MOVIE NEWS – A former James Bond actor has now offered a surprising response regarding whether he would return to the iconic role following the shocking news that Amazon will take over the creative reins. The studio and streamer are now in charge of whatever direction the next iteration of 007 takes, with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping aside.

Fans have since floated their ideas for where the beloved action franchise should go next, with many wanting the former Bond to return as an aged version of the super spy. The actor himself has now responded to the idea, and based on his answer, it could really happen…

Asked by GQ about the new creative situation that James Bond finds himself in, and whether he would be interested in coming back as an older version of 007, he offered a surprisingly positive response, saying:

“I’ve heard of that. Of course, how could I not be interested? But it’s a delicate situation now. I think it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie, really. I think so. It’s a rather romantic notion and idea, but I think everything changes, everything falls apart. I think that it’s best left to another man, really. Fresh blood.”

While this former Bond actor, who first took on the role in the highly successful GoldenEye in 1995 and starred in several sequels before parting ways with the franchise following the mixed reception of Die Another Day in 2002 (which led to a reboot with Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale in 2006), is not completely opposed to playing an aged 007, he still insists that the series requires “fresh blood.”

At present, we do not know who this “fresh blood” will be. Now that Amazon has taken over the project, major James Bond announcements are expected to arrive much sooner than before. However, the studio did not use the Oscars for a major reveal—to the disappointment of Bond fans. Current favorites for the coveted role include Henry Cavill, Theo James, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, with the former Bond actor previously praising the latter: “I think the man has the chops, the talent, and the charisma to play Bond, very much so.”

While we await further James Bond-related updates, the former 007 star is now preparing to immerse himself in the criminal underworld in the upcoming Paramount+ series, MobLand. The series also stars another former Bond-favorite, Tom Hardy, alongside the legendary Helen Mirren. MobLand, directed by Guy Ritchie, follows the brutal power struggle between two crime families, the Harrigans and the Stevensons. Hardy’s character, a street-smart fixer, finds himself increasingly entangled in a high-stakes, kill-or-be-killed war that threatens to topple entire empires and destroy lives. MobLand is set to premiere on Paramount+ on March 30, 2025.

Source: GQ