Henry Golding may look the part of a suave British secret agent, but don't expect him to lobby for the next James Bond role.
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In a new interview with People, the Crazy Rich Asians and Old Guard 2 star opened up about the immense pressure tied to the iconic role, and why he's hesitant to chase the tuxedo.
"I think that's every actor's kind of nightmare," Golding, 38, said. "But at the same time, you're also wanting to add something new to a franchise."
Rather than stepping into the well-worn shoes of 007, Golding floated a different idea: expanding the universe.
"Why can't they bring out more agents or more 00s?" he asked. "That would be so much more fun, because there just isn't the restraint and the expectation."
He didn't stop there.
"Maybe I'm just a p--y. I don't know," he added, laughing. "But I think I would love it so much more if there wasn't that overhanging cultural pressure."
Bond Franchise Enters New Era
Created in 1953 by Ian Fleming, James Bond first hit the big screen in 1962's Dr. No, with Sean Connery in the lead role. Over the decades, the MI6 agent has been portrayed by David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and most recently, Daniel Craig.
Craig closed out his 15-year run as Bond in 2021's No Time to Die, sparking a fresh round of speculation about who might step in next.
This week, that conversation gained new momentum when Dune and Sicario director Denis Villeneuve was confirmed to helm the next installment.
"I'm a die-hard Bond fan," the French-Canadian filmmaker, 57, said in a statement. "To me, he's sacred territory. I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come."
Through the Years
While some actors have kept their names out of the Bond conversation, others have had memorable encounters with the franchise. English actor Matthew Goode, 47, recently recalled a cheeky meeting with longtime Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.
"I didn't audition. I went in and met Barbara," Goode said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. "She was like, 'So what's your idea for Bond?'"
Goode pitched a darker version: "We've got to take it back to the books. Make this guy an alcoholic, a drug addict. He hates himself. He hates women. He's in deep pain. He's brilliant at killing people."
The reaction? "I think by the end of the interview, she was like, 'Mhmm. Next,'" Goode joked.
As for past Bonds, Pierce Brosnan weighed in earlier this year with one non-negotiable.
"It's a given," he said. "Bond must be British."
Brosnan, who starred in four Bond films from 1995 to 2002, said he remains proud of his time as 007. "History has been passed on, and I'm very proud to have been part of the legacy."
The next Bond remains uncast. But if Golding has his way, the franchise might grow in a new direction -- with fewer expectations, and maybe more agents holding the license to thrill.
