Who will be the next James Bond? It’s been a burning question ever since Daniel Craig hung up his license to kill in No Time to Die, but, with the news that a new movie is officially in the works, the conversation is only generating more buzz.
The new movie will be directed by Dune helmer Denis Villeneuve, and, while nothing is confirmed yet, the reported wish list includes Jacob Elordi, Harrison Dickinson, and none other than Tom Holland. This trio joins the mix of long rumored contenders like Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Tom Hardy. It’s all change for Bond at the moment, too, as Amazon has taken over creative control of James Bond via their Amazon MGM Studios, with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson stepping down and remaining as co-owners of the character’s intellectual property rights. That makes the future more exciting than ever.
In the meantime, IOI, the developer behind the legendary Hitman series, is working on a James Bond game, 007: First Light. So, with the future looking bright, here are all the current contenders for the next James Bond – from fresh faces to consolidated Hollywood stars.You may like
Tom Hardy
Obvious? Maybe. But there’s a reason why the British actor’s currently one of the bookies’ favorites to take over from Daniel Craig. Hardy has showcased his action chops in the likes of The Dark Knight Rises and Mad Max: Fury Road, showing a physical transformation throughout his career that would lend itself well to a hard-hitting Bond.
One thing that may count against Hardy – especially if the Bond producers are thinking long-term – is his age. Hardy will be nearing his 50s by the time the cameras get rolling. It’s no real roadblock for someone of Hardy’s talents – but the franchise could go in a different, younger direction. Roger Moore in A View to a Kill should be a cautionary tale.
Tom Holland
Amazon’s wish list for the next 007 reportedly includes Tom Holland, AKA Spider-Man himself. Holland would seem to fit the bill, being a young, English actor – though, typically, Bonds are a little more unknown before being cast.
Intriguingly, Holland actually pitched a young Bond story before, which ultimately sparked an idea for how to approach the Uncharted movie, which he did star in.
Jacob Elordi
Euphoria and Saltburn star Jacob Elordi is also reportedly on Amazon’s wish list. Again, Elordi seems the right age to play the new 007, and while he’s not English, we have had an Australian Bond before in George Lazenby.
Nothing is confirmed for now, but Elordi certainly seems to have the acting chops and physicality for the role.
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Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Previously, Aaron Taylor-Johnson hadn’t been widely seen as a frontrunner to replace Daniel Craig as Bond. Multiple reports from The Sun, however, changed things. The UK newspaper said the Kick-Ass and Bullet Train actor had a screen test in September 2022 and producer Barbara Broccoli “loved him.” 18 months later and sources close to the same publication said, “Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it.”
The latest update came amid the news of Bond moving to Amazon in February 2025, when it was revealed that Broccoli did meet with him. However, it’s not been confirmed yet whether he will become the next 007. Watch this space.