The Diplomatic James Bond

As the search for the next James Bond continues, True Blood star Alexander Skarsgård has thrown his name into the mix. In a recent interview with The Times, the 48-year-old actor was asked if he’d be interested in playing the iconic spy. His response? “I’m way too Swedish for that.”

However, after learning that Amazon MGM now holds full creative control of the Bond franchise, Skarsgård warmed to the idea of a new direction for the character, saying, “Yeah, I could be a very polite, diplomatic Swedish James Bond, who negotiates.” He jokingly added, “Oh no, there’ll be no violence at all. It’ll just be boardroom meetings where people try to find consensus — very Swedish.”

Skarsgård’s playful take on a more peaceful Bond comes as the Bond franchise enters a new era, following Amazon’s acquisition of creative control in February. This shift could pave the way for a different kind of 007, one that may prioritize diplomacy over action.

The hunt for a new Bond has been ongoing since Daniel Craig’s final performance in No Time to Die (2021). Among the names in the running are Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harris Dickinson, and James Norton, though Taylor-Johnson has distanced himself from the speculation.

The next Bond film is set to break records for the longest gap between installments, which currently stands at over six years. Despite the wait, Amazon MGM has promised a fresh, exciting new chapter in the franchise. “We are committed to honoring the legacy of this iconic character while bringing a fresh, exotic new chapter,” said executives Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll at CinemaCon.

Meanwhile, Skarsgård is set to star in Murderbot, an upcoming Apple TV+ series based on Martha Wells' The Murderbot Diaries, where he plays a rogue security robot.