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next james bond

Who Is Going To Be The Next James Bond?

Idris Elba set the rumour mill into overdrive this week with his most recent hint that he will be the next James Bond. Elba however is not the only candidate for the job, here is the shortlist of those linked to one of the most iconic roles in cinema…

Tom Hardy
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Tom Hardy is undeniably one of the acting greats. His diverse and celebrated career has earnt him status of national treasure and as such, he appears to be a prime choice to take over this classic role. Hardy’s reputation is one of exemplary acting skills often concerning violent and afflicted characters, playing the villain in both a Star Trek and a Batman film. However, his breakthrough performance came in the form of Eames in Christopher Nolan’s science fiction thriller Inception. This role propelled him into Hollywood, but Hardy remains faithful to British TV as well, starring in both Peaky Blinders and Taboo on the BBC in recent years. Versatile in his appearance, Hardy manages to meld the rugged masculinity of James Bond with his undeniable finesse. Hence, he would certainly be a welcomed choice.

James Norton
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Despite his extensive career, James Norton remains slightly under the radar in terms of the role – though for Bond this is not necessarily a bad thing as the franchise has form for choosing lesser known actors. In fact, in the chilling McMafia which aired earlier this year Norton shined as Alex Goodman, highlighting that he is a man capable of portraying an individual mixed up in the world of organised crime and corruption. His case is only strengthened by his dashing portrayal of Andrei Bolkonsky in the BBC adaptation of War and Peace with Lily James. Quite clearly, Norton has the capacity to fulfil both facets of the Bond role, as both violent rogue and charmer. With this, and his Cambridge education, he has an innate pedigree which would surely serve him well in the role.

Michael Fassbender

Now, none of the other options within this list of actors quite have the Hollywood cachet of Michael Fassbender. He has starred in some of the largest films in the last decade such as 12 Years A Slave, the X-Men franchise and Inglourious Basterds, proving his capacity to take on such an iconic role. So will Bond be Fassbender’s next big challenge? Unfortunately he suggested in an interview with British GQ that he will never play Bond, but he also mentioned his love of the role. This conflicting behaviour has meant that Fassbender remains in the running for the up and coming role. It seems perhaps that he will always have a horse in the race.

next james bond
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Tom Hiddleston
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Tom Hiddleston is already a household name but is he set to be enrolled into the hall of fame with the greats who have previously played Bond? His time as the leading role in the hit BBC drama The Night Manager would suggest so. A drama series based on the John le Carré novel, it seems a perfect entry point into the role. He has, nevertheless, had a varied career from the interestingly creative High Rise to blockbuster franchises with his role as Loki. In fact, his part in a Jaguar advert is a prime example of the fact that Hiddleston has the charm needed to perfectly execute the reinvention of Bond. He would certainly be a class act.

Chiwetel Ejiofor
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credit: imdb
next james bond
credit: imdb

Perhaps one of less obvious choices for the role then would be Chiwetel Ejiofor. However, from Love Actually to the Academy Award-winning drama 12 Years A Slave, Ejiofor is an actor with a breadth of experience in a diverse range of films. He has also graced the smaller screen including the sublime period drama Dancing On The Edge in which he played within a jazz band entangled in the elite society of 1930s London. Simply a remarkable actor who deserves greater recognition, it is time for Ejiofor to be the face of a franchise, with James Bond an inspired choice.

Aidan Turner
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Aidan Turner is an icon of Sunday night TV due to his leading role as Ross Poldark in the eighteenth-century drama set in Cornwall Poldark. He is therefore accustomed to the pressure of a nation who hotly anticipate his next move. Though Turner also has experienced a successful stint in the Hobbit franchise, proving that he is capable of adapting to a role which will be hailed by fans. Is it the moment then for this Irish actor to grace cinema screens front and centre across the world?

Cillian Murphy
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credit: bbc.co.uk

No stranger to a blockbuster, Murphy has provided audiences with memorable roles in Inception, the Batman trilogy and most recently last summer’s epic Dunkirk. He is an enigma on the screen, deeply captivating and one of the most interesting actors around. It is his role in Peaky Blinders however, the BBC drama set in Birmingham which shows an insider look into the Shelby family, for which he has been most acclaimed. Dark, tense and enthralling, the story line of Thomas Shelby has been ideal for Murphy to highlight his capacity to play characters who are both charming and gritty.

Nicholas Hoult

If Nicholas Hoult is cast as the next James Bond he would be the youngest actor ever to take on the role. Child star in his breakout film About A Boy, which also stars Hugh Grant, he is nevertheless a seasoned professional. The question is if his remake would be more suave than shaken and stirred, as Hoult’s persona offers a Bond reinvention which is more sleek than violent. Certainly Hoult would be an interesting decision from the casting team but this may be necessary for a fifty year franchise which must remain fresh.

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Idris Elba
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credit: hellomagazine.co.uk

It was a cryptic tweet that has meant that Idris Elba has become the new odds-on favourite to take the role of the next James Bond. With a simple “My name’s Elba, Idris Elba”, the British actor seemed to be enjoying toying with the fans of the franchise. In fact, this hint at his playing the suave character came just days after a producer tipped him for the role. However shortly after Elba tweeted that we should all not believe the hype. Despite this, with Elba’s long and lustrous career he seems an understandable choice for the franchises’ next reinvention. Known to the British public for the crime series Luther, in which Elba played a dark detective, he has also had roles in other hit series such as the American version of The Office and The Wire. He has a track record for being magnetic on screen – an absolute must for anyone undertaking the role of the 007 agent. Elba therefore seems like the indisputable candidate for the role to follow in the footsteps of the greats who have gone before him.

With the next Bond is due out in October next year, the last for Daniel Craig, it seems that it will not be long until we discover the identity of the next actor set to take on the role which has captivated audiences since the 1960s. Following in the footsteps of titans of film such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan, it seems only time will tell who will be the next James bond.

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Complete the James Bond ensemble with a fitting briefcase like the Strada