The rumors about who might be the next James Bond actor never cease (Tom Holland, Taron Egerton, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, poll winner Henry Cavill) but with development on James Bond 26 heating up with the hiring of director Denis Villeneuve and screenwriter Steven Knight, it’s probably time to start taking them a bit more seriously. The latest 007 casting rumor claims relatively unknown English actor Scott Rose-Marsh recently screen-tested as James Bond for Villeneuve.
According to The Hollywood Reporter’s “well-placed source close to the production,” Rose-Marsh “was brought in sometime in late June to read sides from 1995’s GoldenEye, presumably for just-hired director Denis Villeneuve. He might also have tackled pages from the script Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is said to be whipping up for Bond 26. Whatever the material, Rambling’s source claims Rose-Marsh was given just one piece of direction before the test cameras rolled: Don’t impersonate a previous Bond.”
Rose-Marsh, 37, has appeared in the films Wolves of War and Krays: Code of Silence and in the TV series Chloe, The Outlaws, and Yr Amgueddfa. He’s a graduate of BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology.
What makes Rose-Marsh a distinctive choice for Bond is that he’s a redhead, which would be a first for a big screen James Bond actor just as Daniel Craig was the first blond actor to play 007. Another redhead, Dexter: Original Sin’s Patrick Gibson, portrays Bond in the new video game 007: First Light, although it isn’t part of the Bond film canon.
The profile pic on Rose-Marsh’s Wikipedia page – as well some of the headshots on his Instagram account – features him with his hair dyed darker.
“In recent years, the actor has undergone a physical transformation, becoming leaner and more angular — changes that fans say align him with the modern interpretation of Bond,” Somerset Live notes.
Rose-Marsh also has a large scar over his right eye. The literary Bond had a scar on his right cheek, something none of the live-action James Bonds have ever had.
Of course, just because Rose-Marsh may have screen-tested for the role doesn’t mean he will ultimately play James Bond. He could end up with a different role or not cast in the film at all.
WalesOnline reported in 2021 that Rose-Marsh quit his call center job shortly before landing his role in the Welsh-language series Yr Amgueddfa. He landed most of his roles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One thing that is funny is that a lot of the roles I seem to be getting at the moment are as some kind of tough guy or gangster, and for those who know me in real life they know it couldn’t be further from the kind of person that I am,” Rose-Marsh told the site.
“I guess it’s just my face, as people do seem to think I look a bit menacing which is why I’m getting cast as a bad guy quite a lot. It does make us laugh but I promise I’m a really nice guy in reality.”
If you’re curious about Scott Rose-Marsh’s acting skills or what his voice sounds like then you can watch this proof of concept scene from You, Me and the Ex.
James Bond 26 is the first 007 film from Amazon MGM Studios and new producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal, who took over from Bond franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
