George MacKay sparks surprise twist in new Bond hunt

George MacKay has ruled himself out of stepping into James Bond’s famous tuxedo, but don’t rule him out of the franchise just yet.

The 34-year-old Pride actor has revealed that while he doesn’t see himself as the next suave superspy, he would “quite like the idea of a villain” in the long-running 007 series.

Notably, he’s got a very specific vision for it too and that is a classic Bond baddie who gets to steal the spotlight, deliver the best lines, and go out in spectacular style.

“I quite like the idea of a villain — maybe a one and done, chew the scenery a bit, come be part of it, get the best scenes and then get killed!” he told Variety, clearly enjoying the darker side of the franchise.

The 1917 star would be following in the footsteps of Bond’s most memorable enemies, from Mads Mikkelsen in Casino Royale to Javier Bardem in Skyfall, and more recently Rami Malek in No Time to Die.

Behind the scenes, the Bond machine is gearing up for its next chapter. 

Amazon MGM Studios now has creative control of the franchise, with acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve directing and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the script.

The 26th Bond film is expected to begin production at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, though the new 007 has yet to be announced. 

A casting search is officially underway, with names like Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jacob Elordi all rumoured to be in the mix.

Even Canadian actor Paul Anthony Kelly has thrown his hat into the ring, joking about his lack of a British accent but insisting he’s ready for the challenge.

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