Summary
- James Bond sparked an enduring love for spy films worldwide, inspiring many franchises and parodies we know today.
- Alexander Skarsgård (perhaps jokingly) sees opportunity to provide a new spin on the spy genre fueled by his military past and sense of diplomacy.
- Skarsgård's versatility in action and drama roles positions him well to headline a future spy franchise or series.
The status of everything revolving around James Bond is seemingly up in the air these days, with no news on where the franchise is heading after Daniel Craig's last outing in No Time to Die nearly five years ago. Amazon and MGM are taking their sweet time with Bond, but one international star is willing to fill the void with his own brand of spy.
Since Bond's big screen debut in the 1960s, the spy thriller has become a beloved genre of filmmaking. It turns out professional espionage is an endlessly fruitful subject matter. While ongoing series like The Saint and OSS 117 existed before 007 ordered his first martini onscreen, Bond ignited the flame that has been burning ever since. Without James Bond, would Lupin the Third, Ethan Hunt, and Jason Bourne even exist? Would we have beloved parodies like the Austin Powers and Johnny English films? The Spy Kids would merely be normal kids, and the Kingsman would be without their super cool gadgetry. There is a reason James Bond has been holding on in some form or fashion for over sixty years now.
James Bond Should Return To A Former 007 For The Next Movie, And This Is Why
The next James Bond movie should look into a former 007 to provide a fresh take on the iconic spy.
Luckily for spy fans around the world, Alexander Skarsgård is ready to pick up the slack. During a recent interview with The Times of London, Skarsgård brought up his former military service: "I did it because I was 19, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I wanted to be James Bond for 18 months." When the interviewer suggested Skarsgård could Bond it up on the big screen, the actor took the idea and ran with it. "I could be a very polite, diplomatic Swedish James Bond who negotiates," he exclaimed. "There’ll be no violence at all. It’ll just be boardroom meetings where people try to find consensus, everyone’s stressed out, and desperately tries to avoid an argument or complications... That’s very Swedish."
Alexander Skarsgård May Not Be Perfect For James Bond, But He Could Headline His Own Spy Series
Skarsgård was having a bit of fun in that interview, but the idea of him headlining a new franchise of spy films is not all that outlandish. The Swedish star's filmography is filled with examples of the acting prowess one needs to take on that kind of load. Say what you want about the overall quality of films like The Legend of Tarzan, Battleship, and Godzilla vs. Kong, but Skarsgård's ability to thrive in action sequences shines through. 2022's The Northman is less of a traditional action movie and more of a prestige drama, but the same can be said of Skarsgård in that film's fight scenes as well.
Throw in the serious dramatic chops he has shown off in projects like Big Little Lies, Succession, and True Blood, and you've got the makings of the next big action star on the block. Skarsgård's answer to him being questioned about a spy franchise suggests he's less inclined to do a serious take on the genre, though. The upcoming Murderbot series on Apple TV+ seems to be more his style. Still, as fans twiddle their thumbs waiting for the next James Bond update, perhaps the idea of Skarsgård leading a new spy franchise can be a fun thought experiment to waste some time.
James Bond Will Never Change, But Helen Mirren's Assessment Could Work
James Bond as a character is unlikely to alter anytime soon, but there is scope for some alterations as Helen Mirren suggested.
Source: The Times of London