James Bond: 5 Actors Who Would Be Perfect For Another Gritty Reboot (& 5 For A Wackier Reboot)
As always, the end credits of the latest James Bond movie – No Time to Die – included the tantalizing promise that “James Bond will return.” Since Daniel Craig’s stint as 007 ended pretty definitively in that movie, the next Bond film will cast a new actor in the role and reboot the franchise.
This next reboot could go for another gritty, semi-realistic tone like Craig’s own reboot, Casino Royale, and tell relatively grounded espionage stories in the Connery/Lazenby/Dalton tradition. Alternatively, the producers could go the other way with a goofier tone like the Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan films, leaning into the inherent silliness of the familiar franchise formula with a sly self-awareness. Depending on the tone, different actors would be perfect for the role of Bond.
2 For Another Gritty Reboot
Henry Cavill
According to Entertainment Weekly, Pierce Brosnan was a runner-up for the role of Bond before Timothy Dalton was cast and ended up taking the role when Dalton stepped down. History could repeat itself if Henry Cavill takes the role from Daniel Craig. According to Insider, Cavill screen-tested for the role of 007 in the last reboot.
Cavill was the second name on the Casino Royale shortlist that led to Craig’s casting. The actor proved with his turn in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. that he’s more than capable of playing a suave gentleman spy with some edge.
Idris Elba
Idris Elba has become one of the most popular fan castings for the role of James Bond. According to the BBC, Elba has said that he feels “too old” to play the globetrotting secret agent.
But Elba’s age could be used to differentiate the next incarnation of the series from the last. Elba’s aging Bond could contrast Craig’s young, inexperienced Bond from Casino Royale with an older, more grizzled Bond at the end of his road, like the 007 equivalent of Batfleck.
Richard Madden
After the role of Robb Stark in Game of Thrones made Richard Madden a star, his Golden Globe-winning turn as a police officer in the miniseries Bodyguard made him a popular fan-casting choice for James Bond.
Madden’s performance was by far the highlight of the miniseries. The tough-as-nails edge he brought to this PTSD-ridden action hero would be ideal for another gritty Bond reboot.
Tom Hiddleston
After playing Loki for over a decade with even more Marvel appearances on the way, Tom Hiddleston might be reluctant to take on another multi-movie franchise role. But he’s a popular pick to play the next Bond.
Hiddleston brings a lot of humor to his performances as the trickster god, but his turn in The Night Manager proves he could evoke the dark, brooding nuance of Timothy Dalton’s underappreciated take on Bond.
Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson has recently received some of the best reviews of his career for his performance as the titular vigilante in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Pattinson’s Batman was inspired by Kurt Cobain – the drug he’s addicted to is vengeance.
With The Batman’s box office success launching a shared cinematic universe, Pattinson might not want to take on another big franchise. But his turn as Bruce Wayne showed off his ability to bring depth and nuance to a brooding antihero – and he gave a delightfully charming turn as a secret agent in Christopher Nolan’s spy-fi epic Tenet.
1 For A Wackier Reboot
Tom Holland
With the unexpected box office success of Uncharted, Tom Holland has proven that he can successfully carry a blockbuster franchise without a familiar spider logo on his chest. His leading-man charms and blend of humor and pathos would be perfect for a modern take on the Roger Moore Bond style.
According to Variety, the actor has expressed interest in doing a “young Bond” film and even pitched it to Sony: “I had a meeting... with Sony, to pitch this idea of a young Bond film that I’d come up with. It was the origin story of James Bond... I don’t think the Bond estate [was] particularly interested.”
Henry Golding
Rising star Henry Golding has proven his abilities as an action hero with the role of Snake Eyes and shown off his comedic chops in the hit romcoms Crazy Rich Asians and Last Christmas.
He combined these two talents with his performance alongside Matthew McConaughey and Charlie Hunnam in Guy Ritchie’s action comedy The Gentlemen. Golding would be great for a Bond reboot that aims to inject some fun back into the franchise.
John Boyega
John Boyega’s star-making turn in the underrated sci-fi gem Attack the Block demonstrated his chops in both the action and comedy genres as he led a street gang against an alien invasion of London.
The actor was a perfect fit for the pure escapism and fun, goofy humor of the Star Wars universe, but his character arc was let down by poor planning and eventually being sidelined. Boyega could get another chance at leading escapist blockbuster entertainment with the role of 007.
Regé-Jean Page
Ever since his breakout role in Bridgerton, the whimsical Netflix series’ charismatic lead actor – Regé-Jean Page – has become a fan-favorite casting choice for the role of Bond.
The actor’s dry charms would be perfect for another tongue-in-cheek, humor-driven take on the Bond franchise in the mold of the Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan eras.
Tom Hardy
The success of Sony’s Venom films rests solely on Tom Hardy’s performance in the title role. His take on Eddie Brock is delightfully eccentric and endlessly watchable.
He could bring the same qualities to the role of Bond, capturing the character’s coolness and charisma while also digging into the weirder, wackier aspects of a cold-hearted government-sanctioned killer.