Jacob Elordi dodges James Bond questions as 007 casting heats up

The actor attended a London premiere with Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley and Guy Pearce ahead of its release Photo: AFP Jacob Elordi found himself at the centre of James Bond speculation once again while attending the London world premiere of Ridley Scott's The Dog Stars, but the actor offered little indication about whether he has taken part in the race to become the next 007. Elordi walked the red carpet at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 20 alongside his The Dog Stars co stars Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley and Guy Pearce. Scott was also present for the premiere of his latest feature, which arrives as Elordi continues to attract attention as one of the names linked to the next James Bond film. When Variety asked Elordi whether he had been auditioning for the role, the actor responded with a smile: "I'm here on holiday." The brief answer avoided confirming or denying any involvement in the Bond auditions. Speculation surrounding the coveted role has continued since Amazon MGM Studios began its search for Daniel Craig's successor. Variety previously reported that auditions had officially started, with casting director Nina Gold involved in the process. Elordi has been connected to the Bond conversation for some time. In 2025, Variety reported that Amazon's wishlist included the Australian actor alongside Tom Holland and Harris Dickinson, with the studio looking towards younger performers for the role. The actor's latest appearance comes as his profile continues to grow across major film and television projects. His recent credits include Euphoria, Saltburn, Priscilla, Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights. His performance in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein also earned him an Oscar nomination earlier this year. At the London premiere, however, Elordi was focused on The Dog Stars and his collaboration with Scott. Speaking to Variety, he described the director as "the king of movies" and called working with him "such a treat" and "a dream come true". "I don't think I'll ever have an experience like that," Elordi said, praising Scott as "one of a kind" and "a pioneer of modern cinema". The Dog Stars is based on Peter Heller's 2012 novel and is set after a devastating flu pandemic has almost wiped out humanity. Elordi plays a former civilian pilot who attempts to survive alongside a hardened former Marine, played by Brolin, while confronting threats in a dramatically changed world. The project also has an interesting casting history. Scott had initially considered Paul Mescal for the central role, but Mescal left the production because of scheduling conflicts connected to the Beatles biopics. Elordi subsequently joined the film. Brolin has also revealed that Scott's intense filmmaking style initially made him question whether he wanted to remain involved. Speaking to Empire Magazine, Brolin said he nearly quit after the first day, describing the experience as frightening before eventually deciding to continue. With The Dog Stars arriving in cinemas on August 28, Elordi now has another major release adding to an increasingly busy run of projects. Meanwhile, the Bond question remains unanswered, and his playful "holiday" response has done little to end speculation about whether he could eventually inherit the famous licence to kill.