The Next James Bond Has Officially Been Cast, These Are Our Predictions
Calling all James Bond fans. After years of speculation, it looks like we won’t have to wait much longer to find out who’s stepping into the iconic role next. Steven Knight, the writer of the 26th instalment and the mind behind Peaky Blinders, just revealed that he already knows who the next Bond will be, leaving fans to do nothing but guess. Here are our predictions:
Jack Lowden
Jack Lowden appears to be the frontrunner in our office. No stranger to the crime genre, Lowden rose to fame for his role in the hit Apple TV show Slow Horses.
While he is already looking booked and busy, starring as Mr Darcy in Netflix’s latest adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, he also looks like he may just be the perfect fit for Bond.
Jack Lowden seems most likely since Gary Oldman and the Slow Horses cast have been hinting at it this week…I can’t see it being Jacob Elordi and Callum Turner is plausible but unlikely.
Rufus, Contributing Entertainment Writer
Jacob Elordi
Perhaps now a bit far-fetched, but we’re allowed to dream. Jacob Elordi was once one of the fan favourites to fill Daniel Craig’s boots, especially after taking on other iconic roles like Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights and the creature in Frankenstein. He’s also proved himself in the action genre, most recently with The Dog Stars. And while we’d love to see him take on the role, it feels like he might now be too big a name for the part.
Henry Cavill
Henry Cavill has been on Bond wish lists for years, and it’s easy to see why. He’s got the classic leading man look, the accent, and a career full of action- heavy roles, from Superman to The Witcher.
The only question now is timing. At 43, he’s edging toward the age where a franchise looking to commit to someone for the next decade might start looking elsewhere.
While I think it’s less likely, I am rooting for Henry Cavill to be the next Bond. He’s practically made for the role, and reportedly missed out at the final stage back in the 2005 casting round because he was too young. Justice for Henry.
Natasha, Digital Editor
Regé-Jean Page
Regé-Jean Page has had Bond buzz around him ever since Bridgerton turned him into an overnight star, and it’s not hard to see why. His turn in The Gray Man showed he can hold his own in the action stakes too, even if the film itself didn’t quite land. Whether he ends up in the tux or not, it feels like only a matter of time before he’s leading a blockbuster franchise of his own.
Callum Turner
Another name that has been recently thrown into the mix, I’d love to see Callum Turner step into the role next. He’s shown off his range in Masters of the Air and The Boys in the Boat, bringing both charm and grit to period settings that suit the sort of old-school cool Bond calls for.
He’s also got the look down, tall, sharp-featured and effortlessly stylish. Like some of the other names thrown into the mix, there’s a chance he’s now too big for the role, but I’d love to see his take on the character either way.
I think the new Bond will be someone we’ve barely heard of, or perhaps never heard of at all. Bond is the sort of role that can define an actor’s entire career, so I think it would be silly for someone as established to take it on.
Mallory, Junior Food & Drink Editor
Jonathon Bailey
I’d argue this would be the casting directors’ most iconic choice, and one I am quietly rooting for. Bridgerton made him a household name, but it’s roles like Fellow Travellers and this year’s Wicked that show he’s got real range beyond period romance. Perhaps a less obvious choice, but one I’d be extremely happy with.
While I must confess I am not a huge Bond fan, I do feel very invested and am looking forward to seeing who will step into the role next. I’d absolutely love to see Jonathon Bailey play the next Bond. I think it would be nothing short of iconic.
Amelia, Culture & Lifestyle Writer/Creator
Idris Elba
Idris Elba has been the fan favourite for so long that it almost feels strange to still be talking about him as a contender. He’s got the presence, the voice and the effortless cool that Bond demands, and he’s proved time and again in Luther and beyond that he can carry a franchise on his own.
At 53, though, the timing feels off for a franchise looking to build long-term, and it may be that this particular ship has, unfortunately, already sailed.
