Bill Skarsgard Calls for Originality in Future Villain Roles
The actor says he is tired of dark parts but remains open to a one-off James Bond antagonist, even as the search for the next 007 continues.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
Bill Skarsgard says he is running out of energy for playing dark characters, a stance that affects fans awaiting his next major role. The 36-year-old actor, known for his work in horror and action franchises, told Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he feels spent with villain parts. He is now looking for roles that feel original and distinct from what he has already performed.
Skarsgard has built a career on antagonists. He played Pennywise in the It films, Count Orlok in Nosferatu, Eric Draven in The Crow, and Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont in John Wick: Chapter 4. Despite this track record, he stated that any new villain must be something he has not done before. He noted that villains can still be fun if they are approached in a different way.
During the interview, Horowitz asked about Skarsgard's interest in the James Bond franchise. Skarsgard joked that the studio never called him for the part, wondering if they were hesitant to cast a Swedish actor. He said he was not even thrown into the mix for the lead role, though he agreed he would not want to commit to leading the franchise for 10 or 15 years.
Instead, Skarsgard expressed interest in a one-off Bond villain role. He cited Mads Mikkelsen and Javier Bardem as examples of actors who successfully played the part in a limited capacity. His comments come as the industry searches for a new 007 ahead of Denis Villeneuve's upcoming film.
The casting process for the next James Bond has drawn several high-profile names. Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, and Josh O'Connor have screen tested for the lead. Robert Pattinson also recently underwent a screen test, while Nicholas Hoult has emerged as another potential contender. Skarsgard is currently starring in Peter Berg's war film The Mosquito Bowl.
The Mosquito Bowl is playing in theaters now. The film is set to arrive on Netflix on Nov. 25. Skarsgard's remarks add to the conversation around the future of the Bond franchise as producers weigh options for the next decade of the series.
