You don’t find many movie characters that are as iconic as James Bond. At this point, the torch has been passed from actor to actor and reboot to reboot for several generations, and the character has been redefined more than once. After Cary Joji Fukunaga’s No Time To Die, Daniel Craig has relinquished the role and is passing it on after having been the longest-tenured actor in the role (even though he doesn’t have the most films under his belt).
But what comes next? There are so many questions right now. Will the character’s next adventures take place today? Will they be standalone adventures? Will it even be the same character? And, hey, who should actually be the next James Bond? So, please do join me in this article as I try to answer some of those questions, or, at the very least, give my opinions on the matter. I have thoughts.
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
Things are going to be different with the next iteration of Agent 007. Amazon MGM has acquired the creative rights from Eon Productions. The days of the Wilson-Broccoli control of the series are over. Instead, they’re now planning to let veteran producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman steer the ship. While many details are yet to be shared with the world, what we do know is that the next James Bond film will be directed by Dune and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve, who will direct the 26th official Bond feature based on a script from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
There have been a lot of rumors when it comes to casting. In the early days, there was a lot of talk about how Aaron Taylor-Johnson was supposedly chosen for the role, but then time went on, and no word came out about it. So, I think that opportunity likely came and went for him. Then there was the big story about Callum Turner, who was long said to have been secretly given the part, but this now also seems to have been yesterday’s news and not at all in the cards anymore. Or so I thought. Recently, Turner’s name appeared on a six-man shortlist of actors that Page Six claimed would screen test for the role. Other actors on their list were Jack Lowden, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, Jack Barton, and Harris Dickinson. Then The Playlist responded to thart shortlist by throwing another actor’s name out there. That name is Jack O’Connell, an actor whom you may have seen in last year’s Sinners, among a great many other things.
Indeed, although none of these actors are household names, the vast majority of them are relatively well-known thespians. In fact, the only name on the list that doesn’t ring a bell for me would be Jack Barton. He has a small role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, though he didn’t play a named character, and I have to admit that I haven’t seen the shows he has appeared in, such as Heartstopper or SAS: Rogue Heroes. So, while I think it is very exciting that a relative unknown could get the part, he will not feature on my Top 10, simply because I haven’t seen enough of him to comment on him. However, some, but not all, of the reported contenders do feature on this article’s list down below.
WHERE SHOULD THE FRANCHISE GO FROM HERE?
While the main part of this article will focus on my own list of actors who I think could take on the role with relative ease, I also want to briefly discuss some of the decisions the creatives involved now have to make. Because answering ‘what comes next’ isn’t as easy as just picking a new Bond. In the next few years, they will have to make a decision as to whether or not they actually want to change anything substantial about the franchise.
For years, people have discussed whether or not Bond could be a woman, and I’m sure No Time To Die didn’t stop that discussion. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t hate it if they actually decided to make a spin-off film or series with Lashana Lynch and Ana de Armas’ characters. But given the fact that it has now been years since the last Bond film, it seems like that isn’t likely. Actually, I think it is much more likely now that Amazon MGM will want to go in a much safer and traditional direction (and stick to it), given it’s their first attempt at making one of these films. The aforementioned actors supposedly linked to a screen test also indicate that. Although who knows, I do think Jane, Jasmine, or Jamie Bond could happen some way down the line.
Other than its sometimes gritty realism and the emotional engagement, I think that Daniel Craig’s era will also be remembered for the fact that all five of his films are inherently connected. They tell an overarching story as opposed to stories about standalone adventures. Perhaps the next era of Bond will change that. Another thing that I, and likely many other Bond fans, have been thinking about for a while is that the James Bond franchise might find a lot of success by becoming a period piece. What I’m saying is that it might be interesting to set a future iteration of the character back in the 60s or 70s. That would be an interesting approach that I would love to see. That would be one way to set it apart from newer espionage films.
With Villeneuve in charge, I think it is likely that we are going to stay with a more serious type of James Bond film and character than what we got with the beloved Roger Moore films. Although he has experience in sci-fi, I don’t think it is likely that he’ll want to go full-on Moonraker with the franchise. But I do think it is possible that some of the inspiration that the Craig-era took from the Jason Bourne films could stick around given Villeneuve’s strengths. However, it might be fun to see Villeneuve tackle a tone or era that he’s not as known for. So, I’ve not entirely abandoned hope when it comes to the possibility of getting a 60s period-piece version of Bond. Who knows?
THE CRITERIA
So, before we get started with my list of actors, I should say that I’ve decided on a set list of criteria that a new Bond actor would likely have to meet to be eligible to play the character. This list is inspired by an article I wrote back in the day after SPECTRE was released.
- Gender: Male — Although I am open-minded about what other direction you could take the character in, I don’t think Amazon MGM is willing to risk online backlash from toxic corners of the internet. Although Barbara Broccoli is no longer in charge of future Bond productions, Amazon MGM will likely stick to her 2020 stance. Back then, she said: “James Bond can be of any color, but he is male. […] I believe we should be creating new characters for women.”
- Age: 25-40 — That’s essentially my own cut-off based on the assumption that the actor would need to appear in more than one or two films. However, while Sean Connery first appeared as Bond at the age of 32, Roger Moore debuted at the age of 46. So, an older Bond is not entirely out of the question, even though I won’t consider actors over the age of forty for this list. You have to remember that even though Brosnan and Dalton were both just over 40 when their first films were released, the next Bond has to go through both casting and production before their first film will be out, which won’t be right away. So, while I’d love to see Tom Hardy or Michael Fassbender be James Bond, they’d both be in their fifties when the next Bond film is out, which makes it a little bit difficult.
- Nationality: From the British Commonwealth. Look, perhaps someday we might see an American James Bond, but I doubt that it’ll be any time soon. We’ve only ever had James Bonds from the Commonwealth (1 from Scotland, 1 from Ireland, 1 from Wales, 1 from Australia, and 2 from England), so the next Bond will probably have to have some form of British roots.
- Look: You need to be able to wear a tuxedo, but that’s basically it. Fans may have certain expectations, but the Craig-era proved that early fan criticism doesn’t really mean all that much.
- Skill: You need to be able to pull off great action scenes nowadays.
With that out of the way, let’s now take a look at the actors that I think should play James Bond, counting down from #10 to #1, with #1 being the actor that I’d most like to see play Agent 007 based on the criteria defined above. Now, it should be said that this is not a ranking of the actors. This is, rather, a ranking of what actors I think could be right for this character.
#10 – Daniel Kaluuya
Kaluuya might be one of the best actors of his generation. His performance in Judas and the Black Messiah is phenomenal, and the same can be said for his frightening turn in Widows. Most people will probably know him for the masterpiece Get Out, though. In any case, he is a rising star; he has more than enough star power to be considered, and he is probably one of the best actors on this list. The producers simply have to at least consider him for the role.
#9 – Paul Mescal
I think Mescal has turned in some really special performances over the years, especially in projects like Normal People, Aftersun, and All of Us Strangers. He’s a very talented actor, and even though I know he received some criticism for his big blockbuster part in Gladiator II, I think he is ready to take on a new major part to prove himself.
#8 – Henry Golding
I think Golding has been very unlucky ever since he got his breakthrough. I think he has proven himself to be a competent and charming actor in projects like Crazy Rich Asians, The Gentlemen, and A Simple Favor, and I think he should get a chance in a major film such as this one. What I do think works against him is his age, as he turns forty already next year.
#7 – Harry Lawtey
When I fell in love with Mickey Down and Konrad Kay’s HBO series Industry, I became familiar with who Harry Lawtey is. Lawtey appeared in the show’s first few seasons, and he was one of the most interesting actors on the show. He is someone who was immediately missed once he left the show. His biggest project is the upcoming Sam Mendes-directed The Beatles film series, in which he is playing the iconic band’s original bass guitarist, Stuart Sutcliffe. I think he would be an inspired choice for the role, as while he doesn’t quite have that action-role build, he does have the acting chops for the role.
#6 – Dev Patel
Could the star of Slumdog Millionaire one day become James Bond? I don’t see why not. He’s the right age; he’s a known actor but not too famous to be distracting in the role, and I think he could pull off the confidence of the character while still adding to the emotional center that the Craig-era focused on more than people might’ve originally expected. I also thought he was very good in the action film Monkey Man, which he directed himself.
#5 – Jacob Elordi
Australia’s late-twenties tall glass of water, so to speak, has won over many people over the years. He was a convincing Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, he turned in a brilliant performance in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and he was also quite good as the privileged rich boy in Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and HBO’s Euphoria. He has shown that he has an impressive range as an actor, and he looks the part, even if he may be a little bit too tall for it. I think he’d be a very good choice for the part.
#4 – Patrick Gibson
This isn’t just ‘young Dexter Morgan’ from Dexter: Original Sin, in which he was quite good, by the way. This is the face of IO Interactive’s hit 2026 video game 007 First Light. Now, I know what you’re saying: “But that’s a video game. Movies are different.” Sure. But modern video games are incredibly cinematic, and so is this game. I think he has the voice, the charm, and the ability to play this part well, and I would be delighted for him if he got the part. In any case, Gibson deserves an opportunity to screen test for the role.
#3 – Taron Egerton
Once upon a time, Taron Egerton was talked about again and again when it came to who should be a future James Bond. Egerton, of course, rose to prominence as a street-smart spy in Kingsman, where he brought a physicality and an attitude to his role. To be honest, I am still very much into the idea of seeing Egerton as Agent 007. The only thing that has made me drop him out of the top two is that he has distanced himself from the role very publicly.
#2 – Jack O’Connell
I was quite excited when I saw that Jack O’Connell might also be up for the role, as revealed by The Playlist. I think he is an immensely talented actor who has made some really fascinating career choices over the years. I already referenced his part in Sinners earlier, which saw him play a playful but dangerous character with an alluring musicality. I should also highlight his bravely unhinged villainous part in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and his outstanding work in David Mackenzie’s Starred Up. I think he is an extremely talented actor who could give some exciting unpredictability to the character.
#1 – Jack Lowden
Of the Page Six shortlisted actors, this was the actor who I could just immediately see play the part when I read the names to myself. The Dunkirk actor Jack Lowden has spent much of this decade playing MI5’s River Cartwright in the very popular Apple TV+ series Slow Horses, and I think he’s ready for a major part such as James Bond. I think he’d be a terrific choice for the part. I also read that Saoirse Ronan — the terrific actress who just so happens to be married to Lowden — is interested in playing a Bond villain. Wouldn’t it be neat if husband and wife played across from each other as protagonist and antagonist in a new Bond flick? It’s almost too good to pass up.
That’s my top 10, and while I do have certain actors that I’d rather see play the part, I will say that I, ultimately, would be very happy with any of them as Agent 007. They’re all talented enough for the part, so I’m hoping one of the ten actors listed above gets the part.
– Article Written by Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
