Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson are reportedly on Amazon’s shortlist to play the new 007 in Denis Villeneuve’s Bond 26.
Who will be the next James Bond? There have been six big-screen James Bond actors to date – Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig — and the next James Bond has a big job ahead. Taking over the reins from Craig for Bond 26 will be a daunting task for any actor, as the last 007’s five Bond films earned nearly $4bn at the global box office.
At this stage, the next 007 has not been announced, but Dune’s Denis Villeneuve will direct whoever lands the role in Bond 26, and will be involved in the decision-making process, once they have a script everyone is happy with. A report on Variety suggested that Amazon is “interested in casting a British actor under the age of 30”, naming Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson as the actors at the top of its wishlist. Elordi is Australian, but producers have bent the rules in the past for George Lazenby (Australian) and Pierce Brosnan (Irish).
However, there are lots of candidates to choose from, including classic contenders like Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill, to TV totties such as Aidan Turner and James Norton, or newcomers including Josh O’Connor and Harris Dickinson.
The 007th Bond will face a new challenge all of their own. In 2022, Amazon bought MGM Studios for $8.5bn, and is now the creative force behind the James Bond film series after 60 years of being run by the Broccoli family. Amazon will be looking for a big return on its investment when the 26th James Bond film finally hits cinemas.
Here’s what we know about the next James Bond, with the latest betting odds from William Hill.
Henry Cavill
Man of Steel star Henry Cavill is the only potential James Bond contender that we know for certain has already been screen-tested for the role. He was in the mix to play 007 in 2006’s Casino Royale, and while his audition impressed director Martin Campbell, he was ruled out for being too young at the age of 22. Aged 41 now, he’s still many fans’ favourite to play James Bond next, but could be too old for it this time around.
Current James Bond rumours and odds
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the actor most linked with playing James Bond over the past few years. He was first touted as a contender by The Sun, and has frequently played coy when asked about the possibility, telling Numero, “I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role. I take it as a great compliment.”
Theo James
Standing at 6 feet tall and aged 40, Theo James is a good physical match for Bond, but does he have what it takes to lead a franchise? Talking to the Guardian about his prospects in 2024, James said, “Everyone’s interested in [Bond] because it’s a big part of British cultural identity, but that probably wouldn’t be me. I do think there are better people for that job.
“And, honestly, it would be terrifying: if you do that, there’s no going back. You’re opening Pandora’s box there.”
Aaron Pierre –
London-born Aaron Pierre had a stellar 2024 and feels like he’s on the verge of superstardom. His leading role in the Netflix thriller Rebel Ridge showed that he has the physicality and screen presence required of any putative James Bonds, while his leading role in Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King proved his potential A-list stature.