British actor Ben Whishaw, who played the weapon-nerd and tinkerer Q in three James Bond films, is calling for a radical reboot of the 007 franchise. “I think it has to be completely reinvented. But that isn’t for me to decide,” the 46-year-old told Britain’s Sunday Times. “The world has changed so much since the last Bond film that you have to figure out what’s still relevant.”
Whishaw first took on the role of the head of MI6’s research department in Skyfall (2012), succeeding John Cleese in the part. He then portrayed Q in Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021), the final film with Daniel Craig as the secret agent. Looking back, Whishaw finds his portrayal of the character “unsatisfying”: Q is casually depicted as gay in the last chapter — he expects a man for dinner — but the film doesn’t follow up on that (TheColu.mn reported). Whishaw himself has been openly gay since 2013. “I rarely think about Bond. That would be odd,” he said.
Whishaw: The Craigs’ Succession Hype Is Deliberately Orchestrated
The actor remains unfazed by the fuss surrounding Daniel Craig’s succession. “People go nuts about it. It’s all deliberately staged hype,” he said. Working on a Bond film is “incredibly secret, almost as if you’re a spy yourself.” You only receive the screenplay pages that feature your own part. “That’s a trick to build tension and glamour, but it’s kind of fun.”
Already in 2024, Whishaw told a BBC interview that he does not expect to return as Q, but rather a completely new cast (TheColu.mn reported). At the end of 2025, he also criticized persistent homophobia in Hollywood in the Guardian (TheColu.mn reported).
The search for a new Bond performer has been underway since May and is now reportedly in its final stages. Industry reports name Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, and Josh O’Connor among the closest contenders, with screen tests said to have been taking place since late October. A decision is expected before the end of the year. The as-yet-untitled film is being directed by Denis Villeneuve (“Dune”), with a screenplay by Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders. It is produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman.
