Theo James Says He Is Not Interested in Playing James Bond

Theo James has ruled himself out of the running to play James Bond, saying the role would require him to give up too much of his privacy and normal life.

The 41-year-old actor, known for The Gentlemen, Divergent and The White Lotus, recently told GQ that he considers himself “definitely too old” to take on the role of 007.

In a recent interview with Extra, James addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding the next Bond. He said many British and international actors have been linked to the role but explained that he has never wanted to pursue it.

James described Bond as a major part of cinematic culture but said the level of fame that comes with the character would be difficult to manage, particularly now that he has children.

“I think what you sacrifice in terms of privacy and reality of life are too large a thing to take,” James said. He added that losing the ability to live a relatively normal life would make the role too complicated.

The actor previously told GQ that the impact of sudden fame on his children was another major concern. He said taking on a role such as Bond could be “an example of a place you could never come back from.”

James is among several actors whose names have been linked to the next Bond following Daniel Craig’s departure after No Time to Die in 2021.

Amazon MGM confirmed in May that the search for a new Bond had begun. The upcoming film will be written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and directed by Denis Villeneuve. The studio has not announced who will play the iconic secret agent.

For now, James remains focused on The Gentlemen. The second season of the Netflix series premiered recently and has already been renewed for a third season.