ADVERTISEMENTFollowing the news earlier this year that longtime stewards of the James Bond franchise Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson ceded creative control to Amazon Studios, Bond fans were treated to more positive news last week: the identity of the director of Bond 26.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve will be responsible for ushering the 007 series into a new era. When the announcement was made, we gave our verdict on the choice, and we couldn’t be more excited.
Now that things are speeding up regarding production, the next big reveal is the identity of the actor who will succeed Daniel Craig and take up the coveted mantle of James Bond.
The rumour mill keeps spinning, and everyone from Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hiddleston and Henry Cavill has been put forward as the next Martini swigging secret agent.
Last year, we reported that Aaron Taylor-Johnson had apparently screen tested to be the next 007 and that he’d been offered the top job – a rumour only galvanized by Taylor-Johnson recently becoming the new Omega brand ambassador.
However, all these names could be old news now that Amazon’s MGM Studio’s shortlist for the new Bond has been unveiled.
While there has been no official casting announcement yet, Variety reports that three names have emerged as frontrunners: Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson and Tom Holland are reportedly “at the top of [the studio’s] list.”
These names make sense considering Amazon is clearly aiming for a British male who’s under-30, which means three things:
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Bond 26 will wipe the slate clean and serve as an origin story for the iconic spy.
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Barbara Broccoli may be out but Amazon are following her rule that James Bond is a role that shouldn’t be gender-swapped.
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Fan favourites like Hardy, 47; Fassbender, 48; and Cavill, 42, are off the table. Shame, even if we’re not upset about Cavill, as he’d be far too obvious for Bond. Plus, he’s been Superman… Give someone else a shot at cinematic glory. As for Taylor-Johnson, 35, he could also be out of luck.
Let’s run through the recently released frontrunners:
Jacob Elordi
Age: 28
Height: 1,96m
Seen in: Euphoria, Saltburn, Priscilla – and soon to be in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.
Bond material: He may not be British, but it wouldn’t be the first time an Australian actor has played Bond, after George Lazenby put on the tux for his solo adventure On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Not sure that’s the benchmark we should be aiming for, but there’s precedent.
Verdict: A fine actor; tall; dark; handsome; but there’s nothing particularly inventive about this pick. Casting him would feel like a trendy choice rather than an inspired one.
Harris Dickinson
Age: 29
Height: 1,88m
Seen in:Triangle of Sadness, The Iron Claw, Babygirl – and soon to be playing John Lennon in Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopic(s).
Bond material: Dickinson is probably the most interesting of the three favourites. He’s a great actor and has plenty of range. Plus, he has experience in the action genre, having starred in The King’s Man (2021).
Verdict: Out of the three, he’s the one we’d be most intrigued about… But again, nothing that shakes our Martinis.
Tom Holland
Age: 29
Height: 1,69m
Seen in: The Spider-Man franchise; the wider MCU; Uncharted; The Impossible; The Devil All The Time – and soon to be in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Bond material: Holland has proven he’s a solid leading man. However, while Brit has plenty of range, his youthful looks don’t really fit the brooding 007. Of the three, Bond fans have reacted to Holland with the most scepticism – and we concur. (Check out some of the reactions below.)
Verdict: Charismatic; the shortest of the three; maybe a bit too cute and not rugged enough for Bond; he’s already Spider-Man – give it to someone who hasn’t already had their big break.
All in all, it’s hard to get too excited about this shortlist.
Beyond our surprise that Timothée Chalamet’s name isn’t on the list, considering his ubiquity and working relationship with Villeneuve on the Dune films, these three picks feel like safe, casting-by-algorithm – as if Amazon bods gathered in a room to share their primary concern: streaming metrics. Surely fans deserve better than that…
Where’s the edge, the surprise factor? Where’s Paul Mescal, Damson Idris or even Riz Ahmed? Older actors, granted, but significantly more inspired options.
Plus, a common denominator with previous Bond castings was that the actor wasn’t an obvious pick. Take Daniel Craig, who was apparently “too blond for Bond” and whose casting as 007 provoked a great amount of online bile. And look how that turned out: Casino Royale, one of the most critically acclaimed Bond films in the series.
So, considering this is only a reported shortlist, let’s not give up hope too quickly.
Villeneuve’s track record proves that the Canadian master behind Sicario, Prisoners, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune films can make something cerebral, dark and ambitious – and the casting needs to reflect that. Considering he’s also exec producing alongside his partner Tanya Lapointe, chances are he’ll have some say on casting, and surely that means the final choice for the next James Bond won’t be as disappointing as this reported shortlist.
Currently there is no official release date or title for the next Bond movie – Amazon is reportedly looking at a release late 2027 or 2028.
