Who Will Be the Next James Bond? Here's Our Picks From Probable to Dark Horses

Well before No Time to Die finally hit theaters five years ago, Daniel Craig had made it clear that his time as James Bond was over. And although Craig starred in just 5 Bond movies, those films spanned from 2006 to 2021, making it seem like he was in more Bond adventures than he actually was. (For comparison, Roger Moore was Bond from 1973 to 1985, and starred in seven 007 movies during that time.) And yet, as strange as it seems, the era of Daniel Craig as James Bond is no longer the modern era. Casino Royale turns twenty this year, and a new day for James Bond is about to dawn.

After Craig's Bond died in final moments of No Time to Die, the film, nonetheless promised that "James Bond will return." In the ensuing years, the production company EON, headed by Barbara Broccoli, who had taken over the family business from her father, Albert R. Broccoli, sold the franchise to Amazon MGM outright, and along with her half-brother, Michael G. Wilson, walked away from Bond forever. Amid all of this behind-the-scenes chaos, fans and pundits have been speculating for years about who might take over for Daniel Craig.

Now, with a clear path for the next James Bond movie in place—Denis Villeneuve is directing, Steven Knight is writing the screenplay—the truth is, the next 007 actor could be announced very, very soon. Historically, the new Bond actor is revealed to the public 1-2 years before the next movie drops. So if Bond 26hits in 2028, we could get confirmation of a new Bond actor in 2026.

But who will that actor be? Here's a list of possible, probable, and dark horse actors who could take up the role of James Bond.

Callum Turner

One of the hottest names associated with becoming the next James Bond is Callum Turner. He's English and 36, so, two years younger than Daniel Craig was in Casino Royale in 2006. He's also 6'2", the same height of Sean Connery. Turner's resume is impressive too, having starred in Fantastic Beasts and Masters of Air. He's also famous for being the fiancé of Dua Lipa.

In January 2026, rumors surfaced that Turner had met with Denis Villeneuve, who is directing the 26th official James Bond film. At that point, several publications became convinced that Turner already had the part. At the 2026 Berlin Film Festival, Turner replied to the rumor point blank saying: "It’s very early for that question...I'm not going to comment on it."

Jacob Elordi

The extremely popular Australian actor Jacob Elordi, starring in 2026's Wuthering Heights, and well-known for films like Saltburn and Frankenstein. And, as of February 18, 2026, there's a big rumor, with some backing, that Elordi may have been offered the role of James Bond in the next movie. This rumor specifically came from Deuxmoi,and was later unpacked by USA Today. If he did get the role, Elordi would be the second Australian Bond in history, following George Lazenby in 1969. He would also be the tallest Bond ever at 6'5". Right now though, Sean Connery, at 6'2" is still the tallest 007 ever.

Elordi's role as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights also has an interesting James Bond connection: Timothy Dalton played Heathcliff in 1970, prior to his debut as 007 in The Living Daylights in 1987. Because of the character's cruelty and brooding romanticism, there's some wisdom in casting a former Heathcliff as James Bond. That said, the most recent rumors from Deuxmoi and other sources say that its still too early to confirm that Elordi has the part.

Harris Dickinson

Actor Harris Dickinson is playing John Lennon in the upcoming 2028 Beatles biopics, all helmed by former Bond director (Skyfall, Spectre) Sam Mendes. Dickinson certainly has the look of a classic Bond, and even calls to mind some of Ian Fleming's sketches of the character.

But is there any truth to Dickinson taking on the role? Back in 2025, Variety reported that, along with Jacob Elordi and Tom Holland, Dickinson was on Amazon's "wish list" of actors to replace 007. Time will tell if the cinematic John Lennon could also be our next Bond.

Sam Heughan

Outlander star Sam Heughan previously auditioned for Bond, but lost out to Daniel Craig. Could he try it again? He shared his Outlander workouts with Men's Journal, so we know he can get in shape for it. We haven't heard his name in reference to 007 in a bit, but don't count him out yet!

Henry Cavill

At the moment, former Superman Henry Cavill feels like an unlikely choice to play the next Bond, if only because rumors suggest that director Denis Villeneuve is looking for someone in their 30s and Cavill is 42. That said, he's certainly has the spy bona fides: Cavill already distinguished himself in the art of espionage with The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, and Argylle, all of which had James Bond connection; Ian Fleming consulted on the original Man from U.N.C.L.E. TV series, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is based on Gus March-Phillipps, one of Fleming's possible inspirations for Bond, and Argylle is a very clear meta-fictional Bond tribute.

He's also up for the challenge: “It’d be awesome to play Bond, a classic Bond, really,” the Man of Steel star said in our 2016 cover story. “I don’t think I’d be the person to outdo Daniel Craig at doing Daniel Craig’s Bond. I would love to do a different version and just have enormous amounts of fun with it.” Famously, Cavill also auctioned to play Bond in 2005 for Casino Royale, but lost out to Craig.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Aaron Taylor-Johnson's name has been associated with James Bond for years. Back when the Bond franchise was still being run by Barbara Broccoli, The Sunleaked that the British actor "went for a screen test to be the next Bond in September and producers and Barbara loved him." Since then, Johnson has been a front-runner in the James Bond rumor game.

In May of 2025, when Taylor-Johnson became an ambassador for watchmaker Omega, Bond fans became convinced that he was the next James Bond. Omega has a long association with James Bond, but it doesn't automatically mean any famous actor wearing those watches is 007.

James Norton

As British as tea and red double-decker buses—James Norton attended Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He's a veteran of quintessentially British TV series like War & Peace and the crime procedural Grantchester. But it was his role in Happy Valley, as vile killer Tommy Lee Royce, that seemed to cement his place as a dynamic, multifaceted actor in the popular imagination. The only knock against Norton is that he’s blonde—but that didn’t stop Daniel Craig, did it?

We haven't heard Norton's name rumored for Bond in awhile, but that doesn't mean he's out of the race.

Matt Smith

While not currently specifically rumored to be in the running for James Bond, the 43 year old Matt Smith is our dark horse choice for the next 007 for one specific reason: From Doctor Who to House of the Dragon, Smith has proved over and over again that he is funny as hell, but also menacing, too. In 2021's Last Night in Soho, Smith also embodied a 1960s British vibe with ease. He's a unique actor who is easy to root for, or fear, depending on the role.

Smith is the villain in the 2027 Star Wars film, Starfighter. Could he be trying on another bowtie after that?

Regé-Jean Page

When you think of Regé-Jean Page you probably imagine him in his portrayal of Simon Basset, aka the Duke of Hastings in the hit American historical romance television series Bridgerton. So when the actor announced he wouldn't be returning to the series, heartbroken fans were searching for the next opportunity they might have to see him. The first place their mind went: the new James Bond. 

"Ah, the B word," he said in an interview with The Mirror. "I think if you are British and do anything of note, that other people take notice of, then people will start talking about that. That's fairly normal and I'm flattered to be in the category of Brits that people have noticed."

It's been awhile since Page's name has been associated with the next Bond. But back in 2021, when No Time to Die was just coming out, he was still a frontrunner.

Tom Holland

The popular Spider-Man actor has had his name associated with Bond fairly recently. Though we tend to think of Holland with an American accent because of his role as Peter Parker, Holland is, in fact English. He's also only 29, which, if he was cast as Bond, would put him on the younger side, at least historically, for the role.

If Holland became Bond he would also be the shortest Bond ever. He's roughly 5'7" or 5'8". To date, at 5'10", Daniel Craig is the shortest Bond.

Idris Elba

Fans have been wondering about Idris Elba as the next James Bond for almost a decade. At 53, the beloved actor is probably a bit too old for the role of the new 007, if only because the next film is starting over with the franchise, and will almost certainly cast a younger man in the role.

That said, Elba is always down to fuel the James Bond speculation. In December 2025, Elba posed with wax mannequins of former 007 actors. This was when he was attending Madame Tussauds in London, as his own wax doppelgänger was being unveiled. Elba claimed that the photo and video was because his wife put him up to it, but, he does look good standing next to those other Bonds...

Tom Hardy

Like Elba, Hardy seems like he's probably a bit too hold for the role of James Bond, at least in 2026. At 48, the actor has had an incredible career, and the Venom franchise proved that he can do action and angst with equal measure. Lately, Hardy continues to be one of the greatest tough-guy actors around; he was perfect in 2025's MobLand(alongside former Bond Pierce Brosnan) and equally great in the crime thriller Havoc.

If this was 2016 and not 2026, Hardy might be the perfect Bond to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Craig. Or, if the franchise was thinking about doing a one-off Bond that was perhaps a bit darker, and about a 48-year-old 007, Hardy would be perfect.

The next James Bond movie, the 26th in the official franchise, is expected sometime in 2028.