With James Bond casting underway, several underrated candidates should be in contention to play 007.
Last week, Deadline reported that the next round of James Bond auditions will take place in August, meaning Amazon MGM Studios is one step closer to finding its next 007. The prevailing rumor is that Amazon wants a star to play James Bond, which is why Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, and Harris Dickinson are near the top of the odds lists.
If Amazon were to take a different approach and choose a lesser-known actor for the role of Bond, here are three potential selections.
Underrated candidates to play James Bond
Harry Lawtey
Industry fans will instantly recognize the name Harry Lawtey. The British actor played Robert Spearing for three seasons on the HBO hit drama series. Lawtey quickly became the emotional core of the show, which could translate over to Bond if Denis Villeneuve wants a 007 like Daniel Craig.
Joker: Folie à Deux might have been destroyed by critics, but Lawtey played a convincing Harvey Dent. It also helps that the 29-year-old actor looks impeccable in a suit. Russell Crowe has also endorsed Lawtey, calling the young actor the “future of British cinema.”
Jack Lowden
Unlike most of the actors under consideration to play James Bond, Jack Lowden has experience playing a spy. The 36-year-old has played MI5 agent River Cartwright on Apple TV’s Slow Horses. Lowden has received acting nominations at the Emmys, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes for his performance on the Apple TV show.
Physicality is only one aspect of playing Bond. The ability to catch the eye of women (“Bond girls”) is a major component of the character. Lowden will play the iconic Mr. Darcy in Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. If Lowden can woo audiences as Mr. Darcy, then he should have no problem doing the same as 007.
Tom Blyth
While franchise experience isn’t required, it certainly helps to have headlined a blockbuster based on popular IP. In The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Tom Blyth received positive reviews for his role as Coriolanus Snow, the future president of Panem.
Blyth is a versatile actor, a trait that Bond could benefit from in the long run. The 31-year-old is just as believable playing the lead in a rom-com (People We Meet on Vacation) as he is starring in a Western (Billy the Kid). Blyth will soon showcase his action potential in Watch Dogs, based on the video game series of the same name.