A major debate has erupted among the James Bond fandom following reports that the next person to take on the role is Australian-born actor Jacob Elordi.
Celebrity gossip account DeuxMoi was the first to spark fresh speculation about the next James Bond, posting claims that Amazon has extended an offer to Mr Elordi for the lead role in Denis Villeneuve's Bond 26.
"Jacob Elordi as Bond has been a long standing rumor," the account stated, adding, "Amazon have offered Elordi the bond role. Filming starts in October this year." (sic)
However, it is worth noting that producers have yet to make an official casting announcement about who will succeed Daniel Craig as 007.
Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie are both receiving plaudits for their turns in Wuthering Heights
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Several other showbiz blog accounts, including Showbiz411, separately reported that Mr Elordi has met with both producers and the new director, Mr Villeneuve, about the project.
Should the rumours prove accurate, Mr Elordi would make history on multiple fronts. At 28, the Brisbane-born actor would become the youngest performer to take on the iconic spy role.
His height of 6ft 5in (1.96m) would also make him the tallest Bond in the franchise's six-decade history, though some online commentators have questioned whether this could work against him, suggesting he might "stand out" too much for a secret agent.
Mr Elordi would additionally become only the second Australian to portray 007, following George Lazenby's single outing in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Mr Elordi's profile has risen dramatically in recent years following his breakout performance in the HBO drama Euphoria.
His portrayal of the Creature in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and secured him a Critics' Choice Award win in the same category.
The actor is currently enjoying considerable success with Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights adaptation, in which he stars opposite Margot Robbie.
The film, produced on an $80 million budget, collected $83 million worldwide during its opening weekend following its release on February 13.
Jacob Elordi received critical acclaim for his role in Frankenstein
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However, Mr Elordi's stock in Hollywood isn't enough to win over the entirety of the 007 fandom. Social media has been flooded with furious responses from fans pleading with producers to "keep Bond British" after the reports emerged.
One X user weighed in: "Jacob Elordi is a great actor, and he’d do a good job as 007, but honestly, I’d rather have any of these four as Bond, James Bond. Excited to see what Villeneuve has planned," alongside snaps of Paul Mescal, Dev Patel, and Josh O'Connor.
"Keep James Bond British," a second simply fumed, while a third put: "Most farcical pick they could make. Plenty of British men they can choose, if it's true they’re not Bond movies."
A fourth echoed: "I hope this isn’t true. Not British and also like 6’6, so just the complete opposite of James Bond."
James Bond fans have reacted to Elordi's reported casting
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As did a fifth: "If Henry Cavill isn’t the next James Bond, it’s an insult. If Jacob Elordi gets the role, honestly, James Bond died with Daniel Craig. It’s over. They're killing British Movies."
And another similarly typed: "I’m sorry, Jacob Elordi is not British, and he is WAY too tall to play James Bond. It’s a HUGE big no for me. And I truly appreciate him as an actor but NO, NO, NO!" (sic)
Of course, the actor did receive some support from film fans who were keen to see him in the leading role following his impressive CV.
Mr Elordi has, in fact, addressed speculation about his potential tenure as the world's most famous spy before.
When previously asked about Bond rumours in 2023, Mr Elordi told Extra: "That's beautiful… I just like that people maybe want to put me in their movies. That makes me really glad."
Elsewhere, Mr Villeneuve will helm Bond 26 from a screenplay by Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders.
Amazon MGM Studios is reportedly aiming to commence filming by October 2026 or early 2027, with a theatrical release planned for 2028.
The search for Mr Craig's replacement has sent the rumour mill into overdrive for years. Variety reported last year that Mr Elordi, Tom Holland and Harris Dickinson featured on Amazon's shortlist, though a subsequent Deadline report indicated Mr Villeneuve was seeking a "fresh face."
Other names linked to the coveted role include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Scott Rose-Marsh and Callum Turner, with some reports suggesting it is Mr Turner who may have already secured the part.