Tom Holland 'Is Out of the Running to Be the Next 007' as More is Revealed About the New James Bond Storyline

Spiderman actor Tom Holland is reportedly out of the running to play the next James Bond due to contractual obligations with Marvel.

via: Daily Mail

While there has been no definitive indication of who will take on the coveted role, the Spiderman star, 29, has signed a contract with Marvel that stops him from starring as the famed character, according to the Sun.

His contractual obligation prevents him from agreeing to any job that could overshadow his commitments with filming Spiderman.

An insider told the publication: 'Tom can't play two superheroes, it just won't happen.'

Some indications have also been hinted at in terms of the plot, as it is believed that the storyline will explore the dangers of AI.

The insider continued: 'This is the first Bond of the AI era and the plot is going to reflect that. Writers are going to have some fun.

'This next Bond movie has to feel bold, fresh and relevant — especially after such a long break.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Tom Holland's representatives for a comment.

Various big-name stars have been linked with the coveted role in recent years - including Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jacob Elordi and Harris Dickinson.

The franchise's 26th film will go into production next April at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire.

Steven Knight, who created Peaky Blinders, will be tasked with writing the storyline, and director Denis Villeneuve is set on casting an unknown Brit as James Bond.

Denis is reportedly set to lead the search for the next James Bond.

The long-running film franchise has been without a lead since Daniel Craig starred as Bond in 2021's No Time to Die.

The 57-year-old director - who is set to direct his first-ever Bond movie - has been trusted to find the ideal actor to lead the franchise forward.

He intends to focus his attention on the task after he completes production on Dune: Part Three, according to Deadline, which reports that the filmmaker is seeking a 'fresh face' for the role.

It's also emerged that the next Bond will be male, as written by creator Ian Fleming, and he'll also hail from the British Isles.

However, the new Bond won't be announced until 2026, despite years of comment and speculation about the franchise's future.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, Taron Egerton rubbished suggestions that he could play Bond, insisting that he's too 'messy' for the role.

The 35-year-old actor has been tipped to replace Daniel Craig as 007 - but Taron believes there are 'so many cool, younger actors' who would be better suited to the role.

Asked about the possibility of playing Bond, he told Collider: '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.'

He added, '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.'

Taron observed that leading the Bond franchise is 'quite an undertaking'. And he suggested that the scale of the project might not suit him, either.

The actor - who previously portrayed Sir Elton John in 2019's Rocketman - explained: '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 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.'

*****

Personally, I never saw Tom Holland as Bond. I don't think Taron would do it either, because he stated on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast that he's not too fond of the trappings of fame, and mainstream media being all up in his business.

I think they need to cast an actor who is in their mid-30s, who has been around before tech has become this massive tool that we have grown dependent on, and how a superspy is able to navigate in an AI world.

I honestly have no idea who they should cast, but whoever they decide to cast I hope it's a British actor who is relatively unknown.