“None of that, to me, is worth it. At the time, it’s very intoxicating, being offered some huge, sexy part that would change your life forever. But it really wouldn’t ultimately be worth it.”
James is married to Irish actress Ruth Kearney. They have a daughter, born in 2021, and a son, born in 2023. His reservations about fame have become more pressing since he became a father, particularly as children now grow up with social media documenting, ranking and commenting on almost everything. A very relaxing system, obviously.
How has fame already affected Theo James?
James currently leads Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen, but his first major exposure to global attention came through the Divergent films. He played Tobias “Four” Eaton opposite Shailene Woodley, becoming a Hollywood heartthrob and discovering that public interest did not always focus on the acting.
“I think I’ve always been a fairly thoughtful, analytic person. Perhaps when you’re reduced to just the visual, it can be a bit disappointing,” he said.
“That’s the world we live in, and it’s part of the currency in whatever division you happen to be working in.”
The actor also described raising children in the social media era as “complex and nerve-wracking”. His own children remain young, but he has seen friends with older children confront issues involving self-esteem, appearance and identity.
“They’re young, so in a way, I’m lucky we haven’t got to that point yet,” he said. “But I see it with friends who have older kids, and it’s a bit of a f****** minefield… self-worth for young children, obsession with body image… it’s all about identity.”
Which other actors have been linked to 007?
James is not the only 41-year-old British actor questioning whether the timetable still works in his favour. Happy Valley star James Norton, another frequent choice among fans and bookmakers, recently told Capital Breakfast that he may be getting a little too “long in the tooth” for the role.
Nearly five years after Craig’s final appearance, Amazon MGM Studios has still not announced who will become the seventh official big-screen Bond. The lack of an answer has created the usual rotation of reported contenders, speculative favourites and actors forced to discuss a job they may never have been offered.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has previously been treated as a particularly strong candidate. Callum Turner has also been linked to the part, alongside younger actors including Jacob Elordi and Louis Partridge.
The next casting decision carries an additional challenge. Craig reshaped the character across five films, beginning with Casino Royale in 2006, and left behind a version of Bond closely associated with a more serious, physically demanding style.
What is happening with Bond 26?
The franchise has undergone major changes since Craig departed. In 2025, Amazon MGM Studios secured creative control through an agreement with longtime Bond custodians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
Producer Amy Pascal and Harry Potter producer David Heyman were then appointed to oversee the next film. Dune director Denis Villeneuve will direct Bond 26, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay.
Pascal has suggested that casting could finally become clearer by the end of 2026, although the team is taking its time rather than selecting 007 by public poll.
“I would say the end of the year is a good bet. We are being really, really methodical,” she told Deadline when asked when an announcement might arrive.
She also acknowledged that “Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow”, saying the new interpretation must feel “really different” as well as “stirring and exciting”. Villeneuve has described Bond as “sacred territory” and promised to respect the character’s history while creating a path for “many new missions to come”.
Villeneuve is still completing Dune: Part Three, and the next Bond film remains in its early stages. Audiences therefore face a substantial wait before 007 returns to cinemas. When the role is eventually filled, James seems content to watch the scrutiny from a safe and considerably quieter distance.
