Original James Bond favourite reckons he’s ‘still got some years left’ for iconic role-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

A former frontrunner for the role of James Bond is still very much open to the part (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Jaguar Land Rover)

One of the former favourites for the role of James Bond has confirmed he ‘wouldn’t turn it down’ as the rampant speculation over casting continues.

Welsh heart-throb Luke Evans has already wowed in major franchises including Fast and Furious and The Hobbit – but the role of the iconic spy is another feather he would add to his cap.

The 45-year-old reckons he still has ‘some years left in me to do stunts’ too, after Bond producers said they were looking for an actor in their 30s to make the long-term commitment to the part.

Beauty and the Beast star Evans has been one of several names put forward as the next 007 after Daniel Craig left the role following 2021’s No Time to Die.

He’s been in the mix alongside former Bond runner-up Henry Cavill, Idris Elba and Tom Hardy, as well as newer candidates like One Day’s Leo Woodall and other Netflix breakout stars such as Jonathan Bailey and Theo James.

For the actor, there was also extra personal meaning for him being considered as James Bond as an openly gay man.

Daniel Craig stepped down from playing 007 back in 2021 after No Time to Die, and fans are still waiting for his replacement to be confirmed (Picture: Col Pics/Everett/Rex/Shutterstock)

Luke Evans was an original strong contender for the part, alongside Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill, Idris Elba and others (Picture: Getty)

‘I was like, “Wow, this is like crazy that I’m on this list”,’ Evans told Out for the magazine’s September/October print issue cover profile.

‘I took stock that day and I thought, “People could see me as that role even being a gay man,” which I thought was great, and it means that we are progressing.’

If the role was offered to him today – and the decision must be due at some point soon after fans have endured a near three-year wait at this stage – Evans is clear that he ‘wouldn’t turn it down’.

‘I’ve still got some years left in me to do stunts and shoot a gun and wear a tuxedo. I do look quite good in a tuxedo, even if I do say it myself,’ he added to the publication.

Recently, the popular star has slipped a little in the odds, with him clocking in at 25/1 and seen as an outsider with Coral last week, the bookmakers confirmed to Metro.co.uk, before they suspended betting for the role.

The Welsh star reckons he’s ‘still got some years left in me’ to manage the arduous stuntwork required – as well as looking good in black tie (Picture: Getty)

However, Coral also had his odds as short as 8/1 in summer 2023, putting him among the frontrunners at that stage.

The current, and longstanding, frontrunner is Kraven the Hunter star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 34, who in June was given odds of just 4/5 by both Coral and betideas.com, putting him odds-on to be the next 007.

Rumours have been running rampant of his casting since reports emerged, claiming that he’d filmed the famous gun barrel sequence that appears at the start of every Bond movie as part of an audition.

It was even said that he had been offered the role of a lifetime earlier this year, although this report was quickly rubbished and Taylor-Johnson himself has kept tight-lipped.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is considered the hot favourite, so much so that betting was suspended by Coral last week (Picture: Getty)

Ultimately, the decision over the next James Bond falls to Eon producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who have made no announcements yet.

Back in June 2022, Broccoli explained to Deadline that the next movies would be a ‘reinvention’ of Bond and that filming was ‘at least two years away’.

In October of that year, Wilson also confirmed that they were looking for a ‘thirty-something’ and no younger, in line (generally) with franchise tradition.

Craig was 38 when Casino Royale was released, while previous Bond Pierce Brosnan was 42 when his debut in GoldenEye hit cinemas.

Meanwhile, Timothy Dalton was also 41, and Sir Roger Moore the oldest new 007 at 45 when Live and Let Due came out in 1973.

However, the first two Bonds back in the 1960s were significantly younger when they started, with Sir Sean Connery at 31 and the recently retired George Lazenby just 30 for his sole Bond adventure, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will make the decision over the new Bond (Picture: Getty)

They’ve previously indicated they’re looking for an actor in their 30s as 007 has ‘some experience’ under his belt (Picture: Danjaq/Eon Productions/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)

‘We’ve tried looking at younger people in the past but trying to visualise it doesn’t work,’ he insisted.

‘Remember, Bond’s already a veteran, he’s had some experience – he’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something. He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off.’

The team is also looking for a 10-12 year commitment from the actor they cast, which may rule the likes of Evans, Cavill and Hardy out – but never say never (again).

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