Actor Alexander Skarsgård has indicated interest in playing a different kind of James Bond, proposing a more diplomatic take on the iconic spy character. His comments follow recent shifts in creative control over the film franchise.
Skarsgård discussed the possibility in a recent interview. While initially stating he was "way too Swedish" for the traditional British spy, he reconsidered after learning that producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have passed full creative control over to Amazon MGM.
He suggested a version focused on negotiation rather than action. "I could be a very polite, diplomatic Swedish James Bond, who negotiates," Skarsgård told The Times.
This proposed version would starkly contrast with the character's history of high-speed chases and combat. Asked if he would use his background in the Swedish national service for action scenes, Skarsgård humorously replied, "Oh no, there’ll be no violence at all. It’ll just be boardroom meetings where people try to find consensus."
Skarsgård is known for diverse roles, including his Emmy-winning turn as Lukas Matsson in the acclaimed HBO series Succession, where he played a disruptive tech billionaire interacting with the Roy family. His career also includes work in Big Little Lies and True Blood.
He acknowledged the shift in the Bond franchise's direction, noting that studio executives Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll recently confirmed at CinemaCon that a new chapter is underway.
The search for an actor to replace Daniel Craig, who ended his run in 2021's No Time to Die, continues. Other names mentioned include Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Skarsgård's pitch highlights the potential for a less conventional interpretation under the new ownership structure of the James Bond films.
He concluded by stating his intention to propose the idea. "I’ll pitch it," he said.
