While conversations are still ongoing about who’s going to play the next James Bond in Denis Villeneuve’s upcomingBond 26, there’s an equally important question about who’s going to be the movie’s female lead alongside him. All thebestJames Bondmovieshave a so-called“Bond girl” to keep the secret agent in checkwhile giving the stories a more emotional, personal dimension.
Plenty of names have been thrown into the ring forBond 26, butthe studio has yet to officially cast anybody in this crucial role. Amazon has offered plenty of advice about what they’re looking for in James Bond, but their criteria for the Bond girl have been much less public. Whether the movie goes for anevil Bond girlor a classic love interest, there’s plenty of potential.
6Sydney Sweeney
Starred In Euphoria & Anyone But You
Sydney Sweeney has become one of the leading names in the discussion forBond 26’s female lead in recent months, with certain reports indicating thatshe may be Villeneuve’s top choice for his Bond girl. Although nothing official has been noted,this definitely makes sense given her growing popularityand box office reliability.
Sweeney has tried her hand at countless genres over the past few years, flexing both her dramatic muscles in projects likeEuphoriaandEcho Valley, and she’s capable of more comedic, romantic roles in projects likeAnyone But You.The best Bond girlstypically blend these two styles together, which is why she’s become such a popular choice.
Although Sweeney has never worked with Villeneuve before, the actor will definitely be on the filmmaker’s radar following the recent reports, making her casting increasingly likely. Amazon has also indicated thatthey’re looking for a younger, more A-List actor to adopt the lead roleof James Bond, so it makes sense that the studio would be looking for similar traits inBond 26’s female lead.
5Margaret Qualley
Starred In The Substance & Poor Things
Following her surprise involvement with theJames Bond musical tribute at this year’s Academy Awards,Margaret Qualley’s name has been consistently raised in discussions aboutBond 26’s casting.The actor hasn’t said anything official about her involvement, and the news certainly would have broken by now, but many viewers took her performance to be a not-so-subtle tease about her involvement inBond 26.
Although this doesn’t seem to have been the case,Qualley is still a perfect candidate forVilleneuve’s upcomingJames Bondmovie. The actor is more popular than ever following her Best Picture-nominated filmThe Substancelast year, and she’s got the same charming blend of comedy and drama that makes her a fierce contender.
At 30 years old,Qualley is the perfect age for the filmmaker’s likely younger takeon theJames Bondcharacter. InAmazon’s shortlist for ideal Bond candidates, the studio executives indicated they were looking for somebody in their early 30s to carry the franchise into the future. Qualley could do exactly that.
4Zendaya
Starred In Challengers & Dune
When it was announced that Villeneuve would be directingBond 26, many people understandably looked to the director’s previous filmography to speculate on certain actors that he may bring back for his next movie.The director has a habit of working with the same people on multiple occasions, whether that’s Jake Gyllenhaal inEnemyandPrisonersor Josh Brolin inSicarioandDune.
If the director opts to bring back a returning star that he’s worked with before,Zendaya could be a perfect choice for his Bond girl. Like the previous candidates, she’s the perfect age to perform alongside a younger Bond, and her recent involvement in movies likeChallengersandSpider-Man: No Way Homeproves she’s a huge box office draw.
It’s also worth noting that Zendaya’s partner Tom Holland was among the studio’s top choices for James Bond, so the actress will certainly be on the casting directors’ radars.
This is exactly the kind of A-List star that Amazon will be looking for in their newJames Bondfranchise, and it’s clear that the studio has a certain level of involvement in the casting process. It’s also worth noting that Zendaya’s partner, Tom Holland, was among the studio’s top choices for James Bond, so the actor will certainly be on the casting directors’ radar.
3Zoe Kravitz
Starred In The Batman & Big Little Lies
Zoë Kravitz is somewhat of an outside pick forBond 26’s female lead, but her name has generated some traction over the past few months. The actor first entered the conversation following her performance inThe Batman(which was released shortly afterDaniel Craig bowed out inNo TIme To Die), and has remained there ever since.
Over the past few years,Kravitz has primarily turned her attention to filmmaking, with her directorial debut,Blink Twice,receiving huge acclaim. She will also be returning forThe Batman: Part II, but that sequel is notoriously being held back by constant delays and script rewrites, meaning her schedule should be fairly free.
In terms of her acting style, Kravitz would make for a totally different kind of Bond girl.Her role inThe Batmanallowed her to blend a sharply seductive charm with a more cagey independencethat would be fascinating to see in theBondfranchise. Villeneuve is often praised for his complex female characters, and there’s no reason to believe that will be any different inBond 26.
2Florence Pugh
Starred In Dune: Part 2 & Thunderbolts*
Although Florence Pugh hadn’t worked alongside Denis Villeneuve until his secondDunemovie, the pair have a good professional relationship that could easily make her a strong contender for a role inBond 26.She is among the most acclaimed and popular female actors of her generation, and there would be few more deserving of this coveted franchise role.
Pugh has consistently proven that she’s capable of tackling all genres, with projects likeOppenheimerandDune: Part 2serving as evidence of her more dramatic, nuanced side, while films such asWe Live In TimeandLittle Womendemonstrate a more charming, charismatic dimension. These are key traits ofJames Bond’s female leads.
Florence Pugh and Denis Villeneuve will next reunite onDune: Part Three
Audiences have understandably been looking at theDunefranchise for suggestions about who to cast inBond 26,andPugh seems like the most plausible choice. While actors like Josh Brolin and Rebecca Ferguson have often been tapped as Bond villains, the younger criteria for Bond makes Pugh the most sensible choice.
1Mikey Madison
Starred In Scream & Anora
Following her historic Best Actress win at this year’s Academy Awards,Mikey Madison has become one of the most sought-after talentsin the whole industry. Since winning her award, she has signed up for two projects: a dark crime thriller calledReptiliaand a modern reimagining of Edgar Allen Poe’sThe Masque of the Red Death.
The actor reportedlypassed on a role in Shawn Levy’s upcomingStar Warsproject, meaning there’s plenty of room in her schedule for another major blockbuster franchise. Madison’s role inAnorawas an excellent display of both deep vulnerability and rich charisma, which could make for a fascinating twist on the often two-dimensional Bond girl role.
Villeneuve is known for his deep character work and thematic storytelling, which could definitely separate his upcomingBond 26project from those that preceded it. Madison is exactly the kind of talented, nuanced actor who could bring a more layered dimension to her Bond girl, going beyond the typical “love interest” archetype and digging into something more complex alongside the movie’s new James Bond.
