Henry Golding has some thoughts on casting the next James Bond!
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Henry Golding has some serious thoughts on the diversity conversation surrounding the casting of the next James Bond now that Daniel Craig has finished his run. Following the conclusion of No Time To Die, the 25th installment in the ongoing franchise, Daniel Craig will no longer be the one portraying Britain’s top spy after first taking on the role over for Pierce Brosnan in 2006. Now, all eyes are on the franchise to see who will be the new James Bond for a new generation. As with many conversations surrounding casting in 2021, the concept of diversity looms large, and Henry Golding knows it.
In fact, the British-Malaysian Snake Eyes star is a favorite among some to take on the role after Daniel Craig. While Henry Golding did not comment on the public’s desire to see him get behind the wheel of Aston Martin, he did recently speak about the process in an interview with TheRadioTimes where he explained that he worries some of the conversation surrounding diversity misses the point of James Bond.
Henry Golding noted that James Bond represents more than just a white man. He notes that Bond is known less for his race and more as a “man of substance,” a man who “has stoic properties” and is a “protector” with a “sensitive side.” Henry Golding explained, “the talk of having to have them be diverse is – it’s great and all, but I think you have to do justice to the source material. He’s such an iconic character.”
In essence, he seems to be arguing to let the best actor who embodies the characteristics of James Bond land the role next. The character means so much more to people than simply being an opportunity to slot in some diverse casting. Having said that, it seems he’s also aware that there are definitely actors of color out there who embody those qualities. Henry Golding’s main point seems to be not to lose the character of James Bond in the larger conversation about diverse casting.
Fortunately, the decision to take Henry Golding’s advice (or just cast him) is rapidly approaching. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, MGM’s Pamela Abdy said that conversations with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson are underway. However, they wanted to wait until No Time To Die was properly in everyone’s rearview mirror in order to let Daniel Craig have his moment and sign off as James Bond. But the espionage genre can’t go without its biggest star for long.
In a different interview with the outlet in September, Daniel Craig noted that saying goodbye to James Bond was more difficult than he expected. While the role took a toll on him thanks to long shoots and the immense pressure of playing such an iconic character, he revealed that he had mixed feelings about ending his run, noting that he will likely feel “bitter” when he sees another actor step into the James Bond role. As for whether or not that new actor is Henry Golding or a different actor who is both diverse and embodies the many characteristics that make James Bond such an icon is now in the hands of the producers.
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