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Image Courtesy: Deadline
Austin Butler recently put an end to rumours that he would be the next James Bond by declaring, "I'm an American," during an interview with Sam Thompson on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show. It would be quite sacrilegious, but I can perform an accent. He made it apparent that he respects the nationality and tradition of the position, particularly now that Denis Villeneuve is the director and Amazon is running the series.
Image Courtesy: The National Desk
Villeneuve reunion still on the table—Just not as Bond
Butler, who previously worked with Villeneuve on the sets of 'Dune,' was excited by the prospect of collaborating with him once more, even if he ruled out the Bond part. Even though he claimed to 'liked' the director, he reaffirmed his belief that it would not be suitable to take on 007's role. In response, Butler joked that he would be amenable to portraying the antagonist in a Bond movie, saying, "Villain? That would be alright! I'll do that."
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Image Courtesy: Variety
Bond's British ancestry has long been seen as inextricable. In the 1950s, Ian Fleming developed a persona that reflected Cold War Britain—resourceful, urbane, and steeped in British intelligence customs. Earlier this year, movie critic Danny Leigh told The Guardian that "Bond is a national icon, not just a character," claiming that using an American would obscure the exact thing that makes him special.
Americans stepping away from 007—who else?
Butler's comments are similar to those made by fellow American actor Glen Powell, who dismissed interest in the role of James Bond by saying, "A Texan should not play James Bond." Butler, like Powell, expressed respect for the role's customs and the idea that a person with a British heritage should play it.
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Image Courtesy: The News International
Butler is focusing on new projects now that Bond is off the table, most notably Darren Aronofsky's crime drama 'Caught Stealing,' which co-stars Zoë Kravitz and is scheduled for release on 29th August. It is evident that Butler's fame is still growing even without wearing the tuxedo.
