Austin Butler Vowed to Perfect His British Accent, Dethrone Henry Cavill’s 007 Years Before Elvis: “The first American James Bond”
American actor Austin Butler has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with his undeniable talent and incredible performances. The 31-year-old actor prominently gained recognition for his portrayal of the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, in the 2022 musical biopic. And the Elvis star has reportedly become one of the potential choices for bringing the MI6 secret agent James Bond, aka 007, on screen.
Daniel Craig was the last actor to portray James Bond in the 2021 action thriller, No Time to Die. And a number of Hollywood stars have joined the list to be the next 007, including Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, and many more. However, long before them, Butler shared that he also wanted to portray the spy on screen.
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Austin Butler Wants to Star in the James Bond Series
James Bond has become one of the most successful and popular franchises. Throughout the years, many different actors have portrayed the iconic character, from the Oscar-winning actor Sean Connery to the latest being Daniel Craig.
With Daniel Craig completing his venture with 007, there are several actors in line to take the mantle after the Skyfall star. Henry Cavill, who lost the role to Craig earlier, is in line to be the next James Bond as well. And Austin Butler is also making his way toward the character, as he expressed his interest in bringing the spy on screen.
During a Teen Vogue Young Hollywood shoot, in 2012, Butler expressed his desire to be the MI6 agent. He shared that he realized his passion for acting at a very young age, saying,
“I realized I wanted to be an actor when I was about 11 or 12.”
Talking about which iconic roles he would like to play, the Masters of the Air star shared that he would like to be the first American actor to play James Bond. “I’d like to be the first American James Bond.” He also shared that he would make sure to do it in a British accent.
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Could Austin Butler be the Next James Bond?
Makers of the James Bond film series have expressed what they’re looking for in the next James Bond. They have claimed that they are looking for an actor in his thirties to take on the role in future films. James Bond Producer Michael G. Wilson has said that they were looking forward to casting a younger actor.
But it would not work with the story as the secret agent is “already a veteran” and has had some experience. “That’s why it works for a thirty-something,” Wilson said. The Bikeriders star fits the age profile the makers are focusing on.
Many also consider that the way Austin Butler worked on his accent for Elvis, he could also pull off a British accent as the popular MI6 agent. However, casting an American actor in the British role could be taken as offensive by Bond fans. So far, the studio has not said anything about who could take on the mantle of 007.
