The next James Bond era is taking shape — and Harry Potter might face off against 007.
Producers are reportedly close to naming the next Bond after secret auditions. But the bigger surprise could be who plays the villain: Daniel Radcliffe.
“Daniel signalled to the new Bond producers that he’s eager to stretch his wings as a villain in the next iteration of the franchise, which will focus on a 007 in his early thirties,” an insider told Closer magazine.
“His interest is being taken seriously, not least because he has a close, long-standing relationship with one of the new producers, David Heyman, who he worked with on the Harry Potter films.”
At 37, Radcliffe has moved far beyond Hogwarts. He’s led films like The Woman in Black, Escape from Pretoria, and played an eccentric billionaire bad guy in 2022’s The Lost City.
The outlet added, “Dan has a relatively recent villain turn on his resumé, in the Sandra Bullock hit The Lost City. Sure, that was a comedic adventure, but Dan’s commitment to that offbeat, bad guy role turned heads and him playing against type helped sell tickets to curious Potter fans all over the world.”
Casting will hinge on chemistry with the new bond. Denis Villeneuve is set to direct, with Steven Knight writing. Production starts in 2027.
Bookies’ favourite for 007 is Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, 36, followed by Callum Turner, 36, Henry Cavill, 43, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 36, Jacob Elordi, 29, Theo James, 41, and Leo Woodall, 29.
Tom Holland is also “a fascinating, still-active possibility.” The source shared, “The fascinating, still-active possibility that Tom Holland could ultimately win the Bond role would shock the world, especially if he were paired with Dan playing his nemesis. Who wouldn’t line up to see Spider-Man face off with Harry Potter in a James Bond movie?” Radcliffe himself isn’t chasing the tux.
“Unlike a lot of his peers, Dan isn’t interested in playing Bond; he says it’s more fun to play the villain. Plus, he wouldn’t have the burden of being the new Bond and all the scrutiny that comes with taking over that character. He could still make a huge impact on the franchise because Bond villains are always memorable.”
Daniel Craig, 58, last played 007 in 2021’s No Time to Die.
