Austin Butler Rejects James Bond May Play Villain

Austin Butler Rejects James Bond May Play Villain

Austin Butler Rules Himself Out of James Bond Role, Open to Villain Part

While Austin Butler recently shone in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two in 2024, the actor has made it clear he won’t be stepping into the shoes of the next James Bond.

Speculation around the casting for the iconic spy franchise escalated after Amazon and MGM Studios announced Villeneuve as the director for the upcoming installment in June. Since then, names from the US, UK, and Australia have all been linked to the coveted role, though the studio has remained tight-lipped about official plans.

In a recent interview with a US media outlet, Butler was asked if he would consider reuniting with Villeneuve for the Bond film. “No calls as far as that goes, but I love that man,” he said. “Would I play James Bond? I don’t think that would be a good idea. Because I’m an American. I can do an accent, but that would be kind of sacrilegious.”

The actor emphasized that the role of 007, a British MI6 agent, should go to someone from the UK. “Those movies meant so much to me, but I think that it’s gotta be somebody who is from [England],” Butler added.

However, he left the door open for another angle: playing a villain. “That would be alright. I’d do that,” he revealed, showing enthusiasm for a darker turn in the franchise.