The Sunday Mirror reports that Dougray Scott has beaten an army of rivals including Eric Bana, Clive Owen and Ioan Gruffud to take over cinema's most famous role, that of MI6 agent 007 aka. James Bond.
Scott, 38, will be the seventh actor to play Bond on the big screen and is set to make his first appearance in the 23rd Bond film, due for release next year. The Scot apparently won his role after discussions with Barbara Broccoli, producer of the long-running spy series. She wants to return 007 to his film roots.
One source for the paper says - "Producers have been eager to take Bond back to the broody and sexy figure that Sean was so brilliant at. Obviously it's not possible for Sean to return at his age, so they have been looking for a young actor with similar characteristics. Since then Barbara and Dougray have been in talks - and she believes he will be the perfect new 007 for the 21st Century".
So how solid is this? On the one hand this is the British tabloid press (and the Mirror after all) which has printed many a rumour about who has been cast as Bond and there is no official confirmation or quotes from MGM/Eon sources. On the other they usually indicate someone is 'rumoured' for the part whereas this seems certain. For the moment, best be dubious until Eon comments.
In any case don't give up on Pierce Brosnan yet. The actor told <a href="http://www.la-confidential-magazine.com/cover.php" target="_blank">LACM</a> that the now infamous Entertainment Weekly quote "Bond is another lifetime, behind me" which kicked up all the casting rumours may have simply been a quote out of context - "There was no announcement. I think the reporter heard it wrong. I think what I said was, 'I've had my fill of talking about Bond'. It was not an official announcement".
Thanks to 'Matt'.
