Tom Francis Auditions to Play the Next James Bond

The search for the next James Bond just got its first confirmed name. Tom Francis — the 26-year-old British actor who became a genuine theatrical sensation in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Sunset Boulevard — has auditioned to play 007 in Amazon MGM’s upcoming Bond film, according to Variety, which broke the news exclusively. Casting is being overseen by Nina Gold, and reps for both Francis and Amazon MGM had no comment.

He’s one of many performers in the running — but he’s the first whose audition has been confirmed — and already the internet is paying attention.

Who Is Tom Francis?

If you haven’t heard of Tom Francis yet, you’re about to. He’s primarily a stage star, and a decorated one at that — he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Joe Gillis in the West End production of Sunset Boulevard, then transferred with the show to Broadway, where he earned a Tony nomination. His performance of the title song — filmed as he walked through New York City’s theater district with cameras tracking his every step — became one of those rare theatrical moments that transcended the stage and turned into a genuine cultural event.

He also played Romeo in the West End’s production of & Juliet.

On screen, his resume is lean but growing. He had a small role in Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly — the George Clooney vehicle — and appeared in a recurring role as Clayton in the final season of Netflix’s You. Next up is The Mosquito Bowl, Peter Berg’s WWII football drama alongside Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgård, and Ray Nicholson.

In other words: the stage pedigree is undeniable. The screen resume is still being written. Which, for Bond, is either a liability or an opportunity depending on who you ask.

The Wider Race for 007

Francis isn’t alone in the mix. Several high-profile names have been swirling around the Bond conversation, though none have been officially confirmed as auditioning. Jacob Elordi — Oscar-nominated for Frankenstein and a household name from Euphoria — has been rumored. So has Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who took home a Golden Globe for Nocturnal Animals. Callum Turner, currently generating buzz for Eternity opposite Elizabeth Olsen, has also been floated. And Cosmo Jarvis, the breakout star of Alex Garland’s Warfare and fan favorite from Shōgun, was mentioned by an insider — though his rep was quick to shut it down: “Cosmo is not in the mix for the role of James Bond and is not auditioning for it.”

Casting director Nina Gold, for her part, has been clear about what she’s looking for. She told Deadline the next Bond has to “ooze sex appeal,” among other qualifications. Bond has almost always been played by a British actor, though the franchise has made exceptions — Pierce Brosnan is Irish, George Lazenby is Australian, and the very first actor to play Bond on screen, Barry Nelson, was American, in a 1950s TV adaptation of Casino Royale.

The new film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, the filmmaker behind Dune and Dune: Part Two, which gives the project a scope and seriousness that has fans particularly invested in who steps into Daniel Craig’s shoes.

No release date has been set, but 2028 is the target that makes the most sense given where production stands. For now, Tom Francis — Olivier winner, Broadway star, relative newcomer to the screen — is the name attached to one of the most coveted roles in Hollywood. Whether he ends up shaken or stirred by the whole process, the audition alone is a story.