Henry Golding says stepping into James Bond would be “every actor’s kind of nightmare,” describing the strain of inheriting cinema’s most scrutinized tuxedo during a red-carpet chat at Netflix’s The Old Guard 2 premiere in Los Angeles on 25 June. The 38-year-old added that he would “love it so much more if there wasn’t that overhanging cultural pressure,” floating the idea of fresh double-0 agents to ease expectations.
His remarks arrive as Amazon MGM reshapes the franchise: on the same day, the studio confirmed Denis Villeneuve as director of Bond 26 and executive producer alongside Tanya Lapointe, promising “new missions to come.” The appointment follows February’s joint-venture deal that gave Amazon creative control while longtime stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson remain co-owners, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing.
Casting, however, remains an open question. Aaron Taylor-Johnson again dodged queries at the London premiere of 28 Years Later, fueling talk that he tops the shortlist. Fan polls continue to tout Idris Elba, Theo James and Timothée Chalamet, reflecting a wide betting field that has only broadened since Villeneuve’s hire.
Golding, Malaysian-British and once a bookmakers’ favourite after Crazy Rich Asians and Snake Eyes, points to that speculation when noting that public chatter can eclipse performance and that wider representation among 00s could refresh the brand. Producer Barbara Broccoli has long echoed the need for reinvention, saying in a 2023 interview that the team has “a big road ahead” before modernising the spy for his next era.
Industry anecdotes underline how exacting the brief remains: Matthew Goode recently recalled pitching a grim, substance-addicted Bond to Broccoli, only to leave without an audition. With Villeneuve’s schedule locked until Dune: Prophecy wraps, analysts such as ScreenRant estimate that the new 007 will not step before cameras before late 2026, giving Amazon roughly a year to reveal its choice.