There are a bunch of contenders to be the next actor to take on the iconic role of James Bond, but a new trailer for an upcoming 2024 action movie has proven that one underrated candidate could easily pull it off. Ever since Daniel Craig ended his stint as Bond in 2021’s No Time to Die, fans of the franchise have been eagerly awaiting Eon’s announcement of who will take on the role next. Eon is clearly in no rush to find a new Bond, as they want to get the casting right.
From Richard Madden to Regé-Jean Page to Aaron Taylor-Johnson, there are a ton of suave, charismatic actors currently in contention for the role of Bond. The recently released trailer for the upcoming 2024 action thriller Monkey Man has made one actor more likely to land the part. Monkey Man is a rapid-paced revenge thriller about an antihero with a shady past. The lead role is played by the film’s director, and the trailer essentially plays like a Bond audition tape. But could this actor be cast as 007, and would he even accept the role?
Monkey Man Looks Like More Proof Dev Patel Would Be An Amazing James Bond
Not only does Monkey Man look like an exciting new action movie; it also provides definitive proof that its star and director, Dev Patel, would make an awesome Bond. The movie has intense, nail-biting action scenes and Patel’s performance comes off as naturally cool and intriguingly cold-blooded. He nails the balance of slick and gritty, and he looks good in a suit holding a gun. In other words, he has all the qualities a Bond actor needs to pull off the role.
There are a ton of Bondian moments in the trailer. Patel has a knife fight with two guys in an elevator, he effortlessly takes down a room full of goons, and he weaponizes everything in sight, from a bottle to a kettle to a dislodged sink. His turn in Monkey Man even has Bond’s signature wry sense of humor. He gives a hilariously understated portrayal of the slapstick moment when he tries to jump through a window and the glass doesn’t break.
Could Dev Patel Actually Be The Next James Bond?
While Monkey Man’s trailer certainly makes a compelling case for Patel’s casting as 007, it’s unlikely to actually happen. In an interview with IndieWire, Patel said that he wouldn’t be interested in taking the role of Bond if it seemed like “tokenistic” casting. But if the producers cast him for reasons beyond tokenism, because he’s proven with Monkey Man that he’d be well-suited to the character, then he might reconsider. Whether he plays the part or not, at least audiences will be able to enjoy Patel’s turn as a James Bond-like character in Monkey Man.
