George MacKay shakes up Bond rumours with surprise villain interest
The 'Pride' actor reveals he’d prefer a 'one and done' villain role over becoming 007
George MacKay has ruled himself out of becoming the next James Bond — but says he would be open to joining the iconic franchise in a very different role.
The 34-year-old Pride and 1917 star revealed that while he does not see himself stepping into 007’s tuxedo, he is intrigued by the possibility of playing a Bond villain instead.
“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, outlining his ideal version of a Bond appearance.
Rather than taking on the franchise’s most famous hero, MacKay said he would prefer the freedom and intensity that comes with playing one of its antagonists — characters often known for stealing scenes and delivering some of the series’ most memorable moments.
His comments place him in the long tradition of acclaimed actors who have portrayed Bond villains, including Mads Mikkelsen in Casino Royale, Javier Bardem in Skyfall, and Rami Malek in No Time to Die.
Behind the scenes, the James Bond franchise is preparing for its next chapter under Amazon MGM Studios, with filmmaker Denis Villeneuve attached to direct and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the script.
The 26th Bond film is expected to go into production at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, although the studio has not yet announced who will take on the role of the new 007.
A casting search remains underway, with names such as Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jacob Elordi all circulating in speculation — while others, like Canadian actor Paul Anthony Kelly, have also jokingly thrown their names into the mix.
