Charlie Higson, the author behind the young Bond series, has spoken up about how the process of selecting the next actor to play James Bond is shrouded in secrecy.
Speaking to the Press Association, Higson said that if an actor is mentioned in the press as “being considered” as the next “007”, it’s a sign they’ve already been rejected.
Charlie Higson reveals how Eon Productions selects the next James Bond and why some rumored actors are likely to be rejected.
The producers of the James Bond franchise, Eon Productions have a reputation for being tight-lipped when it comes to casting decisions and Higson noted that even Daniel Craig’s selection as Bond was a surprise to many. “If you’d been asked in advance, you’d have said, ‘Daniel Craig, James Bond, surely not.’ But then he’s just so good in Casino Royale… any doubts you might have had immediately go out the window,” Higson said.
While Higson doesn’t have any insider information about who might be the next Bond, he did express his personal preference for Happy Valley star James Norton. However, Higson noted that Eon Productions will wait to make the announcement at the right time to get the maximum amount of publicity.
In the meantime, Higson has been commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications to write a new Bond story for the King’s coronation. Titled On His Majesty’s Secret Service, the novel is set two days before the ceremony and sees Bond tasked with stopping a last-minute attempt to disrupt the event by a new villain named Athelstan of Wessex.
This new book comes 60 years after the publication of Ian Fleming’s 10th novel, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and is a nod to the connection between the Bond franchise and the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II famously appeared alongside Daniel Craig in a skit during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London, cementing the long-standing association between the Bond franchise and the British monarchy.
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Despite the secrecy surrounding the next Bond actor, fans of the franchise are sure to be excited by the release of Higson’s new novel. It’s a welcome addition to the Bond canon and a testament to the enduring popularity of the world’s most famous secret agent.