Who will be the new James Bond?

James Bond is one of the most well known and long running franchises in the entertainment industry. In fact, most of us will include at least one James Bond movie in our list of favourite action packed, casino, spy movies. So that we will always find a lively and impassioned debate on who will be the new James Bond and whether that person will be able to live up to expectations and indeed excel in the role. Daniel Craig has done a stellar job playing 007 and when he bows out after his fifth movie in the role, it will be interesting to see who is recruited as his replacement. With so many candidates out there, let’s look at who’s in the running.

Daniel Craig

Yes, the current James Bond has distanced himself from extending his time in the role, but could the current 007 be tempted to star in one or two more films? He’s one of the most unique Bonds of all time and has been labelled one of the finest there’s ever been, with memorable scenes such as the iconic one in the iconic one in Casino Royale where he faced off against Le Chiffre fondly remembered. While he’s already proven himself as 007, could he be tempted back once again?

James Norton

James Norton is an actor who really shot to prominence in 2016 thanks to brilliant performances in Grantchester, Happy Valley and War and Peace. He’s played a range of different roles so far, proving himself to have the versatility needed to play 007. He’s the full package in the eyes of many as he has the looks and education, but the former bookies favourite may not have the blockbuster experience or backing to secure the role at this point.

Tom Hardy

The current favourite with the bookmakers, Tom Hardy has proven himself to be one of the best of his generation. Hardy has done it all, TV and film, and he’s not just done it, he’s done it with aplomb and received critical acclaim in the process. He’s an actor who you could say is made for the role, having played the lead in Locke then Legend, with many predicting he would bring a new, more dangerous type of Bond to the fore. While he would be ideal to play 007, the drawback could be that Hardy has always been very independent-minded and a franchise may not be as appealing to him as it would others.

Idris Elba

Idris Elba has long been linked with the role and if he secured it, he would become the first ever black James Bond. His name seems to crop up in every discussion about who will be the next Bond and it’s not just fans mentioning his name, critics are also in agreement that Elba is the man for the job. He’s known for his brilliant performances in The Wire and Luther and this should be the reason he is in the running for the role, not just because they feel it’s time for a non-white actor to play the part. There are some suggestions that Elba will be too old to play 007, and this is the biggest argument against, but it’s unlikely to be a deciding factor.