Henry Golding is pumping the brakes on James Bond fantasy-casting, arguing that taking on 007 might be less of a dream job and more of a pressure cooker.
Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of his upcoming film The Old Guard 2, the Crazy Rich Asians and Snake Eyes actor told People that playing Bond is “every actor’s kind of nightmare,” mainly because the role comes with an unusually heavy cultural weight and an expectation that you’ll satisfy everyone’s personal version of what Bond should be.
Golding’s point wasn’t that the character is unappealing. It was that Bond is bigger than a part in a movie.
Whoever signs on inherits decades of baggage: comparisons to predecessors, constant scrutiny over looks and “Bond-ness,” and a fanbase that can turn on a dime. Golding even underlined his nerves with a self-deprecating line, joking “Maybe I’m just being cautious,” using a censored insult to describe his hesitation.
He also raised a creative complaint that actors don’t always say out loud: the job can be restrictive. Golding suggested the franchise could be more fun if it expanded its world beyond one lead agent—more 00s, more space to play, fewer constraints tied to the single, iconic figure of Bond.
All of this lands at a moment when the Bond series is in a real transition period, which only increases the pressure on whoever gets cast next. Industry coverage has reported that Denis Villeneuve is attached to direct the next Bond film, ushering in a new era for 007 on the filmmaking side as well.
Golding’s comments also echo a broader pattern you’re seeing from actors around the same time: a lot of them don’t want the Bond job as badly as the internet assumes. It’s not just the tuxedo and the Aston Martin; it’s the years-long commitment, the nonstop attention, and the reality that you don’t control the narrative once the speculation machine starts.
What makes Golding’s take useful is that it’s honest about the trade-off. Bond can be career-defining, but it can also swallow your calendar and your public identity. And because the franchise is in rebuild mode, the next actor won’t just be judged on performance—they’ll be judged as a symbol of where Bond “should” go next.
Whether or not Golding is actually in the running is beside the point. His quote captures why so many credible candidates stay vague, downplay interest, or politely step away. Bond isn’t a normal role. It’s a global brand with a face attached. And as Golding basically admitted, that’s a lot to volunteer for.
