Netflix Star Vaults to Top of James Bond Race to Lead Amazon’s Reboot
The hunt for the next Bond is on. Amazon is poised to name a new 007 this year, with auditions now in full swing to find Daniel Craig’s successor.
The wait to find out who’s picking up the Walther PPK for the next James Bond is nearly over. After years of everyone and their nan speculating, Amazon seems set to finally announce their new 007 later this year. Cue the usual bookmaker odds, gossip columns, and wild theories — now with a slightly leftfield name in the mix.
Who’s Actually in the Running?
Right now, the bookies are banking on a handful of familiar names: Aaron Taylor-Johnson (28 Years Later), Jacob Elordi (Euphoria), Harris Dickinson (The King’s Man), and Callum Turner (Masters of the Air). What’s thrown a spanner in the works is word from inside the reboot that they’re after a Bond around the 30 mark with (predictably) buckets of sex appeal. You’d think that’d help narrow it down, but apparently not — Taylor-Johnson and Turner are about to age out if that age filter is enforced.
Now here’s the twist: Leo Suter’s name has barged its way onto the list. I’m assuming half of you just said ‘Who?’ And fair play. Suter’s not headline material yet, but if you’ve seen him sword-fighting his way through Vikings: Valhalla (which finished its run earlier this year), you’ll know he’s not short on action credentials or physical presence. He’s also done spots on crime drama Lynley and the odd period piece — so he’s got a handle on drama and romance as well. Looks-wise, he’s got the Daniel Craig factor (all muscle, sharp suit, possibly brooding in a corner somewhere).
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson – Bookies’ favourite (maybe getting a bit old for producers’ tastes)
- Jacob Elordi – Bookies’ favourite
- Harris Dickinson – Bookies’ favourite
- Callum Turner – Bookies’ favourite (also possibly too old for what producers want)
- Leo Suter – New entrant; best known for Vikings: Valhalla
Suter is 32 – just on the edge of that ‘early 30s’ bracket. For what it’s worth, he also happens to have attended a posher school than most Bond villains. Very on-brand.
'Would He Do It?'
Suter hasn’t been shy about the rumours, and earlier this year gave a typically coy British answer to The Times:
"I think it might be somewhere in there, yeah, and I wouldn’t say no... Watch this space."
Which basically translates as 'I’d bite your hand off if they asked, but I’m too well-mannered to seem desperate.' Fair.
The State of the Bond Franchise
It’s not just the actor that’s changing — the whole structure behind Bond is getting a major shake-up. With Daniel Craig’s era ending (in spectacular, if explosive, fashion) in No Time to Die, the world’s most famous spy is heading into uncharted territory.
Amazon MGM Studios are now calling the shots after long-time keepers of the flame Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson bowed out. Cue a mini panic across fandom — though hiring Denis Villeneuve (the bloke behind Dune and Blade Runner 2049) to direct, and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight on script duty, has done quite a lot to calm nerves.
The plan — and again, this isn’t locked in — seems to be a sort of soft reboot: a younger Bond, fresh out of spy school. It all feels very ‘origin story’, which is also what’s coming down the gaming pipeline in 007: First Light later this year.