Variety: Tom Francis Auditioned for Next James Bond — Media Leak Likely Meant to Boost His Career

Well, here we go. Tom Francis has emerged as one of the actors to audition for James Bond, according to Variety.

Tom Francis is best known for starring opposite Nicole Scherzinger in “Sunset Boulevard,” and built his reputation primarily onstage rather than on screen, winning an Olivier Award and earning a Tony nomination for his breakout performance.

Nina Gold is overseeing an ongoing process for Amazon MGM Studios, with Francis now joining a growing list of rumored contenders.

The wider Bond rumor mill has already included several high-profile names, among them Jacob Elordi and Callum Turner. Francis, however, stands out because he remains relatively untested in film and television, with only a handful of screen credits so far, including an appearance in the upcoming “The Mosquito Bowl.”

Now, this is where the Francis leak should probably be taken with a grain of salt. The audition process itself is likely to generate even more leaks involving lesser-known actors and rising performers. For many auditioning actors, simply being connected to James Bond can dramatically raise their visibility in the industry, even if they never seriously contend for the role. I wouldn’t be surprised if Francis’ team leaked the story to the trades. His Google searchability has probably skyrocketed, and his agents are likely already fielding calls for other acting projects.

This kind of PR maneuver was actually tackled in this year’s Amazon series “Bait,” starring Riz Ahmed as a failed actor who leaks to the press that he’s in contention for Bond. “Auditioned for Bond” instantly becomes a valuable career credential.

With the search still ongoing and no official frontrunner confirmed, more unfamiliar names are almost certain to emerge alongside the established stars already circulating in reports.