Hugh Jackman Would Seriously Consider Playing James Bond

Hugh Jackman (X-Men: Days of Future Past) is beginning to prepare his body for one last go as Wolverine -- to be released in 2017 -- and then he will be an actor without a franchise. Could he fill that void by becoming the next James Bond? In a recent appearance on an Australian television show he expressed interest once again in playing the British super-spy. A role he was approached for in 2002, when producers were replacing Pierce Brosnan (Mrs. Doubtfire), but he turned down the opportunity because he felt "it would box me in too much."

"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,'" Jackman told The Project (via Time). And would the 46-year-old actor be interested in playing James Bond now? "I'd seriously consider it."

Daniel Craig (Road to Perdition), 47, has made comments recently that strongly-imply Spectre will be his last time playing 007, so the search for the next Bond could becoming sooner than most people thought. If Jackman did land the coveted role he would be second Australian actor to play the role. George Lazenby has the honor of being the first, however, he only played the role once in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

A cryptic message from the past sends James Bond on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organisation known as SPECTRE. Meanwhile back in London, Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), the new head of the Centre for National Security, questions Bond's actions and challenges the relevance of MI6, led by M (Ralph Fiennes). Bond covertly enlists Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) to help him seek out Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), the daughter of his old nemesis Mr White (Jesper Christensen), who may hold the clue to untangling the web of SPECTRE. As the daughter of an assassin, she understands Bond in a way most others cannot. As Bond ventures towards the heart of SPECTRE, he learns of a chilling connection between himself and the enemy he seeks, played by Christoph Waltz.

SPECTRE will be released in the UK on October 26, and in the US on November 6, 2015.