Tom Holland reveals he pitched young James Bond origin film but was rejected

Tom Holland has revealed he pitched a James Bond origin film depicting the iconic MI6 agent in his younger years – but was rejected by 007 bosses.

The Spider-Man star, 25, admitted his concept didn’t ignite the attention from the Bond estate back in 2019 – because it ‘didn’t work or make sense.’

He told Total Film Magazine: ‘I had a meeting, after or during Spider-Man 2 [Far From Home], with Sony to pitch this idea of a young Bond film that I’d come up with.  

Oh dear: Tom Holland has revealed he pitched a James Bond origin film depicting the iconic MI6 agent in his younger years – but was rejected by 007 bosses

‘It was the origin story of James Bond. It didn’t really make sense. It didn’t work. It was the dream of a young kid, and I don’t think the Bond estate were particularly interested.’

The 25th film in the James Bond franchise – No Time To Die – was finally released in September 2021, marking star Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as 007.

The Bond franchise is based on the novels and short stories by British author and former Naval Intelligence Officer Ian Fleming.

Although an origin story was rejected, there has been a Fleming estate-sanctioned spin-off series of books: Young Bond, based around Bond’s adventures whilst a schoolboy at Eton College.

007: The Spider-Man star, 25, admitted his concept didn’t ignite the attention from the Bond estate back in 2019 – because it ‘didn’t work or make sense (pictured Daniel Craig as James Bond in 2021’s No Time To Die)

Charlie Higson wrote the first series of five novels, beginning with 2005’s Silverfin while a second series was penned by Steve Cole – the latest of which, Red Nemesis – was released in 2017.

Young Bond has proven successful, spawning a graphic novel, games and a travel guide.

Tom also revealed his failed Bond pitch inspired him in his latest film Uncharted, based on the video games starring treasure hunter Nathan Drake, saying: ‘The idea of a young Bond film sparked this idea, in turn, that you could do a Nathan Drake story as an origin story, rather than as an addition to the games. And that opened a conversation.’

Tom has teamed up with Mark Wahlberg for Uncharted – which will be the first take on the hit Playstation video game series of the same name, originally released in 2007.  

The official Sony Pictures description details, ‘If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world’s oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate’s long-lost brother…but only if they can learn to work together.’

Not to be: He told Total Film Magazine : ‘I had a meeting, after or during Spider-Man 2 [Far From Home], with Sony to pitch this idea of a young Bond film that I’d come up with’ (pictured in Spider-Man: Far from Home with Zendaya as MJ)

The screenplay was written by Rafe Judkins, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway.

Directed by Ruben Fleischer of Zombieland fame, Uncharted is slated for a February 18, 2022 release.   

Tom is also enjoying stellar box office success with his latest Spider-Man adventure No Way Home which was the top film of the week at the box office for the third consecutive week, taking in $52.7 million to bring its totals to $609.9 million domestically, as well as $1.37 billion worldwide.

Authors: Although an origin story was rejected, there has been a Fleming estate-sanctioned spin-off series of books: Young Bond, based around Bond’s adventures whilst a schoolboy at Eton College – written by Charlie Higson (L) and Steve Cole (R)

The film follows Tom’s Spider-Man as he fights his way through villains from other universes – universes where Andrew and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Men live, work and fight.      

Meanwhile, the battle to replace Daniel as 007 is ‘wide open’, according to MGM boss Pamela Abdy.

Pamela, who serves as MGM’s President of Motion Pictures, has revealed that the studio has had ‘preliminary conversations’ with 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson about who will replace Daniel – who bowed out as Bond in the recent flick No Time To Die.

Teaser: Tom also revealed his failed Bond pitch inspired him in his latest film Uncharted, based on the video games starring treasure hunter Nathan Drake (pictured in the film with Mark Wahlberg)

‘It’s wide open. We’ve had very early preliminary conversations with Barbara and Michael, but we wanted Daniel to have his last hurrah,’ she told The Hollywood Reporter.   

Idris Elba has been tipped as a potential 007 but it was recently reported that the Luther star was in ‘early’ talks to play a Bond villain. 

A source told The Sun newspaper: ‘Idris has had informal talks with the studio and he has been told there is a role in the next Bond film for him, if he wants it.

‘He won’t be the title character, but they do recognize the amount of pull and respect he commands, and they want to work with him on a completely original character for the next installment. 

‘It is still very early days for the conversations but, so far, it looks like it would be the role of a villain.’  

Idris previously said that he would jump at the chance to play Bond, but he would worry that the public reaction would focus on his ethnicity rather than his skill.

The Concrete Cowboy star said: ‘James Bond is a hugely coveted, iconic, beloved character, that takes audiences on this massive escapism journey.

‘Of course, if someone said to me, “Do you want to play James Bond?” I’d be like, “Yeah!”

‘That’s fascinating to me. But it’s not something I’ve expressed, like, “Yeah, I wanna be the black James Bond.” You just get disheartened when you get people from a generational point of view going, “It can’t be.” And it really turns out to be the color of my skin. 

‘Then if I get it and it didn’t work, or it did work, would it be because of the color of my skin? That’s a difficult position to put myself into when I don’t need to.’

Myriad other actors have been rumored to be in contention for the role though its unclear how true these rumors are. Tom Hardy may be up for the role, it has been claimed.

Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page and Lashana Lynch, who played a major role in last Bond movie, might also take on the iconic mantle.  

Moving on: The battle to replace Daniel as James Bond is ‘wide open’, according to MGM boss Pamela Abdy – with Tom Hardy (pictured September) among the favourites