Austin Butler isn't putting on the tux. The Oscar-nominated actor, who stunned audiences as Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two (released March 1, 2024), has made it clear that the idea of him slipping into the role of James Bond is one fantasy Hollywood fans should let go of.
When asked about the rumors during a recent interview with Hits Radio UK, Butler was candid: “No calls as far as that goes, but I love that man [Villeneuve]. Would I play James Bond? I don't think that would be a good idea. Because I'm an American. I could do an accent but I think that would be kind of sacrilegious.”
That last word—sacrilegious—carries a sting. Bond, after all, is one of cinema's most carefully guarded traditions. Since Eon Productions launched the franchise with Dr. No in 1962, six men have worn the 007 badge: Sean Connery (Scottish), George Lazenby (Australian), Roger Moore (English), Timothy Dalton (Welsh), Pierce Brosnan (Irish), and Daniel Craig (English). History shows that being “from England” hasn't always been the strict requirement, but Butler seems unwilling to challenge the orthodoxy.
The timing of the speculation is obvious. In June 2025, producers confirmed that Denis Villeneuve would direct the 26th entry in the Bond franchise. After Butler's magnetic turn for Villeneuve in Dune: Part Two, the internet predictably leapt to connect the dots: Villeneuve + Butler = Bond 26. Butler's own dismissal underlines the disconnect between fan casting and studio reality.
“I think that it's gotta be somebody who is from [England],” Butler elaborated. He isn't wrong—when Craig retired his license to kill with No Time to Die (released September 30, 2021 in the UK and October 8, 2021 in the U.S.), the discussion immediately turned inward, toward who could embody Bond's very British DNA for a new era. Names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson have floated, but no announcement has been made.
Butler, however, isn't closing the door on Villeneuve. Quite the opposite. Asked if he'd step into a darker role, he didn't hesitate: “Villain? That would be alright. I'd do that.” Given how effectively he weaponized charisma and menace as Feyd-Rautha, audiences wouldn't have trouble imagining Butler as a ruthless Bond adversary.
His position mirrors that of Glen Powell, who recently told The Hollywood Reporter that, “A Texan should not play James Bond.” Powell and Butler share a kind of self-awareness missing from many casting fantasies: just because an actor is talented doesn't mean they should reshape cultural icons for the sake of novelty.
Still, the irony is hard to ignore. Connery was Scottish. Brosnan, Irish. Lazenby, an Australian who landed in Bond's shoes after modeling. All non-English, all accepted (some more than others). Butler's refusal feels less about logistics and more about respect for tradition—one that Villeneuve, a French-Canadian filmmaker, will now be tasked with preserving while also reinventing.
The next Bond film has no release date yet, but the pieces are falling into place. Villeneuve's involvement ensures that 007 will enter a more visually ambitious, perhaps even cerebral, phase. Whether Butler enters as a villain remains a tantalizing possibility. And frankly, he might be right—he's far more dangerous on the other side of the gun barrel.
Key Takeaways from Austin Butler's Bond Response
Butler says no to 007. The actor flatly rejected the idea of playing James Bond, citing his American nationality as a barrier.
Villeneuve's Bond era confirmed. In June 2025, Denis Villeneuve was officially announced as director of the 26th Bond film.
A villainous future? Butler expressed interest in playing a Bond villain, leaning into the darker charisma he showed in Dune: Part Two.
Respect for tradition. Butler echoed Glen Powell's stance that Bond should remain in English hands, despite past non-English portrayals.
Franchise in transition. With No Time to Die ending Daniel Craig's run in 2021, the series stands on the edge of reinvention under Villeneuve's vision.
