Ted Lasso star ‘quite firmly’ rejected for role of next James Bond amid future of franchise in chaos: ‘Shut the door’
Ted Lasso star Phil Dunster has revealed he was “quite firmly” rejected for the role of James Bond after his agent approached the franchise’s producers.
The 32-year-old actor, known for playing Jamie Tartt in the hit series, disclosed that his hopes of becoming 007 were swiftly dashed.
Speaking on the Always Be Comedy podcast, Dunster said: “There was a conversation one of my agents had but they quite firmly shut the door in their face.”
The revelation comes as the search continues for Daniel Craig’s replacement, with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson focusing their search on actors in their 30s.
Jennifer Salke, global head of Amazon MGM Studios, has revealed she is working closely with Eon Productions to shape the future of the franchise.
Speaking to The Guardian, Salke emphasised their commitment to maintaining the series’ established approach: “We are not looking to disrupt the way those wonderful films are made. For us, we are taking their lead.”
She also addressed the timing of the next Bond film, noting that while audiences will be patient, they don’t want an extended gap between releases.
“The global audience will be patient. We don’t want too much time between films, but we are not concerned at this point,” Salke said.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 34, has emerged as a strong contender for the role, receiving a notable endorsement from former 007 Pierce Brosnan.
Speaking on RTE Radio 1’s The Ray D’Arcy Show, Brosnan backed Taylor-Johnson’s potential casting: “I think the man has the chops and the talent and the charisma to play Bond, very much so.”
Taylor-Johnson has remained coy about the speculation, recently deflecting questions at the New York premiere of Kraven The Hunter.
When asked about the Bond role, he responded: “I would say come see Kraven because that’s what’s out this weekend and it’s not going to disappoint. I promise you that, guys.”
Josh O’Connor has now overtaken Taylor-Johnson as the bookmakers’ favourite to become the next James Bond, with odds of 8-11.
The development follows predictions from The Hollywood Reporter that O’Connor, known for portraying Prince Charles in The Crown and Patrick Zweig in Challengers, will be cast as Daniel Craig’s replacement later this year.
The actor’s rising profile in 2024, particularly following his performance in Challengers, has captured the attention of fans and industry insiders alike.
The casting speculation continues as Bond executives maintain their search for an actor who can offer “something new and different” to the iconic role.
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The future of James Bond reportedly hangs in the balance amid an escalating feud between franchise producer Barbara Broccoli and Amazon, with no new film in sight three years after Daniel Craig’s final outing.
According to a bombshell Wall Street Journal report, Broccoli has privately dismissed Amazon executives as “f***ing idiots” whilst expressing deep mistrust of the streaming giant’s approach to the iconic spy series.