Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Even beforeDaniel Craigended his run asJames Bondin 007 inNo Time To Die, the Internet has been abuzz about which actor will inherit the role next. Thecasting ofIan Fleming’s secret agentisn’t something to be taken lightly; while the industry has seen multiple actors playing Spider-Man or Batman at once, the next 007 star will be the sole face of a massive franchise going forward. Bond films are cultural events, and their next leading man is bound to invoke comparisons to past stars likeSean Connery,Roger Moore, andPierce Brosnan. Although MGM and the Broccoli family have a major decision to make,Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagajustproved that Tom Burke is the best choice to play 007 next.Burke’s name isn’t necessarily one that’s been thrown around regularly. Many hardcore fans of the series have lobbied forTom HiddlestonorHenry Cavillto accept the role next, and more recent reports have suggested thatAaron Taylor-Johnsoncould be in consideration to play Bond. Still, Burke’s roles in projects such asThe Musketeers,The Souvenir, andFuriosaprove that he is up to the task of donning the iconic tuxedo.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Given thatMad Max: Fury Roadwas almost instantly hailed as one of the greatest action films of all time, the entire cast ofFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagafaced a significant uphill battle in proving that they wereworthy of taking part in the franchise’s legacy. WhileAnya Taylor-Joy’s fierce, defiant performance as the titular heroine is certainly worthy of praise,Burke managed to stand out amidst the spectacle ofFuriosa. The film contained many over-the-top performances, massive action sequences, and striking visuals; however, Burke was able to give a grounded, nuanced performance that made the stakes of the film feel more personal. This type of level-headed tenacity is the exact quality that has made past 007 stars like Craig and Connery so charismatic.
Being charming is certainly an advantage, butFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagacertainly proved that Burke can handle himself in the action sequences.The Bond franchise is known for its impressive stunts, as many of the best films in the series manage to slip in an exciting chase or gunfight before the credits roll. Burke mastered all sorts of hand-to-hand combat, gunplay, and vehicular chases with his role of Praetorian Jack inFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga. While he’s not necessarily as physically imposing asa character like Immortan Joe, his strategic thinking and attention to detail make him just as dangerous. It’s this type of intelligent, thoughtful approach to action that 007 fans want out of their next star.
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Perhaps the most surprising aspect ofFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagais that while there’s a strong emphasis on the revenge odyssey, there is a sweet and tender core to George Miller’s film. Jack’s desire to help Furiosa find the Green Place and return home to her family makes the film even more emotional; within a few short moments, Burke was able to show the sincerity and emotional intelligence that makes Jack a great character, both on his own and as a love interest for Furiosa.Burke’s ability to bring romanticism to an epic blockbuster indicates he could nail the emotional aspects of 007.
Tom Burke Has an Impressive Resume
Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagawill certainly give Burke more exposure to a mass audience than any of his previous work had. However, his resume is already stacked with roles that indicate why he’d be perfect to play 007.Burke had already shown that he could reinvent a classic literary characterwith his star-making performance as Athos in the underrated BBC adventure seriesThe Musketeers. There have been multiple adaptations ofAlexander Dumas’ classic adventure novel, with actors likeKiefer Sutherland, Matthew Macfadyen,andJohn Malkovichall adding their interpretations of Athos. However, Burke showed the gracefulness, intelligence, sincerity, and wry sense of humor that made the character so beloved; it’s not a stretch to suggest that these qualities could be inherited by the Bond universe.
In recent years, the Bond franchise has stepped up by hiring established auteur filmmakers likeSam MendesandCary Fukunaga.While it may be challenging to both fit within the parameters of a franchise role and appease a stylized filmmaker,Burke has already proven that he can work with acclaimed filmmakers. Between his disturbing role inNicholas Winding Refn’scontroversial revenge epicOnly God Forgivesand his understated performance as the titular gruff detective inStrike, Burke has shown that he can work within a variety of styles and genres.
‘The Souvenir’ Proved Burke Could Be Both Suave and Troubled
Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagais certainly a star-making performance for Burke, but he also proved his capabilities as a dramatic actor inJoanna Hogg’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama,The Souvenir.Burke’s role inThe Souveniris that of a troubled, brooding loner who has a complex relationship with women. There are moments in the film where Anthony is put in a vulnerable position due tohis extreme addiction issues; this suggests that Burke could bring out a more vulnerable aspect of Bond that hasn’t been seen in previous iterations.The Souvenirshowed that Burke could still make a morally ambiguous character charismatic.Although Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne) knows that Anthony is troubled, she becomes attracted to him because of how he epitomizes classiness. Bond is certainly a dubiouscharacter who has a license to kill, committing some questionable acts over the course of the series. Burke could certainly show this dynamic aspect of the character while still retaining his inherent charisma.
Tom Burke Is in the Right Position To Play James Bond
While Bond is the epitome of male fantasy, he’s never been a particularly youthful character; each iteration of the franchise has shown that he is an established killer who has already dedicated years of his life to MI6.At 42, Burke is the right age where he could feasibly appear in three to four Bond filmsbefore the franchise changed form once more. An older Bond might help the series distinguish itself from more youth-centric spy franchiseslike the Kingsmanseries.The Craig Bond films, particularlyCasino RoyaleandSkyfall,have been cited assome of the best in the franchise’s history.Whatever direction the Bond series takes next, it will need to be a bold reinventionthat launches the saga into a modern era. It’s certainly not going to be an easy task, but Burke has proven inFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagathat he’s the man for the job.
