Richard Madden is reportedly set to be offered the role of James Bond.

Richard Madden

Richard Madden

The 32-year-old actor is said to have impressed Bond bosses with his performance in the BBC drama series 'The Bodyguard', and he is now being eyed to replace Daniel Craig as 007.

A source said: "It's seriously looking like he [Madden] is going to get the job."

Barbara Broccoli, the executive producer at Eon Productions, is likely to have the final say on who will become the next Bond.

And she's apparently been convinced by the actor's performance in 'The Bodyguard' to offer the role to him.

The insider told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "Not only is he on top of Barbara's list, but she is preparing to offer the role."

A number of well-known actors, including Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston and Tom Hardy, have all been linked to the role of Bond over recent years.

However, Idris claimed earlier this year that the world isn't ready for a black Bond.

The London-born actor explained: "I think in England we have reached that stage [of having a black James Bond] because culturally we're sort of a lot more diverse but the rest of the world is not like that and I think there is a real sort of stigma.

"It's like, 'Oh he's black, can he do it because he's black?'"

Idris also rejected claims that people would be more accommodating to the change because of recent historical moments, such as Barack Obama becoming America's first black President.

He explained: "Obama can be President because he's a very smart man and I'm sure he had same feelings like, 'Well, I'm not the first black President, I'm Obama. I'm the first Obama.'

"So for me you know I don't like to make a big deal of it, the point is that it's a great rumour. If it was to ever happen, I think it would be the will of a nation."

Tagged in