James Bond frontrunner rules himself out of iconic character as he's too old

29 December 2023 , 13:32

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Richard Armitage has said he won't be playing James Bond (Image: ITV)

A James Bond frontrunner has declared he would be too old to play the iconic character.

Richard Armitage, who recently starred in Netflix's erotic thriller Obsession, has been rumoured to be taking on Bond for its next film. He has been one of the names in the running to take over from Daniel Craig after the actor stepped away from the role after his last film No Time To Die.

Ever since Craig has hung up his tuxedo, the hunt has been on to find the next actor to fill in 007's shoes. Having been played by Daniel Craig since 2006, a wide range of British actors have been rumoured to be taking on the role, including Richard.

Richard told the Loose Women panel that he would be too old to play James Bond (ITV)

However, during his appearance on Loose Women on Friday, Richard, 52, addressed the rumours once and for all. Host Kaye Adams asked: "Are you still on the James Bond list?" Richard replied: "Apparenrtly I keep cropping up on this list," as Judi Love looked at Richard and said: "This is giving a bit of James Bond and Dean."

"Would you fancy it?," probed Kaye. Richard said: "Do you know what, my little nephew every time I go home he is like 'are you going to be James Bond uncle Richard?' And I am like, no you have just read it in the papers. I think James Bond with a zimmer frame would be not apt. I would cast a guy in his 20s, but I would be up for playing a Bond villain."

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The next installment is tipped to hit the big screen as soon as 2025, with stars like Aaron Taylor-Johnson being the bookies' favourite. The 33-year-old actor has been a hot favourite to take on the role and is hitting screens in a new action film. He broke into the mainstream with the romcom film Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging before going on to play action roles in Kick Ass and later played Quicksilver in the Marvel film Avengers: Age of Ultron.

This year he was due to play adventurer Sergei Kravinoff in the Marvel film Kraven the Hunter – but the film release has been delayed until August 2024. Reports have suggested Aaron will soon be announced as the next Bond – while Oppenheimer and Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan is hotly tipped to direct the next film in the series.

Aaron was the bookies favourite to take over Bond in December last year – as reports claimed he had already filmed a test scene for bosses. A source said at the time: “Aaron has impressed bosses so much that he has filmed one of the franchise’s famous gun barrel teaser scenes, something all the Bond actors do. That move takes him a step closer to signing a deal. Bosses at the brand were really impressed with his unique blend of acting intensity and his impressive back catalogue of action films.”

Mia O'Hare