Casting James Bond - It Won't Be Timothee Chalamet

 Ephraim Belnap

I actually did some research on James Bond casting after watching Goldeneye last year. The ages of every Bond, how long they lasted, how many movies they did, how they exited and entered the franchise. With that, I can give you a few guidelines for how casting Bond will likely go. 

1. The youngest guy to ever play him was 30, and everyone else was at least 38. 

They're not looking for some vital youngster, they're looking for someone with some age on them, who can convey both youth and maturity. So it's probably not gonna be Timothee Chalamet, although he does have dark hair and brooding mannerisms. Cast your eyes upward. 

2. It's probably not gonna be Henry Cavill. 

Henry Cavill tried out for Bond way back when, but unless he makes some big moves regarding his other roles - specifically his lead roles on The Witcher and Superman - he's not gonna get it. Both require too much time and press for him to also do Bond. Unless he gives one of them up, which would be a big deal, he's not gonna do it. And that's not saying he won't. But he hasn't right now. We'll see. 

3.  It needs to be someone with appeal to both men and women 

Not just in the sense of being good-looking. He needs to be likable. Pierce Brosnan especially, had this thing where he could convince you that he wasn't a misogynist, despite how sleazy Bond is. He could radiate, "I'm treating you like a person" energy, which it could be very easy for an actor not to do. Similarly, Craig always managed to not insult anyone with his womanizing. This isn't woke-ism, this is just good business. You attract a wider audience this way, and help the series feel relevant. If Eon Productions still wants to be making bank, they need to hire another guy who can appeal to both men and women successfully. Someone who radiates, "I'm a slut, but I treat you like a person" energy. 

4. It probably won't be Idris Elba. 

I love Idris Elba. He's very talented. But he's fifty. He's getting up there. Being Bond tends to be around a ten-year, high-pressure commitment. And while I can see Elba having enthusiastically gone for it ten and even five years ago, I think it's just a little past the time for him. He's still had a great career, it's not a knock on him. But it's reached the point where I think even he wouldn't be sure about it. I wouldn't bank on him strongly.

So, in conclusion, we're looking for a forty-something, brooding star with strong cross-gender appeal who can also commit for about ten years and bear the weight of a massive, international franchise by himself. There are guys like him out there. Let's see what turns up.