James Norton calls for men to address “patriarchal crimes of the past” post-MeToo

James Norton, a James Bond hopeful, urges men to confront misconduct proactively in a post-MeToo world.

James Norton, widely rumored to be a frontrunner for the next James Bond, has sparked conversation about men’s roles in addressing societal imbalances in a post-MeToo world. Speaking with Radio Times magazine, Norton reflected on the responsibilities of the “modern man” and the need to confront the “patriarchal crimes of the past.”

“What interested me was the question of what it is to be a modern man, post-MeToo, with the attempt to rebalance the patriarchal crimes of the past,” said Norton, currently starring in Playing Nice, a gripping ITV drama about a hospital mix-up that switched two toddlers at birth.

The Happy Valley star believes that men often mistakenly think they should step back and “become passive” in the face of misconduct. Instead, he argues for a proactive and, at times, confrontational approach. “You have to be proactive and, sometimes, confrontational,” he added, describing the evolution of his character Pete in Playing Nice as he grapples with these very issues.

While Norton hasn’t confirmed the James Bond rumors, he addressed the speculation last year, saying, “It’s lots of quite fun and bemusing media coverage.”

Playing Nice is currently airing on ITV, continuing to showcase Norton’s powerful performances while he advocates for change on and off the screen.