Jude Bellingham just entered the James Bond casting race
The hunt for the next James Bond just took a surprise twist: soccer star Jude Bellingham has tossed his name into the 007 ring. Hollywood’s still searching for its new superspy, and this wildcard contender just made the chase a lot more interesting.
Well, here’s a twist I did not see coming. Forget your usual Eton-educated, RADA-trained suspects: the latest name tossed into the James Bond rumour mill isn’t even an actor. No, it’s Jude Bellingham—yes, that Jude Bellingham, the England and Real Madrid footballer. If you’re feeling whiplash at the idea, welcome to the club.
Bellingham: Football Pitch to Pinewood?
Bellingham turned up on James Corden’s new ‘After Hours’ chat show, and the conversation zigzagged over to post-football ambitions. His answer? ‘I would love to be James Bond.’ Not just any film gig, mind—he went straight for the Aston Martin.
He told Corden: 'I’d love to be James Bond. I’ve watched all of them. I’ve watched the Connery ones, Roger Moore, I’ve seen all of them. I love James Bond. I’d love to be in the back of a James Bond film.'
Corden, never one to let a good bit slide, urged Bellingham to seize his moment and effectively audition right then and there. Bellingham obliged, delivering the classic 'The name’s Bond. James Bond.' to camera. The two then had a go at re-enacting that courtroom scene from A Few Good Men, because why not?
The Odds (and Oddsmen)
Let’s be honest: the chances of Bellingham getting anywhere near the 007 role are slim, bordering on comedic. The Bond job nearly always lands with someone from the acting world—sometimes a name, sometimes a relative unknown, but always, crucially, an actor. The only real exception was back in 1969 when George Lazenby, then a model with exactly zero acting credits, was picked for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Lazenby’s casting is still a pub quiz staple for a reason.
Bellingham’s on-screen work just about starts and ends with sports documentaries, where, not surprisingly, he plays himself. Not that he’s letting that stop him tossing his hat in the ring.
Who Is Actually in the Frame?
- Louis Partridge’s name keeps cropping up as a studio favourite—the next fresh-faced Brit to order a Martini, perhaps.
- Jacob Elordi is apparently another top contender. Clearly, tall blokes in suits are still on trend.
- Paul Bettany has recently mentioned, with a bit of dry amusement, that nobody’s ever asked him about playing Bond either. Not that he sounded fussed.
- Denis Villeneuve—yes, him of Dune and Blade Runner fame—is set to oversee a new round of auditions later in the year, so expect the rumour machine to hit full throttle soon.
For now, Bellingham’s Bond fantasy might be just that—a fantasy. Stranger things have happened, but if you’re betting on the next Bond tackling Real Madrid as well as Russian spies, I’d keep your chips in your pocket.