The race to replace Daniel Craig in Bond 26 still seems a long way from reaching its conclusion.
As it stands, Bond bosses are still no closer to making a decision, although there have been rumours of progress in their reported desires to get Christopher Nolan on-board.
While Nolan's rumoured inclusion in the future of Bond sparked some fans to "work out" who'll the next 007 will be, one star has ruled himself out.
British-born actor Richard Armitage has long been included in the conversation to play Bond next, albeit from a distance compared to the frontrunners in bookmakers' current markets.
He's no stranger to appearing in a number of gripping of drama-packed series, including of late Netflix's The Stranger, Obsession, and Stay Close.
But despite rumours of him possibly jumping into the shoes vacated by Craig - who recently debuted a new look worlds away from the role - Armitage has spoken out and revealed there's another Bond role he'd prefer.
Richard Armitage has been in the conversation to play Bond
PA
"Oh, every three weeks there’s a newspaper story about that," he said to Radio Times when quizzed about the Bond rumours.
He continued: "My nephew still asks if I’m going to be James Bond, and I say, ‘No. You just read it in a paper’.
"It’s an amazing role," Armitage admitted before he revealed: "But I’m probably more likely to be tempted towards playing the villain."
He's not the only big-name who's been rumoured to be attached to the next 007 project to bow out of the running.
Idris Elba emerged as an early name tipped for the role but he's since explained: "I feel it is beyond me at this junction. It’s beyond me.
"You know, it’s not a question of, 'Should I?', 'Do I?', 'Will I?'. It is what the will of the nation dictates, sometimes.
"I’m not that guy, but in everyone’s world I might be. And that – job done. Because the truth is, you know, a lot of people are really seeing Idris playing Bond as the 'alternative Bond'. And as long as that alternative is existing, that’s great for the growth of f**king casting."
Armitage may have followed in Elba's footsteps in ruling himself out but he still remains a 100/1 outsider with the likes of Unibet, Betfred, StarSports and BetUK.
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Daniel Craig left the role of James Bond behind in 2019
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS, COLUMBIA PICTURES, DANJAQ, LLCElsewhere in the market, the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Damson Idris, Henry Cavill, Rege-Jean Page and James Norton lead the race.
There has been some movement in the market as of late, however, with a Marvel star entering the running while young up-and-coming star Harris Dickinson has received backing from punters.
