Liam Hoofe takes a look at seven actors who could take over the role of 007 from Daniel Craig…
The recent announcement that the currently untitled 25th James Bond will hit cinemas in 2019 has once again raised the question as to whether or not Daniel Craig will be making his fifth appearance as 007, or whether we will be seeing the seventh screen Bond graces our screens for the iconic spy’s 25th outing.
Craig has been fairly vocal about his issues when it comes to playing Bond, with the actor claiming he would rather slash his wrists than play Bond again in the press build up for the release of Spectre. While the actor may not be that happy playing Bond, he has, financially, at least, been the most successful Bond of all time and those in charge would be crazy to let him go.
While rumours are circulating that Craig will reprise the role, if he were to step down, he would leave some pretty big boots to fill and speculation is rife as to who could take on the role. Here is a look at seven actors who could potentially be the seventh 007…
Tom Hardy
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. Tom Hardy has been the favourite to be the next Bond for the last few years and it’s difficult to argue against him. He is loved by both fans and critics alike, he is pretty consistent at the box office, and he has worked in several big franchises before.
While the distributor of Bond 25 is also yet to be announced, if it is Sony, then the fact that Hardy is already working with the studio for their Venom movie could also be a massive advantage when it comes to convincing him to play the role. Even if that is not the case, if rumours about Christopher Nolan helming the project are to be believed, then Hardy will definitely be first on the director’s hit list.
In terms of cons, it could be argued that perhaps Hardy may already be tied up with too many franchises. With the upcoming Venom movie hitting cinemas next year and a Mad Max sequel planned for one day, this could perhaps be a little too much for Hardy right now.
John Hamm
When it comes to the aesthetic of Bond, there are few men who could rival John Hamm as a candidate. The guy has all the credentials: he’s handsome, he’s charming, he can handle an action scene, and even more importantly, he’s a damn good actor.
Hamm is coming off the back of critical acclaim for his performance in Baby Driver, and while he is a massive star thanks to his iconic performance in Mad Men, he is yet to land himself a leading role in a big movie.
What holds Hamm back, though, is his nationality. Many purists may cry out about an American being cast as Bond, despite his obvious appeal. Lazenby is currently the only non-British/Irish actor to have taken on the role and, well, look how that worked out.
Dan Stevens
The second youngest actor on this list- Dan Stevens would be one of the best choices to play Bond, and due to his age, Eon could easily sign him up to a deal spanning several movies.
Stevens has seen box office success this year with his performance in Beauty and the Beast, but he is perhaps best known for his role in Downton Abbey. This quintessential Britishness could swing things in favour, and the guy is also more than capable of handling more physical roles – just take a look at his work in The Guest.
Tom Hiddleston
While Tom Hiddleston may be best known for his performance as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor has a fine body of work behind him and could be the perfect choice to play Bond.
Like many, I was uncertain about Hiddleston, that was until I saw his work in last year’s The Night Manager. Hiddleston proved there that he add all the required elements to play the role. The prospect of him facing off against a villain played by Hugh Laurie as well is almost too good an opportunity to miss.
Hiddleston’s aforementioned role as Loki could hold him back, though, as many might find that image difficult to shake off, and perhaps the studio would rather go for someone a little more fresh faced.
Aidan Turner
Perhaps the least recognisable actor on this list, Aidan Turner currently sits at second favourites with the bookmakers to take on the role if/when Craig finally hands in his license to kill.
Turner is perhaps best known for his work in the BBC series Poldark and he has earned himself some serious plaudits over the last few years. He did, of course, also star in The Hobbit trilogy and could be ideal casting for the part of 007.
Rarely has Bond been a massive star before going into the role, with Craig only really being known for his work in Layer Cake before he took on the part. This could work in Turner’s favour and he could turn out to be a much cheaper option that many of the others on this list.
Idris Elba
Another man whose name has been doing the rounds over the last few years is Idris Elba. The Luther star has even teased it himself with comments implying that he would be more than happy to take on the role.
Fan reaction would no doubt be divided if Elba was cast, but for me, he would be one of my preferred choices for the role. He could bring both a real physicality to the role and a whole lot of charm. The guy is one smooth talker and the ladies love him, which makes him pretty much perfect for the role.
Michael Fassbender
Okay, so now for my personal favourite. Michael Fassbender is one of the finest actors working today; he has one of the finest filmographies of our generation and is also incredibly versatile.
Not only that, but he also has the perfect look for Bond, especially the more serious take on the character that we have seen over the last few years. Now many might argue that his age could be a factor, but he is only one year older than current bookies’ favourite Tom Hardy, and only five years older than the likes of Aidan Turner.
If, for some strange reason, you are in any doubt over whether Fassbender could pull this off, go back and check out the scene in X-Men: First Class that takes place in a bar in Argentina. Fassbender is the perfect Bond in that scene and even if we only got a few movies out of him, I’ve no doubt they would be some of the best Bond films of all time.
Who would you like to cast as the next Bond once Craig finally leaves the role? Let us know in the comments below, and let Liam know on Twitter @liamhoofe
