Bond superfan Graham Rye has endorsed Scottish actor Stuart Martin as the only candidate who can truly do justice to the role of James Bond.
The editor of 007 Magazine made his declaration on GB News amidst ongoing speculation about who will replace Daniel Craig.
His endorsement comes as former 007 Pierce Brosnan insisted the next actor to play the iconic spy must be British following Amazon's takeover of the franchise.
Brosnan told The Telegraph it is "a given" that Daniel Craig's successor should be British amid rumours an American could be tipped for the role.
Graham Rye discussed who might replace Daniel Craig on GB News
PA / GB NEWS
The 71-year-old Irish actor expressed concern about Amazon MGM Studios taking creative control of the franchise.
"In this world that is moving so fast now, at the speed of light, [the takeover] does come with a certain lament," he said.
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Graham Rye joined Ben Leo on GB News
GB NEWS
He added he hoped Amazon would handle the character "with dignity and imagination and respect."
While Stuart Martin is Rye's preferred choice, British actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson and James Norton remain favourites to step into Craig's shoes.
Taylor-Johnson, who appeared in Kick-Ass and Kraven the Hunter, previously received Brosnan's personal endorsement.
Norton, star of Happy Valley, is also among the frontrunners.
Stuart Martin has been tipped for the role
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Other rumoured contenders include British-American actor Andrew Garfield, American Oscar Isaac, and Chilean-American Pedro Pascal.
The character has traditionally been played by British actors, with exceptions including Australian George Lazenby and Brosnan himself, who is Irish.
Rye was emphatic about Martin's suitability for the role, stating: "There's only one actor out there at the moment that can do justice to this. He's Scottish and his name is Stuart Martin."
The Bond superfan specifically compared Martin to the original 007, saying he could portray Bond "very much in the vein of Sean Connery."
"American stars are great at what they do but they will never be Bond," Rye insisted.
"The one man that can do a great job of it is Stuart Martin. He's got the ability."
The Amazon MGM Studios takeover marks a significant shift for the Bond franchise after more than 30 years under Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson's stewardship.
Former Bond actor Timothy Dalton previously suggested the takeover could cause James Bond to become less British.
Brosnan acknowledged the changing landscape, saying: "Everything changes, everything falls apart, and I wish them well."
The half-siblings Broccoli and Wilson have presided over the franchise since 1995 after inheriting it from their father, decorated Bond producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli.
