BOND?
JAMES
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT
By David Crow
Daniel Craig may be finished portraying 007, but the James Bond franchise lives on! Who might be the next actor to earn a license to kill?
James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has already said, “[Bond] can be of any color, but he is male.” With that in mind, here are some potential candidates for the role.
Timothy Dalton as James Bond
Henry Cavill has openly campaigned to take over the role, saying “that would be something I’d be very keen to explore further,” but could he overcome his Superman association?
Michael Fassbender would bring a certain amount of swagger and charisma to James Bond, but he’s nearly ready to age out of contention.
Idris Elba is also pushing 50, but his name comes up repeatedly, perhaps for his ability to be both inspiring and imposing while also bringing a lighter touch and a sense of humor.
Henry Golding is a younger candidate, and his debonair Crazy Rich Asians association combined with his darker turn in The Gentlemen could provide the perfect recipe.
Tom Hardy is a popular choice among journalists to become Bond, but like Cavill, he’s already famous for his roles in other ongoing franchises.
A similar issue haunts Tom Hiddleston, which is a shame considering his ability to play impeccably mannered and polished roles outside of Loki.
George MacKay might be a bit too young, but his 1917 connection to Bond director Sam Mendes might help earn him the 007 mantle.
Richard Madden rose to prominence in Game of Thrones, and his ability to play both suave (Cinderella) and manipulative (Rocketman) could make him the perfect British spy.
Vegas puts the best odds on Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page to take over as James Bond. His charisma might be enough to overcome his lack of screen experience.
Dev Patel says he’s not interested in being a “tokenistic” James Bond, but his on-screen charm in atypical roles such as Sir Gawain in The Green Knight make him a viable option.
Downton Abbey alum Dan Stevens certainly has the right British sophistication to play Bond, and his acclaimed appearances in The Guest and Legion lend him a necessary dark edge, too.
There’s one particular Scotsman who’s been angling for a crack at Bond for a while, and that’s Outlander star Sam Heughan. The show’s fans are right behind him on his quest!
It might be an unlikely and devilish choice, but now that Tom Ellis has wrapped up his long run on Lucifer, he could slip into a new set of expensive suits lickety-split.
Who do you think should be the next James Bond? Swipe up to join the discussion now!
Roger Moore as James Bond