Austin Butler's Bond Ambition: Reflecting on the Desire to Portray James Bond

Austin Butler reflects on his previous desire to become the first American to portray James Bond. He acknowledges the iconic status of the character created by Ian Fleming, with the inaugural Bond film, Dr. No, debuting in 1962 starring Sean Connery. Over the years, six actors, including Daniel Craig, have brought Agent 007 to life on the big screen, with Craig recently concluding his tenure in No Time To Die in 2021.

While fans eagerly await news on Bond 26, Butler makes an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss his upcoming film, Dune: Part Two. During the show, he reminisces about a Teen Vogue cover shoot from 2012, where he openly expressed his aspiration to be the first American to take on the role of James Bond.

Butler reacts to the clip, exclaiming, "That's crazy! What was I thinking?" He shares, "I grew up loving James Bond." Despite Fallon suggesting that Butler would excel as Bond, Butler dismisses the idea, stating, "Nah, he's gotta be British."

Will James Bond Ever Be Played By An American?

Why It's Unlikely We'll Get An American 007

A Well-Dressed James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) Lies on His Back and Aims His Walther PPK Directly at the Camera in Tomorrow Never Dies - Why It's Unlikely We'll Get An American 007 - Will James Bond Ever Be Played By An American?

In the 60-year film history of Bond, it is true that the character has never been portrayed by an American actor. However, it is interesting to note that 007 has not always been played by a British actor either. George Lazenby, who starred in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, is actually Australian. Similarly, Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed the iconic spy in four films, was born in Ireland and is not British.

There is a precedent for the role of Bond to be played by non-British actors, but no American has been cast in the franchise yet. Among the actors considered frontrunners for the role of 007, there are no American stars in the mix. Names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack Lowden, Damson Idris, James Norton, and Regé-Jean Page from the United Kingdom are reportedly in the running.

Franchise producer Barbara Broccoli recently mentioned to Deadline that there have been no developments regarding Bond 26, stating that "nothing is happening yet." This suggests that fans may have to wait a while for the next film in the series.

Broccoli, the franchise producer, emphasized the importance of having a British actor play Bond in a 2021 interview with THR. As a key figure in the franchise, Broccoli's stance suggests that an American 007 is unlikely to happen in the near future. Despite this, it appears that Butler has moved on from his aspirations of portraying James Bond.

Editor's P/S:

The article explores the notion of an American actor portraying James Bond, a role that has been exclusively held by British actors since its inception. While Austin Butler once aspired to break this tradition, he now acknowledges the importance of maintaining the character's British identity.

The article delves into the history of Bond actors, highlighting that only one non-British actor (George Lazenby) has played the role. It also reveals that no American actors are currently being considered for the role. Franchise producer Barbara Broccoli's emphasis on the character's Britishness further suggests that an American Bond is unlikely in the near future.