Saoirse Ronan Wants to Play a Primary Female Villain in Next James Bond Film

Irish actress Saoirse Ronan has confirmed she is dead serious about wanting to play a primary female villain in the next James Bond film, eyeing a dark turn for 007’s franchise renaissance as casting auditions move forward in 2026.

The campaign to land a spot in Bond 26 has taken a serious turn for Oscar-nominated star Saoirse Ronan. While the blockbuster franchise is busy casting a brand new 007 to replace Daniel Craig, Ronan has made it abundantly clear that her ambitions lie strictly on the other side of the law.

In a recent interview with Empire, the actress addressed her theatrical aspirations head-on, doubling down on previous remarks she made to Vanity Fair in 2024. Rather than seeking the coveted license to kill, she wants to be the one hunting the spy down.

“I want to go dark. I said that I wanted to be a Bond villain, and I’m dead serious.”
Saoirse Ronan, via Empire

Why a Female Bond Villain Changes the Franchise Formula

For decades, the 007 franchise has relied almost exclusively on male antagonists to test Her Majesty’s (and later His Majesty’s) top secret agents. When women have stepped into villainous roles, they have historically been relegated to secondary scoundrels or side characters rather than serving as the central malicious force driving the plot.

Ronan argued that introducing a primary female antagonist would inject a necessary psychological edge into the upcoming film. She pointed to the untapped dramatic potential of channelling complex emotional energy into a villainous performance.

Saoirse Ronan Wants to Play a Primary Female Villain in Next James Bond Film — Photo: AOL.com

“I think it would be really interesting, having a young female villain. Especially for girls and women, to see someone who can just take all that pent-up anger and direct it somewhere, there’s something interesting in that dramatically. So I would love to do more of that.”
Saoirse Ronan, via Empire

The timing aligns with a broader creative overhaul for the franchise. Bond 26 is set to be directed by Canadian filmmaker and four-time Oscar nominee Denis Villeneuve, with a script penned by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. With production slated to kick off in 2027 and a release eyed for 2028, supporters note that Ronan’s versatility could offer the exact foil needed for a modernized 007 renaissance.

The Couple at the Center of Casting Rumors

Adding an extra layer of Hollywood intrigue to Ronan’s ambitions is her home life. Her husband, Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, is currently positioned among the leading bookies’ favorites to take over the role of James Bond.

Meet the new James Bond villain? Saoirse Ronan is 'dead serious' about wanting to play a 007 baddie — Photo: Euronews

Casting director Nina Gold, who previously cast Lowden as River Cartwright in Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, has kept a close eye on the actor since the search formally began in May 2026.

Should both actors secure their respective dream roles, they would make cinematic history as the first married couple to star opposite each other in a James Bond film. The pair originally met and became romantically involved while filming the historical drama Mary Queen of Scots in 2018, where Ronan played the famous monarch and Lowden played Lord Darnley. They married in Edinburgh in July 2024 before welcoming their first child the following year.

The Crowded Field for Bond 26

While Lowden features prominently in the bookies’ lists, he faces a crowded field of contenders. Other actors reportedly in the running to wield the Walter PPK include Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Louis Partridge, Harris Dickinson, and Tom Francis.

Saoirse Ronan wants to play a James Bond villain & Jack Lowden to be Bond

Fans have waited patiently since Daniel Craig stepped down from the role following No Time To Die in 2021. Studio producer Amy Pascal indicated that official announcements regarding the casting could arrive by the end of 2026, noting that producers are taking a methodical approach to following up on Craig’s tenure.

Whether casting director Nina Gold ultimately pairs Ronan against her husband or casts her alongside a different 007 remains to be seen. But as auditions move forward this month, Ronan’s sustained campaign has established a clear blueprint for how the franchise might finally break its antiquated antagonist trends.

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