Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special 2013, RUMOR: Rory Kinnear Offered Role of Twelve in 2014's Season 8 After Matt Smith's Departure as Eleven?

Actor Rory Kinnear is best known for his roles in the James Bond franchise's Quantum of Solace and Skyfall, but his name has been circulating around headlines recently as the possible future leading star of BBC's "Doctor Who." Ever since current Doctor Matt Smith announced his departure from the iconic television series, fans have been swarming the Internet for hints as to who would replace him and Kinnear has been at the top of that list. Though with rumors spreading today that he was offered the role, should we believe the news or just wait until Smith hangs up his bow tie after this year's Christmas special?

According to The Guardian, an unnamed source has all but confirmed that Kinnear has been offered the role of the Twelfth Doctor. "He has been offered the part and we are waiting to hear if he will accept," said the insider. "He is the perfect choice."

Though many would agree that Kinnear, a talented actor with a great resume, would be a good choice for the Doctor, this rumor has definitely not been confirmed in any way.

When the rumors first started in April, Kinnear denied them upfront. "I think I'm being used as a decoy on that front," he said. "It's the first I've heard."

Kinnear also revealed that he has never watched the program!

Plus a close friend of Kinnear and his family, Liz Buckley, took to Twitter to announce that these rumors are false:

Everything in the papers about Rory Kinnear being asked to be the new Doctor is 100% bollocks, just so you know. He's a bit sick of it.

— Liz Buckley (@liz_buckley) June 9, 2013

@datadivajf Lord no! He's not been approached & wants the rumour quashed; it's a casting PR smokescreen whilst the show auditions. — Liz Buckley (@liz_buckley) June 9, 2013

Many sources are stating that this situation has a pretty familiar feeling about it. Right before Matt Smith was named to be David Tennant's replacement, other actors were "confirmed" as the Eleventh Doctor including David Walliams and Paterson Joseph. Clearly we might just be counting out eggs before they hatch with this Kinnear rumor, but he is definitely the front-runner as of now.