Austin Butler Rules Out Playing James Bond, Calls It ‘Sacrilegious’

 Austin Butler Rules Out Playing James Bond, Calls It ‘Sacrilegious’

Austin Butler, known for his acclaimed role as Elvis and recent sci-fi turns, has taken himself out of the running to play James Bond. During a chat on Hits Radio, he said while he “loves” the idea of working again with director Denis Villeneuve, the role of 007 is something only a Brit should fill—calling it “kind of sacrilegious” for an American to take it.

Butler, 34, didn’t completely close the door on the Bond universe. He hinted that playing a villain could be a possibility—and even welcomed the idea.

This stance mirrors similar comments from actor Glen Powell, who jokingly dismissed his own Bond prospects, citing his Texan roots as a mismatch.

Meanwhile, the next Bond film is already taking shape. Amazon stepped in as the new steward of the franchise, tapping Denis Villeneuve—famous for his work on Dune—to direct. Writers led by Steven Knight are scripting the new installment, but Butler will likely stay on the

 periphery... perhaps lurking in the shadows as a memorable adversary.