Glen Powell Says 'Not Bond': Calls for an 'Authentic Brit' in the Role

BOND-GATE: GLEN POWELL SAYS HE'S TOO TEXAN TO PLAY JAMES BOND, BUT WHO WILL GET THE JOB?

The James Bond franchise is always a hot topic of discussion in Tinseltown, and this year's casting rumors have been more juicy than ever. The latest contender to rule himself out of the running for 007 is none other than Glen Powell, the dashing actor from Texas who stole our hearts in Top Gun: Maverick.

In an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via thescholarlynote.com), the 36-year-old actor revealed that he thinks an "authentic Brit" should play James Bond, not him. And honestly, we can't blame him for feeling that way - who wouldn't want to see a British bloke in a tuxedo sipping martinis? Powell quipped, "I'm Texan. A Texan should not play James Bond." Ouch! But don't worry, folks, Glen's got his eyes on another project... or so we think.

When asked about the possibility of making a sequel to Anyone But You (a romantic comedy he starred in with Sydney Sweeney), Powell confirmed that they're "still talking" about it. However, it seems like fans will have to wait for the perfect script - and patience is a virtue, darling! The actor emphasized that they won't rush into anything until it's "the right idea," which requires... well, you guessed it - patience.

But what about Powell's future ambitions? Sources close to the actor (okay, we made that up) reveal that he wants to trade in his acting shoes for a director's chair. Who can blame him? After all, working with industry legends like Richard Linklater, Lee Isaac Chung, J.J. Abrams, and Edgar Wright must have given him a crash course in filmmaking 101. Powell confessed, "I'm getting to be in film school... I'm picking up things whenever that time comes, I'll be much more prepared."

Of course, this isn't the first time an actor has expressed doubts about playing Bond. Theo James, star of The Gentlemen, previously said he found the idea "terrifying." Yeah, we can see why - it's a big responsibility to live up to the iconic spy's legacy! When asked about the possibility of taking on the role, James replied, "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."

Meanwhile, Henry Cavill has been linked to Bond (and we're still holding out hope that he'll get the part) but when asked about it on The Rich Eisen Show, the 42-year-old actor simply said, "Maybe I'm too old now, maybe I'm not, we'll see." Ouch! Talk about a hint of disappointment.

So who's next in line to become the latest Bond? The bookies are backing Aaron Taylor-Johnson (yes, that Aaron Taylor-Johnson) as their top contender. But what's got everyone talking is his recent commercial deal with Omega - the official watch provider for the James Bond franchise. Bets on him becoming 007 have surged by a whopping three times since he signed the contract!

When asked about the possibility of playing Bond, Taylor-Johnson has kept mum, saying, "It's not really for me to stay anything." Sneaky! But rumor has it that if he does get the part, he'll be working with none other than Steven Knight, who's been tapped to write the latest James Bond movie.

Last but not least, let's talk about Denis Villeneuve - the director of the upcoming Bond flick. He's already expressed his excitement about taking on the project and promised to honor the franchise's legacy while introducing new ideas. "Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007," he confessed in a statement. "I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I'm a die-hard Bond fan."

And there you have it - the latest on Bond-gate! Who do you think should play James Bond next? Let us know in the comments below!