{"id":880488,"date":"2026-09-05T04:04:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T04:04:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/880488\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T04:04:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T04:04:23","slug":"next-james-bond-casting-everything-we-know-about-the-search-for-the-next-007-and-our-top-picks-for-the-iconic-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/880488\/","title":{"rendered":"Next James Bond casting: Everything we know about the search for the next 007 and our top picks for the iconic role"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been the question on everyone\u2019s mind since Daniel Craig hung up his tux five years ago: who will be the next James Bond?<\/p>\n

Denis Villeneuve, director of the coming Bond film, has reportedly managed to whittle it down to a few top contenders.<\/p>\n

There are six in the running, if Page Six<\/a> is to be believed \u2013 Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Jack Barton and Australia\u2019s Jacob Elordi \u2013 who have already auditioned for the coveted role.<\/p>\n

Could it be another suave British gent such as Turner? Or perhaps a more roguish character like Dickinson? Or maybe Amazon MGM, which recently bought the Bond franchise<\/a> from the Broccoli family, could go in an entirely new direction and pick a woman.<\/p>\n

\"FromFrom Callum Turner to Jacob Elordi, who will be the next 007?Compiled by Marija Ercegovac<\/p>\n

All we know for certain is that, whatever decision the producers make, it will be a massive deal. After all, there hasn\u2019t been a new 007 in more than two decades. With the final result shrouded in mystery, members of this masthead\u2019s Culture team round up their top \u2013 and most unhinged \u2013 guesses about who could become the next Bond.<\/p>\n

Nell Geraets, culture reporter<\/p>\n

Who will be the next James Bond? Callum Turner<\/p>\n

Ian Fleming surely manifested Callum Turner from beyond the grave. He\u2019s British, tall (but not bizarrely so), effortlessly charming and has impeccable bone structure. His endearing ears then offer the je ne sais quoi \u2013 that zest that sets him apart, just as every 007 agent should.<\/p>\n

And bonus points if his wife, pop sensation Dua Lipa, cameos as one of the new Bond girls. Surely, everyone would love to see her walk out of the ocean in slow motion.<\/p>\n

\"JustJust picture it: Turner as Bond and Dua Lipa as Bond girl. Bloody brilliant.Getty Images for The Met Museum\/Vogue<\/p>\n

Who should be the next James Bond? Idris Elba<\/p>\n

Elba has made it abundantly clear he won\u2019t be the next 007, going so far as to say some audiences simply aren\u2019t ready for a black Bond, and that we shouldn\u2019t \u201ctry and make it woke\u201d<\/a>. But despite his protestations, I still think Elba would be the perfect new superspy.<\/p>\n

From Beast and Luther to the Fast & Furious franchise, he\u2019s proved himself a worthy action actor with a penchant for grit. There\u2019s probably no room in the world he couldn\u2019t command, particularly with that deep, gravelly voice of his. And even if he\u2019s not into the idea, a black Bond could help update a franchise, born in the 1950s, otherwise at risk of going stale.<\/p>\n

\"IdrisIdris Elba already has looks that could kill. He may as well be given the licence as well.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s your wildcard? Cate Blanchett<\/p>\n

A female 007? Hell yes. An Australian female 007? Sign me up immediately. Blanchett\u2019s piercing, unyielding gaze and her sharp wit would make for a wonderful secret agent. Her intoxicatingly charming voice alone has the licence to kill.<\/p>\n

Though some believe she would make a fabulous master villain instead, her natural elegance and icy sophistication scream Bond. Her turn as intelligence operative Kathryn Woodhouse in Steven Soderbergh\u2019s Black Bag last year was beyond believable. Just imagine her dressed in an impeccably tailored suit with a martini in hand. Exquisite.<\/p>\n

\"ItIt may never happen, but I\u2019ll die on this hill: Cate Blanchett would make a great Bond.<\/p>\n

Who shouldn\u2019t be the next James Bond? Jacob Elordi<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t care how tall Jacob Elordi is, he ain\u2019t my Bond. I enjoy him as an actor (I didn\u2019t even hate Wuthering Heights), but 007 cannot be a \u201cpretty boy\u201d.<\/p>\n

His energy is too youthful, \u201cboy band\u201d and quasi-intellectual to be considered a solid superspy. He lacks the suave charm needed to blend into a room while somehow also commanding it. I also see his face and immediately think of Nate from Euphoria \u2013 more villain than hero. I like my Bond rugged, not pristine.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Kerrie O\u2019Brien, senior culture writer<\/p>\n

Who will be the next James Bond? Jack Lowden<\/p>\n

Lowden showed his best failed-spy-makes-good chops in Slow Horses, and his interest in history in the BBC\u2019s War & Peace, which launched him into global fame. He\u2019s a great actor and, particularly for diehard Ian Fleming fans, fits the bill perfectly. He would also bring a vulnerability not often explored in Bond \u2013 before Daniel Craig, at least \u2013 so that would shake things up nicely.<\/p>\n

\"JackJack Lowden has already played a spy. He may as well do it again.<\/p>\n

Who should be the next James Bond? Paapa Essiedu<\/p>\n

British actor Paapa Essiedu, hands down \u2013 he is mesmerising on screen. Best known for on-screen roles in I May Destroy You \u2013 about consent, trauma and recovery \u2013 and Falling, in which he plays a priest struggling with his vocation and alcoholism, he started his career in theatre.<\/p>\n

At 36, Essiedu has played a hip-hopping Hamlet (for the Royal Shakespeare Company), won an Olivier Award (for his role in All My Sons) and will take on Severus Snape in HBO\u2019s coming Harry Potter remake. Nailing 007 would be a cinch.<\/p>\n

\"PaapaPaapa Essiedu has the CV to back him up as the next Bond.Simon Ridgway<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s your wildcard? Gillian Anderson<\/p>\n

Asked recently about the rumours she wishes were true about herself, Gillian Anderson told Elle she would love to take on 007. \u201cI\u2019d still have a gun \u2026 and I\u2019d be a great collector of women,\u201d she quipped.<\/p>\n

Having made her mark as FBI special agent Dana Scully in The X-Files, playing a spy is no stretch; she would just be swapping teams across the ditch and using a British accent. She grew up between the US and Britain, and that gorgeously cultured voice is part of her DNA; the perennial twinkle in her eye would also prove an asset in a stunning reimagining of the role.<\/p>\n

\"GillianGillian Anderson in Dolce & Gabbana.SMH<\/p>\n

Who shouldn\u2019t be the next James Bond? Tom Holland<\/p>\n

One of few contenders for the iconic role who has shown his hand about being keen, Holland told Variety\u2019s Awards Circuit podcast a few years ago that he would be mad for it. \u201cUltimately, as a young British lad who loves cinema, I\u2019d love to be James Bond. I\u2019m just putting that out there,\u201d the 30-year-old said. \u201cI look pretty good in a suit.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a hard agree from me, but there are only so many legendary characters to go around \u2013 step aside Peter Parker and son of Odysseus, and let someone else take the spotlight in their perfectly tailored threads.<\/p>\n

\"StepStep aside, Peter Parker. This role isn\u2019t for you.AP Photo\/Evan AgostiniGarry Maddox, senior writer<\/p>\n

Who will be the next James Bond? Paul Mescal, George MacKay or Harris Dickinson<\/p>\n

It would be fascinating if it wasn\u2019t, but it\u2019s likely the new 007 will be a strong actor who is white, in his 30s (so he won\u2019t age out of the role too quickly), speaks English as his first language, and has a certain physicality.<\/p>\n

Since he broke through with Incendies in 2010, Denis Villeneuve has cast both stars who command the screen and diverse and interesting actors, so he might well look beyond the obvious candidates for Bond. After all, Daniel Craig was a surprise last time round.<\/p>\n

\"Good-lookingGood-looking and dapper: Paul Mescal could fit the 007 bill.Getty Images for Kering<\/p>\n

But the producers will be mindful that the new film will have to work around the world. The likely scale probably means playing into what will be expected of the character: Anglo, good-looking, dapper.<\/p>\n

Who should be the next James Bond? Jacob Elordi<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a terrific actor, as his Oscar nomination for Frankenstein shows. He looks the part, can play action, romance and drama, and will be 30 when they shoot the new Bond film next year.<\/p>\n

I have to disagree with Nell\u2019s view that his energy is too youthful and \u201cboy band\u201d. He grew out of that with The Narrow Road to the Deep North. <\/p>\n

\"JacobJacob Elordi has proven he has serious acting chops. Perhaps next he will flex his superspy skills.Getty Images<\/p>\n

Is his height a problem? They can work around it. Can he deliver Bond\u2019s dry asides? George Lazenby \u2013 not the world\u2019s greatest actor \u2013 did in On Her Majesty\u2019s Secret Service, so I\u2019m sure Elordi, who has hosted Saturday Night Live, will be fine.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s your wildcard? Austin Butler<\/p>\n

He was an out-of-the-box pick in Elvis. He can act, has got rugged good looks and can do accents. He\u2019d be worth auditioning.<\/p>\n

Who shouldn\u2019t be the next James Bond? Anyone who stars in a superhero franchise<\/p>\n

I\u2019m guessing the new 007 will need to be available for at least three films and possibly a smaller role in a spin-off TV series (centring on Q could work, or even M) so that Amazon gets the most value from acquiring Bond. That would be a clash for actors locked into multiple Marvel and DC instalments.<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Will<\/a><\/p>\n

Robert Pattinson is a good enough actor, but he\u2019s still Batmanning. And no to Tom Holland now, though he could work post Spider-Man when he is less boyish.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Flux, arts editor, The Age<\/p>\n

Who will be the next James Bond? Callum Turner<\/p>\n

Yeah, OK, he\u2019s on the favourites list for a reason, but the thing about the favourites list is that it is boring. They\u2019re favourites because we can already see any of them playing James Bond because they fit into the bullet hole of what\u2019s come before. Sigh. Why bother? This is not a potshot at him, specifically. It\u2019s just that Turner is the safest bet on a list of safe bets \u2013 he\u2019s at the right point in his career (well known but not pigeonholed) and an actor who would do a nice, solid job. It\u2019s just not a very exciting prospect.<\/p>\n

Who should be the next James Bond? Rufus Sewell<\/p>\n

Rufus Sewell is criminally underrated as an actor and has been languishing in the only-allowed-to-play-villains corner for far too long. He has the range, experience and charisma to bring us a Bond with a deeper sense of danger, and who \u2013 like Daniel Craig \u2013 would push the character further, rather than simply being an elevated copy-paste-competent-reprisal.<\/p>\n

\"RufusRufus Sewell has been playing the villain for far too long. It\u2019s time for him to Bond up.Courtesy of Netflix<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s your wildcard? Christopher Chung<\/p>\n

Best known for playing computer genius douchebag Roddy Ho in Slow Horses, most recently Chung has been on our screens in the new adaptation of My Brilliant Career. Genuinely, I think he would be a brilliant Bond. He\u2019s convincing in every role he takes on. He can be suave and funny, and while he doesn\u2019t fit the cookie-cutter shape of the Bonds that have come before him, once you start thinking of him as a potential 007, it just all makes sense.<\/p>\n

\"ChristopherChristopher Chung is funny, suave and just different enough from previous Bonds to be perfect.<\/p>\n

Who shouldn\u2019t be the next James Bond? Callum Turner<\/p>\n

Or any of the favourites really (OK, maybe Jack Lowden can stay). When something is as iconic and well loved as James Bond, people will come and see it. It also means that there\u2019s an opportunity there to do something different \u2013 we already have a bunch of Bond films, so if we\u2019re going to make more, they shouldn\u2019t be more of the same. Bring in a wildcard or a risky choice. Push the character in a different direction. If the same names keep popping up as obvious choices, then they are too obvious.<\/p>\n

Louise Rugendyke, TV editor <\/p>\n

Who will be the next James Bond? Jack Lowden<\/p>\n

No question. He\u2019s Scottish, like Sean Connery, and has the action chops via Slow Horses, in which he plays hopeless spy River Cartwright, and he\u2019ll soon have the heartthrob credentials when he appears as Mr Darcy in Netflix\u2019s coming adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.<\/p>\n

Who should be the next James Bond? Jack Lowden<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not budging on this.<\/p>\n

\"PhoebePhoebe Waller-Bridge rocked a bejewelled tuxedo while winning a Golden Globe for Fleabag.AP<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s your wildcard? Phoebe Waller-Bridge<\/p>\n

Imagine if they had a female Bond. Waller-Bridge co-wrote Daniel Craig\u2019s final outing as 007 in 2021\u2019s No Time to Die, and the ace thriller Killing Eve, so let\u2019s put her in a suit and get on with it.<\/p>\n

Who shouldn\u2019t be the next James Bond? Jacob Elordi<\/p>\n

I like him as an actor, but he is too tall. He\u2019d make a great villain, and bad guys always get to have more fun.<\/p>\n

Debbie Cuthbertson, culture news editor<\/p>\n

Who should be Bond? Riz Ahmed<\/p>\n

Just for the knowing wink to Ahmed\u2019s brilliant series Bait <\/a>(in which his alter ego, struggling actor Shah Latif, auditions to replace Daniel Craig in the franchise, sparking fevered speculation about the possibility of a \u201cbrown Bond\u201d). He\u2019d be a refreshing change from the other candidates.<\/p>\n

\"InIn his TV show Bait, Riz Ahmed (right) plays obscure actor Shah Latif, who lands a screen test to become the new James Bond.<\/p>\n

Who should be the next James Bond? Jack Lowden<\/p>\n

I\u2019m with Kerrie and Louise, for all the reasons they articulate, but mainly just to have another Scot in the role.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s your wild card: Hannah Waddingham<\/p>\n

The Ted Lasso star displayed some mad action skills as an assassin in the recent series Ride or Die. As a glamazonian (Jane?) Bond, Waddingham could shake and stir the whole franchise.<\/p>\n

Who shouldn\u2019t be the next James Bond? Jacob Elordi<\/p>\n

Elordi was so good in The Narrow Road to the Deep North that I\u2019d hate to see him locked into one role for a decade or more.<\/p>\n

Must-see movies, interviews and all the latest from the world of film delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our Screening Room newsletter.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It has been the question on everyone\u2019s mind since Daniel Craig hung up his tux five years ago:…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":880489,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[64,63,134,344],"class_list":["post-880488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-movies","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-entertainment","tag-movies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=880488"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880488\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/880489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=880488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=880488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=880488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}