A complete legend of the world of James Bond, casting director Debbie McWilliams was part of the power behind the 007 throne for forty years.
She first came on board in 1981, with For Your Eyes Only. She remained up to and including the most recent outing, No Time To Die.
She is credited for discovering Daniel Day-Lewis, considered by many the finest actor of his generation.
She was also responsible for recasting the role of James Bond no less than three times, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.
She recently retired, but with the search for a new 007 reaching the final trench, she was asked by The Independent what they should be looking for, what the secret ingredient should be.
She dismissed anyone who is seen as a favorite, which could be taken to include frequent rumor subjects like Callum Turner, Harris Dickinson, or Jacob Elordi.
She said that a degree of being unknown is required. As she puts it:
“…it is absolutely essential that he retains a total enigma…”
As a few Outposters have said, a borderline unknown with a relatively low profile is what is needed here. She specifically says she is not a fan of any of those so far linked with the role:
“I don’t want to see any of them as Bond because we now know so much about them.
We want to know as little about them personally as possible, because that’s what spies are.
We don’t need to know where he goes shopping or who his parents are, or where he lives. We never want to see him at home.
And a vital element of the whole thing is his job description. He’s licensed to kill, and we have to believe that he can do that. If you don’t, then you’ve lost the audience.”
She went on to say that Dalton and Brosnan weren’t particularly well known, and Craig’s career was mainly focussed on independent films before he was cast.
She says the name needs to come “…completely out of the blue”.
McWilliams also talked about Craig being an unpopular choice when announced, and how that all changed the moment Casino Royale came out.
The moral of this story:
“Don’t ask the people who they want, because they don’t know.”
Nina Gold takes over from McWilliams for the next instalment, whenever that arrives. A new Bond is expected to be announced before the end of the year.
