Bill Skarsgård Says He ‘Wasn’t Even Thrown Into the Mix’ to Be James Bond: ‘Maybe They Were Like, “We Can’t Do a Swede”’

Bill Skarsgård says he was not considered for the lead role in Denis Villeneuve’s James Bond reboot, despite recent speculation about casting. He joked that the producers may have ruled him out because he is Swedish, and said he would rather take on a single Bond villain role than commit to playing 007 for more than a decade.

Skarsgård said he chooses projects when he feels drawn to them and is willing to wait for the right part. The actor, known for playing Pennywise, Count Orlok and villains in John Wick: Chapter 4, said he is becoming more selective and would want any new villain role to feel original to him.