New candidate for the role of Agent 007: Tom Francis auditioned for the Bond film (5 photos)

Hollywood's search for a new James Bond actor continues, and one of the leading unexpected contenders has emerged as 26-year-old British actor Tom Francis. Known primarily for his role in the stage production Sunset Boulevard, the actor has already auditioned for the new film about the legendary agent 007. Insiders note that the franchise's creators are indeed leaning on lesser-known names rather than obvious favorites like Jacob Elordi or Henry Cavill. This approach was previously announced by director Denis Villeneuve, who wants to reboot the Bond story with a "fresh face" and a younger actor.

Tom Francis remains a dark horse for mainstream audiences: his career has primarily been associated with the West End and Broadway, where he won the prestigious Olivier Award. The actor has only a few film roles so far, but fans of the franchise believe this could work to his advantage – audiences will once again see Bond as a character, not a superstar on camera.