--- description: “Could I do it? Abso-f***ing-lutely" title: Jason Statham Wants to Play James Bond image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf0de47a20824dc89/698852973c163901b7458278/gettyimages-475577680.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [movies](/tag/movies/) ## movies Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Jason Statham Wants to Play James Bond  by [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Correspondent Jun 2, 2015 2:49 PM CUT  Jason Statham at AMC Loews Lincoln Square on June 1, 2015 in New York City. Jason Statham at AMC Loews Lincoln Square on June 1, 2015 in New York City.Gary Gershoff—2015 Gary Gershoff  by [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Correspondent Jun 2, 2015 2:49 PM CUT Daniel Craig has announced that he will retire as 007 after the next two Bond films. Though the transition is years away, that hasn’t stopped action superstar Jason Statham from [throwing his hat into the ring](http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/01/jason-statham-i-want-to-be-the-next-james-bond "undefined"). “Could I do it? Abso-f\*\*\*ing-lutely,” Statham told the _Guardian_ in an [interview](http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/01/jason-statham-i-want-to-be-the-next-james-bond "undefined") Monday. “Would I do it? Abso-f\*\*\*ing-lutely.” The _Spy_ star has plenty of experience with fast cars and hand-to-hand combat, thanks to a long resume that includes the _Transporter_ films, the _Expendables_ movies and _Crank._ But his Bond, he says, would be a little different from the posh, tuxedoed 007 audiences have seen in the past. Statham’s characters tend to be blunt, indiscreet and aggressive. “Yeah, I’d make a decent Bond,” he says. “But it’d be very, very different if I did it.” He added that despite playing the key villain in the most recent _Fast & Furious_ movie, _Furious 7_, he’ll only consider playing the hero in the Bond franchise. Statham is just one of many actors who dreams of playing 007\. Rumored replacements for Daniel Craig have included Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch and Idris Elba (though the _Luther_ actor recently said [gossip about his joining the franchise](http://time.com/3814738/idris-elba-james-bond-daniel-craig-rumors/ "undefined") has spoiled his chances at the role). \[[_The Guardian_](http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/01/jason-statham-i-want-to-be-the-next-james-bond "undefined")\] ### Meet Every James Bond Ever  Dr. No (1962) - Sean Connery United Artists  From Russia with Love (1963) - Sean Connery United Artists  Goldfinger (1964) - Sean Connery United Artists  Thunderball (1965) - Sean Connery United Artists  You Only Live Twice (1967) - Sean Connery United Artists  On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) - George Lazenby United Artists  Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - Sean Connery United Artists  Live and Let Die (1973) - Roger Moore United Artists  The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) - Roger Moore United Artists  The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) - Roger Moore United Artists  Moonraker (1979) - Roger Moore United Artists  For Your Eyes Only (1981) - Roger Moore United Artists  Octopussy (1983) - Roger Moore United Artists  A View to a Kill (1985) - Roger Moore United Artists  The Living Daylights (1987) - Timothy Dalton United Artists  Licence to Kill (1989) - Timothy Dalton United Artists  GoldenEye (1995) - Pierce Brosnan MGM  Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) - Pierce Brosnan MGM  The World Is Not Enough (1999) - Pierce Brosnan MGM  Die Another Day (2002) - Pierce Brosnan MGM  Casino Royale (2006) - Daniel Craig MGM/Columbia  Quantum of Solace (2008) - Daniel Craig MGM/Columbia  Skyfall (2012) - Daniel Craig MGM/Columbia ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3904863/jason-statham-spy-james-bond/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3904863/jason-statham-spy-james-bond/"},"headline":"Jason Statham Wants to Play James Bond","datePublished":"2015-06-02T14:49:32.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:03:14.077Z","description":"“Could I do it? 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