As reported by PEOPLE, star Rebel Wilson recently revealed that she auditioned for a part in the next James Bond film. The Senior Year actor shared the news while doing an interview with Variety at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. According to the Pitch Perfect star, the part that she auditioned for was not the lead role as the British super spy but was instead for a different character in the franchise's next film.
Wilson said, "What was really cool was getting to audition for Bond."
The actor went on to explain that she got the chance to audition after she was put in contact with franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to "clear some Bond-related jokes" prior to her hosting the 2022 BAFTA Film Awards. The Hustle star did not disclose whether or not she will appear in the next James Bond movie.
Wilson is at the film festival to announce her directorial debut, The Deb, an adaptation of an Australian musical of the same moniker. While on producer Len Blavatnik's yacht in Cannes, Wilson told Variety that her directorial debut had "to be something that I am massively passionate about."
She continued, "I've always just been watching as the actress — watching, watching, watching — and then I produced a lot of things with musical numbers in them, like Senior Year on Netflix, which had a lot of cheerleading routines. Everyone kept saying, 'You should direct!' "
Variety noted that Wilson is also expected to star in The Deb, which is currently in pre-production.
It Was Previously Revealed That Franchise Producers Aren't Considering Younger Actors for the Role of 007
The next installment in the James Bond franchise is still in progress as producers Broccoli and Wilson continue searching for the next iconic British super spy after Daniel Craig's exit from the franchise in 2021's No Time to Die. Previously, in October, Wilson told Deadline that casting for the next movie hadn't started and noted that the producers weren't considering younger actors for the part of 007.
Wilson said, "We've tried looking at younger people in the past. But trying to visualize it doesn't work. Remember, Bond's already a veteran. He's had some experience. He's a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He's probably been in the SAS or something.He isn't some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That's why it works for a 30-something."
In the past, Idris Elba and Taron Egerton have both denied rumors that they might be taking on the role of the iconic 007, with Egerton stating back in March that he simply isn't "the right choice for it."
The Rockman star told The Telegraph, "You have to be consistently statuesque to be that guy. And that's something that I am still striving for. I've always struggled with my weight. It's sort of irrelevant how I feel about it, anyway, because I can tell you there have been zero phone calls."