With Daniel Craig‘s final film as 007 now completed, it’s comprehensible why followers are hungry to know who the following James Bond will likely be. Might it’s Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and even Regé-Jean Web page? We received’t know for certain till the announcement concerning the subsequent James Bond is made, however there are various contenders prepared to don the well-known title.
James Bond, a British undercover agent working for MI6 below the codename 007, was created by creator Ian Fleming in 1953. In 1962, Sean Connery turned the primary actor to play the character within the first James Bond film, Dr. No. Since then, seven actors have performed James Bond: Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. However who would be the eighth?
In an interview on The Late Present with Stephen Colbert in 2017, Craig confirmed that his fifth Bond film—2021’s No Time to Die—is his final. “I’ve been fairly cagey about it. I’ve been doing interviews all day and folks have been asking me and I believe I’ve been slightly coy. However form of felt like if I used to be going to talk the reality I ought to converse reality to you,” he stated on the time. “We’ve been discussing it, we’ve simply been attempting to determine issues out. I at all times wished to, I wanted a break…I believe that is it. I simply wish to exit on a excessive observe and I can’t wait.”
As for who the following Bond will likely be, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson informed Selection in 2021 that an announcement received’t be made till at the very least 2022. “Oh, God no,” Broccoli stated. “We’re not fascinated by it in any respect. We would like Daniel to have his time of celebration. Subsequent 12 months we’ll begin fascinated by the longer term.” Broccoli additionally mirrored on what Craig has been like as the latest Bond.“He’s been such an amazing Bond. These are huge footwear to fill. I can’t even [think if it’s] doable,” she stated. She continued, “We’re very, very fortunate to get him to play this position. We may see he was reluctant to do it, as a result of he knew it could change his life, which it clearly has. It’s modified his life, but it surely hasn’t modified him. What he’s enabled us to do with the franchise is absolutely discover the emotional lifetime of Bond and go into the particular person and complexity and conflicts that occur throughout the Bond character.”
Although she didn’t give any particulars on who the following Bond may very well be, Broccoli did verify that she plans on persevering with the franchise for years to come back. “We’ll hold going,” she stated. “Subsequent 12 months it’ll be the sixtieth anniversary of the Bond movies, so we’re trying ahead to the brand new chapter, no matter it brings. We’re not fairly certain for the time being. Proper now, we simply wish to have a good time ‘No Time to Die’ and Daniel’s extraordinary achievement.”
So…who’s the following James Bond? Learn on forward for all of the actors who’re being thought-about to be the following James Bond.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
On Monday, March 18, 2024, The Solar introduced Aaron Taylor-Johnson had been previously supplied the position of James Bond and that he’d be “signing on the dotted line” imminently.
A supply stated: “Bond is Aaron’s job, ought to he want to settle for it. The formal provide is on the desk and they’re ready to listen to again. So far as [production company] Eon is anxious, Aaron goes to signal his contract within the coming days and so they can begin making ready for the massive announcement.”
Taylor-Johnson reportedly underwent a display take a look at for the Bond franchise in 2022, however the movie’s manufacturing has been delayed due to the author and actor strikes. “I discover it charming and fantastic that individuals see me in that position. I take it as an amazing praise,” Johson informed reporters final week, per the New York Publish.
Followers would know Taylor-Johnson from Avengers: The Age of Ultron as Pietro Maximoff and Ives in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet.
Idris Elba
Idris Elba has been a high contender to be the following James Bond for years. The rumors began in January 2014 an e mail from Sony Photos co-chairman Amy Pascal leaked that learn, “Idris ought to be the following bond.” Elba responded to the rumors on the time with by tweeting, “Isn’t 007 alleged to good-looking? Glad you assume I’ve received a shot! Completely happy New 12 months individuals.” In line with a 2021 ballot by Ladbroke, Elba is favored 7/2 to be the following Bond by audiences, rating him third on the time behind Tom Hardy and James Norton. Williamhill, one other betting firm, additionally Elba among the many high contenders to be the following bond.
Elba confirmed at a 2015 discuss on the British Movie Institute that conversations between him and Bond producers “by no means occurred.” “Daniel Craig really set the rumor off. About 4 years in the past he stated Idris Elba can be an amazing Bond after which it began to creep,” he joked on the time. “I blame Daniel.” In 2018, Elba trolled followers on Twitter when he tweeted, “my title’s Elba, Idris Elba.” In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2019, Elba defined that he was merely trolling individuals and that he wasn’t supplied the position of James Bond. “I took the piss a bit of,” he stated on the time, “however I used to be additionally reminding those who I by no means received known as James Bond. So, I used to be like, hi there, my title is Elba. Idris Elba. It was a joke. I swear to God.” In October 2021, after the premiere of No Time to Die (Craig’s final film as James Bond), Elba confirmed to ITV that he nonetheless hadn’t been supplied to be the following James Bond. “No, I’m not going to be James Bond,” he stated. When requested if he would need the half if he was supplied it, Elba stated, “Who wouldn’t?…How superb wouldn’t it be to have a Black James Bond? It’s an indication of the instances after we can cease speaking about black, white, and shade.”
In an interview with TODAY‘s “Sunday Sit Down With Willie Geist” in March 2023, responded to similarities between Bond and his Luther character, John Luther. “I actually don’t wish to evaluate John Luther to James Bond, however within the whirlwind of conversations round me enjoying James Bond, I’ve at all times stated, ‘Look, wait until we see John Luther in a film as a result of I really feel like the actual property is identical,’” he stated. “In a way that James Bond is that this kind of … very charismatic character in these actually uncommon conditions and a few of them are relatable, however most of them usually are not. John Luther is an peculiar detective with kind of extraordinary circumstances, however very relatable.” The hypothesis sparked on the time after the discharge of Netflix’s Luther: The Fallen Solar, which ended with Tim Granfield telling Luther that the “chief” would really like a “phrase” and motions for Luther to get in a automobile. “Okay no spoilers however hear me out… Was that #Luther ending a touch that Idris Elba is the following James Bond?” a consumer tweeted on the time.
Regé-Jean Web page
After the premiere of Bridgerton in December 2020, Regé-Jean Web page turned a high contender to be the following Bond. Betting firm Ladbrokes reported in January 2021 that Web page’s odds to be the following Bond went from 40/1 to 7/2 on the time, putting him fourth after Idris Elba, James Norton and Tom Hardy. A supply additionally confirmed to Web page Six in August 2021 that Web page was in talks to be the following Bond, nonetheless, no selections can be made till the discharge of No Time to Die. “They’re speaking about Regé, however Bond producers do not make any selections till after No Time to Die is launched. They’re specializing in Daniel Craig’s huge finale,” the insider stated.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on the time, Web page responded to rumors he may very well be the following Bond. “It will get clicks. It’s received nothing to do with me — nothing to do with something that has occurred in any rooms or any conferences,” he stated on the time. “It’s actually only a factor for individuals to speak about. So it’s flattering, but it surely’s only a recreation.” He additionally addressed the rumors in an interview on The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon in January 2021. “If you happen to’re a Brit, and also you do one thing of any form of renown that individuals regard properly, then individuals begin saying the ‘B’ phrase. It’s like a benefit badge. You get the ‘B’ phrase benefit badge,” he stated on the time. He continued, “I’m very, very glad to have the badge. I’m glad to be in such fantastic firm of people that have the badge. However it’s a badge.”
Lashana Lynch
After she was forged as Nomi, a feminine 007, in No Time to Die in April 2019, rumors sparked that Lashana Lynch may very well be the brand new lead of the James Bond films. Nonetheless, supply informed the Day by day Mail in 2019 that, whereas Lynch performs the brand new 007, Nomi isn’t the following “James Bond.” “She’s not the brand new Bond, however a brand new character who takes over his undercover agent quantity after he leaves MI6,” the insider stated. “There’s a pivotal scene at the beginning of the movie the place M says, ‘Are available in 007,’ and in walks Lashana who’s black, lovely, and a lady…It’s a popcorn-dropping second. Bond continues to be Bond however he’s been changed as 007 by this gorgeous lady.”
Barbara Broccoli, who’s the present producer of the James Bond films, additionally confirmed to Selection in 2020 that the franchise doesn’t plan on reimagining the character as a lady. “He might be of any shade, however he’s male,” she stated. “I consider we ought to be creating new characters for ladies — robust feminine characters. I’m not significantly excited by taking a male character and having a lady play it. I believe ladies are way more fascinating than that.” Although she received’t be the brand new James Bond, Lynch informed Indiewire in 2021 that she had a major half in crafting her character for No Time to Die. “I used to be like, ‘That is the place I would like her to be, and she or he’s received a lot potential and I believe she ought to be form of awkward, however actually life like, and I would like younger individuals to be regarding her in the best way that I haven’t had the chance to do earlier than, and what do you assume?,’” she stated. “And [screenwriter Phoebe Waller Bridge] simply stated, ‘Yep, yep. That’s the place I’m at too. I agree. I believe we should always write that. I believe she ought to be all of these issues and extra.’ And I believed, ‘Wow, thanks. Thanks for listening to me lastly, thanks for being a lady author who’s within the place to listen to me absolutely.’”
Henry Golding
Henry Golding emerged as a contender to be the following James Bond after he starred because the lead of Loopy Wealthy Asians in 2019. Golding responded to the rumors in an interview with E! in 2019, the place he expressed his curiosity within the position. “It’s the main man’s character. It’s the character each single male actor in the entire universe would like to play. I’d be an fool to not say, ‘After all! I’d like to throw my two cents or my keys into the pile.’ However you realize what? No matter occurs,” he stated. “When the hump comes as to who’s subsequent, who is aware of? I’m certain they’ll make the appropriate resolution.” Golding’s Loopy Wealthy Asians costar Michelle Yeoh, who performed a Bond Woman in 1997’s Tomorrow By no means Dies, additionally expressed her help of him as the following James Bond to E!. Golding additionally responded to the rumors in an interview with Watch What Occurs Dwell in 2021. “I assume they’re in search of one other candidate,” he stated. “So, in fact, any proper kind of man would wish to put their hand up for it. So certain, let’s discuss.”
Henry Cavill
Henry Cavill, who starred as Superman within the DC Prolonged Universe from 2013 to 2021, can also be a high contender to be the following James Bond. A supply informed Web page Six in 2021 that Cavill is likely one of the hottest selections to switch Craig because the character after he retires. “Henry Cavill additionally continues to be within the working, he’s much more well-known now than when his title first got here up,” the insider stated. Cavill responded to the rumors in a 2021 interview with Film Dweeb. “If Barbara [Broccoli] and Michael [G. Wilson] me in any capability to be part of their films, then I’ll gladly have that dialogue, and that might be one thing I’d be very eager to discover additional,” he stated. In 2021, We Received Lined reported that Cavill—who auditioned to play Bond in 2005’s On line casino Royale however was turned down as a result of he was too younger on the time—is “pushing to land the gig subsequent time it turns into obtainable.”
James Norton
James Norton is one other contender to be the following James Bond. Norton, who received a British Academy Tv Award in 2015’s Completely happy Valley, is favored 7/4 for the position, in keeping with a 2021 report by Ladbrokes. Norton denied the rumors in an interview with The Sunday Occasions in 2020, the place he known as experiences he may very well be the following Bond “pure hypothesis.” “It’s loopy. It’s not actual. It’s speculative,” he stated. In an interview with GQ in 2021, Norton expressed his curiosity in seeing an actor of shade forged as the following Bond. “Clearly, casting a Bond of color is vital if dealt with in a delicate method, however there’s a much bigger image: We have to deal with the trigger slightly than the symptom,” he stated. “There may be an argument that, slightly than make Bond an individual of color, why not create a brand new story that’s authentically consultant and isn’t repurposed?”
He continued, “However, then, you’re by no means going to create a franchise that can compete with the facility of Bond from the off. “It needs to be a little bit of all the things, doesn’t it? I realise I’m speaking in platitudes. No person thinks each iconic franchise ought to be reworked. However it’s about discovering the place that is smart, in a delicate method, to treatment what has been an endemic quantity of whitewashing.”
Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy is likely one of the high contenders to pay the following James Bond. Ladbrokes reported in 2021 that Hardy was the number-one alternative on the time to be the brand new Bond, with 6/4 odds. In an interview with Leisure Tonight, Hardy remained mum on rumors he was consideration to be the following Bond. “I don’t learn about that,” he stated. Hardy’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage co-star Naomie Harris (who starred in 2012’s Skyfall), expressed her help for Hardy to be the following Bond. “He can be superb. He’s such an exceptional actor. I’m such an enormous fan of his after which working with him on Venom, I’ve much more respect for him. He’s similar to, unimaginable, the physicality that he brings to the position is simply extraordinary. I’ve by no means seen something prefer it,” she informed Leisure Tonight.
George MacKay
George MacKay, who was born in 1992, is likely one of the youngest contenders to be the following James Bond. Web page Six reported in 2021 that MacKay is in talks to be the following Bond after a producer from his breakout movie, 1917, during which he starred because the lead, urged him as the following Bond. “One different title is George MacKay. One of many producers of ‘1917’ has come over to Bond and is suggesting George. There may be some speak about rebooting the Bond franchise after Daniel Craig with somebody youthful, and he may match the invoice,” the insider stated.
