There is only one betting network more constant than who will win the Oscar and that is the one that tries to anticipate who will be the new James Bond. Not even Daniel Craig had left the franchise and there were already discussions about replacements. He made his last film in 2021 and we are entering 2025 without anything confirmed. The Hollywood Reporter bets that this will change. Will it?

In March 2024, they practically announced Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the role, a surprise for many because he was not on the usual list, but an interesting proposal. However, the year is a week away and no word has come from the production team. Aaron may be perfect, but he did not win Barbara Broccoli‘s heart.

Barbara has the full confidence of 007 fans. She was the one who supported Daniel Craig when no one agreed with the choice and today he is one of the favorites in the English spy’s legacy, even if the crown always goes to Sean Connery. Daniel is certainly one of the three best, with second place – for me – unshakable in the lap of Pierce Brosnan. The question is: being James Bond is lucrative and important for an English actor, but it can also be a curse. Once in the service of Her Majesty, always remembered as such.

Is he young? British? He’s on the list

There has long been discussion about updating and rejuvenating the spy who first appeared on the pages of Ian Fleming back in the 1960s. From macho, misogynistic, and violent, James Bond has changed a lot over the decades. Everyone defends their films, their villains, their soundtrack, and of course, their 007. Still, the controversy only grew when they began to demand an inclusive James who was compatible with the United Kingdom of various ethnicities.

Traditionalists jump out of their chairs when they contemplate the idea. Daniel Craig, who simply took Timothy Dalton‘s proposal and brought a more tragic and complex Bond, wouldn’t be popular if Sam Mendes hadn’t made Skyfall one of the best films in the franchise of all time. The point is that the impression is simple: is he young? Is he British? Is he handsome? He could be the new James Bond.

The list of candidates always follows this premise as a basis and some actors have been in speculation for so many years that today they are already being discarded for being “old”. I’m talking about Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and Henry Cavill, but I only mentioned three to spare those who are reading from an almost endless and very diverse list. Personally, I have an inside joke when I see an English actor between 20 and 35 years old doing action films: he’s being tested to be James Bond. Does anyone say I’m wrong?

The current list is more in line with reality

I liked the proposal for Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the iconic role, but my ideal candidate is never mentioned in the popular lists and he is Dev Patel. He would be an incredible actor in every sense, but he is off the radar.

One of the strongest candidates for about 5 years has been the now famous (when he was first considered, he wasn’t yet) Paul Mescal. In my opinion, Paul is too big for James Bond, without needing the role to gain stardom and after Gladiator 2 even less so to be in an action movie.

Another strong name has always been Regé Jean-Page, a worldwide sensation in 2020 due to Bridgerton, but has disappeared since then. He would be – after Idris – the favorite to be the first black Bond, but in recent months two other actors have been mentioned. They are Aaron Pierre, known for his work in Krypton and The Underground Railroad, and even more so Damson Idris (no relation to Elba), who is set to star in the Formula 1 film alongside Brad Pitt.

Two other actors who are still on the list are James Norton and Callum Turner, aged 39 and 34 respectively. In other words, on the verge of being discarded if the idea is to start over from scratch.

At the turn of the year, a surprising bet on the chosen one

So far, there has been no official announcement about who will be the next James Bond. Since in the last film with Daniel Craig the spy appears to have died, this is the chance to do everything again (as they did with him) and win over a new audience. This means that the “originals” and “purists” have no weight in the guess. So much so that The Hollywood Reporter, which does not usually enter into speculations by sealing anything surprising, in December 2024 anticipated who would have been chosen. None other than Josh O’Connor, forever remembered as “the young Prince Charles from The Crown”.

Josh, who is an award-winning actor on TV, praised in theater and in demand in cinema, is at the stage that Paul Mescal was before Gladiator: popular but still of average stature in the international market. In other words: at the perfect time to be Bond. Furthermore, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have indicated that they are looking for an actor in their 30s and that ethnicity will not be a determining factor in the casting.

According to reporter Seth Abramovitch, “Barbara Broccoli has always led based on instinct, she has not given in to popular opinion” when referring to the market having reacted positively to the notes about Aaron Taylor-Johnson having recorded the test already wearing the spy’s tuxedo and Walther PPK. She does not follow popularity tests, but her own personal opinion.

But if she has not spoken out in the last 5 years (the film was put on hold for over a year because of the pandemic, to wait for theaters to reopen), why would she do so in 2025? It is the year that marks 20 years since she revived the 007 franchise with Daniel Craig being officially cast in the role. And because between announcing the actor and releasing the film we can wait another year or two. It’s time!

I liked THR’s arguments and I consider them solid. I was surprised to learn that Josh was on the list, but he has talent and appeal. Furthermore, at 1.83m tall, with blue eyes and dark hair, he is exactly as James is described, and would be a choice that would “respect” Fleming’s imagination and bring new energy to the screen.

Whether it will be Josh, Aaron, or Damson, the suspense remains. The list, without ruling out any of those already mentioned in the post, also includes Jack Lowden (from Slow Horses), Theo James (The White Lotus) and I wouldn’t rule out Eddie Redmayne, who is excellent and convincing in The Day of the Jackal. The good thing is: that we always like to speculate about 007. If we know who the chosen one is in 2025, it will be even better!

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