It might seem like a very unorthodox casting decision, but One Direction heart-throb Harry Styles is firming up as a favourite to take over one of the most iconic characters in the world.
Film editor Lee Smith, who edited the 2015 Bond film Spectre and is known as a good friend of the new Bond director, Christopher Nolan, has firmed up Styles position as a favourite to play Bond during an interview discussing the spy franchise.
"Harry could do it," Smith told the Los Angeles Film Critics Awards. "If they wanted a younger Bond then why not? He has got it."
Daniel Craig, 49, is set to play the role for the next film meaning that his replacement is not expected until 2022. By then, Styles would be 28 years old, making him the youngest Bond in history.
Smith claims that Styles' age and "inexperience" will not pose a problem. Speaking of Harry's breakout role in Nolan's film Dunkirk, Smith said that, "you would never know that was his first film."
"Harry is really good," he said. " You would have thought you were dealing with a guy with many years of experience."
The Bond series came about in 1953 with 007, the fictional British secret service agent, originally featuring in 12 novels and two short-story collections.
Since then, there have been 26 Bond films, the first of which premiered in 1962.
The latest Bond movie, Bond 25, is set for release in November 2019.
Casting the famous character has been a fraught process for the film's producers. After completing Spectre, Craig said he would rather stab himself than play 007 again.
His apparent departure from the films led to names like Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba and even Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell being bandied about as potential replacements.
But last year it was confirmed that Craig would shake the martini one more time for his fifth turn as the spy who loved, well, most women.
Styles will no doubt be chuffed to get the tap on the shoulder, but in the mean time he will be focussing on his upcoming world tour which kicks off on March 11, stopping in Australia in April.
