Credit: MGM/EON ProductionsThe next James Bond film is officially in early development, with Denis Villeneuve (the Dune films) directing and Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) on script duties.
Now, Amazon MGM’s search for the next James Bond could have become considerably more interesting, with one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actresses expressing a serious desire to join the franchise as its next villain.
Related: Henry Cavill Now Top Choice for James Bond as Major 007 Casting Report Emerges
Who Is the Next James Bond?
That actress is Saoirse Ronan — and there’s an intriguing twist: Her husband, Jack Lowden, is currently one of the actors reportedly being considered to become the next 007.
Lowden, best known for Dunkirk, Calibre, and Slow Horses, entered the conversation some time ago, but recently, English TV presenter Richard Osman said on his The Rest Is Entertainment podcast (via Metro) that “someone told me for definite who the new Bond is,” adding, “The name I’ve heard is Jack Lowden,” which has fueled speculation that the 36-year-old Scottish actor may have actually landed the part of 007 in the new film.
However, Osman went on to say, “It is definitively not a ‘he’s definitely got it’ thing. He is definitely being strongly considered. I think he’d be amazing.”
Amazon MGM Studios has yet to announce the actor taking over from Daniel Craig, who starred in five Bond films between 2006 and 2021 (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die). However, auditions are well underway with Nina Gold leading the search.
Now, Saoirse Ronan, 32, whose extensive acting resume includes Lady Bird, Little Women, See How They Run, and Bad Apples, has thrown her name in the ring, telling Empire that she’s “dead serious” about playing a Bond villain in a 007 film. Here are her full comments:
“I want to go dark. I said that I wanted to be a Bond villain and I’m dead serious. I think it would be really interesting, having a young female villain. Especially for girls and women, to see someone who can just take all that pent-up anger and direct it somewhere, there’s something interesting in that dramatically. So I would love to do more of that.”
Ronan as a Bond villain? Sign her up.
There are two massive takeaways from her comments.
First of all, if Lowden does get the part of Bond, and his real-life wife is also given the role of a villain, it would certainly create a very interesting on-screen dynamic between their respective characters.
Secondly, many fans will consider the possibility that Lowden has got the part, as they will question why Ronan is suddenly so keen to dip her toes in the 007 franchise.
For now, it remains to be seen whether either actor has been cast in Amazon MGM’s reboot. Whoever suits up as Bond will follow Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.
There’s no release date for the untitled Bond reboot.
Who do you think the next James Bond will be? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
