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Sam Mendes Says Next James Bond Will Be A Shock

The big question everyone’s asking is who the next James Bond will be, with ‘Skyfall’ and ‘SPECTRE’ director Sam Mendes declaring the next 007 will be decided by one person alone.

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Rather than a committee or the public deciding which actor will play Bond, Mendes declared it’s “not a democracy,” saying the choice will be a wildcard that’ll shock everyone.

Speaking at Hay Festival, the Oscar-winning director said the choice of the next iconic spy will be down to producer Barbara Broccoli, and her alone. Trust should be given to the legendary film producer based on the initial scepticism surround Daniel Craig when he was announced as the next 007. Many deemed him miscast, but immediately proved everyone wrong with the superb ‘Casino Royale’.

“The truth is - and here’s the headline: it’s not a democracy,” Mendes bluntly puts it, as he goes on to remind his audience that the next Bond won’t be decided based on public opinion or pressure: “It’s not the ‘X Factor’, it’s not the EU referendum, it’s not a public vote.”

“Barbara Broccoli chooses who’s going to be the next Bond: end of story,” which is something the public forget, as they push for names like Tom Hiddleston or Idris Elba to step into the famed role.

“Without that, there would be no Daniel Craig because public support for Daniel was zero. It was her saying ‘that man over there is going to change the whole thing, I’m going to cast him.’”

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“I can guarantee whatever happens with it, it will not be what you expect. That’s what she’s been brilliant at, and that’s how it’ll survive,” which, going on past Bond casting choices, is totally what’ll happen and, based on this, it seems unlikely that a big, obvious name will nab the role as many predict.

With Hiddleston’s currently the bookies favourite, there are still other names bandied around, including Damian Lewis (’Homeland’) and most recently ‘Bill Elliot’ star Jamie Bell. Outsiders like Dan Stevens (’The Guest’) would be an interesting choice, but looks like we’ll just have to wait until Barbara Broccoli’s made her mind up.

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Picture credit: Brian To/WENN, Eon