After 2021’s No Time To Die, Daniel Craig has relinquished his license to kill and will no longer be suiting up as James Bond and the 007 producers have stated that whoever’s next will be a reinvention of the character.
Daniel Craig reflects on 15 years of being James Bond
Speaking to Deadline, James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli said:
“We’re working out where to go with him, we’re talking that through. There isn’t a script and we can’t come up with one until we decide how we’re going to approach the next film because, really, it’s a reinvention of Bond.”
The James Bond franchise is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. So far, there have been 25 films with seven actors playing the titular character. Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
Broccoli mentioned that the next 007 flick won’t begin filming for at least a couple more years as they haven’t begun the search for who will be the eighth Bond.
Top fan castings for next 007
Despite the fact that the official casting process hasn’t begun yet, fan casting has been well on the way for the last few years with Idris Elba, Henry Cavill, and Tom Hardy being top choices amongst fans.
Elba, in particular has arguably been the most debated choice for the past decade. Producer Broccoli had even considered him a possible candidate for the role.
In a podcast with Deadline earlier this year, Broccoli said:
“We know Idris… he’s a magnificent actor” going on to state that in the past he’s “been part of the conversation, however it’s always difficult to have a conversation when you have somebody in the seat”.
The producer was referring to the fact that Daniel Craig was still actively playing 007 at the time when these discussions were happening.
If he were to take on the role, it would make him the first Black man to play the James Bond character and would serve as the ‘reinvention’ that the 007 producers have been talking about.
“How amazing would it be to have a Black James Bond? It’s a sign of the times when we can stop talking about Black, White and colour.” said Elba.
Even though the role is now vacant, earlier this year, Elba told The Sun that he’s too old to play the special agent now.
“I am 50 this year. Let’s say you sign up for three films – nobody wants to see Bond giving chase or beating up guys when he is 60. I am probably too old to take on the role now.” Explains Elba.
The actor did however express interest in playing the villain in a future 007 film.
“If there was a chance to be involved and the role was right for me, why not? It would be incredible to be a Bond villain.”
Henry Cavill hints that he wants to play Bond
Known for portraying Superman in the DC movies and more recently as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher, Henry Cavill has said in an interview on Twitter that he’s “very keen” to play the MI6 agent.
Recently, Henry Cavill starred in an ad for No.1 Botanicals and in the video, Cavill dressed in a suit stops to admire an Aston Martin DB5, the iconic 007 car and talks about ‘sweet temptations” as he continues to look back at the car while walking away.
While he hasn’t played an MI6 agent, he starred in the sixth Mission Impossible – Fallout where he played the villainous CIA agent August Walker. He also was the lead in the spy film The Man from U.N.C.L.E where he played professional thief turned CIA agent Napoleon Solo.
Tom Hardy doesn’t want to jinx his chances at 007
No stranger to spy films having starred in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and the spy comedy This Means War, Tom Hardy has never addressed the speculation that he may be the next Bond. This is because he believes talking about it will mean he won’t get the role.
Speaking to The Daily Beast back in 2017 he said:
“You know, 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. So I can’t possibly comment on that one. If I mention it, it’s gone.”
Although Hardy won’t talk about it, former Bond Pierce Brosnan chose him as the next 007:
“I think Tom Hardy could be a good Bond. I’d be happy to see him do it.” He said in a 2018 interview with the Mail on Sunday.
Fans will have to wait a bit longer to find out who the next James Bond will be as Barbara Broccoli says “it’s going to take some time… it’s a big decision” speaking to Variety.