The Next James Bond Could Be Younger, Ruling Out Previous Favorites

James Bond producers are reportedly searching for a younger 007.

According to Ross King, the search is currently on to find the next James Bond, but producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have already ruled out 42-year-old Sam Heughan.

“The latest rumour — and in some ways part of this is very much true — which is, basically, the Bond producers are looking for a younger Bond,” he explained on Lorraine. “Someone probably in their 30s.”

Heughan is perhaps best known for Outlander, the 2014 historical drama but also starred in the 2018 spy comedy, The Spy Who Dumped Me.

Unfortunately, it sounds as though he’s too old to take over from 54-year-old Daniel Craig.

Of course, Craig was a lot younger when he first suited up as the iconic British secret agent, starring in Casino Royale at the age of 38. But 15 years as James Bond is a long time, and with producers now looking to the future of the franchise, it’s understandable that they would want someone who can carry the torch for some time.

“At the end of the day they want someone who will be Bond for the next three movies,” explained Ross. “For the franchise, they want someone who will carry it through the same way Daniel Craig did it.”

Another 15-year run is a lot to expect of the next 007, but it’s not impossible. Especially if they’re still searching at the younger end of their age range. But there’s apparently another stipulation – 007 will have to be tall.

“The other thing they’re saying is they have to be taller than 5’10,” said Ross.

Craig himself was 5’10 while the other Bonds were largely over 6 feet tall. Now, it looks as though the Bond producers are looking for a taller, younger Bond. And that counts out a lot of early fan favorites.

Tom Hardy, for instance, is now 44 years old… not to mention nowhere near 6 feet. Meanwhile, Idris Elba may fit the height requirement but comes in at 49 years old.

Even Henry Cavill, another former favorite, may be too old for the role, pushing the upper limits of these requirements at the age of 39.

Who will be the next James Bond? For now, we’ll have to wait and see. But it looks as though some of our favorites are already out of the running.

Want to read more about 007? Check out how the Oscars honored 60 years of James Bond, as well as how the next Bond will be a complete reinvention of the franchise.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.