Will Luke Evans Be the Next James Bond?
Out star Luke Evans has expressed interest in being the next James Bond, replacing Daniel Craig, The Mirror reported, citing his screen credits as credentials.
"I think I've cut my teeth very well in movies I've done and I've enjoyed every second of it. It's a phenomenal job, a phenomenal franchise, an incredible role," he said.
Evans acknowledged it would be a challenge to replace Craig, who has been Bond for five films since 2006, including the upcoming "No Time to Die."
"I have to say though, it's a daunting task for any actor to play the role after Daniel Craig. No one knows what's happening," he said. "It's a very secretive process and it's a wonderful role. I would jump at the chance, as would many actors in my position, so we shall see."
His last comment was in reference to the search for the new Bond, which has seen such actors as Tom Hardy, Regé-Jean Page, andTom Hiddleston in contention.
Additionally a new name has entered the ring — Daniel Kaluuya, who, according to a report on the website AssumeTech, has jumped to the top of the pack. "(B)ookmakers Ladbrokes report that his odds of being the next James Bond have been slashed from 40-1 to 20-1."
A spokesperson said: "Daniel Kaluuya's recent Oscars success has led to plenty of speculation about his next move, and his odds of playing 007 next have been slashed substantially."
For his part, Lucas is playing it cool. "While Luke Evans clearly has the reasons why he'd make a great James Bond ready for anyone who wants them, he isn't selling himself too hard," writes Cinema Blend. Much like Tom Hardy, he's not talking about it directly, but Evans is definitely dancing carefully around the subject. Which hopefully means that his prospects won't take a hit, since he's not pushing too hard for the honors.
"It will be an exciting casting moment for the Bond production and I wish whoever gets it the best of luck," Evans told the Mirror.
"At 42 years old, and with everything from 'Beauty and the Beast' to 'The Alienist' giving him some boast worthy credits, Luke Evans would be a great candidate for 007 status," adds Cinema Blend. "And interestingly enough, it was noted in this same interview that were he to win the role, he'd be the second actor of Welsh descent to play James Bond. The first was the perennially underrated Timothy Dalton."
If fitness is a criteria, Evans has a leg-up, as witnessed by this recent Instagram that showed his progress over the past year in getting in shape.
He also celebrated Earth Day with a pic of himself standing shirtless on a ridge at Blue Mountain outside of Sydney, Australia. The chiseled star was recently in Australia filming the upcoming Hulu series "Nine Perfect Strangers," which he promoted by posting its trailer.
In the series he plays a gay divorce lawyer, saying it was "nice" to portray a gay character on screen for the first time.
"It was a lovely character to delve into and to calibrate and deliver this complex person. But, yes, it was nice to play a gay character after all these years of doing roles on stage and screen," EDGE reported him as saying in March.
In his personal life, Evans has been dating a number of men since breaking up with his most recent bf Rafael Olarra in January.
The star has filled his IG with many thirst-traps over the past few months. Here are a few.
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