Sydney Sweeney is being lined up to play the next Bond girl

A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "Sydney is the top name on the casting sheet for Bond.

"Denis believes she is hugely talented, as well as having an alluring appeal to younger generations, vital in modernising the franchise.

"They've hung out together a lot and he has admired her stratospheric rise.

"Plus Sydney has the quality of being athletic and able to perform physical scenes, as well as being feminine and following in the legacy of the Bond girls."

Denis was unveiled as the director of the next Bond film last month and has vowed to "honour the tradition" of the character - who will be played by a new actor in the picture after Daniel Craig bowed out as 007 in the 2021 movie No Time To Die.

The Dune filmmaker said in a statement: "Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr No with Sean Connery.

"To me, he's sacred territory. I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come."

Amazon MGM's Mike Hopkins commented: "Denis has delivered compelling worlds, dynamic visuals, complex characters, and - most importantly - the immersive storytelling that global audiences yearn to experience in theatres.

"James Bond is in the hands of one of today's greatest filmmakers and we cannot wait to get started on 007's next adventure."

Sydney has become one the most sought-after stars in Hollywood and explained that she is keen to take parts that "challenge" her.

The Immaculate star told W magazine: "In general, if something scares me, then usually I'm going to do it, because that means I'm challenging myself."

She also revealed that she doesn't get nervous about flashing the flesh for nude scenes.

Sydney said: "I don't get nervous [about shooting nude scenes].

"I think that the female body is a very powerful thing. And I'm telling my character's story, so I owe it to them to tell it well and to do what needs to be done."