The Con Air actor suggested his Renfield co-star Nicholas Hoult would make a good 007

60 Years of James Bond auction. (Christies)

Daniel Craig as James Bond. (Christies)
Nicolas Cage has said that James Bond should always be played by a British actor.

Attending the premiere for his new film Renfield, the Oscar winner was asked if he’d be interested in playing James Bond as the role is currently vacant following the departure of Daniel Craig.

Talking to Metro, Cage answered: “Oh, no, no, I’m not up for that! Bond is always British.”

He added: “I know a lot of British actors play a lot of the American superheroes like Batman and Superman, but I have respect for Bond.”

Cage then proceeded to put forward his Renfield co-star Nicholas Hoult as a potential successor to Craig: “Any chance of Bond, for me, is long gone but I think Nicholas Hoult would be a great James Bond.

“I think he’d be perfect.”

British actor Nicholas Hoult (L) and US actor Nicolas Cage (R) attend the premiere of

Nicolas Cage said Nicholas Hoult would make a good James Bond. (Getty Images)
Even though Cage says James Bond should always be British, non-Brit actors such as Australian George Lazenby and Irishman Pierce Brosnan have played 007.

Renfield sees Cage portray horror icon Dracula in a take on the tale that embraces action and comedy.

Hoult stars as Renfield, Dracula’s long-suffering assistant and it marks the second time they have worked together after The Weather Man in 2005.

Dracula (Nicolas Cage) and Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) in Renfield, directed by Chris McKay. (Universal)

Dracula (Nicolas Cage) and Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) in Renfield, directed by Chris McKay. (Universal)
The cast also features Awkwafina as Renfield’s love interest and Ben Schwartz as a mob enforcer while the film is directed by Chris McKay who is best known for his work on Robot Chickena and The Lego Batman Movie.

Cage also commented on working with Hoult again as an adult as the Skins star was just 14 when they made The Weather Man.

He said: “I never had any doubt and I’m not surprised whatsoever at the star he has subsequently become. When I worked with him on The Weather Man, he had so much poise and confidence as a film actor.”

The Con Air star added: “He really set the pace, I was watching where he was going and supporting him, I was matching that with him so it became almost like a dance.”