Speculation surrounding who will play the next James Bond in Amazon’s upcoming reboot continues to run rife, but that choice may have now been made, as a certain favorite has now reportedly moved into “pole position” for the coveted role. Turning to the bookies, Fantastic Beasts and Eternity star Callum Turner continues to lead the pack, but according to several sources, he’s not who the studio has set its sights a little higher. Literally.
During a recent episode of The Rest is Entertainment podcast, journalist Marina Hyde revealed that, according to multiple sources, the role of the next 007 is now Jacob Elordi’s to lose. While Callum Turner remains bookies’ favorite, with other frequent names such as James Norton and Aaron Taylor-Johnson also remaining major contenders, Elordi has now shifted into “pole position” for several reasons.
The first is that, thanks largely to Elordi’s recent role in director Emerald Fennell’s divisive adaptation of Wuthering Heights, the actor has now proven himself as a sex symbol. Which, of course, is required of any 007 worth his salt. Aged 28, Elordi also has time on his side, which will be a requirement as Amazon takes the reins of the franchise and no doubt launches all manner of sequels and spin-offs.
His appeal to Gen-Z has also been highlighted as a crucial selling point, with the Euphoria star able to attract a younger generation as the James Bond series moves into its next chapter. Which, by all accounts, is expected to be a fresh start for the modern age (though potentially with some old-school callbacks too).
However, while Elordi may seem like a slam dunk on paper, two issues potentially arise with his casting. The first being his conspicuous height. Standing at 6’5”, the actor’s stature has served him well in roles like Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights, but he would tower over even the tallest actor to play 007 so far, Timothy Dalton, who measured 6’2”. While not a particularly realistic approach to the spy thriller, is the idea of a 6’5” secret agent who could look the famously gargantuan Jack Reacher in the eye too ridiculous to be believable? The second is the fact he’s Australian, and while this would not be new to the franchise (and he’s proven he can perform an English accent thanks to 2023’s Saltburn), should the franchise play it safe and stick with a Brit as it moves into a new era under Amazon?
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
