Scots actor Stuart Martin is said to be a strong contender for replacing Daniel Craig as the next James Bond after the star reportedly caught the eye of Hollywood bosses.
The Ayrshire born actor is not nearly as well known as the other stars in the rumour mill for the coveted role but he seems to have done enough acting work in front of the camera over the past decade to impress Eon Productions owners Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson, who produce the Bond films.
Stuart, 39, has reportedly been in 'under the radar' chats with Eon Productions, with sources claiming he is in 'serious contention' to take on the iconic 007 character, which would make him the first Scottish Bond since the late Sean Connery who was the OG secret agent for 21 years.
But who is this lesser-known Scottish star Stuart Martin? And why is he being considered for such a prestigious acting role?
Here's everything we know about him so far..
Background
Stuart is a 39-year-old actor hailing from Ayrshire in Scotland and formerly studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before he landed his first major acting role in 2014.
The star has been married to British actress Lisa McGrillis since 2015 and first met his wife at a Christmas party in the National Theatre bar.
They are now believed to be living in London and share two children together, one son and a daughter.
Acting roles
Stuart Martin's breakthrough role was in Channel 4's comedy-drama Babylon in 2014 when he landed the role of PC Tony Forbes.
He later went on to secure roles in historical dramas Medici: Masters of Florence and Jamestown. His career rose significantly when he then bagged the leading role of police officer William Wellington in Victorian crime series Miss Scarlet and The Duke, for four seasons until 2024.
However, it's his role as tough guy Bradley Cage in Zack Snyder’s 2021 heist comedy Army of Thieves that appears to have caught Barbara Broccoli's eye and sparked the Bond interest, thanks to his impressive shoot out scenes which involved throwing himself at vehicles in high-octane stunts.
Martin underwent intensive physical preparation for the role as he told Untitled magazine: "Brad is a muscle head, so I was just smashing the gym and training in the months leading up to try and give him that look and feel."
The actor also told Lewis Magazine: "We got to do some really cool stuff with some of the heists. Our stunt director had us doing crazy stuff, jumping into the back of moving vans with the camera."
The star is currently in production for Channel 4's new drama In Flight which is set to be released later this year.
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Bond rumours
According to sources, Martin's performance in Army of Thieves and Rebel Moon (2023) which is also directed by Zack Synder, have proven his action credentials to franchise chiefs.
An LA movie consultant who has worked on the Bond franchise said: "Stuart is the name that has been discussed in Bond circles by those in the know.
"He is in serious contention. No-one will confirm this because Eon goes all out to deny and shy away from anything concerning casting, but it would be an amazing milestone to have a Scottish Bond again."
The insider added that Stuart still has 'hurdles to jump through' including multiple meetings with Eon so they can 'get a feel for his personality'.
They continued: "And let's not forget, Eon doesn't give a damn whether the man who lands the job is famous or not. It is about getting the man they want and who they feel is best suited for this life changing experience. It is more pressure, scrutiny and stress than any other movie role."
It comes as Aaron Taylor Johnson is reportedly completed a a screen test at Pinewood Studios with Eon boss Barbara Broccoli in March 2022 but sources claim that producers now questioning whether he has the 'credentials' to play the spy after the dismal response to his latest film, Kraven the Hunter.
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