Following Denis Villeneuve’s appointment as the director ofBond 26, the biggest question left unanswered is quite clear. Who will be Daniel Craig’s successor in the role of the charismatic MI6 agent? Of course, we don’t know - so we did the sensible thing and asked an AI Chatbot to tell us who it expects to be the next to take on the role of the famous spy in the world.
As the internet isfull of headlines about who is favorite to play the role of Bond, it was hardly surprising to see a familiar list of names appearing in the chatbot. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Norton, Aaron Pierre, Regé-Jean Page, and – naturally – Henry Cavill all appeared as AI’s personal picks to take on the role. None of these names should come as a surprise to anyone, as they have been constantly switching places at the top of betting odds for months, so not so much a win for AI, but proof of its ability to carry out a search function at the speed of light and repeat what it finds.
James Bond Rumor Claims This Netflix Action Star Is Top Choice for 007 Reboot
The rumor has claimed that the DCU actor is now one of the names being considered to lead Amazon’s James Bond reboot.
However, following today’s rumor thatAmazon is planning on bringing in a younger star to play Bond, we felt it was only fair to specifically ask it to share its views on the best young actor for the role - which it did with a couple of interesting suggestions. Of course, the chatbot does not just tell us who it thinks is right for the role, but attempts to justify those “choices” it has made - not always with accurate or compelling evidence. So, here is a look at what the AI model Bond could be fighting in his next movie knows about its potential future enemy, and how it may have a strong list of names, but not the best reasoning.
The Questionable Credentials of AI’s Top James Bond Casting Candidates
Aaron Taylor-Johnsonhas been the most consistent favorite in the media. It seems that this is part of the reason the AI also selected him as the most likely man for the job, as it states he has “strong inside buzz” and has received “a formal offer” to play Bond. Of course, this is something that doesn’t seem to be true considering it was recently reported that Amazon’s priority was to find a director, write the script, and then cast someone who fits the narrative. Meanwhile, Johnson’s current role in28 Years Laterapparently proves that he is “action ready,” and “he can do grounded stunts.” I’m not sure whether any James Bond is ready to be chased by a zombie with a dangling appendage just yet, but if it comes up, then yes, he seems like the prime candidate.
According to the AI’s summation, Regé-Jean Page has “charisma to burn” and “passes the tuxedo test” thanks to his appearance inBridgerton– or, as it calls it, citingGQmagazine, “a three-season Bond audition in tails.” However, it’s unlikely thatGQever said that considering Page leftBridgertonafter the first season. Oops. There is, however, no way to deny that Page has plenty of charisma, and if you follow the trail of dribbling messes his on-screen appearances have left in their wake - women and men, as no one is immune - then you could find a strong Bond contender at the end of the trail.
Then we have Aaron Pierre, an actor who came from nowhere to become one of the hottest stars in Hollywood after his appearance in the Netflix movieRebel Ridge. Currently, Pierre is filming for his role in the DCU’sLanternsseries, but AI doesn’t think that makes him too busy to also take on the role of Bond – but remember, kids, this is the same AI thatalso thought Denis Villeneuve was going to be tied up for several years onDune: Messiah, so he couldn’t take onBond 26. Double standards at its best. While Pierre has been a popular fan option for a while, according to ChatGPT his Bond credentials include his voice – as it notes, he voiced Mufasa in a Disney series (we will ignore that it was actually a movie) and he meets the requirements of Barbara Broccoli (who is no longer making the decisions about the Bond franchise). So, to summarize this one, Aaron Pierre is a good choice for Bond because he can talk and meet a brief that no longer exists.
Henry Cavill’s Top 8 Action Movies So Far
Let’s go beyond the red cape and dive into the versatile action movie career of one of cinema’s most commanding actors, Henry Cavill.
It wouldn’t be a list of Bond hopefuls - AI-generated or otherwise - without a visit to that old favorite, Henry Cavill. The man who could have been Bond, could be Bond, should be Bond, but probably never will be Bond. The first of those statements is also the first reason for the AI model citing the formerSupermanstar as a good choice – because he failed to be cast the last time. Well, God does love a trier, and so does AI. Of course, that isn’t all: Cavill’s biggest asset is that he has “already sold audiences on [being a] suave, physically imposing spy.” The main problem with this is that it uses the incredibly divisiveArgylleas its comparison. You know, the movie where Cavill seemed to style his hair after Ivan Drago and ended up swinging Dua Lipa around his head by the crotch. Daniel Craig must be kicking himself for not suggesting that for one of his Bond outings.
But what about those younger stars Amazon might be eyeing? While rumors have name-checked Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson as the studio’s shortlist, AI feels that it knows better, naming Hero Fiennes Tiffin as a great choice for having a “Stoic” performance in theAfterfranchise. That is not the kind of words many critics use to describe the lead stars' performances in those movies. Possibly more questionable is that the chatbot feels that the actor being a relative of former Bond franchise star Ralph Fiennes would make for “some good interview banter during press tours.” That’s why so many bad casting decisions are made - not enough thought being put into press banter.
So, all in all, it is fair to say that AI is able to predict the right kind of people for the role of James Bond with ease, but that is only because it is pulling the obvious names that have been reported time and time again as being potential favorites. What it cannot do is come up with accurate reasons why. Having said that, if Amazon’s shortlist turns out to be a true reflection of their casting direction, maybe it would just be better to let AI cast and make the movie after all.
