Austin Butler has firmly taken himself out of the running for James Bond, reigniting the debate about what makes 007 distinctively British.
Speaking on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show, the Elvis and Dune star rejected speculation linking him to the role, declaring that an American Bond would be "sacrilegious".
"I love that man [Denis Villeneuve] but no calls as far as James Bond goes," Butler explained. "I don't think that would be a good idea for me to play Bond — I'm an American. I can do an accent but that would be kind of sacrilegious."
Instead, Butler hinted he might relish another path into the franchise: "Villain? That would be alright! I'd do that."
His comments echo those of fellow American Glen Powell, who earlier this summer also dismissed the idea of an American inheriting Ian Fleming's quintessentially British spy.
Bond has long been considered inseparable from his British roots. Created by Ian Fleming in the 1950s, the character was a projection of Cold War Britain-urbane, resourceful, and rooted in British intelligence traditions.
"Bond is a national symbol, not just a role," film critic Danny Leigh told The Guardian earlier this year, arguing that casting an American would blur the very quality that makes him unique.
Even within the franchise, there is acknowledgement of this sacredness. Villeneuve himself has described Bond as "sacred territory," telling The Guardian in June that his earliest cinema memories involved watching Sean Connery's Dr. No with his father. "I'm a die-hard Bond fan," he said. "To me, he's sacred territory."
The next instalment of the franchise, widely referred to as Bond 26, is moving ahead under significant new leadership. As reported by The Guardian, Villeneuve has been confirmed as director, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the screenplay.
This creative pairing marks the first film in which Amazon MGM Studios, which assumed control of the franchise following its 2022 acquisition of MGM, will exercise full creative authority.
Longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson have stepped back, though industry veterans Amy Pascal and David Heyman are on board to guide the project. For fans worried that corporate changes could dilute Bond's essence, Villeneuve's reverence may be the reassurance they need.
With Butler out, speculation continues over the next 007. According to Hello! Magazine, Josh O'Connor, best known for portraying Prince Charles in The Crown, has emerged as bookmakers' favourite.
Meanwhile, Euronews reported that relatively unknown British actor Scott Rose-Marsh has even screen-tested, sparking chatter that producers might take a gamble on fresh talent.
Other contenders remain in the mix. GB News placed Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harris Dickinson, and James Norton among the frontrunners, while names like Theo James and Jacob Elordi continue to surface in industry coverage.
Adding an element of nostalgia, former Bond Pierce Brosnan told Entertainment Weekly last week that he would reprise the role "in a heartbeat" if Villeneuve was directing — even joking about using prosthetics to portray a "senior citizen Bond."
Away from casting, the Bond franchise faces a very real-world fight over its intellectual property. As per The Guardian, Danjaq and Eon Productions — Bond's parent companies — are defending their European trademarks against a challenge from Dubai-based developer Josef Kleindienst, who argues the marks lapsed due to "non-use."
To counter, Bond's legal team has assembled evidence from decades of merchandising, film distribution, and brand partnerships to prove the franchise's continuous commercial life.
The outcome will be closely watched: Bond is not only a cinema mainstay but also a multi-billion-dollar brand stretching into video games, fashion, and tourism.
Butler's rejection of the role illustrates just how carefully actors themselves treat Bond's legacy. His acknowledgment that stepping into 007's shoes as an American would be "sacrilegious" reflects a broader consensus — one echoed by Powell, Villeneuve, and fans worldwide — that Bond is more than a blockbuster hero. He is a national symbol, one of Britain's most enduring cultural exports.
As Amazon seeks to chart a new course, as Villeneuve and Knight reimagine the spy for the 2020s, and as courts weigh the future of Bond's trademarks, one fact remains unaltered: Bond must remain British.
The Aston Martins may evolve, gadgets may get sleeker, and villains may gain new faces — perhaps even Austin Butler's — but the man with the licence to kill will always need a Union Jack stitched into his DNA.
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