'Last Christmas' star Henry Golding responds to calls for him to be the next James Bond: 'It's everybody's dream'

British-Malaysian actor Henry Golding has thrown his hat into the ring to be the next James Bond.

His fans have been clamouring for him to take over from Daniel Craig as 007 ever since his breakthrough appearance in 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians (in which he rocks a mean tuxedo) and his latest role in Last Christmas will only add more fuel to the fire.

Playing Tom, Emilia Clarke’s love interest in the festive film, he does a Sean Connery-era Bond impression in one scene, and Golding – fully aware of the swirling speculation – tells Yahoo he agreed to do the line just once only to keep director Paul Feig co-screenwriter Emma Thompson happy.

“And guess what happened?,” Golding smiles in our video interview above, “that ‘once’ made it into the movie!”

“It’s everybody’s dream... male actor’s role, James Bond. Like, who’d be silly enough to not put their hand up [for it?]. It’s just wonderful that – and as funny as it is – that I’m just involved in that conversation.”

Someone who agrees that the 32-year-old actor would be a good 007 is Last Christmas director Paul Feig, who is happy to endorse him on one condition.

Read more: Henry Golding in talks for GI Joe spin-off

“He’s got my vote [to play James Bond],” Feig tell us. “I love all of the people who are up for it, but I think Henry would be the world’s greatest Bond.”

“But if he becomes [Bond], I’d better direct it!” adds the filmmaker who also gave us Spy in 2015.

“You heard it here.”

Daniel Craig is set to make his fifth and final appearance as Her Majesty’s secret service agent James Bond in 2020’s No Time To Die, leaving the door wide open for a new actor to take on the mantle in the inevitable character reboot.

A number of actors have been linked with the role by the media over the past few years including Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Richard Madden and James Norton, but who EON Productions choose is anybody’s guess at this stage.

Expect the next 007 rumour mill to start kicking into top gear after No Time To Die lands in cinemas in April, 2020.

Last Christmas is in cinemas on 15 November. Watch a clip below.