Casting Director, Debbie McWilliams, Rubbishes All Rumours on Next Bond
Debbie McWilliams, the casting director for the James Bond films, has recently commented on the constant rumours and speculations surrounding the next actor to take on the iconic role of 007.
In an interview with Radio Times, she revealed that “no conversation [is] being had at the moment” about who will be Daniel Craig‘s successor. McWilliams expressed her amusement with the constant chatter and said that most of the rumors make her “die laughing”.
“When I hear about who the bookies’ favourites are, and who’s number 15 and all this kind of thing… I mean, it’s just hilarious – and the fact that people are remotely interested is even funnier, I think. It’s a curious phenomenon, is all I can say!”
McWilliams has been involved in casting for the Bond series since For Your Eyes Only (1981), and she believes that the conversation and speculation around who will play James Bond have amplified over the years due to modern press and social media. She also thinks that newspapers use Bond stories to fill gaps in their publications.
“As for who’ll replace Craig after the actor bowed out of the franchise with 2021’s No Time to Die, McWilliams insisted that the search is yet to begin in earnest.”
McWilliams emphasised that there is still a long way to go before any decisions are made, and people should not take the rumours too seriously.
The actors linked to the role in the press have included several big names, such as Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy, James Norton and most recently Luke Evans. But, as McWilliams said, “Why people can’t just wait and see, I don’t know.”
Could be years away from discovering the next James Bond
Debbie McWilliams was never going to reveal anything we didn’t know, and whether she’s being honest or not about discussions on the net Bond, we won’t ever know. It’s been almost 2 years now since Not Time To Die, and with Covid 19 giving the producers more time, it’s actually longer.
It could be another 2-3 years before we hear any news, and all we can do as Bond fans is wait. But what Debbie McWilliams can’t seem to appreciate, it means more to some people than others.
