Tom Francis Enters Ring for Next James Bond Role

Tom Francis is among the contenders vying to become the next James Bond.

The 26-year-old Olivier award-winning performer has reportedly auditioned for the coveted role in the forthcoming installment, which will mark the franchise's first film under Amazon MGM Studios' stewardship, according to Variety.

Francis joins a competitive field of candidates being considered for the part. Other names circulating in connection with the role include Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Callum Turner, and Cosmo Jarvis, though Francis's representative has denied his involvement in the search.

While the character has traditionally been portrayed by British actors, the franchise has precedent for breaking that mold. Pierce Brosnan, an Irish native, famously inhabited the role, as did Australian George Lazenby. Barry Nelson, an American actor, was the first to ever take on Bond in a 1950s television adaptation of Casino Royale.

Casting director Nina Gold recently outlined the qualifications for Bond's next incarnation, noting that the actor must "ooze sex appeal," among other essential attributes, according to Deadline.

The formal search for a new Bond was confirmed earlier this week.

Francis has gained prominence through his starring turn in Jamie Lloyd's production of Sunset Boulevard, which premiered on London's West End before moving to Broadway. He earned an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Joe Gillis and received a Tony nomination for the same role.

Beyond his theatrical work, Francis has appeared in the Netflix film Jay Kelly and featured in season five of You. His upcoming projects include The Mosquito Bowl, which will also star Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgard, and Ray Nicholson.