Who Will Be the Next James Bond? Our 10 Best Predictions

When the discussion of who will be the next James Bond comes up, it feels as if one actor is always at the top of the list: Idris Elba. He's got everything going for him, he's super cool, has the action movie résumé, and he looks damn good in a suit.

Elba is also a fantastic actor, being nominated for numerous awards, including Golden Globe awards and Primetime Emmys. His work on The Wire as Stringer Bell and as DCI John Luther in Luther are some of his most well-known and beloved roles.

Unfortunately for Elba, his age is working against him in this instance. He is already 51 years old, meaning that even if he took up the Bond mantle, he likely wouldn't appear in as many films as Daniel Craig did.

He's also come out and said that he wouldn't be the next James Bond as recently as last October. However, longtime Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has said that he's been "part of the conversation" when casting the next Bond, so the door might not be completely shut on Elba as 007.

-Conor Sheeran, Senior Culture Editor

Another actor that has long been linked to the role of James Bond has been Cillian Murphy. The Irish actor, who is probably most well-known for his role as Tommy Shelby on Peaky Blinders and his appearances in several Christopher Nolan films, most certainly has the look for Bond.

Like Elba, Murphy definitely has the swagger and coolness factor needed to play Bond. While Tommy Shelby is an entirely different type of character than James Bond, Murphy's performance there is one that truly shows off his acting chops and shows off his range.

-Conor Sheeran, Senior Culture Editor

Look at the picture above. Does Henry Golding not SCREAM James Bond? If he were ever to be cast, not only would Golding be the first Asian actor to play Bond, he'd also be the first non-White performer to portray 007.

Over the past few years, Golding has built up a stellar filmography full of a variety of films, including The Gentlemen, Snake Eyes, and Crazy Rich Asians. Those three films alone showcase a different part of the Bond character, showing that he has the ability to embody all the different aspects of the role.

-Conor Sheeran, Senior Culture Editor

Cavill is another actor that just has "the look" of James Bond. He's got a super busy schedule ahead of him, being the main character in Netflix's The Witcher and he also hasn't completely closed the door on picking up the cape as Superman again. Basically, Cavill is a highly in-demand star, and being the face of another franchise could be tough.

There's no disputing that he has the chops to play an action star like Bond. He's also appeared in The Man from UNCLE, which is also a lot like a Bond movie in terms of action and tone. Could we see Cavill suit up as 007? It's certainly possible, but the odds aren't in his favor anymore.

-Conor Sheeran, Senior Culture Editor

The King in the North himself, Richard Madden, would be an ideal pick for the next Bond. Fresh off of an appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he played Ikaris in Eternals, Madden has that look about him and a more serious demeanor that he could slip into the Daniel Craig style of Bond film with ease.

While not necessarily a spy movie or show, Bodyguard has a certain feel about it that feels Bond-ish. Carrying the show as the leading man, his role in Bodyguard is just one of the many performances that back up the possible Madden casting.

-Conor Sheeran, Senior Culture Editor

An American as James Bond? We know that sounds weird, but hear us out.

Michael B. Jordan's name has definitely been thrown around when it comes to who will be portraying the next James Bond—even our girl, Billie Eilish, wants him to play Bond. And if that's not enough to convince you, take a look at all of the roles that Jordan has played over the years. From his beginnings on The Wire and Friday Night Lights to being cast in major films like Creed, Black Panther, and Just Mercy, Jordan has continued to prove his talents again and again.

-Elizabeth Pagano, TV & Movies Editor Resident

Though there haven't been any public discussions about Jacob Elordi portraying Bond, it would be an interesting spin to have someone as young as Elordi take on the iconic role. He has been quite the hot topic lately, being that Euphoria is seeing such incredible viewership this season, and he's also well-known for his role in Kissing Booth. Elordi is definitely capable of taking on a serious role like Bond, especially since Euphoria demands a darker type of personality from him.

-Elizabeth Pagano, TV & Movies Editor Resident

Daniel Kaluuya has achieved a ton of success over the past few years in films like Judas and the Black Messiah and Get Out, outdoing himself in each role he takes on. A standout in both of those movies, he's easy to picture as Bond and would, without a doubt, give a stellar performance in the role. He has been discussed as one of the frontrunners for the job and seems pretty interested in taking it on, though it's just a matter of time to see who stays on the list as it's narrowed down.

-Elizabeth Pagano, TV & Movies Editor Resident

Tom Hardy just might be neck-and-neck with Henry Cavill in the running for the role, though personally, he's not the first person I immediately thought of for Bond. Given that we've recently seen Hardy in rougher roles like Venom and Bane, it's tough to picture him as a more sleek character. However, if given the role, there's no doubt that Hardy would be incredible, as he's been known to absolutely nail his roles, from the sheer preparation to the final shots.

-Elizabeth Pagano, TV & Movies Editor Resident

There has been a ton of talk surrounding Rége-Jean Page's foray into the James Bond world, especially since he left Bridgerton after one season though being a massive favorite among fans. Some have speculated that it had to do with possibly being cast as the next Bond. While that fact is up for discussion, Page seems to be very into taking on the role, though he is a bit less experienced in the acting world than some of the others being considered.

-Elizabeth Pagano, TV & Movies Editor Resident