- The hunt for the next James Bond is still on
- Daniel Craig stepped down from the role in 2021 after No Time to Die
- With directors still no closer to signing up, here are all the actors rumored to be up for the role of Bond…
The James Bond movies have spanned over 60 years – with the likes of Sir Roger Moore, Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan all taking on the coveted role.
But now, the future of 007 is unknown – as Daniel Craig, who first played the British secret agent in 2006’s Casino Royale, stood down from his role after No Time to Die (2021).
While we know that Bond 26 is definitely coming and rumors about who is set to play Craig have been rife, we’re still no closer to an official confirmation about who will be the next actor to play 007.
So as we wait for producers to make a decision, here are all the actors who are said to be being eyed up for Bond 26…
Theo James
The current bookies’ favorite to portray 007, many fans are rooting for Theo James to take over the role.
First gaining recognition for playing Tobias Eaton in The Divergent Series film trilogy from 2014, many will know James, 40, as Cameron Sullivan in season two of The White Lotus.
James has also starred as Eddie Horniman in Guy Ritchie’s action comedy series, The Gentlemen.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Shooting to fame back in 2008 as Robbie in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Aaron-Taylor Johnson has come a long way since his career beginnings in the teen rom-com.
Portraying a young John Lennon in Nowhere Boy, fans will more recently recognize Taylor-Johnson, 34, for his work in movies such as Bullet Train, Kraven the Hunter and Nosferatu.
He will star in 28 Years Later – which hits theaters in June 2025 – alongside Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes.
Josh O’Connor
While Bond will be serving His Majesty’s Secret Service, how about an actor who counts King Charles III as one of his past roles?
Despite already having a seven year-long career before taking on the role, Josh O’Connor is perhaps best known for playing the heir to the throne in series three and four of The Crown.
Away from the Netflix show, fans will have seen O’Connor, 34, in Challengers last year – where he starred opposite Zendaya and Mike Faist. He is also set to take on the part of David in The History of Sound, in which he will co-star with…
Paul Mescal
…Paul Mescal!
Everyone’s favorite Irishman has seen his popularity to play Bond boosted after audiences were wowed by his portrayal of Lucius Verus Aurelius in Gladiator II.
While 007 is known by his hyper-masculine, lady-killer reputation, Mescal’s previous roles have shown a much softer side to being a heartthrob – including Connell in the hit Hulu series Normal People, and his Oscar-nominated performance as Callum in Aftersun.
As mentioned, Mescal, 28, is set to star in the upcoming historical romantic drama The History of Sound with O’Connor, which is set to debut this year.
Jack Lowden
While we’re sure that Saoirse Ronan would be proud of pal Mescal taking on the iconic role, she’s sure to be rooting for another actor to take over – husband Jack Lowden.
The pair met on the set of 2018’s Mary Queen of Scots – in which Lowden, 34, portrayed Lord Darnley the second-husband of Ronan’s Queen.
More recently, the Scottish actor has been nominated for both an Emmy and Golden Globe award for his role as River Cartwright in the Apple TV series, Slow Horses.
Lucien Laviscount
From humble beginnings in the hit BBC drama Waterloo Road and a stint on the British soap Coronation Street, Lucien Laviscount is now known worldwide for his role as Alfie in Netflix’s Emily in Paris (as well as reportedly dating Shakira!).
Laviscount, 32, has also appeared on our screens in Scream Queens, Snatch, and Katy Keene.
Callum Turner
Fans were overjoyed by the news that Dua Lipa has found happiness with actor Callum Turner – with the couple reportedly becoming engaged over the holidays in 2024.
But that’s not the only thing the pair have to celebrate, as Turner is supposedly in the running to play Bond.
With lead roles in the 2014 drama film Queen and Country, and miniseries Glue, Turner, 34, is also known for playing Theseus, the brother of Newt Scamander, in the fantasy films Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
James Norton
Although many will know James Norton as the evil Tommy Lee Royce in the gritty crime drama Happy Valley, the actor is hoping to be the one chasing the bad guys this time.
Norton earned an Olivier nomination for his portrayal of Jude St Francis in the harrowing adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara’s novel, A Little Life.
Fans will also know Norton, 39, as John Brooke in Greta Gerwig’s 2019 revival of Little Women – which also starred Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Emma Watson
Regé-Jean Page
And finally, fans live in hope that Regé-Jean Page could be the next 007.
If this rumor is true, though, the Bridgerton star is keeping things very close to his chest – and has previously denied the whispers.
“I can’t talk about the B-word [James Bond], because I’ve got nothing to say on the B-word,” Page, 36, said. “I can’t talk about which jobs I’m not doing, because I’m not doing them, [but] I’m very happy with the work I am doing.”
