Debbie McWilliams, the longtime James Bond casting director who helped cast three 007 actors, has dismissed much of the public speculation around Daniel Craig’s replacement.
In a RadioTimes.com interview, McWilliams said most Bond casting rumors make her “die laughing.”
The comments have resurfaced as Amazon MGM Studios moves forward with the next James Bond film, which will be directed by Denis Villeneuve. Casting director Nina Gold is now leading the search for the next actor to play 007.
Euronews, citing Deadline, reported that Villeneuve and producers have started notifying actors who advanced to the next round of auditions, with screen tests expected in August.
McWilliams Said Bond Rumors Make Her Laugh
McWilliams told RadioTimes.com that she does not pay much attention to the constant list of rumored Bond candidates.
“I have a theory, which I’ve trotted out many times, is that when there’s a gap in a newspaper, they fill it with a James Bond story, because they haven’t got anything else to write about,” she said. “Why people can’t just wait and see, I don’t know.”
The article listed actors who have been linked to the role in the press, including Regé-Jean Page, Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Idris Elba, Jack Lowden, Tom Hardy, and James Norton.
She Helped Cast Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig
McWilliams served as casting director on Bond films from the 1980s through Daniel Craig’s run. RadioTimes.com reported that she helped cast Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Craig as James Bond.
She also cast major villains, Bond women, and supporting roles across the franchise. Her Bond credits include The Living Daylights, GoldenEye, and Casino Royale.
McWilliams said Barbara Broccoli wanted Craig early in the Casino Royale process. She said the challenge was proving the choice to everyone else.
She Said There Is No Perfect Bond Template
McWilliams told RadioTimes.com there is no “absolute ideal mould” for James Bond.
She said the casting changes depending on the tone of each film. For Casino Royale, the team wanted a more contemporary feel and a Bond with more menace.
McWilliams said Bond must be athletic and physically credible, but also able to blend into a crowd. “You can’t be Dwayne Johnson,” she said.
Younger Actors Did Not Work for Casino Royale
McWilliams said younger actors were considered before Craig was cast in Casino Royale, but the team moved away from that plan.
“We did look at a lot of younger actors and I just don’t think they had the gravitas, they didn’t have the experience, they didn’t have the mental capacity to take it on,” she told RadioTimes.com.
She said the role brings a “massive responsibility” beyond the part itself. She also said the franchise does not need to cast a famous name, because previous Bond actors entered the role with different levels of public recognition.
The New Bond Search Is in Different Hands
The next Bond actor will be chosen under a different franchise structure. McWilliams has retired from casting, while Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have stepped back from day-to-day creative control.
RadioTimes.com reported that Nina Gold is behind the new casting search. Gold’s credits include Game of Thrones, The Crown, Les Misérables, The Martian, Conclave, Hamnet, and several Star Wars projects.
Amazon MGM Studios said it does not plan to comment on specific casting details during the process, but will share more news with 007 fans “as soon as the time is right.”
August Screen Tests Are Reportedly Planned
Euronews reported that Villeneuve has been calling talent directly as the next audition round takes shape. The outlet said the names remain under wraps.
The report said one source expected producers to test five to seven actors, while another source said the number could be in the tens. Rumored names include Callum Turner, Tom Francis, Harris Dickinson, and Jacob Elordi, but no finalists have been confirmed.
The Guardian reported in April that Amazon MGM film chief Courtenay Valenti urged patience over the announcement and said the studio was taking time with “care and deep respect.”
Valenti named Villeneuve, producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, executive producer Tanya Lapointe, and screenwriter Steven Knight as part of the next film’s creative team.