James Bond, The Bond 5

Labeled by the press as "The Bond Five", the contenders were identified as Clive Owen, Adrian Paul, Rikki Lee Travolta, Hugh Jackman, and Eric Bana.

With the signing of director Martin Campbell and acquisition of production-partner MGM Studios by Sony Pictures, the deck of possible players has shuffled considerably.

According to Australia’s Daily Telegraph, Julian McMahon has been approached by producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson regarding interest in having him take on the spy role.

Moviehole.net reports that James Purefoy is another contender to arise in the race to be Bond, suggesting the actor vacated his role in "V is for Vendetta" opposite Natalie Portman in order to compete for the Bond role. Purefoy previously did a screen test for the Bond role during a Brosnan contract holdout prior to 1995’s "GoldenEye."

London tabloid The Sun has suggested Daniel Craig as potentially having been approached to play Bond, however Craig has remained evasive of providing any details in subsequent interviews.

James Bond news site Mi6 has reported Goran Visnjic as a possible consideration to play Bond after the website confirmed a series of meetings between the actor and director Campbell. Producer Wilson has stated that Campbell has a voice in the casting decision.

CommanderBond.net reports that Eon Productions and Sony are looking at younger leading men for the Bond role. Campbell has confirmed in interviews that "Casino Royale" will depict Bond’s first mission as an agent of the British Secret Service.

Of the names under consideration, Travolta is the youngest at 29. Craig, Jackman, McMahon, Purefoy, and Visnjic, are all in their mid-thirties.

Final screen testing of the candidates is not expected until Campbell finishes shooting "The Legend of Zorro" with Antonio Banderas in mid-summer.

Of the original "Bond Five," only Jackman and Travolta are considered to still be in serious consideration.

Owen’s recent Academy Award nomination has him in high demand with his increased work schedule generally regarded as making it logistically improbable to assume the Bond mantel.

 Although Paul has demonstrated an overwhelming fan following stemming from his starring roles in the "Highlander" and "Tracker" television series, being in his mid-forties virtually eliminates him from being a lasting option for a franchise looking for a long term point man.  Brosnan was reportedly released from the Bond franchise due to age after he reached 50

Bana has been blatant in his lack of interest in the super spy role.

Other names to have garnered potential interest include Gerard Butler, Ioan Gruffudd, Dougray Scott, and Dominic West.

# # #

Contributed by Claire Sinman who is an entertainment writer based out of New York.