younger Actor to Play
James Bond producer Michael G. Wilson has asserted that younger actors are out of the running for 007 because the character is a “veteran,” not “some kid out of high school.”
The search for Daniel Craig’s successor has not yet begun, but Wilson and the rest of the team have an idea of what they will be looking for when auditioning for the role. According to Deadline, the James Bond producer touched on the 007 casting criteria during a recent event at London’s BFI, explaining why “a thirty-something” actor is fitting for the character.
“We’ve tried looking at younger people in the past,” he said. “But trying to visualize it doesn’t work. Remember, Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience. He’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something. He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That’s why it works for a thirty-something.”
The youngest actor to have portrayed 007 is George Lazenby, who was 29 when he filmed On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The rest of the Bond actors were in their thirties and forties when they first signed up for the role, and that doesn’t look set to change. The chosen candidate must also be willing to commit to the franchise for at least a decade.
“We’re not just casting someone for one film. We’re casting someone, hopefully for a decade, at least. It’s a big decision to make, and we’re nowhere near making that decision,” producer Barbara Broccoli previously told The Hollywood Reporter, adding that “any actor that would be thinking about this has got to think about how it would change their life.”
Since Daniel Craig departed the role, there have been several suggestions for who should take over the role and how the franchise could be reinvented. Idris Elba has proven to be a popular choice among fans, even though he previously quelled rumors about it. Dwayne Johnson has also thrown his hat in the ring, but Broccoli seems to have already ruled him out.
Want to read more about James Bond? Find out why some 007 favorites might be too old to play James Bond, and why John Williams would love to score a Bond movie.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.
Read More: James Bond Producer Explains Why They’re Not Looking for a Younger Actor to Play