One Actor Already Screen-Tested for the Role of the Next James Bond According to Reports

Rumors are swirling about who will become the next James Bond, and a new name has just joined the speculation. According to Rambling, a trusted entertainment source, 37-year-old British actor Scott Rose-Marsh may have already screen-tested for the role. Rose-Marsh is a redheaded actor whose most notable work includes Krays: Code of Silence and Wolves of War.

Rambling reports that Rose-Marsh was invited in late June to read lines from GoldenEye for director Denis Villeneuve. He may also have read pages from the script that Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is currently working on for Bond 26. Whatever he read, Rambling’s source says the actor was given one clear instruction: “Don’t impersonate a previous Bond.”

If this test is true, it challenges one popular theory about the next Bond. Many thought Amazon, which recently purchased the 007 franchise for $1 billion, might reboot the character as a younger, 20-something spy to attract a new generation. Rose-Marsh, at 37, doesn’t fit that idea.

Neither Rose-Marsh’s publicist nor Amazon responded to requests for comment, which Rambling notes is “the smart move whether or not his client has been mixing martinis.” There’s also the issue of his red hair. No Bond has ever been a ginger, and that could be a problem. The source recalls how Daniel Craig’s blonde hair caused a stir when he was cast in 2005.

News about Bond 26 has been slow for years, but this year things are changing fast. Longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have stepped aside, leaving Amazon with full creative control of the franchise. The film will be produced by David Heyman and Amy Pascal. Pascal has previously worked with Tom Holland on Spider-Man movies, and also produced Casino Royale, and Holland is conveniently one of the main choices according to previous rumors.

Denis Villeneuve, known for Dune and Prisoners, is set to direct, while Steven Knight is writing the script. So far, there’s no official release date, title, or confirmation of who will play Bond. Daniel Craig’s last outing as the iconic spy, No Time To Die, came out in 2021, and since then fans have been eagerly guessing who will take over.

Other names, like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, have been mentioned in reports, but nothing is confirmed. Rambling’s latest information on Scott Rose-Marsh adds a new twist to the ongoing debate. “Don’t impersonate a previous Bond,” the source reiterated, highlighting what the casting team seems to be looking for: a fresh take on the legendary spy.

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