An actor widely rumoured to be playing James Bond has officially denied that he’s up for the role.
Six years after Daniel Craig announced his retirement from the franchise, fans are continuing to wonder who will fill his shiny shoes.
Former favourite Idris Elba, 52, previously ruled himself out from playing the iconic sleuth, while other hotly tipped actors, including James Norton, have not confirmed any involvement.
The current front-runner to become Bond is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, while bookies have also recently given preferential odds to the likes of Henry Cavill, Jack Lowden, Tom Holland, and Callum Turner.
Twisters actor Glen Powell, one of Hollywood’s most in-demand heartthrobs in recent years, has also been the subject of speculation for the role.
But Glen has dashed fans’ hopes with a recent comment, telling The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I’m a Texan.’
‘My family and I joke around, I can play Jimmy Bond, but I should not be playing James Bond. Get an authentic Brit for that job. That’s who belongs in that tuxedo.’
Glen isn’t the only actor to have ruled himself out, with White Lotus star Theo James also previously denying a connection to the role.
He told The Guardian: ‘Everyone’s interested in that because it’s a big part of British cultural identity, but that probably wouldn’t be me.
‘I do think there are better people for that job. And, honestly, it would be terrifying: if you do that, there’s no going back. You’re opening Pandora’s box there.’
But Aaron Taylor-Johnson, one of the most consistent favourites for the role, has left things more open-ended.
The actor gave a very coy response when asked about what he’ll be doing after working on 28 Years Later and its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, back-to-back.
Questioned by Deadline at the horror movie’s premiere in June, he said: ‘I can’t talk about it.’
He was already being led away before the question was asked, and offered a smile alongside his vague answer.
All of the speculation comes after Amazon MGM Studios announced that Denis Villeneuve will helm the next James Bond film – a dramatic move marking a creative shift for the 007 franchise, and signalling a new era for Britain’s most iconic spy.
The Canadian director, best known for directing Dune and Dune: Part Two, as well as Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Sicario, and Prisoners, expressed reverence for the character.
‘Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007,’ he said in a statement released Wednesday.
‘I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory.’
While acknowledging the enormous expectations, Villeneuve said he intends to ‘honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.’
He called the opportunity ‘a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour.’
The announcement comes during a period of major upheaval behind the scenes of the Bond universe.
Amazon Studios officially purchased MGM for $8.45billion (£6.7billion) in 2022, with a new agreement over creative control meaning Bond — and whoever is next to play 007 – is entirely under the streamer’s control.
It is a landmark decision as family-run Eon Productions has brought Bond to the big screen since the franchise began.
After decades of tight creative control, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson – heirs to the franchise through their father, original Bond producer Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli – have ceded key decision-making power to Amazon MGM Studios.
But as much as things are changing for the Bond franchise, it seems a Texan James Bond is still a bit too far-fetched.
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