As the 007 casting speculation reaches across the pond, Austin Butler is taking himself out of the running.
The Oscar nominee admitted it “would be kind of sacrilegious” for him to play the British MI6 agent as a California-born-and-raised actor, despite his willingness to work with his Dune: Part Two (2024) director Denis Villeneuve again.
“No calls as far as that goes, but I love that man,” he told Hits Radio UK. “Would I play James Bond? I don’t think that would be a good idea. Because I’m an American. I can do an accent but that would be kind of sacrilegious.
Butler continued, “Those movies meant so much to me, but I think that it’s gotta be somebody who is from [England].”
On the other hand, “Villain? That would be alright. I’d do that.”
Glen Powell previously gave the same answer, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “A Texan should not play James Bond.”
In June, Amazon MGM Studios officially tapped Villeneuve to direct the next installment, and last month, Steven Knight was announced to write the film amid the studio’s new 007 partnership with returning producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Tanya Lapointe will executive produce.
After announcing that Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce the next film in the franchise, Amazon MGM’s Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll said at CinemaCon in April that the pair of “filmmaking legends” is currently in London working on the film.
“We are committed to honoring the legacy of this iconic character, while bringing a fresh, exhilarating new chapter to audiences around the world alongside Amy and David,” said Valenti, head of Film, Streaming and Theatrical. “They are both in London getting started and couldn’t be here tonight, but we wanted to thank them for what we know will be an incredible partnership. Thank you, Amy and David!”
Daniel Craig played the iconic role in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021). Following previous Bond stars Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan, Craig’s successor has not yet been chosen.
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