New York Giants legend Michael Strahan is one of the most popular figures in American television thanks to his roles with ‘Good Morning America’ and ‘FOX NFL Sunday’

 
Michael Strahan wants to play James Bond

Whether or not Michael Strahan is stepping away from his role at ‘Good Morning America,’ he’s already eyeing one of the most coveted acting roles in Hollywood.

The football Hall of Famer and television personality injected himself into the mix to become the next James Bond during a conversation with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, who played a major role in Amazon’s acquisition of the franchise. Amazon now oversees the Bond franchise’s next phase, with Jassy asking Strahan who he thought should play the next Bond.

Strahan, already dressed suave for the occasion, leaned forward and confidently responded: “You’re looking at him,” flashing his trademark smile as Jassy laughed. Jassy admitted no decision had been made regarding the next Bond but accepted Strahan’s straightforward enthusiasm. During his playful yet serious pitch, the former Giants icon said he was “available and interested” in the role. Reports continue to surface that he is preparing to exit ‘Good Morning America’ this summer.

Since transitioning from suiting up at MetLife Stadium, the longtime ‘FOX NFL Sunday’ analyst has held numerous TV roles, including co-hosting ‘Live! with Kelly and Michael’ before joining ABC’s flagship morning news show in 2016. His decision to step back from GMA reportedly stems from a desire to focus more on family and other opportunities.

Strahan has developed a presence in the entertainment after his football career. His acting credits include guest appearances on shows like ‘Entourage,’ ‘Are We There Yet?’ ‘Alpha House,’ and ‘The Rebels’ – all playing himself. His most recent appearance was in Prime Video’s ‘The Underdoggs: From Blunts to Runts,’ starring Snoop Dogg and Mike Epps, where he shared the screen with his ‘FOX NFL Sunday’ colleagues.

In addition to playing himself, Strahan portrayed NY Bosley in the 2019 ‘Charlie’s Angels’ reboot and had a guest role on ‘Black-ish’ as June Bug. He also ventured into voice acting and earned credits in ‘Ice Age: Collision Course’ and ‘The Lego Ninjago Movie.’ Strahan shrugged off the possibility of playing the role in 2017 when asked by ‘Good Morning America’ co-hosts and instead nominated co-worker George Stephanopoulos.

Strahan aims to join an exclusive group of just six actors who have officially portrayed James Bond since 1962. The franchise’s most recent installment ‘No Time to Die’ marked the end of Daniel Craig’s tenure after five appearances in the role. Strahan’s random Bond admission admires its legacy as a global box-office juggernaut, grossing over $7 billion across 25 films produced by Eon Productions.

With Amazon overseeing the film’s next steps, the search for the next 007 continues to be one of Hollywood’s most highly anticipated casting decisions. Strahan’s public pitch will need to compete with heavy hitters like Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and James Norton, especially regarding the rumored talent interested in portraying the role.