Taron Egerton is taking himself out of the running to be the next James Bond.
Despite having experience in the spy genre as the lead of Matthew Vaughn’s “Kingsman” films, Egerton told Collider in a new interview that he doesn’t think he’s the right fit for Amazon’s new iteration of the iconic franchise.
When asked if he’d throw his hat in the ring for the part, Egerton said: “No. And I don’t think I’m a good choice for it. I think I’m too messy for that.”
The 35-year-old Welsh actor added that he really loves the character and “particularly Daniel Craig’s tenure. But I think I wouldn’t be good at it, and I think there’s so many cool, younger actors who would be great for it. I think it would be wasted on me, probably.”
Though a new Bond has yet to be announced, the first film since Amazon MGM took control of the property is already starting to take shape. “Dune” helmer Denis Villeneuve is on board to direct, and Variety reported last month that a 2028 release date is being eyed. Insiders told Variety that Amazon is interested in casting a British actor under the age of 30, with Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland and Harris Dickinson at the top of the list (yes, Elordi is Australian, but that’s apparently not a dealbreaker).
However, Egerton — who is currently making the press rounds for the crime thriller “She Rides Shotgun” — told Collider he isn’t opposed to doing something “more commercial” down the line. “I think I’m a period in my life where, as you say, I’ve been probably following the things that speak to me on a creative level a little bit more, but, you know, I’m sure I won’t feel that way forever,” he said.
“James Bond is quite an undertaking and I think, one, as far as I’m aware, nobody’s asking me to do it,” Egerton concluded. “But also, it’s possibly not quite the thing that would make me happiest. I do think it’s a big old undertaking, it kind of consumes your life, a role like that.”
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Read Egerton’s full interview here.
From Variety US