Danny Boyle Endorses Jack O’Connell for James Bond, Reflects on His Canceled 007 Film

Danny Boyle has backed 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple star Jack O’Connell as the next James Bond .

- READ MORE: ‘Ink’ review: Jack O’Connell makes headlines in thrilling The Sun origin story

The search for the new 007 officially began in May and since then, numerous actors have been linked to become Daniel Craig ’s replacement, who bowed out in 2021’s No Time To Die .

According to reports, Tom Holland is unable to pursue the role due to his Marvel contract , while Taron Egerton ruled himself out . Callum Turner has dodged red carpet questions about his involvement in the project and Gary Oldman has backed his Slow Horses co-star Jack Lowden as the next 007 .

Last week, James Bond author Charlie Higson said Jacob Elordi was “too tall” for the role , while Lowden would be an unconvincing choice. “With Daniel Craig you can believe him kicking the shit out of someone. And you’ve got to believe that with Bond.”

Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival this week, Danny Boyle has said he wants Jack O’Connell to play 007 after working together on Ink . “They should cast him as James Bond” (via Variety ).

“I thought he should play Larry Lamb [in Ink ] because he’s weird. Despite the fact that he’s playing a monster, you’re still interested in him. You’re still intrigued by him and he doesn’t repel you,” he explained. “I used to say it’s the same as Al Pacino at the end of The Godfather Part 2 when he has ordered the murder of his brother, and yet you’re still intrigued by Pacino just sitting there all alone.”

Boyle also discussed his scrapped Bond film, which was replaced by Cary Joji Fukunaga’s  No Time To Die . “When they asked me to do Bond, we came up with the story [with John Hodge] and they lost confidence in it. It’s a shame, because it could have been really good.”

However, he’s excited for what Denis Villeneuve will bring to the franchise. “Villeneuve is amazing. Did you see the beginning of [ Dune: Part Three ], which they showed before The Odyssey ? God, if I was directing The Odyssey , I would have thought everybody would be disappointed in my film following it. But obviously, Chris Nolan has more confidence than I have.”

Amy Pascal, who’s producing the new James Bond film at Amazon, has said the new 007 will be cast by the end of the year . “We are being really, really methodical. I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it’s got to be something really different that is a stirring and exciting and different.”

The post Danny Boyle backs Jack O’Connell as next James Bond, discusses his cancelled film appeared first on NME .

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