The first actor to officially audition to play the role of James Bond in the next reboot has been confirmed. Variety has officially confirmed that actor Tom Francis has auditioned for the role.

While Francis isn’t well known in film and TV, he is very prolific on stage. He is best known for playing Joe Gillis in the Jamie Lloyd staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard, based on the 1950 film of the same name by Billy Wilder. Francis’s role as Joe Gillis earned him an Olivier Award and a Tony Award nomination.

If cast, Tom Francis would join a prolific list of actors who have played James Bond, including Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Francis is the first actor to officially audition for the role. Actor Cosmo Jarvis, best known for his role in the TV series Shõgun, was rumored to have auditioned. However, those rumors have since been debunked.

This upcoming Bond film would be the 26th Bond film and is planned as the first in a new reboot series. Director Denis Villeneuve, best known for directing the Dune film series, is confirmed to be directing this new Bond film.

Currently, no release date is set for the 26th Bond film.