Shaken, not stirred.<\/p>\n
Taron Egerton has dropped out of the race to become the next James Bond as Amazon MGM Studios eye their new<\/a> international man of mystery.<\/p>\n During a recent interview with Collider<\/a>, the British actor admitted that he wouldn\u2019t be a \u201cgood choice\u201d to play the next 007 after Daniel Craig, 57, gave up the mantle following 2021\u2019s \u201cNo Time to Die.\u201d<\/p>\n Taron Egerton as Eggsy in 2017\u2019s action movie \u201cKingsman: The Golden Circle.\u201d 20th Century Fox Licensing\/Merchandising \/ Everett Collection<\/p>\n Daniel Craig as James Bond in \u201cCasino Royale,\u201d which came out in 2006. \u00a9Sony Pictures\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019m too messy for that,\u201d Egerton, 35, told\u00a0the outlet. \u201cI really love James Bond and particularly Daniel Craig\u2019s tenure. But I think I wouldn\u2019t be good at it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think there are so many cool, younger actors who would be great for it,\u201d the \u201cSmoke\u201d actor added. \u201cI think it would be wasted on me, probably.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Egerton clarified that his opposition to playing the next Bond<\/a> doesn\u2019t mean he doesn\u2019t \u201chave aspirations and plans\u201d to star in \u201cmore commercial\u201d movies in the future.<\/p>\n Taron Egerton attends the \u201cSmoke\u201d premiere during the Tribeca Festival on June 12. Getty Images for Tribeca Festival<\/p>\n Daniel Craig as 007 in \u201cCasino Royale.\u201d \u00a9Sony Pictures\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019m in a period in my life where I\u2019ve been following the things that speak to me on a creative level a little bit more, but I\u2019m sure I won\u2019t feel that way forever,\u201d Egerton said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut James Bond is quite an undertaking, and I think, one, as far as I\u2019m aware, nobody\u2019s asking me to do it,\u201d the \u201cRocketman\u201d star added. \u201cBut also, it\u2019s possibly not quite the thing that would make me happiest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do think it\u2019s a big old undertaking, it kind of consumes your life, a role like that,\u201d Egerton noted.<\/p>\n Taron Egerton in the Apple TV+ crime drama series \u201cSmoke.\u201d Apple TV+<\/p>\n The actor previously starred as Gary \u201cEggsy\u201d Unwin, a stylish spy similar to Bond, in director Matthew Vaughn\u2019s 2014 film \u201cKingsman: The Secret Service\u201d and its 2017 sequel.<\/p>\n Although he did not appear in the 2021 prequel \u201cThe King\u2019s Man,\u201d Vaughn teased \u201cKingsman 3\u201d and Egerton\u2019s possible return<\/a> during an event back in 2023.<\/p>\n As for 007, Egerton wouldn\u2019t be the first actor to distance himself from the role.<\/p>\n Taron Egerton plays an arson investigator in \u201cSmoke.\u201d Apple TV+<\/p>\n \u201cCrazy Rich Asians\u201d star Henry Golding, 38, said that playing James Bond is \u201cevery actor\u2019s kind of nightmare\u201d<\/a> during an interview with People last month.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy can\u2019t they bring out more agents or more 00s? I think that would be so much more fun, because there just aren\u2019t the restraints and the expectation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I\u2019m just a p\u2014y. I don\u2019t know,\u201d Golding added. \u201cBut I think I would love it so much more if there wasn\u2019t that overhanging cultural pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel Craig during his last outing as James Bond in \u201cNo Time to Die.\u201d \u00a9MGM\/Courtesy Everett Collection<\/p>\n After obtaining creative control of the franchise<\/a> in February, Amazon MGM Studios announced in June that \u201cDune\u201d director Denis Villeneuve would helm<\/a> the studio\u2019s first Bond film.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he\u2019s sacred territory,\u201d Villeneuve, 57, said after being named director. \u201cI intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Taron Egerton as Elton John in 2019\u2019s \u201cRocketman.\u201d \u00a9Paramount\/Courtesy Everett Collection \/ Everett Collection<\/p>\n While the lead role has not been filled, the rumor mill has been in overdrive with suggestions on which actors should be in contention<\/a>. The list includes Henry Cavill, Harris Dickinson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Idris Elba and more.<\/p>\n Pierce Brosnan, who played the martini-sipping secret agent before Craig took over in 2006\u2019s \u201cCasino Royale,\u201d insisted back in March that the new 007 must be British.<\/a><\/p>\n Brosnan, 72, also commended producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson for handing over the franchise\u2019s creative control to\u00a0Amazon MGM.<\/p>\n