BBC star could be first ginger Bond after ‘screen-testing for role'

Metro

a day ago

An underdog in the race to cinch the role of James Bond has apparently already screen-tested for the role.
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 have also given preferential odds to the likes of Henry Cavill, Jack Lowden, Tom Holland, and Callum Turner.
But for the last couple of months, 37-year-old actor Scott Rose-Marsh, has been cropping up on betting sites, and new reports suggest he's taken one step further in the race.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the star screen-tested for the role sometime in late June.
It was reported that he read sides from 1995's GoldenEye, presumably for director Denis Villeneuve, who became attached to the project in June.
It was added that he was given just one piece of direction before testing: 'Don't impersonate a previous Bond.'
The actor, who Betfred currently places in 12th place in the running with odds of 12/1, 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.
The announcement from Amazon MGM Studios that Denis Villeneuve will helm the next James Bond film is a dramatic move marking a creative shift for the 007 franchise, and signalling 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. More Trending
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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