Rumored New James Bond Actor Has Only One Film Credit

After Amazon MGM publicly confirmed that "the search for the next James Bond is underway," new names have entered the running. According to an exclusive from Variety, actor Tom Francis has auditioned to play James Bond in the upcoming 26th official 007 film, to be directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Steven Knight. But who is Tom Francis?

Just like the casting of Sean Connery or George Lazenby-who were both relatively unknown in 1962 and 1969-it makes sense that we'll start hearing about hypothetical Bond actors who aren't super-famous. In fact, it feels even more likely that the next 007 will be someone who isn't an A-list actor. Yet.

Francis, who is 26 years old, has one film credit as of this writing, a small role in the 2025 film Jay Kelly. He'll also star in the upcoming film The Mosquito Bowl alongside new He-Man actor Nicholas Galitzine. Francis also starred in the Netflix series You, but his stage credits are extensive. Francis's turn as Joe Gillis in the 2023-2025 run of Sunset Boulevard is his most lauded credit, starring in both the West End in London and on Broadway in New York City.

Can a theatre star become the next James Bond? Considering that there's a good chance that this next Bond will go back to a more literary, old-school Bond vibe, it seems smart for casting director Nina Gold to focus on classically trained actors. Bond may be an action hero, with over 40 books about this man; there are layers to 007. And maybe a talented stage actor like Francis could be perfect for the job.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 4:19 AM.