Since rising to fame after starring in Netflix’s Bridgerton, Regé-Jean Page has been a favourite among fans and the bookies to be the next James Bond. In fact, this week saw Ladbrokes suspend betting on the 31-year-old hunk. A spokesman said: “A flurry of bets over the past few days have forced us to substantially slash odds on Regé-Jean Page, who is now our even-money favourite to play Bond next.”
Now at Evens, Page is ahead of other favourites in Tom Hardy (4-1), James Norton (5-1), Luke Evans (8-1) and Idris Elba (8-1).
But in a recent interview, the Bridgerton star addressed those 007 rumours surrounding him, dismissing the speculation.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the 31-year-old said: “Yeah, [because] it gets clicks.
“It’s got nothing to do with me — nothing to do with anything that has happened in any rooms or any meetings.”
Page continued: “It’s literally just a thing for people to talk about. So it’s flattering, but it’s just a game.”
Next James Bond betting was previously suspended when the actor announced in April that he wouldn’t be returning for the second series of Bridgerton.
Around that time, he told The Mirror: “Ah, the B word. I think that if you are British and you do anything of note, that other people take notice of, then people will start talking about that.
“I think that’s fairly normal and I’m flattered to be in the category of Brits that people have noticed.”
In the meantime, Page is very much the Hollywood rising star, having bagged roles in some big movies.
He’s been shooting action thriller The Gray Man with Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, while the 31-year-old is also due to star in Dungeons and Dragons with Chris Pine and Hugh Grant.
However, when the next 007 auditions do get going, Page is surely in for a good chance considering he’s got the looks, is the right age and would make a great first person of colour Bond.
Broccoli teased the reboot after Daniel Craig to Total Film last year, saying: “It will have to be reimagined, in the way each actor has reimagined the role.”
The producer added: “That’s what is so exciting and fun about this franchise; the character evolves. Eventually, when we have to think about it, we’ll find the right person.”
The 61-year-old also confirmed that Bond will always be a man, but can be played by an actor of any ethnicity.
She added: “He doesn’t need to be a white man. Not as far as I’m concerned. We should create roles for women, not just turn a man into a woman.”
Daniel Craig’s final 007 movie No Time To Die hits UK cinemas on September 30, 2021.
READ THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER ARTICLE HERE.