TheJames Bondfranchise is currently at a crossroads, but one actor from the past could be the ideal candidate to set up the future. While details about thenextJames Bondmovie remain hard to come by, most fans are focused on who will follow Daniel Craig as the new 007. However, after such a long gap between movies, and Amazon’s takeover creating plenty of unanswered questions, the franchise is under a lot of pressure to hit the ground running for the next era ofBond.This means that the next movie will have to be a hit. Otherwise, there could be some virulent backlash from the fan base.
Choosing the right villain will be an important step in shaping the nextBondmovie. The history of the franchise has proven that thebestJames Bondvillainscan elevate their movies. Naturally, great actors with a flair for playing bad guys are vital, which is something the Daniel Craig era clearly understood. There are many high-profile actors who have the potential to become the next iconicBondvillain, with one possible contender standing out because he already crossed paths with 007 36 years ago, just as his career was taking off.
The Puerto Rican Actor Played A Violent Henchman In Licence To Kill
Benicio del Toro would make a fantastic Bond villain, but he already joined the franchise inLicence to Kill,the second movie to star Timothy Dalton. This shouldn’t be too much of an issue, since theBondfranchise has recycled actors on multiple occasions. Joe Don Baker played an unhinged arms dealer inThe Living Daylightsbefore becoming one of Bond’s CIA allies inGoldenEye,and Charles Gray played one of Bond’s informants inYou Only Live Twicebefore taking on the role of Blofeld inDiamonds are Foreverfour years later. Compared to these examples, a 36-year gap should be more than enough for del Toro.
Licence to Killwas del Toro’s second feature-length movie role, released when he was just 22 years old. After playing various thugs and crooks on American crime shows likeMiami Vice,del Toro was clearly well-prepared for the spotlight, and he brings a lot of menace to the role of Dario. Although Dario is only one of Sanchez’s many henchmen, appearing in a handful of scenes,del Toro’s menacing presence leaves a lasting impression. He brings a hint of sadism to the role, which makes it all the more satisfying when Bond ultimately kills him by dropping him into an industrial shredding machine.
It would take a few more years afterLicence to Killfor del Toro to start gaining more interest. His breakout role in 1995’sThe Usual Suspectsintroduced him to a new level of success in Hollywood, and his career soon took off with subsequent roles inFear and Loathing in Las Vegas, SnatchandTraffic.Since winning an Oscar forTraffic,del Toro has worked in a variety of genres, but he’s often returned to playing villains and morally questionable characters. Returning to theBondfranchise in a larger role would be a poetic move, and it would start 007’s next chapter in style.
Licence To Kill Is Still An Underrated Bond Movie
Dalton’s Second Bond Film Is An Unusual Offering
Licence to Killdeserves more love as one of thebestJames Bondmovies, but it might not be as popular because of how different it is from the rest of the franchise. It’s less of a spy thriller and more of a generic ’80s action movie, with Bond going rogue and seeking revenge for the death of his friend. Over the years, Bond has often been tasked with saving the entire world from destruction, butLicence to Kill’s more personal stakes are just as compelling.Dalton’s second and final Bond movie is one of the franchise’s more emotional, and it works brilliantly.
There are enough familiar touches to makeLicence to Killfeel like a properBondmovie, even if 007’s rogue mission is an anomaly. Along with Q’s gadgets and a dash of romance,Licence to Killhas a great Bond villain. Robert Davi’s chilling performance as Franz Sanchez proves yet again thatmostBondmovies are only as good as their villains.It would be interesting to see Benicio del Toro playing a similarly slimy business type if he were ever to return to the franchise, especially one with Sanchez’s love of theatrics and violence.
