The name’s Holland, Tom Holland, and he’s reportedly at the top of Amazon’s wishlist to play the next James Bond. The mere idea has left many fans shaken and stirred – which is exactly why it should happen.
Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, Bond’s longtime caretakers, relinquished creative control to Amazon earlier this year (Jeff Bezos is said to have paid nearly $1 billion for the rights). The news left pretty much everyone despaired and readying themselves for the streamification of Bond, with spinoffs galore.
Months later, there’s good reason to have (cautious) faith: Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to direct the new movie (with Dune’s Tanya Lapointe producing), and they’re not hiring the next actor to take on the mantle until the script is nailed down. There’s a clear level of reverence, an understanding that whatever happens next will be historic; great or terrible.
Nevertheless, what is – and will remain – the biggest question until it’s answered: who will play Bond? Holland is reportedly on Amazon’s radar, and if you’re among the people recoiling at the thought, consider this: that’s why he should be cast.
Tom Holland would be an exciting new James Bond
Let me clarify two things. Firstly, Holland is only attached to the role via a Variety report that claims he’s on Amazon’s wishlist alongside Jacob Elordi (Saltburn, Euphoria) and Harris Dickinson (Babygirl, The Iron Claw).
Secondly, I generally believe that an actor shouldn’t make Bond, Bond should make the actor; it’s a role that’s given every man extraordinary fame they didn’t already have. So, does that make me a hypocrite for saying Holland – who plays Spider-Man, the most popular superhero of all time – should be Bond? “Yes… considerably.”
And, yet, seeing the abhorred reaction to Holland as a potential Bond made me wonder… what if this is exactly what the franchise needs: a well-liked young actor seemingly completely unsuitable for the role.
Lest we forget, the response to Daniel Craig being cast as the secret agent was uproariously negative; tabloids ran headlines bemoaning a blond Bond, and a website literally called “Daniel Craig is not Bond” was launched (and, hilariously, it’s still live today).
Even Timothy Dalton (a shadow candidate for the best Bond ever, but that’s another conversation) wasn’t especially warmly embraced, on account of the fact that many felt Pierce Brosnan was robbed – of course, that was rectified a few years later with GoldenEye.
With one film, Craig proved every naysayer wrong. Casino Royale was a bold, brutal, never-before-seen approach to Bond that’s one of the most seminal, iconic action movies of the 21st century; it’s even Denis Villeneuve’s favorite entry in the franchise.
So, back to Holland. Unlike Craig, who had an icy, sharp screen presence in smaller films pre-Bond, he’s a charming, unintimidating, fresh-faced movie star. He’s also not that tall (5’7”), and with no disrespect, it’s not easy to immediately see him as maybe the most powerful womanizer in all of cinema; Bond needs an edge, and Holland has never been paired with an on-screen love interest like Vesper or Madeline to flex those acting muscles.
This is why he’s perfect. The worst possible thing the next Bond actor could be… is boring; sorry, Henry Cavill is not only way too old (42!), but as dull as the tired demands for Idris Elba and Tom Hardy (all also too old, by the way).
It’s not like Holland is a bad actor. He’s delivered great performances in the MCU (No Way Home features some of his best work, emotionally torn and even physically imposing while remaining very likable). Plus, Holland has already had his Layer Cake moment with The Devil All the Time – if you’ve watched him kick that guy with the car door, you know I’m right.
I know what you’re thinking: “They’ll print anything these days.” But whoever comes next is following the footsteps of perhaps the most beloved Bond ever. The odds are already stacked against him – raise the stakes even more. If you cast Holland, curiosity will eventually emerge from the horror, and if it works, he’ll mature in everyone’s eyes in a suave, distinct portrayal of 007.
Unlike what George Lazenby said, this has happened to the other fellows – it’s almost a rite of passage. And Amazon better hurry up if they want to lock someone like Holland into a 15-year deal; they most certainly don’t have all the time in the world.
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