Who will be the next actor to play James Bond? No one knows yet, but speculation has been stoked this week after Aaron Taylor-Johnson was linked to the role.
Until that decision is officially signed off by producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, we thought we'd list some potential candidates on a sliding scale from most to least likely. Cue the John Barry music!
1. Aaron Taylor-Johnson
The tabloid red tops have gone wild over the rumours that Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson is set to become the new Bond. We can't argue with his acting skills or charisma – Johnson could certainly channel Bond's steely interior and ruthlessness as his chilling performance in Tom Ford's Nocturnal Animals (2016) demonstrates.
We also imagine that he could cut a fine suit. Eon Productions, which makes the Bond films has said they don't comment on speculation. However, a production insider has told BBC News there is "no truth in the rumours". For posterity's sake, let's put him at the top of our list for now and class him as the most likely choice.
Chance of being Bond: 9 out of 10
2. James Norton
The name's Norton... James Norton. And he seems like a very fitting candidate for the Bond role, boasting an impressive CV that includes some of the most popular TV shows of the past ten years – McMafia, War & Peace, Grantchester, Happy Valley – not to mention the kind of chiselled good looks that one might expect from an international man of mystery.
But for Norton, 36, there's something else that would make him a great choice for the role. "I'm a type one diabetic," he told Metro.co.uk. "How cool would it be to have a diabetic Bond? It would be wonderful for all those diabetic kids out there to think even a type one diabetic could be Bond!"
Chance of being Bond: 8 out of 10
3. Regé-Jean Page
The Bridgerton hunk, aged 31, is one of the bookies' favourites to take over from Daniel Craig, and the omens are certainly good. In 2021, it was announced that Page would play Simon Templar in a new movie reboot of classic 1960s TV series The Saint. And we all know who played that character the first time around... Yes, none other than Bond legend Roger Moore.
Though Page's name has been thrown around more times than Oddjob's hat, the actor has played down the rumours. He told The Hollywood Reporter: "It's got nothing to do with me; nothing to do with anything that has happened in any rooms or any meetings. It's literally just a thing for people to talk about. So it's flattering, but it's just a game."
Chance of being Bond: 7 out of 10
4. Taron Egerton
After he was awarded the Golden Globe for his portrayal of Elton John in Rocketman, Ladbrokes slashed its odds of Egerton, 31, becoming the next James Bond from 50/1 to 25/1. That still makes him a rank outsider, but let's not forget that the Birkenhead-born star has previous when it comes to spy movies, having played the cocky cadet Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin in both of Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman films. And he's also no stranger to death-defying stunts, as anyone who's seen Eddie The Eagle will tell you.
What's more, Egerton himself has previously shown interest in playing the iconic MI6 agent, telling the Daily Mail in 2017 that Bond is "eternally super-cool". So, you never know...
Chance of being Bond: 5 out of 10
5. Tom Hardy
Former model turned actor Tom Hardy is famed for his versatility, having played infamous prison inmate Charles Bronson, both Kray twins, Al Capone and Venom, among many other characters. So it's perhaps no surprise that the 44-year-old is one of the bookies' favourites to become the next James Bond. But is he too well-known to play the legendary secret agent?
Naomie Harris, who plays Eve Moneypenny in No Time To Die, seems to think so. In a conversation on Lorraine, she said of Hardy: "He would make a great Bond, but interestingly they always choose someone who we don't expect and someone who's more up and coming. So, I feel like Tom might be too established. I think like all the names that are being bandied around actually I think it's going to be someone so unexpected and their name isn't even in the mix. But I do think that Tom would be amazing and if I was choosing, I would choose Tom."
Chance of being Bond: 4 out of 10
6. Idris Elba
The Luther star has been part of the 'next James Bond' discussion for years, but he has insisted that he won't be replacing Daniel Craig. In 2021, the 49-year-old actor told ITV London: "No, I'm not going to be James Bond."
If he's being truthful, that's a real shame as Elba certainly has the credentials: tough, suave, looks sharp in a suit. Apart from anything else, many film fans think it's high time that a black actor joined Her Majesty's Secret Service. Even though Elba says it won't be him, he'd love to see it happen one day. "How amazing would it be to have a black James Bond?" he said. "It's a sign of the times when we can stop talking about black, white and colour."
Chance of being Bond: 3 out of 10
7. Daniel Radcliffe
Think we're being daft? We're not the only ones to have had the idea. Appearing on The Graham Norton Show in 2019 to promote his role as Rex Dasher in Playmobil: The Movie, the 32-year-old revealed: "When people meet me in America and hear my English accent, they say: 'You should play James Bond.'"
If the idea of Harry Potter exchanging his wand for a gun sounds like anathema to you, you needn't worry. Radcliffe assured viewers: "I know, and everyone here knows, I will never be James Bond. Playing a Bond-like Playmobil character felt much more likely!"
Having the young actor take over from Daniel Craig would at least have one advantage: they wouldn't have to change the name on the dressing room door.
Chance of being Bond: 2 out of 10
Who will be the next James Bond? While you speculate be sure to check out our list of 2024's must-see action movies, which includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson's role opposite Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy.
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