MOVIE NEWS – Speculation over the casting of the next James Bond may have cooled slightly, but the race is clearly not over. While Callum Turner still appears to be one of the strongest names in the mix, a far less established actor, Henry Ashton, has now started climbing the rankings in a very noticeable way.
The identity of the next James Bond remains unknown, and there has still been no official confirmation of exactly who Amazon and Denis Villeneuve want to place at the center of the reboot. In recent weeks, however, several names have kept resurfacing. Callum Turner, known from the Fantastic Beasts movies and Masters of the Air, has reportedly been talking as if the role is already his, while Frankenstein and Euphoria star Jacob Elordi is said to have already met with the producers and Villeneuve. Even so, the contest is clearly still wide open.
Now Henry Ashton has begun making a serious move up the board. The actor currently sits at 8-1 in betting speculation, and it is not difficult to understand why interest in him is growing. Unlike Turner, Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, or Theo James, Ashton arrives with a far lower public profile, and that could easily work in his favor if the studio wants a fresher face. On top of that, his blond hair and blue eyes also give him a certain visual similarity to Daniel Craig, which could make the transition feel more natural for audiences.
Ashton is best known at the moment for playing Daeron Targaryen in the ongoing Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He has also appeared in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, My Lady Jane, and Outlander. The English actor stands 6’2″ tall and is 35 years old, which makes him somewhat younger than Craig was when he landed Casino Royale in 2006, but perhaps a little older than some rumors have suggested the studio is targeting. Even so, he still carries the sort of fresh-faced quality that could help launch the franchise into a new phase.
As for the reboot itself, very little is known for certain, but it is already on firmer ground than many expected. After Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepped back, Amazon took over the creative reins, while direction went to Denis Villeneuve, the filmmaker behind Dune and Blade Runner 2049. The script is currently being written by Steven Knight, best known for Peaky Blinders. Plot details remain tightly under wraps, though rumors claim that artificial intelligence could play some role in the story, while the overall goal is reportedly to deliver a bold, fresh and relevant version of 007 for a modern audience. Until an official casting announcement arrives, Henry Ashton will next have a chance to show more of his leading-man credentials when he appears opposite Brendan Fraser in the upcoming World War II drama Pressure.
Source: MovieWeb
