Another day, another James Bond favorite. Ever since Daniel Craig hinted he was tired of playing the fictional British spy, there have been numerous candidates for the role, none of whom has taken over yet. Before the release of Spectre, Craig vowed never to don the tux again, resulting in rumors that he’d be replaced. Despite his reservations, the actor went on to play Bond in one more movie before officially handing in the keys to the Aston Martin. Since then, there have been even more rumored successors, but the identity of the next Bond remains a mystery.
Pundits have had a hard time figuring out who will be cast, especially after Amazon took over from the Broccolis. So far, every other essential piece has been placed in the puzzle. Dune director Dennis Villeneuve will oversee proceedings, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will write the script, and the duo of Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce. Who will be the lead? Well, it might be wise to rule out some long-term favorites who have now become too old for the role.
5
Tom Hardy
Age: 47
Rumors of a Tom Hardy casting began as early as 2012, when Christopher Nolan had also been linked as the next director. “I’d love to play Bond with Chris Nolan or something. It would be awesome,” he told The Independent, following great experiences working with the filmmaker on Inception and The Dark Knight Rises. When asked about it years later, Hardy refused to comment out of fear of jinxing it, saying. “If I mention it, it’s gone.”
Hard-Boiled Bond
Hardy was indeed at an ideal age when he was first rumored to be a potential replacement, but has the train left the station now? He’d be at least 50 when Bond 26 comes out, given that a production window hasn’t even been set up. But if the producers push him anyway, he’d only be able to do two movies before he starts being seen as too old for the role. This wouldn’t be ideal, considering that the best actors to play Bond have each appeared in at least five films. Would he be good anyway? Sure. His action resume speaks for itself.
4
Idris Elba
Age: 52
The Heads of State star entered the conversation when the infamous leaked Sony emails quoted chair Amy Pascal saying, “Idris should be the next Bond.” Given that the endorsement came from a very senior executive, everyone took it seriously. Speculations were further fueled when Idris Elba confirmed in a Reddit Q&A that he would absolutely accept the role if it were offered to him. However, he’d express disinterest in future interviews, citing displeasure with how the conversation had become about race rather than his acting abilities.
Master of Poise
Despite the unnecessary backlash surrounding the idea of a Black actor playing Bond, Elba has a strong chance, considering that the person who endorsed him (Pascal) will still be producing the next Bond movie. We can bet big bucks that if he doesn’t play the character, he’ll be handed another role. He’d be perfect to take over from Ralph Fiennes as M, but regarding his suitability for globetrotting adventures, age has caught up with him. Elba’s recent efforts have proved he still has the stamina to star in high-octane action movies, but would he be willing to do it until he is 60? Highly unlikely! His Bond would be short-term, an approach the studio is presumably not interested in.
3
Michael Fassbender
Age: 48
Bookmakers started including Michael Fassbender’s name in betting lists after a 2011 conversation with Total Film where he revealed that James Bond was one of his dream roles. “Every guy knows the feeling of walking round the house singing the song to himself, walking around corners with an imaginary gun,” he explained, adding: “Let’s see what happens.” Interestingly, Fassbender later ruled himself out. In a 2016 GQ interview, he reiterated the controversial suggestion that it was time for James Bond to be played by a woman.
A Capable Two-Time Oscar Nominee
Fassbender might have ruled himself out, but it feels like he has been trying hard to showcase his spy skills lately. The Irish actor starred in two espionage-themed projects in quick succession (The Agency and Black Bag), both of which have earned critical acclaim. Fassbender is not only comfortable in the world of espionage but can also play a great seducer, as the 2011 movie, Shame, proved. However, at 48, Fassbender is undoubtedly too old to have a Sean Connery-type run. But like Elba, he has what it takes to play one of the franchise’s other popular characters. The Brit can do well as a Bond villain, too, given how menacing he was in the X-Men movies. Hand him the contract.
Interestingly, Fassbender almost had a shot at playing Bond. He revealed to CNN that he was among the actors who auditioned to take over from Pierce Brosnan, but he blew it by foolishly recommending Daniel Craig instead of advocating for himself. Hopefully, he won’t mess it up again if offered another opportunity.
2
Ewan McGregor
Age: 54
Rumors about an Ewan McGregor casting have been circulating for over two decades now. The actor threw his hat in the ring shortly before the release of Pierce Brosnan’s final Bond film, Die Another Day. His odds increased when Sean Connery endorsed him after being quizzed by PageSix. Casino Royale director Martin Campbell would also reveal that the Brit was his favorite, yet scheduling conflicts somehow got in the way. Over a decade later, the Scottish actor told journalists at the Los Cabos Film Festival that he was once again interested in playing Agent 007 and that he was no longer afraid of being typecast.
McGregor Should “Fuggedaboudit!”
McGregor missed his chance, and he shouldn’t expect the phone to ring again. And he shouldn’t feel bad about it. After all, he has had a wonderful career. Would he have made a great Bond? Sure. He was perfect in spy movies like Stormbreaker and Our Kind of Traitor. His collaboration with Pierce Brosnan (The Ghost Writer) is also very Bond-like. But, at 54, McGregor might struggle to perform stunts on a regular basis, many of which tend to result in injuries, as Daniel Craig revealed.
1
Cillian Murphy
Age: 49
The charm and courage demonstrated by Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders since the early 2010s made him a hot favorite to take over as Agent 007. His impressive showing in Oppenheimer further added to his appeal. When asked about it by GQ, he admitted that he was flattered, but, like Fassbender, he urged the producers to consider a woman. Despite an endorsement from Succession star Brian Cox, Murphy later insisted that the ship had sailed.
The Odds are in His Favor, But Age Isn’t
Among all the post-45 Bond favorites, none looks better in a suit than Murphy. And he is good (or at least knows how to act well) with the ladies. His Bond would be the ultimate lothario, just like Birmingham crime boss Tommy Shelby. Sadly, 49 is too late to start. Even so, he can never be ruled out, considering that Steven Knight, his work boss on the set of Peaky Blinders, will be writing the script for the new Bond movie. No one would blame Knight for wanting to work with someone he knows all too well. And, perhaps his script features an older Bond. We simply have to wait and see.
