The search for the next James Bond has taken an unexpected detour through the Lands Between. Just after reports surfaced that Battlefield 1 actor Jack Lowden is circling the coveted 007 role for the next Bond film, a new rumor claims a second actor with video game roots is also in contention — Jack Barton, the voice behind Messmer the Impaler in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
A “Stream of Unknowns” for Bond 26
According to PageSix, Bond 26 director Denis Villeneuve and casting director Nina Gold are weighing a “stream of unknowns” for the iconic role rather than chasing an established A-list star. Barton is reportedly one of the names in that mix, joining Lowden as the latest fresh face linked to the tuxedo.
It’s a bold approach, but not without precedent. Sean Connery was hardly a household name when he first donned the role for 1962’s Dr. No, and Nina Gold has built a career on discovering breakout talent — her casting credits include Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Game of Thrones.
Who Is Jack Barton?
If the name doesn’t ring a bell, his most famous character almost certainly will. Barton voiced Messmer the Impaler, the serpentine, flame-wielding antagonist who became one of the standout characters of Shadow of the Erdtree, the record-breaking 2024 expansion to FromSoftware’s Elden Ring. Messmer’s tragic backstory and brooding theatricality made him an instant fan favorite, and Barton’s performance gave the cursed son of Queen Marika a quiet, simmering menace that players haven’t forgotten.
Why the Rumor Makes Sense
Strip away the snakes and the fire, and Messmer shares plenty of DNA with classic Bond villains: aristocratic bearing, repressed rage, and a voice that shifts from a whisper to a roar. Casting directors have long treated genre work as a proving ground, and a critically acclaimed performance in one of 2024’s biggest games is exactly the kind of role that puts a relatively unknown actor on a shortlist of this magnitude.
Video Games Are Becoming Hollywood’s Casting Pool
The lines between gaming and Hollywood keep blurring. Blockbuster games now routinely attract A-list talent — think Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba in Cyberpunk 2077 — and increasingly, the traffic flows the other way too. With Lowden (Battlefield 1) and Barton (Elden Ring) both reportedly in the Bond conversation, it’s clear that a major video game credit now carries genuine weight in film casting circles. For an industry once dismissed as a niche hobby, having two of its actors linked to the most famous spy in cinema history is a milestone worth noting.
Don’t Expect an Announcement Anytime Soon
Bond 26 will be the franchise’s first film under Amazon MGM’s creative stewardship after longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepped back from day-to-day control in 2025, and Villeneuve — the acclaimed director of Dune and Blade Runner 2049 — is still early in the process. No casting has been confirmed, and Bond rumors deserve a healthy pinch of salt; over the years, tabloids have linked everyone from Aaron Taylor-Johnson to Regé-Jean Page to the role. Still, the fact that two video game actors are seriously in the mix says a great deal about how far the medium has come.
Revisit Messmer’s Performance for Yourself
Whether or not Barton lands the Walther PPK and the Aston Martin, now is a perfect time to revisit his chilling work in the Lands Between. If you haven’t experienced Elden Ring or its acclaimed expansion yet, you can grab Elden Ring game keys, Steam Wallet codes, and PlayStation and Xbox gift cards at TURGAME.com at wallet-friendly prices.
Source: GameSpot