It’s been more than a year since Amazon Studios chose Denis Villeneuve to direct the next Bond film, but we still don’t have an official word on who will take over from Daniel Craig as Bond. It feels like every week brings a new rumor about the next James Bond. As a die-hard Bond fan, I haven’t been thrilled about most of the rumored candidates apart from perhaps Aaron-Taylor-Johnson, but I think he’s too famous and a bit too old for the role.
I share the same sentiments as Debbie McWilliams, the longtime Bond casting director who has worked on Bond films for 40 years, starting from 1981’s For Your Eyes Only all the way to 2021’s No Time to Die. In an interview with The Independent, she shared her opinions on actors Jacob Elordi, Callum Turner, and Harris Dickinson being in the running for 007 (per Variety).
“I don’t want to see any of them as James Bond. It is absolutely essential that [Bond] retains a total enigma…I don’t want to see any of them as Bond because we now know so much about them. We want to know as little about them personally as possible, because that’s what spies are.”
Yep, I completely agree with her, and I have faith in someone who’s actually worked in casting the iconic British super spy and his crew. I’m still not convinced about Callum Turner as a formidable leading man or bona fide action hero. The same goes for Dickinson, who just lacks that undeniable charm needed for the part. I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw Elordi’s name. I mean, the dude is 6’5”, which is going to make him stand out like a sore thumb when spies are meant to blend in and be inconspicuous.
The tallest actors to play Bond are 6’2” (Sean Connery, George Lazenby, and Timothy Dalton), so I believe the perfect Bond should be between 6’ and 6’2”. Most of you who follow my blog know about my unwavering love and respect for Timothy Dalton (my all-time favorite Bond), which puts me in good company with Christopher Nolan.
……
I’ve been wishing for years that someone would have the gumption to cast him as a Bond villain because I think he’d be amazing in that role (just check out Hot Fuzz or The Rocketeer if you don’t believe me), or at least cast him as M since he has that commanding voice and piercing stare.
In any case, the current casting director for Bond26 is the iconic Nina Gold, who was nominated for the very first Academy Award for Best Achievement in Casting for her work on HAMNET. She’s one of the most influential casting directors in the industry today, known for her unique ability to spot talent and turn unknown actors into global sensations, often skipping over the usual Hollywood A-listers.
With this in mind, it seems she’s on the lookout for lesser-known, up-and-coming actors to find a mysterious ‘wildcard’ to test alongside the big names that agencies are pushing. I also heard that Villeneuve is getting really involved in the casting, even going so far as to personally call actors for auditions instead of going through the usual casting office channels.
I saw this tweet about what Gold has said about her casting criteria…
Online betting sites are constantly busy updating their odds. As of last week, Turner was still leading the pack (according to ActionNetwork.com), but I checked earlier today on OddsChecker.com and saw that Jack Lowden has now become the frontrunner, thanks to a mention from British TV presenter Richard Osman on his podcast, The Rest Is Entertainment. He suggested that Lowden is being seriously considered and believes the Irish actor would be ‘amazing’ in the role, claiming he has a ‘real Daniel Craig energy’ (whatever that means).
With at least 20 actors rumored to be in the running for the next Bond, here are my top 3 picks for who I’d love to see take on the role:
JACK LOWDEN
Quick Stats: Scottish (English-born of Scottish parents), 36 years old, 6’1”
Ok so I agree with Osman on Lowden, even if he’s a bit older than the “under-35” target range. Before I saw him in Slow Horses, I’d already seen Lowden in the BBC miniseries War & Peace, as well as in movies like Dunkirk, Mary Queen of Scots, and Fighting with My Family. He’s such a versatile actor, with an extensive stage background, similar to Timothy Dalton, who remains the only James Bond actor to have performed extensively as a core member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). Lowden has even won a prestigious Olivier Award for his role in Ghosts.
Will the next James Bond be from Slough House?
How ironic would that be if it actually happened! If you’ve seen the excellent British spy comedy Slow Horses on Apple TV, you know what I’m talking about. It’s basically MI5’s dumping ground, a bureaucratic holding pen for agents who have messed up but still have too much confidential info or are protected by their unions from being fired.
Lowden’s River Cartwright is one of these MI5’rejects,’ and he’s always trying to prove that he doesn’t belong there.
It would be awesome to see another Scottish Bond after Sean Connery. This would pay homage to Ian Fleming’s original literary lore, which established James Bond as having Scottish roots. Lowden has that edge, along with the intellect and vulnerability that would make Bond a well-rounded character.
Here’s an action-packed scene in Slow Horses Season 4 that shows Lowden’s action chops:
If Lowden gets the role of Bond, he’d make history by portraying two iconic literary characters, as he’s also set to play the ultimate period drama heartthrob, Mr. Darcy, from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in Netflix’s upcoming adaptation. This would be a long stretch, but perhaps his famous wife Saoirse Ronan might have a role in one of the Bond movies alongside Lowden? Not as a Bond girl necessarily, perhaps an adversary of some kind?
LEO SUTER
Quick Stats: English, 32 years old, 6’2”
Suter has been on my radar ever since his roles in BBC’s Sanditon and Beecham House, but I bet most folks recognize him from Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla, where he shows off both his acting skills and his amazing physique. Playing a charming Nordic prince in that series really showcased his talent for leading a huge, physically demanding action franchise. At 32 years old, standing at 6’2” with a killer smile, I genuinely believe he’d make a fantastic super spy. Plus, being English and an Oxford grad, he checks all the boxes for that character.
This Squaremile magazine puts it perfectly:
Obviously he looks the part: not just ridiculously handsome but the right kind of ridiculously handsome, possessing the “dark, rather cruel good looks” described by Ian Fleming, standing at a muscular 6’2. Bond must be equally plausible as someone who can seduce a beautiful woman in the time required to consume a vodka martini and beat up a psychotic giant with steel teeth. Suter requires zero suspension of disbelief in either department.
Suter is now portraying the lead role of DI Thomas Lynley in the BBC/BritBox crime series Lynley. He fits the ideal profile that producers usually seek: he has a strong track record on TV, is physically fit, and is well-respected, yet he hasn’t been overexposed by a big Hollywood franchise.
PATRICK GIBSON
Quick Stats: Irish, 31 years old, 5’9”
Gibson might be the least recognized of the three I’ve chosen, but that could actually play to his advantage. Although he’s among the actors rumored to be in the mix, I genuinely believe he deserves a shot. He seems like a solid pick for the live-action James Bond role since he’s already the official voice and likeness of 007 in the video game 007 First Light.
Check out this AI-generated image of him that someone posted on X: https://x.com/realJonathan4/status/2084438221723766884
The game involves a lot of motion capture for its intense tactical combat, stealth, and stunt scenes, so Gibson has pretty much done the physical groundwork needed for a modern, athletic Bond.
I’ve watched him in The Spanish Princess miniseries and Netflix’s Shadow & Bone, and he definitely has the look and confidence, plus I really dig his deep voice. At 31, he’s actually the ideal age since the studio would probably take 15-20 years to roll out 3-4 films in the franchise.
The one drawback for Gibson is his height… he’s on the shorter side at 5’9″, even shorter than the 5’10” Daniel Craig. I prefer Bond to be at least 6 feet tall, but I’m willing to set that aside if he’s got other qualities, as Gibson does. If he’s cast, he’d be the second Irish actor since Pierce Brosnan to play Bond.
Thoughts on my picks? Who would you like to see as the next Bond?
I think I’ll go with Jack Lowden though I just read the news that Hayden Pannettiere just died at age 36. I’m in shock about this right now as my nephew has become a fan of A Bug’s Life as she is in the film as Dot. This feels wrong.