Although it might not seem like it at first, we are actually in an interesting intersection of franchise filmmaking right now. And although there are many points of interest worth exploring in further detail, one that particularly stands out is that an uncommon number of big name, blockbuster film franchises are reaching a point of turnover where they need to replace long-running actors in popular series and there is no clear successor to obviously inherit that title.
This is why, for instance, I wrote a 1500 word exploration of who should be the next Wolverine the exact same day that I’m writing a similarly themed exploration of who should take over as the next iteration of James Bond. And they’re not the only ones, either. Ben Affleck is allegedly out as Batman and there’s not an obvious actor to replace him in the DCEU (although Jake Gyllenhaal is evidently on board to do so when and if the current Dark Knight bows out). Until recently, it wasn’t a done deal that Henry Cavill would return as Superman following the last appearance stipulated by his current contract with Warner Bros. Speaking of Warner Bros, they are so utterly uncertain about who they should have stand in for Jared Leto’s Joker that they’re proceeding with multiple Joker movies, each starring a different actor with the apparent intent of acting as multimillion-dollar auditions for the would-be Clown Princes of Crime.
Additionally, a lot of old guard characters across film, tv and comics are being replaced with much more diverse-oriented versions of themselves. The titular protagonist of Doctor Who is now a woman. Rather than going with the original version of the character, the MCU’s Captain Marvel will be Carol Danvers: the woman originally known as Ms. Marvel to differentiate herself from the male character she spun off from. Although it failed to find an audience with its pseudo-grimdark reboot, the latest versions of the Power Rangers were color blindly cast: meaning that they were chosen for their various roles without considering their race or ethnicity (which is how Blue Ranger Billy Cranston was played by a Black man, how Black Ranger Zack Taylor was played by a Chinese man and how Yellow Ranger Trini Kwan was played y a Hispanic woman).
James Bond is no different. With Daniel Craig set to retire as the iconic 007, studio executives are looking to recast the character for future installments of the highly lucrative franchise. And evidently they are not afraid to think outside the box. In addition to the usual parade of White dudes that dominate discussions of the British superspy, names such as Charlize Theron and Idris Elba.
Evidently another name has entered the conversation, and its as exceptionally pedigreed as its would-be competition. David Oyelowo, best known for portraying Martin Luther King Jr. in the critically revered movie Selma, is now in contention for the role: one which he is willing to entertain should it be granted to him.
In a recent interview while promoting his latest feature, the unfortunate-looking comedy Gringo, Oyelowo opined that “Yes, I would consider it, but that doesn’t mean I would do it. I’m an actor who loves playing lots of different kinds of roles, and sometimes when you play such an iconic role, that can be a more challenging thing to do.”
While not a definitive yes, he would without a doubt make one of the best Bonds in recent history: giving it an air not just of suave sexuality, but grounded realism and Human drama. And seeing the character reinvented as something other than the last vestiges of British imperialism entrenched in the Western psyche would be a refreshing change of pace.