Who Will Be the Next James Bond? Every Actor Who's Talked About It, Ranked from Most to Least Likely

Mar. 15, 2025

Idris elba, joe alwyn and rege-jean page.Photo:Marsland/WireImage; Todd Williamson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Dave Benett/Getty

Marsland/WireImage; Todd Williamson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Dave Benett/Getty

After playing James Bond for nearly two decades,Daniel Craigrevealed he’d be hanging up his crisp tuxedo in pursuit of other projects, afterNo Time to Diecame out in 2021.Since then, the search for the next 007 has been on. Fans have shaken and stirred several names into the mix, fromIdris ElbatoRichard MaddentoJoe AlwynandTheo James. At one point, Pierce Brosnan — who played the fictional British spy in four films in the ’90s — was even asked if he would make his way back to the franchise.With news ofAmazon’s recent acquisition of the Bond franchise, the search for the next James Bond is officially heating up, and plenty of actors have their eye on the tux. See all the stars who have talked about playing the beloved spy — and what they had to say about it — ranked in order of who we think has the best shot (pun intended) at the role.

After playing James Bond for nearly two decades,Daniel Craigrevealed he’d be hanging up his crisp tuxedo in pursuit of other projects, afterNo Time to Diecame out in 2021.

Since then, the search for the next 007 has been on. Fans have shaken and stirred several names into the mix, fromIdris ElbatoRichard MaddentoJoe AlwynandTheo James. At one point, Pierce Brosnan — who played the fictional British spy in four films in the ’90s — was even asked if he would make his way back to the franchise.

With news ofAmazon’s recent acquisition of the Bond franchise, the search for the next James Bond is officially heating up, and plenty of actors have their eye on the tux. See all the stars who have talked about playing the beloved spy — and what they had to say about it — ranked in order of who we think has the best shot (pun intended) at the role.

01of 11Aaron Taylor-JohnsonAaron Taylor-Johnson.Cindy Ord/GettyAaron Taylor-Johnsonbecame a presumptive frontrunner for the franchise when, in March 2022,The Sunreported he had the role “should he wish to accept it.” TheNosferatuactor has been masterfully dodging questions about the franchise since.At the New York City premiere of his superhero movieKraven the Hunterlast December, Taylor-Johnson laughed whenEntertainment Tonightasked about his reaction to fans wanting him to step into Bond’s crime-fighting shoes.“I would say. Come seeKravenbecause that’s what out this weekend and it’s not going to disappoint,” the actor coyly said. “I promise you that, guys.”

01of 11

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Aaron Taylor-Johnson.Cindy Ord/Getty

Cindy Ord/Getty

Aaron Taylor-Johnsonbecame a presumptive frontrunner for the franchise when, in March 2022,The Sunreported he had the role “should he wish to accept it.” TheNosferatuactor has been masterfully dodging questions about the franchise since.

At the New York City premiere of his superhero movieKraven the Hunterlast December, Taylor-Johnson laughed whenEntertainment Tonightasked about his reaction to fans wanting him to step into Bond’s crime-fighting shoes.

“I would say. Come seeKravenbecause that’s what out this weekend and it’s not going to disappoint,” the actor coyly said. “I promise you that, guys.”

02of 11Regé-Jean PageRege-Jean Page.Dave Benett/BAFTA/GettyRegé-Jean Page’s name got mixed into the conversation after his ultra-sexy turn as the Duke of Hastings onBridgertonback in 2020 made him a household name overnight.“It’s a conversation people are having, and it’s terribly flattering that they’re having it. I leave them to it,” he said toVanity Fairof the speculation.Asked whether or not he would take on the role, Page responded, “I have no idea. It’s not a thing that is fully occupying my thoughts. I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment. I worry about the work I have, not other people’s jobs.”

02of 11

Regé-Jean Page

Rege-Jean Page.Dave Benett/BAFTA/Getty

Dave Benett/BAFTA/Getty

Regé-Jean Page’s name got mixed into the conversation after his ultra-sexy turn as the Duke of Hastings onBridgertonback in 2020 made him a household name overnight.

“It’s a conversation people are having, and it’s terribly flattering that they’re having it. I leave them to it,” he said toVanity Fairof the speculation.

Asked whether or not he would take on the role, Page responded, “I have no idea. It’s not a thing that is fully occupying my thoughts. I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment. I worry about the work I have, not other people’s jobs.”

03of 11Joe AlwynJoe Alwyn.Dave Benett/GettyWhile attending the 97thAcademy Awardson March 2, Joe Alywn was asked whether he’dconsider taking the role.“Who wouldn’t throw their hat in the ring? You know?” he toldVariety’s Marc Malkin.As for how he takes his martinis, shaken or stirred,The Brutalistactor responded, “I like both. I do, I do.”  A relatable (potential) Bond.

03of 11

Joe Alwyn

Joe Alwyn.Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

While attending the 97thAcademy Awardson March 2, Joe Alywn was asked whether he’dconsider taking the role.

“Who wouldn’t throw their hat in the ring? You know?” he toldVariety’s Marc Malkin.

As for how he takes his martinis, shaken or stirred,The Brutalistactor responded, “I like both. I do, I do.”  A relatable (potential) Bond.

04of 11Josh O’ConnorJosh O’Connor.Dia Dipasupil/GettyJosh O’Connormay have willed himself into the conversation, but hey, who’s complaining? After the internet ran wild with a joke he made, theChallengersactor found himself having to quell the excitement.“I have no thoughts, really,” he toldDeadlineback in January. “The truth is that … I think in the space of a week, I made a joke about, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if I played Bond?’ Then, me and Daniel [Craig] did an Actors on Actors, and then something else happened, and then suddenly I was James Bond. If I am Bond, I don’t know about it.”

04of 11

Josh O’Connor

Josh O’Connor.Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Josh O’Connormay have willed himself into the conversation, but hey, who’s complaining? After the internet ran wild with a joke he made, theChallengersactor found himself having to quell the excitement.

“I have no thoughts, really,” he toldDeadlineback in January. “The truth is that … I think in the space of a week, I made a joke about, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if I played Bond?’ Then, me and Daniel [Craig] did an Actors on Actors, and then something else happened, and then suddenly I was James Bond. If I am Bond, I don’t know about it.”

05of 11Theo JamesTheo James.Gareth Cattermole/GettyTo fans of his films and the James Bond franchise, Theo James is a top choice for the role. To his friends the idea is comical.“There is no narrative among my friends because they would say, ‘You? Are you joking?'” he toldJosh Horowitz, adding, “The adage was, ‘Oh, yeah. You’d be the first Bond-opolis. The Greek Bond with hummus,” referring to his Greek heritage (full name: Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis).

05of 11

Theo James

Theo James.Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

To fans of his films and the James Bond franchise, Theo James is a top choice for the role. To his friends the idea is comical.

“There is no narrative among my friends because they would say, ‘You? Are you joking?'” he toldJosh Horowitz, adding, “The adage was, ‘Oh, yeah. You’d be the first Bond-opolis. The Greek Bond with hummus,” referring to his Greek heritage (full name: Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis).

06of 11Paul MescalPaul Mescal.Phillip Faraone/GettyWhen Paul Mescal first saidhe would be opento playing James Bond back in 2020, his star was still rising and the idea was so farfetched, it didn’t “seem like a real thing.“Now, with blockbusters such asGladiator IIandAll of Us Strangersunder his belt, his odds are as good as anyone on this list.

06of 11

Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal.Phillip Faraone/Getty

Phillip Faraone/Getty

When Paul Mescal first saidhe would be opento playing James Bond back in 2020, his star was still rising and the idea was so farfetched, it didn’t “seem like a real thing.”

Now, with blockbusters such asGladiator IIandAll of Us Strangersunder his belt, his odds are as good as anyone on this list.

07of 11Richard MaddenRichard Madden.Daniele Venturelli/GettyRichard Maddenwas also an early contender and much like the other gents on this list, he kept his response short and sweet when asked about the role at Cannes back in 2019.“It’s very flattering to be involved in that conversation at all,” theGame of Thronesalum said. “But it’s all just talk and I’m sure next week it will be someone else.”

07of 11

Richard Madden

Richard Madden.Daniele Venturelli/Getty

Daniele Venturelli/Getty

Richard Maddenwas also an early contender and much like the other gents on this list, he kept his response short and sweet when asked about the role at Cannes back in 2019.

“It’s very flattering to be involved in that conversation at all,” theGame of Thronesalum said. “But it’s all just talk and I’m sure next week it will be someone else.”

08of 11Dev PatelDev Patel.L. Busacca/GettyWhile fans would love to see Patel chase down bad guys, the Harrow native isn’t interested in taking on a role that hasn’t historically represented people who look like him. Instead, he has expressed interest in creating his own lane versus competing for the role.Last year, Patel releasedMonkey Man,an action thriller he co-wrote, directed and starred in. The film was met with much praise, even garnering a standing ovation when itpremiered at SXSW. The catalyst behind the film was the lack of representation he saw.“I was so frustrated in not being represented in action films,” he told theBBC Asian Network. “When I started writing this 10 years ago, the only roles I was getting offered were to be the comedy sidekick or to be the guy who hack the mainframe for the big, cool guy.““I wanted to broaden our horizons so that we’re all not fighting over just James Bond. I wanted to create our own stories,” he continued. “No, I don’t want to be James Bond, I want to be Monkey Man.”

08of 11

Dev Patel

Dev Patel.L. Busacca/Getty

L. Busacca/Getty

While fans would love to see Patel chase down bad guys, the Harrow native isn’t interested in taking on a role that hasn’t historically represented people who look like him. Instead, he has expressed interest in creating his own lane versus competing for the role.

Last year, Patel releasedMonkey Man,an action thriller he co-wrote, directed and starred in. The film was met with much praise, even garnering a standing ovation when itpremiered at SXSW. The catalyst behind the film was the lack of representation he saw.

“I was so frustrated in not being represented in action films,” he told theBBC Asian Network. “When I started writing this 10 years ago, the only roles I was getting offered were to be the comedy sidekick or to be the guy who hack the mainframe for the big, cool guy.”

“I wanted to broaden our horizons so that we’re all not fighting over just James Bond. I wanted to create our own stories,” he continued. “No, I don’t want to be James Bond, I want to be Monkey Man.”

09of 11

Idris Elba

Idris Elba.Jeff Spicer/Getty

Jeff Spicer/Getty

“Essentially, it was a huge compliment that every corner of the world except from some corners, which we will not talk about, were really happy about the idea that I could be considered,” said while on theSmartLesspodcast.

“Those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense and I got the brunt of it.”

10of 11Pierce BrosnanPierce Brosnan.JC Olivera/Variety via Getty ImagesIf there is a way to make it work,Pierce Brosnanwould happily step into 007’s shoes again.“I’ve heard of that,” Brosnan toldGQof the idea that he should return to playing Bond. “Of course, how could I not be interested?“But, he continued, “It’s a delicate situation now. I think it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie, really … It’s a rather romantic notion and idea, but I think everything changes, everything falls apart. I think that it’s best left to another man, really. Fresh blood.“Brosnan portrayed Bond in four movies between 1995 and 2002.

10of 11

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan.JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images

JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images

If there is a way to make it work,Pierce Brosnanwould happily step into 007’s shoes again.

“I’ve heard of that,” Brosnan toldGQof the idea that he should return to playing Bond. “Of course, how could I not be interested?”

But, he continued, “It’s a delicate situation now. I think it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie, really … It’s a rather romantic notion and idea, but I think everything changes, everything falls apart. I think that it’s best left to another man, really. Fresh blood.”

Brosnan portrayed Bond in four movies between 1995 and 2002.

11of 11

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig.Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage

Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage

Daniel Craigplayed the super spy in five movies —Casino Royale,Quantum of Solace,Skyfall,SpectreandNo Time to Die— from 2006 to 2021, and that was more than enough for him, as his commitment to the series turned out to bemore than he bargained for.

“I realized the enormity of it, so I said to Barbara, ‘How many more? Three? Four?’ She said, ‘Four!’ " Craig added. “I said, ‘OK. Then can I kill him off?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ "

And when it came time to “kill him off,” the English actor had no hesitations. “I said, ‘This is it. I don’t want to do any more,'” he told the outlet.

source: people.com