Aaron Taylor-Johnson may no longer be a shoo-in to play the part of James Bond, despite reports claiming the contrary dominating the news cycle this week.
Bond bosses had reportedly "offered" the Kick-Ass actor the part after months of speculation and it was expected that he was days away from signing up for good.
However, after the reports from the Sun hit headlines across the globe this week, Eon Productions has appeared to distance itself from the rumours.
It told the BBC it wouldn't comment on speculation but a production insider told the corporation there is "no truth in the rumours".
This has left those who were unsure the 33-year-old was the right man for the role with a new lease of optimism given their favourite actors wouldn't have stood a chance of bagging the part if the reports were confirmed.
Henry Cavill fans, for example, were left "in tears" at the prospect of Taylor-Johnson being preferred to the Superman star but following the BBC's report, there is one man who's emerged above all others as a social media favourite.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson HASN'T actually been offered the Bond role, it's been reported
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Popular film blogging site Film Updates posted the insider's "no truth" quotes on X, formerly Twitter, and soon found itself inundated with pleas for Theo James to bag the part.
One person quoted the BBC's report with the caption: "Theo James still in the running," alongside an excitable gif.
"THEO JAMES WE HAVE A CHANCE STILL," added a second while a third pleaded: "THEO JAMES BOND.. ITS LITERALLY IN HIS NAME."
"Cast theo james as james bond!" another urged before a fifth weighed in with a series of snaps of the actor and posted: "Thinking about him... I might watch James Bond for the first time in my life...#TheoJames #TheGentlemen."
Theo James (right) recently starred in Netflix's The Gentlemen opposite Kaya Scodelario
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Elsewhere, James's fans continued to share their desire on the social media site, with one user penning: "If this isn’t the case, I still like the idea of him being Bond or Henry Cavill and maybe even throw in Theo James, especially after watching him The Gentlemen TV series, he’s a new one to bet on for me."
"If the James Bond team is doing any social listening at all... WE WANT THEO JAMES," added a further fan. (sic)
James has become a Hollywood staple in recent years thanks to his roles in the Divergent franchise and HBO's award-winning drama, The White Lotus.
But in recent weeks, it's his role in Netflix drama The Gentlemen that has proven he can pull off the part of a slick, middle-class gent while still being a ruthless and capable enforcer.
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There have still been pockets of support for the likes of Cavill, Richard Madden, Callum Turner, Nicholas Glaitzine and others online - but James was one man who frequented social media posts time and time again.
While his work diary has been dominated by The Gentlemen of late, he has addressed the possibility of playing Bond before.
He previously told the Guardian: "Everyone’s interested in that (playing Bond) because it’s a big part of British cultural identity, but that probably wouldn’t be me.
"I do think there are better people for that job. And, honestly, it would be terrifying: if you do that, there’s no going back.
"You’re opening Pandora’s box there. You have got to be willing to live a very different life and have a different life for your family. And that would be pretty tricky."
At the time of writing, no official announcement has been made by Barbara Broccoli or Eon as to who will replace Daniel Craig in the iconic role.
