Austin Butler doesn't want to be James Bond, but leaves the door open to joining the franchise in a different role

While promoting his upcoming film ‘Caught Stealing,’ Austin Butler was asked about possibly taking on James Bond. The question tied back to his role in ‘Dune: Part Two,’ which was directed by Denis Villeneuve, a longtime Bond fan who will soon get his own shot at directing a 007 movie. Butler, though, quickly shot down the idea of playing Bond himself.

‘Would I play James Bond? I don’t think that would be a good idea. Because I’m an American. I can do an accent but that would be kind of sacrilegious,’ Butler said. He has a point: no American has ever played Bond. Even Canadians haven’t been tapped, though Pierce Brosnan (Irish) and George Lazenby (Australian) did get the call.

Butler has quickly established himself as one of Hollywood’s most versatile rising stars, seamlessly moving between Oscar-friendly prestige films like ‘Elvis’ and big-budget blockbusters such as ‘Dune: Part Two.’ At 33, he’s the right age to carry a long-running franchise, and his mix of charisma, intensity, and chameleon-like dedication to roles makes him the kind of actor who could plausibly be considered for James Bond. He brings a suave presence and brooding edge that would fit the iconic spy, and his proven ability to command the screen opposite A-list ensembles suggests he has the gravitas to anchor a global franchise.

Alas, it does not appear to be in the cards. Still, Butler left the door open to one corner of the Bond universe. He admitted he’d gladly play a Bond villain, and honestly, that feels like it could happen sooner rather than later.

(h/t Deadline)