A major development in the world of James Bond has seen the official resignation of the franchise’s decades-long casting director.
Debbie McWilliams, who cast 007 faves, Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan, has shared with fans that she is hanging up her casting hat and moving on to other things.
The news comes at a crucial time as just last week it was announced that Amazon MGM Studios has taken over full creative control from long-time producers the Broccoli family.
Debbie has played a major part in the Bond franchise, casting the stars of the previous 13 films, including No Time To Die, Die Another Day and even Timothy Dalton’s era, which included Licence to Kill.
In a statement to Screen Daily, she said: ‘I have now hung up my casting hat and have moved on to other film-related projects.’
While her statement was brief and shared little information as to why she has resigned, the news outlet reported that her decision was made prior to Amazon MGM Studios’ acquisition of the creative control.
Going on to discuss the takeover, Debbie said she ‘understands’ why it has happened as half-siblings Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson ‘did not have the appetite’ to produce another Bond film entirely by themselves, especially as it takes at least two years of almost complete dedication to do so.
Despite this, Debbie said it is still ‘sad’ to witness the end of an era and admitted she has no ‘great enthusiasm’ that Amazon will be able to create a film that lives up to the past 007 movies.
As for casting, she shared one tip of advice for the streamer: ‘If they mess with the Essence of Bond, they risk alienating a huge audience. Choosing the actor to fill the role is a huge task and not one I would hand over to subscribers of X.’
It’s advice the streamer would be smart to follow, as Debbie has had a rather successful career in the industry.
In addition to Bond, she has a number of successful films to her name, including the 2017 movie Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, for which she won a CDG Award for best casting in a film.
It has not yet been revealed who will replace her as the Bond casting director, as no details about the next 007 chapter have been confirmed yet, but safe to say fan attention is focused on who the next face of the famous MI6 spy will be.
Current speculation names Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Norton and Idris Elba as front runners, but Amazon is keeping tight-lipped about any decisions that may or may not have been made behind the scenes.
The likes of Callum Turner, Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page, Damson Idris and Theo James are also all rumoured to be possible replacements.
Aaron, 34, quickly shut down rumours in December at the New York premiere of his new Marvel comics action movie, Kraven The Hunter, where he plays Spider-Man’s titular arch-nemesis.
Entertainment Tonight asked the star: ’Another character everyone is dying to see you as is Bond. What do you make of that suggestion that fans have?’
After a quick chuckle, Aaron replied: ‘I would say come see Kraven because that’s what’s out this weekend, and it’s not going to disappoint. I promise you that, guys.’
James, 39, also gave little away when asked about it at the Baftas earlier this month.
Commenting on the bookies’ speculation that he is the frontrunner to play the character, he said: ‘Am I? Whoever’s deciding on these odds needs to get a new job.’
He added: ‘It’s so weird and bemusing.’
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