Robert Irwin has addressed fan-fuelled rumours that he should be cast as the next James Bond, and let’s just say there might be a “khaki tux” in his future.
The beloved Aussie icon responded to the speculation — which has arisen while the spy franchise still awaits its next leading man — in a recent interview for The Watchlist, saying he’d be down to take on the role if other contenders fall through.
“If Jacob [Elordi] pulls out, I'm there,” Irwin said, in reference to long-running rumours the Aussie actor is being eyed as the next man to take his drink shaken, not stirred.
Though unconfirmed, Elordi is one of multiple names that has floated around in fan discussions of James Bond’s casting, as well as fellow supposed frontrunners like Aaron Taylor Johnson, Callum Turner and Theo James.
While Irwin would hypothetically take on the role, he admitted his limited acting experience might push him out of the race, but he still pitched his own ideas for wardrobe and plot points for the upcoming James Bond movie.
“I don’t know if my first role can be James Bond, but I wouldn't say no. A khaki tux? Obviously! And the villain would be habitat destruction,” Irwin said.
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A spy movie that doubles as a warning against environmental destruction? Hollywood, are you listening?
Though it's all just a bit of fan wish-fulfilment, Irwin’s bustling schedule means it would be tricky for him to even find the time to play James Bond.
Between his recently wrapped role as a co-host of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, his winning stint on the US version of Dancing With The Stars, and his upcoming appearance on MasterChef Australia, Irwin doesn’t exactly have room for tuxedoed espionage.
“I can't stand being still; it makes me physically ill. That's not even an analogy. I actually get physically nauseous if I'm inside,” Irwin told The Watchlist.
“I say yes to too much, that's the problem,” he added.
It comes a few weeks after Amazon MGM Studios, the production company behind the next James Bond film, started its audition process for the role of 007. “The search for the next James Bond is underway,” Amazon said in a statement at the time.
“While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”
While we don’t know who the lead star will be, we do know the next movie, which marks the first since Daniel Craig departed the role, will be directed by Dune’s Denis Villeneuve.
Irwin, meanwhile, will next grace screens as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia, where he’ll oversee the contestants during a native ingredients elimination challenge.
Lead images: Getty, James Bond and X
