The James Bond reboot is moving forward, with Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049, Dune, Dune: Part Two) at the helm and Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) penning the script.
The upcoming movie reboot will mark the seventh incarnation of the iconic superspy in the mainline film series, following in the footsteps of Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and, most recently, Daniel Craig.
Craig’s run came to a definitive end in No Time to Die (2021), where Bond died on-screen for the first time in the franchise’s history. A reboot was inevitable, and with Amazon MGM now steering creative control, fans are eager to find out who will don the tux next.
One name that continues to surface in conversation is Austin Butler. The 34-year-old actor, who broke out in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis (2022) and recently appeared in Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two (2024), was asked about Bond during an interview with Hits Radio UK.
However, Butler was quick to dismiss the notion, saying, “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.” He added, “Those movies meant so much to me, but I think that it’s got to be somebody who is from [the United Kingdom].”
Instead, Butler left the door open for a villain role. “That would be alright. I’d do that,” he said.
Related: The First of Two New James Bond Actors Has Been Revealed, but He Won’t Be 007 for Long
However, it’s worth asking whether Butler would even make sense as 007. While he has the charisma, physicality, and intensity required, he may simply be too established. Craig was a relatively known name but not a global star when he took over the role in Casino Royale (2006).
Butler, in contrast, has quickly become a household figure following Elvis and his entry into Villeneuve’s Dune universe. For some fans, Bond works best as a career-defining role rather than an addition to an already stacked résumé.
Meanwhile, other actors have distanced themselves from potential casting as well.
Glen Powell (Twisters) has said that “a Texan should not play James Bond.” Henry Golding (G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes) described the role as “every actor’s kind of nightmare,” and Taron Egerton (The Kingsman: The Secret Service) bluntly said, “I wouldn’t be good at it.”
For now, all eyes are on Villeneuve and Knight as they chart a new path forward for 007.
Do you think Austin Butler would make a good James Bond, or should the actor be British? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!
