A surprising new candidate has emerged in the running to play the role of James Bond.
Six years after Daniel Craig announced his retirement from the franchise, fans are wildly speculating who may take on the role of 007.
Former favourite Idris Elba, 52, previously ruled himself out from playing the British spy, while other hotly tipped actors, including James Norton and Theo James, have not confirmed any involvement.
The current front-runner to become Bond is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, while bookies’ Ladbrokes have also given preferential odds to the likes of Henry Cavill, Jack Lowden, and Tom Hardy.
But now, a new name is in the running: 37-year-old actor Scott Rose-Marsh.
The actor, who is currently eighth-favourite for the part according to Oddschecker, is a relative unknown compared to other candidates.
He previously appeared in movies like Wolves of War and Code of Silence, but is otherwise a lesser-known film star.
This shake-up of the candidate list comes after Amazon MGM Studios announced that Denis Villeneuve will helm the next James Bond film in a dramatic move.
The move marks a creative shift for the 007 franchise, signaling 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.
Given all the changes in the franchise, it’s perhaps not surprising if a relatively unknown actor like Scott Rose-Marsh takes on the role.
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