Hugh Jackman Says He’d ‘Seriously Consider’ Playing James Bond

2 minute read

Hugh Jackman could be James Bond. In fact, he was once approached about the role years ago, he told Australian TV show The Project.

“At the time I was just about to do X-Men 2 and I was like, ‘Ah, I don’t think it’s the right time,'” he said. And if he was asked to play the role again? “I’d seriously consider it.”

The news comes amid a controversy surrounding the possibility of The Wire‘s Idris Elba playing the next Bond. Anthony Horowitz, the author commissioned by Ian Fleming’s estate to write the next James Bond novel, said he didn’t think Elba was right for the part, saying he was “too street” for Bond. When fans became outraged, Horowitz apologized, taking to Twitter to say he was “mortified to have caused offence.”

So the Jackman rumors do arrive at an odd time, and it’s unclear if he’d even have the time if asked again. The Australian actor, who has played X-Men’s Wolverine six times, has an untitled Wolverine sequel set to premiere in 2017, as he teased in an Instagram post earlier in 2015.

Meet Every James Bond Ever

DR NO
Dr. No (1962) - Sean ConneryUnited Artists
From Russia with Love (1963) - Sean ConneryUnited Artists
Goldfinger (1964) - Sean ConneryUnited Artists
Thunderball (1965) - Sean ConneryUnited Artists
You Only Live Twice (1967) - Sean ConneryUnited Artists
au service secret de sa majesté
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) - George LazenbyUnited Artists
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - Sean ConneryUnited Artists
LIVE AND LET DIE, from left: Jane Seymour, Roger Moore, 1973, liveandletdie1973-fsct17, Photo by: Ev
Live and Let Die (1973) - Roger MooreUnited Artists
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) - Roger MooreUnited Artists
James Bond 50 ans
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) - Roger MooreUnited Artists
Moonraker (1979) - Roger MooreUnited Artists
For Your Eyes Only (1981) - Roger MooreUnited Artists
Octopussy (1983) - Roger MooreUnited Artists
A View to a Kill (1985) - Roger MooreUnited Artists
The Living Daylights (1987) - Timothy DaltonUnited Artists
Licence to Kill (1989) - Timothy DaltonUnited Artists
GoldenEye (1995) - Pierce BrosnanMGM
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) - Pierce BrosnanMGM
The World Is Not Enough (1999) - Pierce BrosnanMGM
Die Another Day
Die Another Day (2002) - Pierce BrosnanMGM
CASINO ROYALE
Casino Royale (2006) - Daniel CraigMGM/Columbia
Quantum of Solace
Quantum of Solace (2008) - Daniel CraigMGM/Columbia
Daniel Craig
Skyfall (2012) - Daniel CraigMGM/Columbia

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com