Exclusive: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare star Henry Golding comments on the fan campaign for him to play James Bond.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is inspired by the true story of the real-life warriors who inspired author Ian Fleming to create James Bond.

The cast also happens to star no less than two actors who’ve been popular picks with fans to play Bond in a new film: Henry Cavill and Henry Golding.

In an interview with CBR’s Kevin Polowy, Golding commented on the fan swelling for him to take on the 007 mantle in a new movie.

The Snake Eyes star said it was “amazing” to be part of that conversation, but he felt more excited about exploring the origins of where that character came from with The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. As the actor explained:

Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare has a massive cast with great chemistry that adds flair to an explosive World War II story.

“To be in any conversation like that is amazing. But I think, going back to what you said, Ian Fleming sort of plays a small role in Ministry, but Gus Phillips, Captain Gus Phillips, was the true inspiration.

Him, and many of these very brave men who completed these missions, who went behind enemy lines, they all inspired the Bond stuff.

So, in essence, I think I’m more excited to sort of see the true core of where all those stories stem from.”

Henry Golding Was Intrigued By the True Story

Golding also spoke about how it was appealing to him that the movie was inspired by true events, with the film taking heavy influence from the mission known as “Operation Postmaster.”

While the history involved was the biggest draw, Golding agreed that “killing Nazis” was also part of the appeal. As Golding said:

“There’s only two things in life that we love killing most of, and that’s zombies and Nazis.

So, we go the Nazis down. But I think the draw really was, we’re all Brits, so to be able to delve into the history, and to realize that there was a group of young men who went out on their own on this tiny boat to the hinge of Africa and undertook a mission like this that had such detriment to the cause, it baffles me to think they actually went out and did what we made a little bigger on the screen, but it’s true to life.”

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’s ending has Guy Ritchie unleashing a violent, bloody war as a British special-ops team hunts down Nazi

Guy Ritchie directed The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Along with Golding, the film stars Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Eiza González, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Alex Pettyfer, Babs Olusanmokun, and Cary Elwes.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is now playing in movie theaters.