Barry Keoghan says he’d love to step into the shoes of a James Bond villain in the next 007 installment. He is famous for his appearances in The Banshees of Inisherin, for which he won an Oscar nomination, Saltburn, and his chilling performance as the Joker in The Batman. Keoghan loves playing roles that are either incredibly vulnerable or menacing, and he is currently taking on similar characters in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.
Actor eyes iconic 007 antagonist role
Barry Keoghan has quickly become one of the most versatile actors of his generation. Keoghan’s ability to balance intensity with subtlety is probably one of the reasons why he is perfect for a Bond villain. He is different from the over-the-top villains that we used to see in Bond films from previous decades.
For instance, Keoghan can make his audience uncomfortable, which is probably why he would be perfect for a Bond villain. He has a physicality that is quite intimidating.
In a recent interview, Keoghan clarified that he does not intend to play James Bond. He stated, “I don’t think I’d play Bond. It’s such a role that requires you to know certain things… I’d like to come in and do the villain.” Later, Cillian Murphy jokingly added “headline-worthy“.
The timing couldn’t be any better. The next Bond movie is being penned by none other than Steven Knight, the mastermind behind the hit series Peaky Blinders. Keoghan has already worked with Knight on a previous project. Their working relationship has always resulted in extremely engaging stories that focus on character development. This could be a great opportunity for Keoghan to seamlessly transition into the Bond universe by introducing a Bond villain to fans.
Fans now want a character motivated by emotional or psychological struggles rather than schemes for world domination. Keoghan has already proven that he has the capabilities to deliver that. He has a way of bringing depth into every character he plays.
For fans who have witnessed his growth over the years, it is already very hard not to get excited over the idea of Barry Keoghan playing a villain in a James Bond movie, considering that his career trajectory, talent in playing complex psychological roles, and artistic chemistry with Steven Knight are already showing that this is not just a wish but could very well be a reality, not to mention that this is already giving me goosebumps.
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