Following Daniel Craig’s swansong for the James Bond franchise in No Time To Die in 2021, the search for the next actor to play the iconic secret agent is in full swing. While many big names from Idris Elba to Henry Cavill have been thrown into the mix, producer Barbara Broccoli has been playing her cards very close to her chest regarding the casting choices.
Broccoli has also stated on occasion that she did not believe in hurrying through the process, and wanted to ensure that whoever she cast, turned out to be the perfect choice for the role. While eager fans have expressed their impatience, this move has been lauded by members of her fraternity including filmmaker Edgar Wright, who believed that Broccoli’s smart decision to keep the anticipation and suspense going, could be emulated by another big franchise.
Could The MCU Learn A Thing Or Two From The James Bond Franchise?
It’s been two years since Daniel Craig appeared on screen as James Bond for the last time. The hunt is now on for the next big star to take over the reins of the suave 007 spy. Producer Barbara Broccoli though, isn’t in a tearing hurry, and believes that an iconic character like James Bond cannot be cast overnight. While the suspense is too much for a few fans to take, filmmaker Edgar Wright was of the opinion that Broccoli’s tactic was an extremely smart and intelligent one.
The Scott Pilgrim director revealed that the producer had clarity of thought and vision, and knew exactly what she was doing to ensure that the X-factor of the franchise and the character was maintained at all times. Without directly naming anyone, Wright also went on to refer to another iconic franchise in Hollywood, and its failure to keep its audience engaged and invested in its narratives.
While Wright was careful to not mention the franchise by name, it was rather obvious to viewers that he was referring to Marvel. The MCU has been often criticized for inducing superhero fatigue by churning out multiple low quality films in a short time, while also failing to keep their fans excited about what was to come. According to Wright who spoke to Josh Horowitz in the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the MCU and Kevin Feige would do well to emulate the James Bond franchise.
”I think one of the problems with the current franchises, and Im not mentioning any names or anything, is that they announce like massive slates of films and TV shows, and I think that its kind of like, there’s the danger of killing the golden goose”
Wright went on to commend Barbara Broccoli for not falling into this trap, and not being pressurized by outside sources to hurry her decision to cast the next actor for the role.
The Reason Behind The Wait For The Next James Bond
One of the biggest decisions that is still being anticipated eagerly in Hollywood, is the casting of the next actor who will play James Bond. Though it has been two years since Daniel Craig hung up his boots, producer Barbara Broccoli has revealed that she is in no big hurry or pressure to make the next choice. In a statement to Reuters in 2022, Broccoli elaborated on her reasons behind taking it slow, and said,
“We won’t actually be really looking for an actor for some time. What we have to do is start a whole new reinvention, which is what’s exciting about being at this place now.”
It has been a year since this interview and the hunt for James Bond is still on. But knowing Broccoli’s penchant for perfection and her desire to bring in additional nuances to the character’s personality, fans will be eager to see her vision come to light.
Also Read: Henry Cavill’s Upcoming Thriller is His Revenge for James Bond Rejecting Him
