There has always been speculation about various British actors in their thirties being contenders to take on the James Bond role whenever someone exits the part.
With Daniel Craig having recently exited playing 007 after five films, numerous names have come up since as possible replacements including Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Richard Madden. However long-time producer Barbara Broccoli shut down speculation the other month, saying no script or casting is in place yet.
In an unexpected move, one potential candidate in the form of “Rocketman” star Taron Egerton ruled himself out earlier this month saying he wasn’t right for the part and in any case no one had been in contact with him.
A few weeks on, Egerton has given a very forthcoming interview with The Telegraph about his life and career – the conversation covering everything from his on-stage collapse to his mother’s health battles and more.
The topic of James Bond came up and once again he says he’s not right for the role before explaining why – one reason being the physical demands of not just playing the part but in between films as well:
“I don’t think I’m the right choice for it. You have to be consistently statuesque to be that guy. And that’s something that I am still striving for. I’ve always struggled with my weight.”
Egerton has already seen his physicality change with roles – getting very toned for the first “Kingsman” and more recently “Black Bird” and less so for “Rocketman” and “Eddie the Eagle”.
He adds that when offered a role he finds himself considering how much gym time will be involved and the physical commitment required. Bond on the other hand requires a certain chiselled look somewhat permanently:
“It is a bit like being a brand ambassador as well as being an actor. And that could be really fun in microcosm, but I’m sure I read that Barbara Broccoli said that it’s a 15-year commitment… It’s sort of irrelevant how I feel about it, anyway, because I can tell you there have been zero phone calls.”
Egerton does say he’s likely to return as Eggsy in a third proper “Kingsman” installment with the actor saying what interests him is what has happened to Eggsy in the time since he was recruited at 22. What would the intervening years have done to him?
Egerton will shortly be seen rocking a hell of a moustache in the “Tetris” movie which will launch on the Apple TV+ service on March 31st.
