The Bond buzz might refuse to die down anytime soon, but Taron Egerton is setting the record straight. He isn’t eyeing James Bond in the next movie, and he’s not afraid to say it out loud. The rumors have been swirling for far too long, and Egerton’s done with the speculation. Even though fans keep tossing his name around, thanks to his slick spy work in Kingsman, Egerton’s made it clear: he doesn’t see himself stepping into 007’s shoes. But why? Turns out, Egerton’s got a pretty good reason.
The rumors of the next Bond: How did it start?
Ever since Daniel Craig wrapped up his run as Bond in ‘No Time to Die’, everyone’s been guessing who’s next. Some want a familiar face, others are rooting for a newcomer. Taron Egerton keeps popping up on those lists, mostly because he’s already played a sharp-dressed, gadget-loving agent. Add in his big turns in Rocketman and other hits, and you get why fans can’t let go of the idea.But here’s the thing: Egerton doesn’t buy all that reasoning.
What’s Taron Egerton’s take?
Egerton has denied the speculations about him being the next Bond before, and he’s repeating the same. This time, in fact, Egerton put the rumors to bed for good. On the red carpet with Variety AU/NZ, he didn’t mince words: “I don’t think I’m right for James Bond. I’ve never felt that that was me.”Per Variety, he went on, admitting that the Bond universe is huge, legendary, even; and he respects it. Still, he thinks there are better fits out there. “I think there are great candidates for it,” he said. “I just feel that my path is less… kind of grand and idealised.”Last year, during an interview with Collider, he even joked and said that he’s “too messy” for Bond’s perfectly polished image and that the role would be “wasted on me.”However, there’s no bitterness about Bond from his end. In fact, Egerton’s a fan of the franchise. He’s praised Daniel Craig’s run and says he genuinely enjoys the movies. He just doesn’t see himself making Bond his life’s work. For him, it’s about chasing different creative challenges, not locking himself into a single role for years. He has also pointed out that there are younger actors who’d bring fresh energy and have the staying power the franchise needs. It’s not just modesty; it’s knowing what fits, and what doesn’t.
Who are in the running for the next Bond?
With Egerton out, people are looking elsewhere. The names floating to the top? Jacob Elordi, with his magnetic screen presence, is getting a lot of buzz. Callum Turner’s name keeps coming up, too, as he’s got the right mix of charm and action chops. Then there’s Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who’s another favorite, with that rugged edge and serious range. And, of course, Henry Cavill’s been a fan pick for ages, bringing that classic Bond vibe.Amazon MGM’s next Bond film, Bond 26, is supposed to start casting and development soon, aiming for a 2028 release. Whoever gets the part, it won’t be Taron Egerton.As for Egerton, he’s keeping busy, anyway. He took on a thriller called Carry-On (December 2024), led the popular crime series ‘Smoke’ (June 2025), and starred in ‘She Rides Shotgun’ (August 2025). Coming up next, he’s got a survival thriller in store, named ‘Apex’, which is slated to drop in April 2026. And after that, he’s returning for ‘Kingsman: The Blue Blood’.
