Ben Whishaw says Bond franchise needs complete reinvention

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 15:22 · Archive

Actor Ben Whishaw, who played Q in three James Bond films, says the franchise needs to be completely reinvented for its next instalment.

Ben Whishaw, who played MI6 quartermaster Q in three James Bond films alongside Daniel Craig, has said the 007 franchise 'needs to be reinvented completely' for its next instalment. Speaking to The Sunday Times, the 46-year-old actor, who first appeared as Q in Skyfall (2012) and reprised the role in Spectre (2015) and No Time To Die (2021), reflected on the future of the series. 'The world has changed so much since the last Bond film so you have to find what is relevant about it,' Whishaw said. 'I think it needs to be reinvented completely. But it's not for me to say.'

Whishaw has confirmed he will not be returning to the franchise for the next phase. The casting process for the new Bond is believed to be nearing its final stages, with Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O'Connor among those reportedly in contention for the role. Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, will write the script for the upcoming untitled film, which will be directed by Denis Villeneuve and produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman.

Whishaw also commented on his Q character, saying he felt 'unsatisfied' because while there was a passing mention of his sexuality, it was not explored further. The actor, who came out as gay in 2013, added that he rarely thinks about Bond. He also noted the secretive nature of working on the franchise, describing it as 'incredibly secretive, almost like being a spy'.

How it is being reported

• James Bond Star Ben Whishaw Confirms He Won't Be In Next Film: 'It Needs To Be Reinvented Completely'James Bond star Ben Whishaw has made it clear that he won’t be returning to the franchise for the next phase in the 007 saga. Ben played MI6 tech whiz Q during Daniel Craig ’s tenure as James Bond, appearing in the films Skyfall, Spectre and No Time To Die. However, while supporting actors like Dame Judi Dench and Desmond Llewelyn have acted in James Bond movies opposite different leads, Ben told The Times that he won’t be one of them. Ben Whishaw in character as Q Looking ahead to the future of the film series, he claimed: “The world has changed so much since the last Bond film so you have…HuffPost UK · 2 Nov, 15:09
• James Bond actor Ben Whishaw says franchise ‘needs to be reinvented’The 46-year-old has starred in three James Bond films alongside Daniel Craig as the character of Q.Evening Standard · 1 Nov, 12:24

In this story: Ben Whishaw · James Bond · Daniel Craig · MI6 · Steven Knight · Denis Villeneuve

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