Jude Bellingham wants to swap his licence to thrill for a licence to kill as he expressed his desire to be the next James Bond.
If Thomas Tuchel and England are to end 60 years of hurt by winning the World Cup this summer then Bellingham will play a key role in that.
But in a surprising admission the 23-year-old opened up about his love of film and his dream role would be to play James Bond.
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The midfielder scored the opening goal against a stubborn Panama side in New York on Saturday, and his immediate focus is on progressing as far as possible with England.
But that has not stopped the Real Madrid star from dreaming about life after football.
Speaking on Fox’s World Cup After Hours, Bellingham said acting appeals to him, and the role of Bond topped his wishlist.
Since Daniel Craig hung up his gun after No Time to Die in 2021 and there has been no replacement named.
Asked about his ambitions outside football, Bellingham told James Corden that acting is the career he finds most appealing.
“I’d love to be in a movie,” Bellingham said. “People always ask me, ‘What’s the thing I’d want to do out of football?’ – and I never really give it that much thought, but when I have I always come to ‘I’d love to be in a film’.
“I’d love to be James Bond. I’ve watched all of them. I’ve watched the (Sean) Connery ones, Roger Moore, I’ve seen all of them. I love James Bond. I swear, I’d love to be in the back of a James Bond film. (Maybe) James Bond himself, but you’ve got to crawl before you can walk. They haven’t (found a new Bond) yet, have they?”
Bellingham also delivered the famous line, “The name’s Bond, James Bond,” before joking: “I think I’ve got a shot!”
England face DR Congo in the round of 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday and if they win that a Round of 16 game in Mexico City, potentially against co-hosts Mexico.
And if Bellingham and England were to go on and win the World Cup on July 19 then the midfielder would not be short of offers for off the field opportunities – and who knows James Bond could be one of them.
