Luke Evans dismisses James Bond rumours but says his take would 'definitely be Welsh'

Luke Evans played it coy on The One Show when he was asked about rumours he could be cast as James Bond, but said his version of the spy would be "definitely Welsh".

Evans, who has recently appeared in live-action versions of Beauty and the Beast and Pinocchio, has been a constant presence on rumour shortlists for Daniel Craig's replacement following No Time to Die.

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The One Show host Alex Jones quizzed Evans in the wake of bookies slashing the odds on him being cast in the role of Ian Fleming's literary superspy.

When the 43-year-old refused to give an answer, Jones asked whether he would play Bond as Welsh if the call were to come.

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"Definitely Welsh. I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it. It’s a bit like jinxing it by talking about it. They’d be big shoes to fill, wouldn’t they?" said the actor.

Evans joked that he'd "enjoy it at a push" if he got the chance to don a tuxedo and star in the 60-year-old blockbuster franchise.

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He added: "I mean, who knows? It is famously the best kept secret in the movie world, right? So, no one knows."

The betting market for the next James Bond currently lists the likes of Henry Cavill, McMafia star James Norton and Bridgerton leading man Regé-Jean Page as favourites.

Daniel Craig made his final appearance as James Bond in the 2021 movie No Time to Die, which was his fifth outing as 007 since taking over the role for Casino Royale in 2006.

Franchise boss Barbara Broccoli said earlier this year that fans shouldn't expect updates any time soon, with production on the next Bond adventure still "at least two years away".

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In a separate interview, Broccoli revealed that any actor who takes on the James Bond mantle has to commit for 10/12 years.

She added: "It’s not just about casting an actor for a film. It’s about a reinvention, and ‘Where are we taking it? What do we want to do with the character?’

"And then, once we figure that out, who’s the right person for that particular reinvention?"

Watch: David Tennant was once in the running for James Bond