Jamie Bell Is Now In The Running To Be The New James Bond

Jamie Bell is stuffing his ballet shoes in the bottom of the wardrobe, and could be exchanging them for a tuxedo and a Walther PPK, according to reports.

The ‘Billy Elliott’ and ‘Fantastic Four’ star is said to have held 'informal chats’ with producer Barbara Broccoli over the perhaps soon-to-be vacant role of James Bond.

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Broccoli is producing his latest movie 'Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool’, and is said to have been impressed with his work.

A source told The Sun: “Barbara has been a fan of Jamie for a long time and has even thought about him playing another role in the franchise before.

“Everyone remembers Jamie as the little boy in Billy Elliott, but he’s now bulked up and got some serious roles under his belt.

“Tom Hiddleston and Aidan Turner are still in the frame, but Jamie has really shown that he is definitely up there competing with them.”

A spokesperson for Bond production company Eon said: “Barbara regularly speaks to lots of actors and nothing has been decided yet on Bond.”

Bell has recently shown his action chops filming '6 Days’, playing an SAS officer in a forthcoming movie about the siege at the Iranian Embassy in 1980, alongside Mark Strong and Martin Shaw.

And now, with Broccoli producing, he’s set to star in a movie adaptation of British actor Peter Turner’s memoir 'Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool’, alongside Annette Benning and Julie Walters.

It will tell the story of the unlikely real-life romance between Turner, played by Bell, and Oscar-winning actress Gloria Grahame in the early 80s.

In the meantime, speculation continues to hot up over who will take over from Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond.

Craig is rumoured to have finally quit the role, after reportedly walking away from a staggering £68 million deal to make two more movies.

Tom Hiddleston, Aiden Turner, and Idris Elba are among the bookie’s favourites to take over, with some suspending betting on Hiddleston last week following a flurry of high-value bets.

Image credits: PA