'James Bond' makers eyeing 'Emily in Paris' hunk Lucien Laviscount to take on role of 007, sources say
LONDON, UK: We may be getting a new 007 real soon. 'James Bond' makers, including Barbara Broccoli, are reportedly eyeing Lucien Laviscount to take on the mantle of the spy, replacing Daniel Craig. Laviscount became an overnight sensation after starring in the Netflix series 'Emily in Paris'. The English hunk played the role of Lily Collins' character's love interest Alfie.
Born in Burnley, Laviscount, 30, was reportedly of the ideal age to portray Bond. His first gig was as a child model for Marks & Spencer when he was 10. Idris Elba, a former favorite who turned 50 in September, is out because Broccoli made it clear that she wanted the next actor to play the part for 15 years, as per Daily Mail.
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Broccoli and her staff were reportedly eager to cast an ethnic minority actor as Agent 007 so the franchise reflects modern society. However, several executives worried that Laviscount's 2011 stint on the reality series 'Celebrity Big Brother', where he placed fifth, may harm his prospects of landing the position because earlier Bonds have been better educated. A source reportedly said, "Lucien ticks all of the boxes. He is a super-talented actor, is extremely handsome, and in the past 18 months has won lots of new fans since he joined Emily In Paris."
"Bond bosses are already saying how you can see him in the 007 tuxedoes, how dapper and fitting to the role he will look. But, there is a sticking point, and that is Big Brother. Lucien appeared on the show at a time when his acting career was not as high-profile as it is now, but he was very popular then and has a fan base now which stretches generations. That is a dream for Barbara who is very taken with him," sources reportedly said.
Before landing a full-time gig on 'Coronation Street', in which he plays religious swimmer Ben Richardson, Laviscount's debut acting role was in the BBC drama 'Clocking Off'. He appeared in 'Waterloo Road' after his time on Celebrity Big Brother, then relocated to the US and played Earl Grey in Fox's horror-comedy series 'Scream Queens'.
Lavicount co-stars with Angela Griffin and 'Sex Education' actor Asa Butterfield in the Netflix film 'Your Christmas Or Mine' as well as the BBC3 show 'Peacock'. According to rumors, Laviscount dated a number of famous people, including Kelly Osbourne and Leigh-Anne Pinnock of 'Little Mix'. Even though Broccoli revealed that there would no new announcements on a new 'James Bond' movie, stuntmen and stunt women are reportedly being screened at Pinewood Studios. Sources reportedly said, "They want to be ready for when things start moving with the new Bond."