With Daniel Craig more than ready to hang up his tuxedo, the door could be left wide open for the actor who plays dashin Simon Basset to stroll through and pick up the 007 mantle
Regé-Jean Page may be the runaway star of Netflix smash Bridgerton – but speculation is already rife that he might trade in his period drama costume for a tuxedo to portray James Bond.
The hunky 31-year-old actor plays brooding Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, in the Netflix hit drama – which has been thrilling TV fans since it launched last month.
While Daniel Craig is due to finally bow out as James Bond in the 007 film franchise series later this year after his swan song movie, No Time To Die, was delayed multiple times from an original release date of November 2019.
In the past couple of weeks, Regé-Jean has become the name on everybody’s lips when it comes to speculating who should next portray the MI6 spy on the big screen.
Regé-Jean Page’s fans are desperate for him to be cast as James Bond (
Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Thanks to his swooning performance on the Netflix show, many feel the Zimbabwean-British actor is a shoe-in for the role.
And now the man himself has spoken out about the rumours during an appearance on America’s late night talkshow Tonight with Jimmy Fallon.
He said: “If you’re a brit and you do something of any regard that people renown well, people are going to start saying the ‘B word.”
He didn’t exactly deny he could be up for the role, but he didn’t confirm rumours either.
The actor has wowed TV fans in Netflix smash Bridgerton (
LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX)
Instead, he said he was honoured to be in the same conversation as a string of other high profile actors who have all been rumoured to be in the 007 running – including Marvel superhero star Idris Elba, rom com hunk Henry Golding, and Hollywood heartthrob Tom Hardy.
Regé-Jean gushed: “I’m very glad to have the badge, I’m very glad to be in the company of such people whop have the badge, but it’s just a badge.”
No Time To Die is currently due for release in April after a much delayed release plan.
Current 007, 52-year-old Daniel, was a surprise casting for the 25th Bond film after declaring he would rather “slash his wrists” than reprise the role after starring in 2015’s Spectre.
Daniel Craig’s appearance in No Time To Die is expected to be his very last in the James Bond film series (
PA)
However, the upcoming film is expected to be his final appearance in the role – at long last after the original release date was pushed from November 2019 to February 2020 after original director Danny Boyle dropped out over ‘creative differences.’
The release was then pushed to April 2020 – only to be moved again to November 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With the health crisis still raging, the release was shifted again to April 2021 – although it is unclear if current lockdowns may impact the UK release date amid speculation businesses could remain shut for months to come.
