ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Who Will Be The Next James Bond?

Who Will Be The Next James Bond?

Tom Hardy, Rege-Jean Page and Clive Standen are among the favourites with the bookies.

Laura Sanders

Laura Sanders

As the latest James Bond movie is released in UK cinemas, fans are already taking a punt at who the next 007 might be, with No Time To Die looking very likely to be the end of the Daniel Craig era.

Whoever it is, they've got some big shoes to fill after Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan and Sean Connery, among other iconic Bond actors.

These are the frontrunners for the next James Bond.

Tom Hardy - 3/2

Tom Hardy at the photo call for Venom: Let there be Carnage in September 2021. (
PA)

The Venom actor is no stranger to action-packed scenes, so it would be a natural progression to Bond movies. Obviously, Hardy's got the looks, and also the experience in leading roles to be able to take on such an iconic character.

But traditionally, actors who play Bond are shot up to the A-list with the role, not already there. So, is Tom Hardy perhaps a little too famous to become the next 007?

The only person who knows that is the woman who holds Bond's fate in her hands, producer Barbara Broccoli - and she's keeping very quiet while Daniel Craig's reign as Bond is still very much the present.

Rege-Jean Page - 2/1

Rege-Jean Page on the Graham Norton Show in 2021. (
PA)

The franchise's producers are keen to see a black actor play the next James Bond - and Rege-Jean Page could be that first black Bond. He wowed fans in Bridgerton as the underdog heartthrob, Simon Basset.

With his devilishly handsome looks and a reserved, gentlemanly way about him, there's no wondering why Rege-Jean is another firm favourite for the next James Bond.

What's more, the 31-year-old isn't yet too famous for the 007 role, with Bridgerton being his only leading role so far. But then that begs the question - is he experienced enough to handle Bond?

Clive Standen - 4/1

Clive Standen is another fan favourite to play the next James Bond. (
PA)

There's already high search interest around Clive Standen's chances of being the next James Bond.

The British actor is best known for Taken and Vikings, but hasn't been in many major films yet.

Speaking in a forum on moviechat.org, one fan said: "Since watching Clive Standen these past two years on Vikings, it seemed obvious that he would be the perfect James Bond. I'm surprised he hasn't been in major films yet. He's excellent in all his roles, and physically perfect for Bond."

Many agreed with this and hope to see Standen being given the licence to kill.

James Norton - 4/1

James Norton is keen to show diabetic children that even they could be James Bond. (
PA)

TV star James Norton is another actor high in the running.

The 36-year-old is known for his roles in Happy Valley, Grantchester, War & Peace, and McMafia, and fans think he's got what it takes to be the next 007.

The next Bond naturally needs to reflect modern Britain and bring some diversity to the role, and Norton thinks he can certainly bring that to the table as an actor with a hidden disability.

"I'm a type one diabetic. How cool would it be to have a diabetic Bond?" he told Metro.

"It would be wonderful for all those diabetic kids out there to think even a type one diabetic could be Bond!

But, cautious of sounding over-keen for the role (because Bond's too cool for that), he added, "other than that, I'd leave it to Daniel and the writers to carry on the legacy."

Idris Elba - 6/1

Idris Elba is one of Pierce Brosnan's favourites to play the next 007. (
PA)

Finally, Idris Elba has been a front-runner in the bookies for the next Bond for some time now.

The 49-year-old's leading role in Luther, which is now being made into a movie, shows he's got what it takes to be the next Bond.

Surely if anybody's opinion mattered, it would be a former James Bond's? Well, Idris Elba was named one of Pierce Brosnan's favourites to take on the title, along with Tom Hardy.

Brosnan told People: "Idris is such a powerful presence and such a great former voice tensity. He would be magnificent. There's Tom Hardy out there as well. Tom can really chew the furniture up, just be a ball boy - both men can."

"And I think now that Daniel has left such an indelible footprint, they can go in many different ways," he added. "But your guess is as good as mine, who's going to be the next Bond. There's no other franchise like it. Nothing."

I think we can all agree with that.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: idris elba, TV and Film, tom hardy, James Bond