License to spill! James Bond candidate Theo James guzzles beer from a plastic cup during LA basketball game – after ruling himself out of playing the Martini-loving secret agent

He’s currently on a seemingly never-ending carousel of contenders for the still vacant, and still highly coveted role as secret agent James Bond. 

But Theo James and his chosen beverage could easily have left the Martini-loving MI6 agent shaken, not stirred during his appearance at a basketball game on Tuesday night. 

James, 39 – currently winning plaudits for his starring role in Guy Ritchie‘s Netflix series The Gentlemen – necked lager from a plastic cup as he watched the Los Angeles Clippers take on the Dallas Mavericks. 

The High Wycombe born actor was courtside at Crypto.com Arena for Round one, Game two of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. 

Sadly for James he picked the wrong day to cheer on the Clippers, with his team losing 93-96 in front of their own fans ahead of Saturday’s second game in Texas. 

The actor, who is of Greek heritage through his businessman father, is one of at least twenty established names to be linked with the James Bond role, vacant since former 007 Daniel Craig retired his Walther PPK in 2021. 

Addressing the rumours, he told The Guardian: ‘Everyone’s interested in [Bond] because it’s a big part of British cultural identity, but that probably wouldn’t be me.

‘I do think there are better people for that job. And, honestly, it would be terrifying: if you do that, there’s no going back. You’re opening Pandora’s box there.  

‘You have got to be willing to live a very different life and have a different life for your family. And that would be pretty tricky. Plus, my mates would take the p*ss out of me. Because they always say, “Bondopoulos – the Greek Bond.”‘ 

James also features in 18th place in a recent poll commissioned by Lottoland carried out among 2,000 British Bond fans 

Topping the list is Luther star Idris Elba, while Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill and the Oscar-winning man with the golden gong, Cillian Murphy, also featured on the 20-strong list. 

The long-running Bond franchise is famous for turning those who play the secret agent into global superstars.

And it isn’t shy of casting left-field stars to take on the role; the late Sean Connery, one of the most recognisable Bonds, had only featured in a series of TV films when he accepted the role of the titular British spy in 1962’s Dr. No, catapulting him to international fame.

But while Elba was the top choice, fans may end up disappointed after the actor ruled himself out of playing the role last year so he could focus on his deal with Netflix, where he is starring in Luther: The Fallen Sun.

The actor brought up the persistent discussions about him taking over as Ian Fleming’s famed British spy in February 2023.

When asked about the Luther film at the World Government Summit in Dubai, he said: ‘It’s very dark. 

‘We’ve been working on the television show for about 10 years and so the natural ambition is to take it to the big screen, and so we’re here with the first movie.

‘You know, a lot of people talk about another character that begins with J and ends with B, but I’m not going to be that guy.

‘I’m going to be John Luther. That’s who I am.’

Back in August 2022, it was reported that Elba had walked away from ‘years of talks’ with movie bosses to take over the famous role.

He had been the bookies’ favourite to replace Daniel Craig as the super spy, but is keen to pursue other roles – and has even put forward a list of proposed names to producer Barbara Broccoli of actors to play 007.

A source told The Sun: ‘Fans and Barbara wanted Idris but he wants to create something for himself.

‘However, he’s put forward names to play 007. He’s ‘informally’ in the decision-making process as he’s been in talks with producers for so long.’