The 'Get Out' and 'Black Panther' actor is reportedly the new frontrunner to replace Craig as the iconic spy, while the acclaimed filmmaker rules out directing the next James Bond movie.
- Feb 20, 2018
AceShowbiz - Fresh off his BAFTA Rising Star Award win, Daniel Kaluuya is reportedly being eyed as the next leading man to take on 007. Rumor has it that the "Get out" star, who can be seen in Marvel's currently-playing "Black Panther", is the new frontrunner to replace Daniel Craig as the iconic secret agent.
Ladbrokes have made Kaluuya the favorite to get the role with odds of 6/1, putting him ahead of longtime favorites like Aidan Turner and Idris Elba, both now 8/1, and Tom Hiddleston, 10/1. 28-year-old Kaluuya remains behind other contenders that include James Norton (5/2), Tom Hardy (3/1) and Jack Hurton (5/1).
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said that "Daniel Kaluuya was a worthy winner of the Rising Star award at last weekend's awards show and punters are already backing him to play Bond."
This comes after Kaluuya, who is also nominated for Best Actor at the upcoming Academy Awards for his role in last year's horror hit "Get Out", took home the EE Rising Star Award at the BAFTA Awards, where he told the audience he's feeling "so privileged to be in you guys' company."
"I'd like to thank the people for voting for us all," he continued in his acceptance speech. "I am a product of arts funding within the United Kingdom," he said, adding that he'd "like to thank people that financially support that." He concluded, "My mum is the reason why I started, the reason why I'm here, and the reason why I keep going. Thank you for everything. This award is for you."
The currently-in-the-works James Bond movie is "Bond 25", with Craig having been confirmed to return as the titular spy despite his "slash my wrist" comment years ago. So it remains to be seen when another actor will be chosen to replace him for future James Bond movies.
In related news, Christopher Nolan says he's not directing the 25th James Bond film despite his longterm interest for the gig. The five-time Oscar nominee has long been rumored to serve behind the lens for the next installment of the espionage movie franchise, but he has confirmed to BBC Radio 4 that he "won't be the man. No, categorically. I think every time they hire a new director I'm rumored to be doing it."
Expected to be the final Bond movie for Daniel Craig, the yet-to-be-titled James Bond film is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on November 8, 2019. Last December, it was said that the film was in scripting stages with "Skyfall" and "Spectre" scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.
