Game of Thrones star addresses rumours he turned down James Bond role
James Bond is always centre of rumours over who will be the next 007, as much as who won't. Idris Elba, Henry Cavill and Aaron Taylor Johnson have all been tipped to step into the iconic role after Daniel Craig hung up his tuxedo in 2021 in No Time To Die, his last stint as Bond.
Charles Dance was also rumoured to become the next 007 but reportedly turned the role down. However, it turns out that rumour is false – he didn't, in fact, even audition for the part after being talked out of it.
"No, of course I didn't turn down James Bond!" the Game Of Thrones star told The Guardian when asked about the rumours.
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"What happened was, my agent called and said: 'I urge you not to do it. Just think how you'll feel if you don't get it. It will kill your career stone-dead.' She was probably right. If I'd got it, I would have probably f**ked it up."
Luther star Elba has also addressed rumours he will take on the role, expressing that playing James Bond is "not a goal for [his] career".
"I'm not gonna lie, every corner of the world I go – and I'm talking about different cultures – they always go: 'Bond!'" he told The Shop podcast. "It is not a goal for my career. I don't think that, you know, playing Bond will satisfy some of my personal goals. It will definitely satisfy the will of a nation."
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Rumours were fuelled after Bond producer Barbara Broccoli said she had had conversations about the role with Elba.
"Well, we know Idris, we're friends with him, and he's a magnificent actor," she told the Deadline Podcast. "And, you know, it's been part of the conversation, but it's always difficult to have the conversation when you have someone in the seat."
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