Shekhar Kapur Says John Abraham Could Be the Next James Bond

• Shekhar Kapur has publicly endorsed John Abraham as his choice to play the next James Bond.
• Kapur questioned why the iconic spy must continue to be portrayed only as a white British man, arguing the franchise should reflect a global audience.
• He praised Abraham’s screen presence, calling him suave, restrained and capable of delivering a “phenomenal Bond.”
• John Abraham thanked Kapur for the endorsement and jokingly said he would start practising his martini order: “Shaken, not stirred.”
• The comments come as the search for Daniel Craig’s successor continues following No Time to Die(2021).

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has thrown his support behind John Abraham as the next James Bond, arguing that the long-running spy franchise should embrace a more global perspective. Speaking publicly as the search for Daniel Craig’s successor continues, Kapur said Abraham possesses the charisma and screen presence needed to redefine the iconic role.

Kapur calls for a more global James Bond

In an interview with Variety India, Kapur questioned the long-standing expectation that James Bond should always be portrayed as a white British man.

He said the franchise has an opportunity to reflect a changing world, asking why the next Bond could not be Indian or Japanese. Kapur argued that a fresh interpretation would better represent today’s global audience rather than remaining tied to what he described as a post-colonial paradigm.

Why John Abraham is his choice

Kapur said John Abraham immediately came to mind when he considered actors capable of taking on the role.

He described the actor as naturally projecting “an incredibly rare, effortless coolness” and praised his composed screen presence. Kapur added that those qualities align with the understated confidence traditionally associated with Bond, saying Abraham could deliver a “phenomenal Bond” if the producers chose to take the franchise in a more international direction.

In a separate post on X, Kapur reiterated his support, writing that Abraham has the “cool ‘shaken, not stirred’ persona” and the “Bond charm.” He also remarked that Daniel Craig was cast as James Bond after producers saw him in Kapur’s film Elizabeth.

John Abraham responds

Abraham responded on X by thanking Kapur for the endorsement, saying he was humbled by the filmmaker’s confidence in him.

He also acknowledged Kapur’s remark about Daniel Craig, writing that praise from someone who had recognised Craig’s potential before he became Bond meant a great deal. Ending on a light-hearted note, Abraham joked that he would “happily start practising” his martini order: “Shaken, not stirred.”

Search for the next 007 continues

Craig, who portrayed James Bond in five films, concluded his tenure with No Time to Diein 2021. The search for the next actor to play 007 has generated widespread speculation, with several international names linked to the role.

Reports cited in the source material also state that the next Bond film is set to be directed by Denis Villeneuve, with Steven Knight attached as screenwriter.

Away from the Bond speculation, Abraham remains committed to upcoming projects, including Force 3 and Rohit Shetty’s biographical film on former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria.