- James Bond author Charlie Higson has claimed that producers face an impossible task casting the lead character in Bond 26, predicting that public backlash is inevitable regardless of who is chosen to succeed Daniel Craig .
- Higson dismissed bookies' current frontrunner Jack Lowden as an unconvincing choice for the spy, while also noting that actor Jacob Elordi is too tall and Callum Turner has unconventional looks.
- The author stated that while James Bond could certainly be played by a Black actor, the character should never be gender-flipped to a woman because 007's storyline fundamentally revolves around representations of manhood.
- Screenwriter Steven Knight recently hinted that the new James Bond actor has already been secretly cast by producers, revealing that knowing the actor's identity has aided his scriptwriting process.
- The ongoing casting debates mirror the initial backlash faced by Daniel Craig over his blonde hair and rugged appearance before his debut in Casino Royale led to a highly successful 15-year tenure.
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