MOVIE NEWS – As speculation swirls over who will inherit the legendary James Bond role from Daniel Craig after the explosive ending of No Time to Die, one of the most frequently rumored candidates has just publicly removed himself from consideration, narrowing the field for 007’s future.

During an interview with Collider, Taron Egerton—the Kingsman actor often fancast for Bond and several superhero roles—firmly put an end to rumors he’d don the iconic tuxedo, sip martinis, and save the world as the next British superspy.

“No. And I don’t think I’m a good choice for it. I think I’m too messy for that. I think I’m not— I really love James Bond and particularly Daniel Craig’s tenure. But I think I wouldn’t be good at it, and I think there’s so many cool, younger actors who would be great for it. I think it would be wasted on me, probably.”

Egerton’s frankness is refreshing: he describes himself as “too messy” to take on Bond and genuinely believes such a coveted role would be wasted on him. He’s already proven his knack for playing a chaotic spy in the Kingsman franchise, where fans are still hoping for another sequel.

Taron Egerton Still Has Big-Screen Ambitions—Just Not as Bond

Though Egerton is officially out as Bond, he’s open to joining other blockbuster franchises (so those hoping to see him as Wolverine in the MCU, don’t lose hope). Still, playing Bond is simply too monumental a task. As he explained:

“But that’s not to say that I don’t have aspirations and plans and also that I wouldn’t be interested in doing something that’s more commercial, because of course I would. I think I’m at a period in my life where, as you say, I’ve been probably following the things that speak to me on a creative level a little bit more, but, you know, I’m sure I won’t feel that way forever. But James Bond is quite an undertaking and I think, one, as far as I’m aware, nobody’s asking me to do it. [Laughs] But also, it’s possibly not quite the thing that would make me happiest. I do think it’s a big old undertaking, it kind of consumes your life, a role like that.”

So while some may be disappointed not to see Egerton as 007, fans can catch him in action soon in She Rides Shotgun, a crime thriller where he plays a father trying to protect his daughter after his release from prison puts them both in the crosshairs of his enemies.

Source: Collider