Surprise name enters the 007 casting race

LONDON: Speculation over the next James Bond has intensified after British actor Scott Rose-Marsh, a comparatively lesser-known name, took part in a screen test for the role of 007.

The 37-year-old actor was invited to audition for the next Bond film and read scenes from GoldenEye, the 1995 entry in the long-running franchise. The audition reportedly took place in late May, and there were also suggestions that he may have performed material from an early version of the script being written by Steven Knight.

Rose-Marsh, who studied at London's BRIT School, was given a specific instruction before filming his test: not to imitate any previous version of the British spy. His screen credits include the independent film Krays: Code Of Silence, released in 2021, along with television appearances in Chloe and The Outlaws.

The test appears to run counter to earlier industry speculation that Amazon was leaning towards selecting a younger actor in his twenties for the role. Amazon secured creative control of the Bond franchise earlier this year in a deal reportedly worth $1 billion, adding to uncertainty over the direction of the series' next phase.

The upcoming Bond era is being shaped by director Denis Villeneuve and writer Steven Knight, who are known for Dune and Peaky Blinders respectively. If Rose-Marsh were ultimately chosen, it would mark one of the franchise's more unexpected casting decisions, given his relatively low public profile compared with other names that have featured in recent rumours, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Bond has never previously been played by a red-haired actor. Even so, the casting process is still said to be in its early stages, and no official announcement has been made by the studio. Industry insiders say several actors remain under consideration as the search continues privately.

Meanwhile, actor Brian Cox has weighed in on the discussion by backing Cillian Murphy as a possible choice. Speaking to Radio Times, Cox praised the Irish actor's screen presence.

For now, the identity of the next actor to take on the role remains undisclosed, with continued reports and industry chatter keeping attention fixed on one of the film world's most closely watched casting decisions.