As speculation continues over who will be the next James Bond, Andrew Scott, who played the villainous C in Sam Mendes’ “Spectre,” is weighing on his “All of Us Strangers” co-star Paul Mescal stepping into the shoes of 007.
“He’d probably be a great James Bond,” Scott told me Saturday night at Los Angeles special screening of “All of Us Strangers” at Vidiots in Eagle Rock.
But then he added with a sly smile, “I want to see him in ‘Gladiator’ first.”
Mescal, who couldn’t attend the Saturday screening because he is currently filming the “Gladiator” sequel in Malta, has been a fan favorite to lead the James Bond franchise after the departure of Daniel Craig.
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Scott says Mescal has sent him photos from the “Gladiator” set. “It’s gonna be incredible,” Scott said. “It’s so exciting. I’ve seen some images that are going to delight the world over.”
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Mescal, who was nominated for an Oscar for his work in 2022’s “Aftersun,” stars in Ridley’s follow-up as Lucius Verus. The cast also includes Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen.
In “All of Us Strangers,” Scott and Mescal star as neighbors whose intense love affair leads Scott’s character to embark on an emotional journey to face the death of his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell).
Scott and Mescal’s chemistry was instant. “We knew each other a little before, just the right amount,” Scott said. “We want to have that freestyle. We wanted that sexy feeling that when people who don’t sort of know each other and gradually as the story goes on they become more comfortable with each other…And we both really admire each other’s work so much so it was really really easy.”
Written and directed by Andrew Haigh, “All of Us Strangers” is based on Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel “Strangers.” It picked up four Gotham Independent Film Awards and most recently took home seven British Independent Film Awards. It is also up for three Independent Spirit Awards.
Haigh, Foy and Bell also attended the Saturday event as did guests Jodie Turner-Smith, Kate Mara, “Fire Island” actors Zane Phillips and Torian Miller, Rachel Sennott and Jordan Firstman.
“All of Us Strangers” is in theaters Dec. 22.
