According to a gossip column in the UK's Herald Sun Julian McMahon was offered the role of James Bond, continuing the franchise where Pierce Brosnan left off, but according to his mother he has passed on the opportunity.

Yeah, his mom told guests in the Moet & Chandon marquee, that her son had been sounded out about taking on the role, but he had to decline the offer, having recently signed a long-term deal with his hit TV drama series 'Nip/Tuck.'

It sounds a little hard to believe that a chance to play James Bond would be so easily passed and that MGM wouldn't be willing to shoot around the actor's TV schedule if they really wanted him, but who are we not to trust a mother's word?

McMahon is currently in Canada filming The Fantastic Four for 20th Century Fox, which is due out July 2005.