Summary
The status of everything revolving aroundJames Bondis seemingly up in the air these days, with no news on where the franchise is heading after Daniel Craig’s last outing inNo Time to Dienearly 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.
SinceBond’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 likeThe SaintandOSS 117existed 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, andJason Bourneeven exist? Would we have beloved parodies like theAustin PowersandJohnny Englishfilms? TheSpy Kidswould merely be normal kids, and theKingsmanwould 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.
Luckily for spy fans around the world, Alexander Skarsgård is ready to pick up the slack.During a recent interview withThe 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 attempt 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 headlininga new franchise of spy filmsis 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 likeThe Legend of Tarzan,Battleship, andGodzilla vs. Kong, but Skarsgård’s ability to thrive in action sequences shines through. 2022’sThe Northmanis 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 likeBig Little Lies,Succession, andTrue Blood, and you’ve got the makings ofthe 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. TheupcomingMurderbotserieson Apple TV+ seems to be more his style. Still, as fans twiddle their thumbs waiting for the nextJames Bondupdate, perhaps the idea of Skarsgård leading a new spy franchise can be a fun thought experiment to waste some time.
