A former the Bond 26. Several names, including Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Mescal, and Idris Elba, have been floated over the years, but no one has officially been chosen yet.

In an interview with ScreenRant for his new movie Cleaner, director Martin Campbell discussed whether past Bond candidates should be considered for the part. He was asked if there were "any actors that [he] auditioned for Bond in the past that [he] think[s] would be good for this time around." The filmmaker responded that he does not think so, because they are "all too old." He pointed out that Bond contracts will usually span five movies, making it best for an actor in their 30s to play Bond. Check out the full quote from Campbell below:

No, they're all too old. They're all too old. You've got to realize that whoever plays Bond will be contracted for five movies, right? So I think you have to have somebody in their thirties, 35, 36, if they're going to see five films. I mean, look at Roger Moore, I think he was 56 or something by the time he finished his run. I didn't know how old Pierce was, but they're going to go on until their fifties, basically. So they always want to get somebody who will be able to do that many movies, and in order to do so, they have to get someone, I think, in their mid-thirties too.

What This Means For Bond 26

Campbell Echoes Past Sentiments

Campbell is an expert in the Bond franchise, and he knows what it takes to make a 007 film. He directed the debuts of Pierce Brosnan and Craig in GoldenEye and Casino Royale, respectively. His statement also aligns with previous comments that franchise producer Barbara Broccoli has made about the search for the new Bond, mentioning the necessity of casting a younger actor who will be available for multiple movies. Combined with Campbell's statement, this doubles down on the condition that the next Bond will be an actor in their 30s.

These parameters would rule out one of the most popular fan castings of James Bond: Henry Cavill. Not only is Cavill turning 42 this year, but he has previously auditioned to play the character. He nearly won the role that ultimately went to Craig. While Campbell has hinted at some inaccuracies about Cavill auditioning for Casino Royale, this would rule him out, as Campbell does not see any of the past contenders as appropriate choices to play the new 007.

What Is The Status Of The James Bond Casting?

There Have Been A Lot Of Rumors Shut Down

With Cavill supposedly ruled out, this may leave audiences wondering who really will be the next James Bond. At one point last year, it was rumored that Aaron Taylor-Johnson had been cast in the role. The Sun even claimed that he had been offered the role formally, hinting at major progress on the production. This has led to some uncertainty as to what to trust when it comes to Bond 26 casting, as it is clear that there is not always accurate information being given out about the franchise.

Tom Hardy will be 48 by the end of 2025, so, based on Campbell and Broccoli's assertions, he is definitely far too old to play Bond.

Taylor-Johnson is not the only actor who has been rumored to play Bond in recent years. Challengers cast member Josh O'Connor saw his name circulate online last year as a potentially good candidate. Last month, however, O'Connor confirmed that he had not been cast in the role in any official capacity, saying "If I am Bond, I don't know about it." He clarified that these rumors originated from a joke he made about him playing 007, but did not indicate any real casting.

In addition to Cavill, another commonly pitched Bond name is Tom Hardy. Hardy has proven himself to be a competent leading man in everything from Venom to Mad Max: Fury Road, making him a logical suggestion. Hardy will be 48 by the end of 2025, so, based on Campbell and Broccoli's assertions, he is definitely far too old to play Bond. This clarification narrows the race in the search for the world's next biggest secret agent.

Our Take On This James Bond News

Signs Are Stronger For One More Recent Candidate

While Campbell's statement rules out past potential candidates like Cavill and Elba, the strict age restriction points to some newer contenders for the part. Paul Mescal, who was recently in Gladiator II, has seen his name floated. Mescal is 29 years old, so he is a bit younger than Campbell is suggesting, but that might be even better for a series trying to get several films out of a Bond actor. He is also rising in his career, so Bond could be a good move, making his candidacy more likely.

Interestingly, the statement would also put the formerly rumored Taylor-Johnson in good standing. Unlike Mescal, who is slightly younger than the range Campbell listed, Taylor-Johnson is 34, putting him right in the age zone. He may not have been cast in the role yet, as the 2024 rumors assumed, but it is possible that the Bond producers could still bounce back to casting Taylor-Johnson.