James Bond Candidate On Casting Rumors: 'I've Never Felt That Was Me'

Taron Egerton has responded to growing rumors that he could be playing James Bond in Denis Villeneuve's upcoming sequel, but it's not the good news many fans were hoping for.

"I don't think I'm right for James Bond," he said in an interview with Rolling Stone Australia. "I've never felt that was me."

Taron Egerton Is Seemingly Out of The Running For James Bond

The debate around who's going to play the next James Bond has been ongoing since Daniel Craigdeparted the franchise back in 2021. Egerton was among the earliest names to be raised as a potential candidate, and he quickly became one of the most popular choices to play 007.

"I think there's great candidates for it, and I think it's obviously a huge cinematic institution," Egerton continued. "I dont want to be dismissive about it as a thing."

Egerton previously played Gary "Eggsy" Unwin in the Kingsman series of films, which are clearly inspired by classic British spy movies such as James Bond. The first Kingsman movie came out twleve years ago, however, and Amazon has been clear that they're looking for a younger, fresher face for the reboot.

It was always unlikely that Egerton would be stepping into James Bond's shoes, but these comments truly feel like the final nail in the coffin. "I just feel that my path is less kind of grand and idealised," the actor concluded.

Names such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Callum Turner have been consistently in the James Bond discussion over recent weeks, with Jacob Elordi's odds also spiking after recent rumors that he'd met with Amazon executives about the role. The studio also included names such as Harris Dickinson and Tom Holland in their shortlist, which was released before Villeneuve signed on as director (via Variety).

Villeneuve, however, says he wants to cast somebody more "unknown" for the iconic British spy. Deadline reports that a more conclusive search for the perfect actor will begin once Villeneuve has finished work on Dune: Part Three. Filming for the blockbuster sequel reportedly wrapped in December 2025, so an official announcement could be coming any day now.