Daniel Craig’s 16-year spell as James Bond is the longest in over six decades of Bond history. Speculation about who will be the next Bond has been rife for at least half of Craig’s reign.
No Time to Die was Craig’s last outing as Bond, opening up further rumours about which actor will take his place.
In fact, Craig was ready to quit Bond before No Time To Die.
In an interview with Total Film Magazine, he said, "I thought I was probably physically not capable of doing another. For me, it was very cut and dried that I wasn't coming back.
"I went and did other things. I got some separation. My family forgave me for being away from home for that length of time."
With it confirmed Craig is moving on to other projects, we have taken a look at the betting markets for the next James Bond.
Favourites To Be The Next James Bond
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the clear favourite to take the high-profile task of portraying James Bond. With Amazon buying the streaming rights to every Bond film, it is thought an announcement could be coming up relatively soon.
It’s already three years since the last release – the team need to get things rolling if they are to avoid another record-breaking gap like we saw between Spectre and No Time to Die.
Back in 2022, it was reported in the tabloid press that Taylor-Johnson had a secret screen test with producer Barbara Broccoli. It apparently went very well, making him one of the front-runners in the Bond live betting markets.
An impressive CV is just part of Taylor-Johnson’s candidacy. He’s got the look of Bond already, and in his mid-thirties, he’s at the time of his career where he could take the role on for 10 or 15 years.
He fits their aim of churning out films much quicker than the second half of Craig’s stint.
James Norton isn’t far behind Taylor-Johnson. The finale of Happy Valley and his performance in McMafia helped to further increase Norton’s already impressive reputation.
He’s certainly covered some of the main Bond responsibilities in suit-wearing and gun-brandishing roles, while his display as Tommy Lee Royce had elements of the darker sides of Bond’s duties.
Norton has always talked down speculation in a typically British, overly self-deprecating way. He’d surely take it if it was offered, wouldn’t he?
Other Leading Bond Candidates
Henry Cavill, Rege-Jean Page, Cillian Murphy, Damson Idris, and Harris Dickinson are in a group just behind Taylor-Johnson and Norton.
Murphy and Cavill are in their forties, which doesn’t fit with Michael G. Wilson’s desire to have a ‘thirty-something man’ playing Bond.
Significantly, Broccoli has ruled out the possibility of a woman being Bond.
She said, "I think it will be a man because I don't think a woman should play James Bond. I believe in making characters for women and not just having women play men's roles.
"I don't think there are enough great roles for women, and it's very important to me that we make movies for women about women. He should be British, so British can be any [ethnicity or race]."
Dickinson is only 28 at the time of writing, which might work against him. Does he look old enough to fit the image of an ‘already veteran’ Bond?
Speculation exploded that Page was the next Bond when he departed Bridgerton.
Nothing came of the rumours. Page fits the bill as a youthful Bond, capable of revamping the franchise after Craig’s late-career showings in Spectre and No Time to Die.
Some might question if he has the experience, but isn’t that a risk the producers need to take if they want a younger face as 007?
Starring in Snowfall and set to appear alongside Brad Pitt in F1 in 2025, Idris is ascending towards superstardom. In the last couple of years, he’s moved from rank outsider to one of the top seven or eight Bond candidates.
Critically acclaimed, don’t be surprised to see Idris’ odds shorten in the coming months.
Longshot Potential James Bonds In 2025
A long-time favourite to replace Craig, Idris Elba no longer seems to be in the mix with the producers looking for a younger Bond. This is reflected in Elba’s odds putting him in the longshot category.
Robert Pattinson, Kit Harrington, Tom Holland, Theo James, and Chris Hemsworth all feature in the betting markets, as do Tom Hiddleston, Tom Hardy, and Henry Golding.
Harry Styles has even been mentioned in some speculatory columns, but that would be an extremely left-field choice given how his acting career has started.
Elba and Taron Egerton have already ruled themselves out. A change of heart is not impossible, although unlikely.
Reporting on possible Bonds has been few and far between thus far. We are very much dealing with rumours, speculation, and writers putting forward their preferred picks at this stage.
As such, it’s possible that an outsider swoops in to become the next James Bond.
Some, of course, are more likely than others. Broccoli’s reluctance to have a female Bond has created a male-dominated betting market. Wilson’s desire to appoint a Bond in their thirties is an angle which could unlock some betting value.
If the producers stick to those criteria, some big-name contenders don’t stand a chance.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Adobe*
