It’s hardly surprising when actors proclaim their desire to play James Bond on the big screen. Aside from the fact that he’s an iconic character at the centre of a legendary film franchise that has run for over fifty years, James Bond is also the embodiment of male wish fulfilment. With his cool gadgetry, exotic locations, unparalleled skill-set, and preternatural seductive abilities, 007 would be an enviable feather in the cap of any celluloid performer, and the latest to throw his hat into that ring is Spider-Man himself – Tom Holland.
Holland is an enthusiastic interviewee, and as such, has previously been heard to announce his desire to play everyone from Bond to Batman. Evidently, his Marvel experience has given him a taste for franchise work. But, while participating in a recent Facebook Live event to promote gift-boxed DVD of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Holland reiterated his Bond ambitions when asked if there is a role he would particularly like to play.
“I’m sure if there’s any like, real die hard fans out there they’ll know the answer to this. It’s James Bond. I really want to be James Bond. Sony makes those movies. I’ve told them to make it happen. I just found out that Daniel Craig, I think, is doing another one. There was big news about it a few months ago and I can’t say I wasn’t a little hurt. Moving on.”
The idea of Tom Holland taking on the big screen Bond mantle is an interesting one for two reasons. Firstly, if he was afforded the opportunity to take on the role after Daniel Craig finally departs the franchise, he would become the youngest actor to portray the secret agent. James Bond has never before been played by a man under the age of 30 – with the youngest version of the character being George Lazenby’s 30 year old Bond in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Tom Holland is currently 21 years old.
Casting a much younger actor would provide the opportunity to really overhaul the James Bond franchise, though – which is something that is arguably necessary in light of the current sea-change we’re experiencing in pop culture. With issues of sexual harassment, sexism, racism, and representation now dominating public discourse – particularly when it comes to film and television – James Bond is a prime candidate for some urgent narrative reworking.
Of course, we know that the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be keeping Tom Holland very busy for the time being – with Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers 4, and a Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel all already on his slate. You have to be in it to win it, though, as they say – and Holland remains adamant about his desire to swing into the James Bond franchise as soon as that lead position becomes vacant.
