Ever since Daniel Craig made it clear that he was less than keen to reprise the role of 007 after 2015’s Spectre, speculation as to which actor will next step into James Bond’s designer suit has reached fever pitch.
Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba and Tom Hardy were thought to be among the stars in contention for the most coveted role in Hollywood, though they’ve all repeatedly shrugged off the frenzied rumours. It’s thought they’ll face competition from some less familiar faces like James Norton and Poldark’s Aidan Turner, too.
It's important to note, though, that Craig hasn’t officially announced his departure from the world’s biggest franchise: in fact, reports last year claimed that he’d been offered sums upward of $150 million to win him back. Could the 49-year-old – now the second longest serving Bond after Roger Moore – return to the driving seat of Bond’s Aston Martin?
If the latest reports are to be believed, the answer is a firm 'yes,' with Craig set to return to the franchise for one last outing as 007 after having been persuaded by producer Barbara Broccoli. It's also thought that the Bond team are pursuing Adele, who memorably lent her vocals to the Skyfall theme, to record a song for the as-yet-untitled 25th film. Christopher Nolan, meanwhile, is reportedly being eyed to direct.
'Craig and Adele together are the winning team, the ultimate choice, the money spinners. It’s taken time, but Daniel has come round and the strong consensus in the Bond offices is that Mr. Craig is 007 again,' a source told The Mirror.
Should the rumours fail to come to fruition, however, let’s take a look at the contenders vying to earn ‘00’ status…
Idris Elba
Why could Idris be the next James Bond?
The Luther star has long been on MGM’s hitlist: one studio insider revealed last year that ‘Idris’ talent and proven appeal gives executives a lot of heart.’ It’s hard to think of a better fit for the role – and that’s regardless of the fact that, as the first black Bond, his casting would be an important milestone for the franchise. He’s even got Stephen Spielberg’s seal of approval: last year, the revered director revealed that ‘Idris would be [his] first choice of Bond if Daniel decides not to come back.’
Why wouldn’t he work?
Idris has repeatedly ruled himself out of the race on account of his age: at 43, he’s described himself as ‘too old for that – running around in cars and ladies and martinis.’
‘I keep saying if it were to happen it would be the will of a nation because there haven’t been any talks between me and the studio about any of that,’ he told Good Morning America last year. Idris, we’re pretty sure that the nation is willing for this to happen.
Ryan Gosling
Why could Ryan be the next James Bond?
Bookmakers slashed the odds on Ryan becoming Bond after he remained cool and collected on stage as the Best Picture debacle unfolded at the Oscars. ‘Ryan Gosling showed an admirable sense of humour and his composure was worthy of Mr Bond – the coolest cucumber of the lot,’ a spokesperson for William Hill said.
Essentially, then, he’s in contention because he looks good in a tux – and we can’t argue that Gosling would be able to pull off Bond’s on-screen charm offensive with aplomb. Plus, he’d be the first all-singing, all-dancing 007…
Why wouldn’t he work?
It would certainly take a while to win diehard 007 fans over to the idea of a non-Brit Bond, but Ryan, who’s Canadian, wouldn’t be the first: the Irish Pierce Brosnan and the Australian George Lazenby have previously taken on the role. Though Gosling has done the steely-eyed killer thing in Drive, we still see him more as romantic leading man than gun-toting action hero.
Tom Hiddleston
Why could Tom be the next James Bond?
His lead role in the BBC’s John Le Carré adaptation, The Night Manager, was essentially an extended Bond audition, and won Hiddleston a Golden Globe. As an old Etonian, the sometime Avengers star also shares an alma mater with the world’s most famous secret agent.
Why wouldn’t he work?
Hiddleston’s talks with Bond producers reportedly came to an end last summer, when his high profile but short-lived relationship with Taylor Swift was at its zenith. ‘Bond needs an air of mystery – his public romance with Taylor has made him totally un-castable,’ one insider told The Sun. Haters gonna hate, Tom…
Daniel Craig
Why could Daniel be the next James Bond?
With four outings as Bond to his name already, Daniel Craig knows the 007 gig inside out and is a guaranteed hit at the box office: Spectre and Skyfall are among the highest-grossing films in the franchise. According to his co-star Naomie Harris, studio heads ‘desperately want [Craig] to return.’ And they said a blonde Bond just wouldn’t work…
Why wouldn’t he work?
While promoting Spectre, Craig infamously told Time Out that he’d rather ‘slash his wrists’ than commit to another outing as 007. He did later admit to regretting the comments, made ‘the day after filming [finished]’ when he’d ‘been away from home for a year.’
‘As far as I’m concerned, I’ve got the best job in the world. I’ll keep doing it as long as I still get a kick out of it,’ he added. ‘If I were to stop doing it, I would miss it terribly.’ Come back to us, Daniel?
Aidan Turner
Why could Aidan be the next James Bond?
As the scything lead in Poldark, 33-year-old Aidan Turner has won over legions of devoted fans, and the dinner party scene in the glossy 2015 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None proved that the Irish actor certainly looks the part of 007.
Why wouldn’t he work?
Poldark has a devoted Sunday night audience in the UK, but Turner’s profile is lower abroad. Aside from his supporting part in The Hobbit franchise, he’s yet to make the leap from TV stardom to major Hollywood roles: becoming Bond would be a game changer for the actor, but also a potential gamble for the studio.
Michael Fassbender
Why could Michael be the next James Bond?
Almost neck-and-neck with James Norton, Fassbender is now among the bookmaker’s favourites to take on MI6’s most famous agent. With his eclectic CV (which balances tent pole movies like the rebooted X Men franchise and Prometheus with weightier dramas like Shame and Steve Jobs), he’s certainly versatile enough to take on whatever the franchise might throw at him. He also ties with Gosling as the Bond contender with the most Oscar nominations.
Why wouldn’t he work?
He’s still attached to other big franchises like X Men, Assassin’s Creed and Alien, and like his Bond ‘rival’ Idris Elba, Fassbender has recently ruled himself out of the running. ‘As an acting role, I think Daniel [Craig] has done such a cracking job in this age group,’ he told GQ, before revealing he ‘think[s] the franchise needs something new.’
‘One thing is for sure, it won’t be anyone on the bookies’ lists. It never is,’ he added. Wise words indeed.
Tom Hardy
Why could Tom be the next James Bond?
With critically acclaimed turns in The Dark Knight Rises and Mad Max: Fury Road on his CV, Hardy is no stranger to major action blockbusters. Physically, he’s a close fit to the Bond of Ian Fleming’s novels (he’d be a more rugged, gritty Bond in the vein of his potential predecessor, Daniel Craig) and would certainly command an audience on an international scale.
Hardy has even gone so far as to refuse to comment on Bond rumours, for fear of taking himself out of the running. ‘There’s a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, and in the fellowship of my peer group, that if you talk about it you’re automatically out of the race,’ he told The Daily Beast. ‘So I can’t possibly comment on that one. If I mention it, it’s gone.’
Why wouldn’t he work?
When it comes to Hardy, the ‘yays’ seem to outweigh the ‘nays,’ as Bond’s producers have doubtless noted. But with a second season of his passion project Taboo already confirmed by the BBC, and two further Mad Max films in the works, the 39-year-old might not have enough space on his busy schedule to earn his ‘00’ status. Bond or no Bond, Hardy is clearly a Hollywood hit regardless.
James Norton
Why could James be the next James Bond?
TV roles in Happy Valley and War and Peace have proven James Norton to be a winning and versatile presence on screen. With his star on the rise, he’s arguably at the perfect point in his career to take on 007, and producers are reportedly in search of a younger Bond to play the long game: Aged 31, and with no franchise commitments other than his turn as the unfeasibly good-looking vicar of ITV’s Granchester, Norton certainly fits the bill.
Why wouldn’t he work?
Norton has the same problem as Aidan Turner: he’s is a familiar face for connoisseurs of the British small screen, but his film roles to date have mainly been slight and in a supporting capacity. Unlike many of the other Bonds-in-waiting, the actor is yet to prove he can command a major action role – and interest an international audience.
Jamie Bell
Why could Jamie be the next James Bond?
With his breakout role as Billy Elliot far behind him, Jamie Bell emerged last summer as a surprise contender to step into the driving seat of Bond’s Aston Martin. Executive producer Barbara Broccoli was reportedly impressed by Bell’s performance in the upcoming Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool, with one source telling The Sun: ‘Barbara has been a fan of Jamie for a long time and has even thought about him playing another role in the franchise before.’
The 30-year-old has had his fair share of blockbusters too, having previously appeared in King Kong and Fantastic Four.
Why wouldn’t he work?
Despite the favourable odds, Jamie would arguably be the wild card choice here. Unlike many of his Bond rivals, he doesn’t quite have that 007 Martini-shaking ‘je ne sais quois’ (sorry, Jamie) and though he’s appeared in a handful of big budget productions, he has a propensity to opt for roles in artier, independent films – would be want to be tied down and typecast by the biggest franchise of them all?