While ‘Who will be the next James Bond?’ was up for a debate, Matt Damon put him out of the rat race. Although he praised the franchise, especially Daniel Craig’s version, while speaking to GQ Magazine, he revealed why he does not see himself portraying the character any time soon. After Craig bid the 007 franchise goodbye with No Time To Die, the speculations of who will be fit to play the inquisitive British spy have been in the air for quite some time.
Although Damon has a plethora of reasons for why he should not do the role, he also agreed the crew took the right decision in casting Craig as well as with the script for the recent Bond films. He claimed it was high time for Bond to start keeping up with the ‘modern’ times while abandoning his classic “misogynistic”.
Matt Damon is glad Daniel Craig’s James Bond kept up with today’s day and age
As Daniel Craig concluded his tenure as James Bond, his legacy as one of the most iconic portrayals of the character remains intact, most notably to the Jason Bourne actor Matt Damon. Although the actor obviously loves Bourne more than Bond, he isn’t quite the fan but appreciates Craig’s version for taking the character out of the outdated era of misogyny. In an interview with GQ,
“Bond has the values of the 1960s. Daniel’s Bond has upgraded him and brought him more into the present”
He thinks Craig’s Bond feels more real and grounded because the actor’s physicality brings a sense of authenticity to the role. Damon also commended Craig for bringing human elements to the iconic spy which the previous versions lacked, allowing audiences to connect with the emotional journey of the character.
The character dates back to 1962, so naturally the mannerisms and characteristics of the individual were much different than what people see today. Just like Damon many on the internet also had a problem with the franchise not upgrading the character with time, while many applauded them for keeping its authenticity intact. Now that Daniel Craig successfully brought in the much-needed change, Damon appreciates the fact but thinks they still have a long way to go.
Why doesn’t Matt Damon want to be the next James Bond?
Well, there are many reasons why Damon does not want to be the next James Bond, the first being his loyalty toward the Jason Bourne franchise. Those who are unfamiliar with Damon’s work should know that he has already been a part of a successful espionage franchise and he thinks his character is more human than Bond. In the same GQ interview, he said,
“I like Bourne better than Bond. Bourne has today’s values,”
He then went on to diss the iconic character and called it out on his typical behavior,
“classically, that character is a misogynist who likes swilling martinis and killing people and not giving a sh*t”
After that, he continued to back Bourne by saying,
“Whereas Jason Bourne is a serial monogamist – and he’s tortured by the things he’s done and feels empathy and compassion for other people. And Bourne would obviously win in a fight.”
Other than that, the actor feels, the character has sort of run its course. Although there is still hype, he believes it’s a sinking ship. Although initially, he feared that the Bourne franchise may have been heading for a decline as well, the overwhelming response that he has received since his return has made him realize that the journey is far from over. While the question of who the next James Bond is going to be, will still haunt the internet, Damon is most certainly out of the picture.
Both Jason Bourne and No Time To Die are currently available on HBO Max to stream.
Source: GQ
