Taron Egerton Won’t Be the Next James Bond

Kingsman star Taron Egerton has debunked rumors that he’s in the running to become the next James Bond, admitting that he’s never been in discussions for the highly coveted role.

Egerton dismissed the James Bond casting rumors during a recent interview with Total Film, per GamesRadar. The actor suggested he isn’t the “right person” for the job, and that the 007 producers may have already found someone to be Daniel Craig’s successor.

“I think they’ve already got someone, and it’s not me,” he said. “I’ve never been a part of the conversations. I’ve never met the Broccolis. They’ve never enquired about me. I’ve just never been one of the guys that they’re looking at. I just don’t think I’m the right person for that. I think there’s much, much, much better candidates for that role than me.”

Egerton indicated that he didn’t have any insider knowledge but rather an instinctual feeling that casting had moved forward without him and that he would be assuming the role of “a very willing audience member” because “they’re brilliant films.”

As of October last year, casting had not yet started for the new 007. Bond producer Michael G. Wilson stressed that no decisions had been made, but asserted that younger actors are out of the running because the character is a “veteran,” not “some kid out of high school.”

Since Daniel Craig’s 007 swansong in No Time to Die, there have been a lot of long-rumored contenders and casting suggestions about who might take up the mantle and how they could potentially lead the franchise in a different direction by “reinventing” the character.

Idris Elba has been a popular choice with fans, though he previously quelled rumors about being the next Bond. Dwayne Johnson has also been in the mix after throwing his hat in the ring for the part, but Barbara Broccoli seems to have ruled him out due to the fact he’s not British.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.