Billy Magnussen Interview: No Time To Die

Actors always put on a big smile when talking to press about a new release, but when Billy Magnussen grins at Screen Rant on a video call between London and LA, it's very clear he's having a lot of fun. His time promoting No Time To Die, in which he plays CIA agent Logan Ash, is reaching its peak with the movie now on digital, Blu-ray and DVD - and he's happy to chat wryly about the movie.

In our interview, Magnussen not only talks becoming Logan, but also the rise of Game Night and drops a small tease about his Aladdin spinoff.

I want to go right back to the start when you first got involved with No Time To Die. What was the pitch for Logan? Was the pitch always the twist? Or was it the Bond fanboy side of things?

So Cary texted me about the job. And he's like, “Hey, I think I got a part for you in Bond. Can you do?” And I was like, “Yeah, of course. I could do it. Yeah, of course.” And then he decided never to talk to me again until I basically showed up. So I did not know what was gonna happen until I showed up to London to shoot this movie. And that's the honest truth.

You play this wide-eyed, super happy guy to begin with. How did that come into play? And how do you stop it getting too ridiculous to comedic?

I don't think there's any such thing as overacting. I think there's something called bad acting. Have you ever seen Al Pacino act? You can't tell me he's a subtle actor, but I don't think he's overacting. He's so authentic. People are big, and people are expressive. And if you just keep honest about it, there's no big show about it. Um, what was the question though?

That's pretty much answered it! Where did the fanboy aspect come from?

That was in the script from Day One. And then how do you play that? My challenge with this character was like, How do I push them so far one way to then have the turn and all that happen? How do you get where's the farthest away point? To then have it turned? That's how I think of his acting.

It's a great turn, and it's very reminiscent of License to Kill...

When did you see it coming...

I did not see it coming at all. I thought you were just going to be the guy who died sort of suddenly. It's very reminiscent of License to Kill with Felix's death and all of that. Did you look to that movie and try and sort of build on that? Or did you just go in and treat it as its own thing?

No, not at all. Absolutely. No, did not.

Bond finally kills Logan Ash in No Time To Die

Did you look at any Bond movies before coming in to prep?

I played a lot of N64 Bond. A lot of N64. Odd Job! That's the one you always play.

You get a fantastic death in the movie. How was that film? Because quite suggestive, you know, you're there. And then you know, what was the process now?

It was in the script that I died. And I get crushed by a car. So I don't know. I'm sorry. I don't know.

And how was it working with Jeffrey again after Game Night?

Oh, Jeffrey's a champion. He's my buddy. He's a really, really smart, funny, genuinely charismatic... Ah, he's such a good guy. I could hang out with him any day of the week. And he's also a New Yorker.

Game Night has become such a cult classic and the past few years.

Great. Great. Really?

Yeah, everyone talks about how it's always one of the best comedies in recent memory.

Oh, my gosh, that's exciting. Wow.

I was gonna ask you what your reaction is to the way it's gained that momentum, but it sounds like you're learning about it for the first time.

You're just telling me! Yeah, that's awesome. I didn't know that. I had such a great time with that film. And with Jeffrey, he's so good. He's so funny, man. I can tell you the personal stories, but...

Billy Magnussen as Logan Ash in No Time To Die

What were the Broccolis like to work with? It's a very different franchise setup on Bond.

Fantastic. I think they are the most.... they make everything so welcoming. And that's all you can hope for. You want to work with people that are encoming and accepting, and they literally let your creative voice flow. And that's what you want in any production. It's not about ego. It's not about any individual. It's about the project and they cultivate such a beautiful landscape for any artist in any department to really express themselves. So I only have true iration for the Broccoli. The Broccoli, there's only one...

And the Wilsons, yeah. Your Aladdin character, there were reports of him getting a spin-off. Do you have any update on how that's progressing?

[Loud] Oh! That's what I got for you. It's coming.

That's exciting. And, wrapping this up with Bond, where would you like to see 007 go next? Where would you like to see them take the franchise for Bond 26?