James Norton Addresses James Bond Rumors at BAFTAs

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The speculation surrounding the next James Bond has been ongoing since Daniel Craig announced his retirement from the iconic role. Several actors have been rumored to replace him, including Bridget Jones star Leo Woodall, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and rumored favorite, Aaron-Taylor Johnson. Recently, James Norton has been thrown into the mix, with some speculating that he could be the next 007. At the BAFTAs, Norton was confronted with a supposed "clue" from his new BBC series Playing Nice, where his character Pete Riley is the only one not wearing a tuxedo at a black-tie event.

Norton was told he was the odds-on favorite to play 007, to which he replied, laughing, "Am I? Whoever's deciding on these odds needs to get a new job." He discussed how he felt about the rumors, stating that it was "so weird and bemusing" and based on pure speculation, making for a good clickbait moment in the media. When presented with the "clue" from his show, Norton joked, "If that's not evidence to seal the deal, I don't know what is." He then added that it had nothing to do with the fact that his character felt uncomfortable wearing a tuxedo and was a bit low-key, saying "It's clearly undeniable. What can I say? You got me. Whoever's spotted that, 10 points, well done. I'm definitely not [confirming]." The James Bond franchise has been a beloved part of popular culture since the first film was released in 1962, with Sean Connery being the first to star as the protagonist in Dr. No.

Daniel Craig had the longest continuous reign as the lead in the movie franchise, starring in five films, starting with Casino Royale in 2006. He then played the famous spy in Quantum of Solace in 2008, Skyfall in 2012, Spectre in 2015, and announced he would be retiring after appearing in No Time To Die in 2021. When asked who he would love to see play James Bond, Craig responded, "I don’t care." The search for the next James Bond continues, with several actors being considered for the iconic role, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Idris Elba. The producer of the James Bond films, Michael G Wilson, has stated that the next Bond will be "a thirty-something" and that the actor should have some experience, having been through the wars, so to speak.

Other actors who have been rumored to play James Bond include Theo James, Regé-Jean Page, and Paul Mescal. Andrew Scott has commented that Paul Mescal would "probably be a great James Bond," and following Cillian Murphy’s Oscar win, his odds of playing the spy soared from 50/1 to 9/1. However, it seems that Mescal and Murphy may not be the right age for the role, with Mescal being 29 and Murphy being 47. The next James Bond film is highly anticipated, and fans are eagerly waiting to see who will take on the iconic role. In the meantime, James Norton will be seen on screens in the Steven Knight series House of Guinness, which also stars Anthony Boyle, Jack Gleeson, and Michael McElhatton.

The cast of House of Guinness also includes Fionn O'Shea, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, Niamh McCormack, Dervla Kirwan, Danielle Galligan, David Wilmot, and Hilda Fay. The series is expected to be a hit, with a talented cast and crew behind it. As for the James Bond rumors, only time will tell if James Norton will take on the iconic role. For now, fans can continue to speculate and enjoy the entertainment industry's latest news and updates.