Why Is It a Given Only British Actors Should Play James Bond?

‘The World Is Not Enough’

One-time James Bond-portrayer (and non-British) Pierce Brosnan said that Amazon needs to cast a British actor in their upcoming Bond films. In an interview with the Telegraph about his concerns about potential change in direction ahead with new creative control, he added that it must not be an American.

A lot of factors will likely enter into Amazon’s choice of the successor to Sean Connery and five other actors portraying 007 since “Dr. No” in 1962 (including the Irish Brosnan and Australian George Lazenby, along with the distinctively Scottish Connery). Star appeal (elusive these days) has never been foremost (though Cary Grant was actually the producers’ initial choice).

But credibility will be, and with Amazon likely to be on the defensive whatever direction they take, figure that they won’t open themselves up to backlash by casting Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise) or Matt Damon (“Jason Bourne”) with an accent. For one thing, in recent years the Bond, “Mission,” and even “Fast and Furious” films have tended to feel like full of overlap (along with overkill), so making moves to reinforce their distinctiveness makes sense.

That said, let’s compare the sacrosanctity of iconic, undoubtedly American roles in past and present. Obviously, far more British actors have played Americans than vice versa throughout movie history. There are key exceptions - Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady,” Kirsten Stewart in “Spencer;” Renee Zellweger had to overcome resistance when cast as Bridget Jones. But these are rare.

For fun here are a range of unmistakeabley American roles in prominent movies, most of which have been among the most-sought offer jobs in film acting, and then how many of the went to British actors, in nearly all cases with no backlash:

Historical characters -

“Lincoln” - Steven Spielberg cast Daniel Day-Lewis to portray the greatest American president. (Walter Huston and Raymond Massey, in two other top biopics, were Canadian).

“Nixon” - Oliver Stone’s choice? Anthony Hopkins. (Hopkins played a second president, John Quincy Adams, in “Armistad.”)

“Vice” - Christian Bale as Dick Cheney

“Selma” - David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr.

Throw in Irish Cillian Murphy as “Oppenheimer,” German-Irish Michael Fassbender as “Steven Jobs” as two more among many other recent examples. All worthy, effective choices. No complaints.

But as big a deal as the Bond films are, they in recent years have been eclipsed in the action/fantasy/adventure world by Marvel and D.C. Comics adaptations, all deeply rooted in American culture. Yet despite this, in recent years:

“Superman” (as in Truth, Justice, and the American way until the slogan was dropped in 2022) - Henry Cavill

“Batman” - Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson

“Spider-Man” (Peter Parker of Queens, NYC) - Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland

These characters are the James Bonds of contemporary American culture.

Resistance to this, if there ever has been any, likely would have been defeated by the what was the most publicized talent search for a role in Hollywood history. When David O. Selznick was looking to cast Scarlet O’Hara, the Southern belle central to the massive late 1930s best seller, he decided against a slew of top American stars and chose the decidedly British Vivian Leigh. The rest is history.

Without making this a think piece (for sure, let others follow up, it’s an interesting topic), why this trend? The U.S. is a country with multiple cultural roots and a history of inclusion (despite a current leadership mindset scared by this). We have a history of welcoming immigrants (may it continue despite obstacles). Perhaps British actors, more often classically trained and with stage experience, have greater skill in adapting to other accents and manners.

Though it might be interesting to see Timothée Chalamet go from Bob Dylan to James Bond (I’d go see it), that’s not going to happen. But the role of villain is open to Americans. Maybe Amazon can look in house and cast Jeff Bezos, playing himself.