With a new prime minister settling in, the nation's most important vacancy remains unfilled: the next James Bond. Auditions are reportedly taking place, and the race for 007 is more exhausting than a general election.
In the five years since Daniel Craig's explosive exit in No Time To Die, almost every actor under 40 with cheekbones has been mentally cast as Bond. Odds-on favourite is Callum Turner, 36, who is masculine, romantic, bruised, and has old-fashioned movie-star heft. His marriage to Dua Lipa could offer a two-for-one deal on the theme tune, but it might be a liability. Bond should look capable of breaking your heart, not politely thanking you for a wedding gift.
The Contenders
Harris Dickinson, 30, has a dangerous, chameleonic quality, but he's tied up playing John Lennon in Sam Mendes' Beatles project. Aaron Taylor-Johnson once seemed a dead cert, but silence since 2024 suggests director Denis Villeneuve may have other ideas. He also feels like the Bond we've already had – handsome, muscular, brooding.
Jacob Elordi is mesmerising, but he seems more like a Bond villain's beautiful son than Bond himself. He's also Australian, and after George Lazenby, Britain may not be ready for that risk again.
The Case for an Unknown
Tom Francis, an Olivier-winning stage actor, has the advantage of being a blank canvas. The thrill of the unknown may be exactly what the franchise needs. Every successful Bond reflected the fantasy of his era: Connery was animal masculinity, Moore was debonair silliness, Dalton brought seriousness, Brosnan was glossy, and Craig was a blunt instrument who bled and grieved.
Brand recognition alone is no longer enough. With the decline of superhero movies and underwhelming Disney remakes, audiences want more. Amazon reportedly paid around $1 billion for creative control. The new team – Villeneuve, Steven Knight, Amy Pascal, David Heyman – is formidable. But Judi Dench's M called Bond a 'sexist, misogynist dinosaur' nearly 30 years ago. Perhaps the dinosaur has earned his retirement.
A Fresh Start
Bill Nighy as Old Bond is fun to imagine, but for Bond 26, a total unknown is the best choice. A known name carries too much baggage. What Bond needs is someone who walks into frame and makes us think, 'Oh. It's him. We just didn't know it yet.' Whoever gets the job, it won't be Andy Burnham.
