Barry Keoghan doesn’t think he “fits the criteria” to play James Bond.
The Saltburn star is one of several names linked to the part of 007, after Daniel Craig bowed out of the suave spy role following 2021 movie No Time To Die.
While Keoghan is pleased to be talked about as a potential new Bond, he has distanced himself from taking on the part.
Speaking to Radio Times magazine, he said: “(James Bond is) an iconic role and a lot of weight and pressure comes with that.
“It’s nice to see your name go up there, but I don’t think I fit the criteria for James Bond.”
Instead, Keoghan is open to portraying a Bond villain — which would see him follow in the footsteps of the likes of Christopher Walken (Max Zorin), Christoph Waltz (Blofeld), Rami Malek (Lyutsifer Safin), Mads Mikkelsen (Le Chiffre), and Javier Bardem (Raoul Silva) — in the next 007 movie.
He added: “I’d rather come in and do the villain. The man teasing Bond, that’s more me.”
Callum Turner is the current bookmakers’ frontrunner to land the part of Bond, with Keoghan’s Saltburn co-star Jacob Elordi also heavily inked to the iconic role.
Damson Idris is another star who has been talked about as a possible replacement for Craig.
But the F1 actor told E! News: “It’s definitely not true, it’s just a rumour. All these roles are superb, and I think it’s a testament to a young artist to be given that compliment.
“There’s been many artists before me [sic] — Idris Elba, my big brother, and many artists today.
“So I think it’s just a testament saying that we’re doing a good job and have people see us.”
Amazon MGM Studios now have creative control of the famous film franchise, and they have appointed Denis Villeneuve to direct the next Bond film.
Villeneuve recently said: “Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007.
“I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr No with Sean Connery.
“To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.”
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