According to Variety, 26-year-old British stage actor Tom Francis — who earned serious acclaim appearing opposite Nicole Scherzinger in Jamie Lloyd's bold reinvention of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic musical "Sunset Boulevard" — has formally auditioned for the role of James Bond.
Why This Audition Changes the Conversation
For a franchise as culturally loaded as 007, every confirmed audition reshapes the debate. Francis is a genuinely intriguing name in the mix: young, British, classically trained, and capable of commanding a stage — qualities that have historically served Bond actors well. But he's also largely unknown to global film audiences, which makes this feel like a swing-for-the-fences gamble rather than a safe studio pick. That tension between theatrical pedigree and mainstream recognition is exactly the kind of thing the fancasting community loves to dig into. Which matters more for Bond: charisma proven on stage, or a face audiences already trust on screen?
With no official announcement from the producers and a field that reportedly still includes names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, this race is wide open. That means every vote on myCast right now is genuinely meaningful — fans are shaping the conversation before the decision is made.
What myCast Fans Are Already Saying
The myCast community has been building out Bond universe stories for a while, and the data reveals some fascinating preferences. Over on the James Bond fan cast, Aidan Turner has claimed the 007 slot — a pick that makes a lot of sense when you think about it. The "Poldark" star brings the brooding physicality and British charm the role demands, and he's been a fan-favorite dark horse for years. That same story rounds out the supporting world with inspired choices: Ciarán Hinds as M, Toby Jones as Q, and Freema Agyeman as Moneypenny — a lineup that leans into prestige British television talent in a way that feels very much in step with where the franchise's tone has been heading.
A second James Bond story on the platform has yet to accumulate votes on the Bond role itself, but it surfaces some compelling supporting picks worth noting: as Moneypenny and as M are choices that would generate enormous buzz if they came to pass. Elba as M in particular feels like a creative solution for a fan base that spent years campaigning for him to play Bond himself — a role that may have simply passed its window.