Summary

• Speculation on the next James Bond has been rampant since Daniel Craig's departure, with Jack O'Connell emerging as a dark horse contender.
• Jack O'Connell's role in 28 Years Later may bolster his chances to play James Bond, as he is considered a great fit for the iconic character.
• Other actors like Cillian Murphy and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are also in the running, with the potential for a major shakeup in the franchise.

An actor, considered a dark horse casting for the next James Bond, has joined the roster of a $150 million franchise, which improves his odds of landing the 007 role. Since the inception of the James Bond movie franchise, six actors have officially played the role of the iconic spy character in a series of films. Daniel Craig was the latest in the line and, now, he, too, has hung his boots. After he departed from the franchise, many new prospects emerged, but the next James Bond has not officially been announced yet.

Many complex factors will eventually determine who will take on the role of the next James Bond. However, this has not stopped audiences from speculating and fan-casting who they would want to see as the next agent double-0. One of these James Bond prospects is somewhat of a dark horse because, even though he is not a popular casting choice among audiences, he seems to be a great fit for the role. This actor has now landed a part in another $150 million franchise, which seems to bolster his chances of being considered for the highly coveted role.

Jack O'Connell's 28 Years Later Casting Improves His James Bond Casting Odds

28 Years Later Puts Jack O'Connell Under The Limelight

Despite being a talented actor and even receiving a BAFTA Rising Star Award for his brilliant performance in Unbroken, Jack O'Connell has surprisingly not yet landed too many mainstream roles. The actor has been a part of several critically acclaimed movies and shows, like Starred Up, Jungle Land, Lady Chatterley's Lover, and The North Water, but is yet to become a household name. Fortunately, Jack O'Connell has now been cast in Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later, which will help him garner more attention as an actor. His 28 Years Later role could also pave the way for him to become the next James Bond.

28 Years Later allows Jack O'Connell to elevate his acting profile further while being obscure enough to play the next James Bond.

Since Daniel Craig hung his 007 boots, many actors have been fan-cast as the next James Bond. While some contenders, like Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy, and Cillian Murphy, are popular choices, others, like Jack O'Connell, are relatively lesser known. Given how Jack O'Connell has consistently delivered powerful performances throughout his acting career, many consider him a dark horse contender for the James Bond role. The reason being that his casting seems a little unlikely but could work wonders for the film franchise. 28 Years Later allows Jack O'Connell to elevate his acting profile further while being obscure enough to play the next James Bond.

What Jack O'Connell Has Said About His James Bond Prospects

Jack O'Connell Is Open To Playing James Bond Under One Condition

Jack O'Connell, too, caught up with the rumors surrounding his James Bond casting and gave an intriguing response about what he thinks of it. He said (via Total Film) that even though it is not something he would turn his nose up at, he would treat it as any other acting opportunity. Instead of directly accepting the part, he would chat with the director and read the script. If all seems good, he would be open to talking about it and maybe even agree to play the role.

Jack O'Connell's openness to playing the role is great news because the actor not only understands the prestige associated with James Bond but also has the acting talent to capture the iconic character's charisma, intelligence, and intensity.

He also added that being considered for it is an achievement alone, but he would not get his hopes up because of all the variables that come into play during movie castings. Jack O'Connell's openness to playing the role is great news because the actor not only understands the prestige associated with James Bond but also has the acting talent to capture the iconic character's charisma, intelligence, and intensity. Hopefully, 28 Years Later will put more eyes on him and help him rise in the ranks of the long list of actors being considered for the role.

28 Years Later Now Involves 3 Major James Bond Contenders

Jack O'Connell, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, & Cillian Murphy

Other than Jack O'Connell, two other James Bond contenders are part of 28 Years Later's roster: Cillian Murphy and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Cillian Murphy's involvement as an actor has not been confirmed, but he is still involved with the film as its producer. However, given how the Oppenheimer star was previously been open to reprising his role as Jim from 28 Days Later, he might eventually join the film's cast. Owing to his newfound fame from his Oscar-winning performance in Christopher Nolan's magnum opus biopic, Cillian Murphy is also among the most fan-casted actors for the role of James Bond.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, too, has been somewhere at the top of the James Bond casting list since his recent appearance in several mainstream films, like Bullet Train, The Fall Guy, and Tenet. Although no confirmations surrounding the James Bond casting have been made yet, rumors suggest that the offer is already on the table for Taylor-Johnson. However, without an official announcement surrounding the new James Bond casting, other prospects like Cillian Murphy and Jack O'Connell still stand a chance.