Usually, when actors are asked about rumors of them playing such famed and coveted roles asJames Bondthey tend to deflect with modest praise for a previous 007. However, in Richard Madden’s case, theEternalsstar chose to remain in complete suspicious silence on this particular matter.
After Daniel Craig’s tenure overJames Bond’s license to kill came to an end withNo Time to Die, 007 fans are now left to speculate who will take over the role in the future with a long list of candidates that includesthe likes of Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, and Cillian Murphy. However, last week saw a relative dark horse in that race dramatically climb up the betting odds as Madden suddenly was tipped as favorite to become James Bond.
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Madden has always been on the shortlist, especially due to his more recent performances in the British hit seriesBodyguardand1917. However, things took an interesting turn when the actor was questioned about it ata recent event forEternals. From the looks of it, it’s almost as if Madden knows something no one else does with his smile swiftly fading into a subtle smirk and walking away from the reporter.
Those with a sharp ear might even hear the woman accompanying Madden saying what sounds like a sharp “we’re gonna have to move on from that” to put an end to an interaction that will only fuel any 007 rumors. Unlike the other candidates, Madden is not so heavily tied to any other big franchises (not evenGame of Thrones), something that could definitely boost his appeal for James Bond producers.
So, did Madden simply walk away annoyed from a question he’s been getting all week long? Does the actor already know what the future holds for him? Is he even interested in the James Bond role at all? Is he justupset about the bad reviews forEternals? It’s simply impossible to tell. If Madden is cast as Bond, it would mean the role returns to a Scotsman for the first time since the late Sean Connery, which somewhat pays off Bond’s Scottish descent from Ian Fleming’s novels.
As seen inSkyfall,James Bond’s father was Scottish and his mother was Swiss, even though Bond’s upbringing gave him the very English accent he’s famous for. In any case, if Madden is to succeedthe fantastic Craig afterNo Time to Die, he is probably aware he’ll have a dapper tuxedo to fill.
