Actors who would make great James Bond thugs: Part 1

We’re still waiting for more in depth announcements on Bond 25. Last week, I decided to do a bit of fantasy casting for James Bond villains. Now, I want to the same thing for the kinds of henchmen and henchwomen who help the villains out.

This two part list is a group of actors and actresses that I think would make great mini bosses for Bond to face off against.

Adrianne Palicki

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 21: Actress Adrianne Palicki arrives at the premiere Of Screen Gems’ ‘Legion’ at the Arclight Hollywood at Cinerama Dome on January 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) /

Adrianne Palicki has been playing both heroes and villainess in genre fiction for a long time. She was tough enough to be Jaye in G.I.Joe Retaliation. Also, she was a popular recurring character on Marvel’s Agents of Shield, where she played Mockingbird…a secret agent.

She also showed off her action chops by nearly killing Keanu Reeves in the first John Wick. She is both attractive enough and toned enough to be a seductress/killer in the mold of Xenia Onatoppe or Fiona Volpe.

Common

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Common attends the 2018 GQ x Neiman Marcus All Star Party at Nomad Los Angeles on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for GQ) /

In Common we have another John Wick alumnus. His second hand to hand fight scene with John Wick was a big highlight of the bath-salts snorting sequel.

Just as importantly, he was able to use precious little screen to establish a sense of lived in familiarity with Reeves. All traits that would be excellent in a Bond henchman.

Will Yun Lee

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – AUGUST 03: Actor Will Yun Lee attends the NBCUniversal press day 2 during the 2016 Summer TCA Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 3, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) /

Will Yun Lee is a Korean American. He has a lot of experience both acting, and filming his own stunts in action movies. Recently, he appeared as the freedom fighting version of Kovacs in Netflix’s Altered Carbon. He was also the villainous Harada in The Wolverine. As Harada, Lee embodied intense discipline and focus. Good traits for hired muscle in the mold of a Red Grant or a Patrice.

Hugh Jackman was once in the running to be James Bond. It would be sensible to get someone who fought The Wolverine onscreen to fight 007 too.

Monica Bellucci

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 22: Monica Bellucci attends the Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring Summer 2018 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 22, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images for Christian Dior) /

I have previously covered all the tantalizing possibilities that having Monica Bellucci return to Bond could entail. Unless the writing specifically closes off this possibility, I think it would be a lot of fun to see her in a supporting hench woman capacity.

Who else do you think would make a good thug for Bond to fight? Sound off in the comments, and thank you for reading.

Home/Entertainment