Who would be the subsequent James Bond? Amazon’s difficult 007 resolution

“Who’d you pick out as the following Bond?”

That was once the query posed through Amazon boss Jeff Bezos this week to his 6.8 million fans on X.

It’s Bezos who will now have the general say at the subsequent 007. He requested for ideas along a screenshot of the BBC Information tale about his corporate gaining inventive regulate of the well-known secret agent movie franchise.

The selection of Daniel Craig’s alternative will now be Amazon MGM Studios’ greatest resolution.

So let’s check out what route the corporate may take, and who’s within the body.

If the replies to Bezos’s name out are the rest to move through, Henry Cavill is the (on-line) folks’s selection.

The previous Tremendous Guy actor, who has mentioned he “would like to play Bond”, was once extensively looked to were the runner-up years in the past when Craig landed the phase for the primary of his 5 007 motion pictures, 2006’s On line casino Royale.

The film’s director Martin Campbell informed the Specific closing yr that Cavill’s audition was once “super” and that “if Daniel did not exist, Henry would have made a very good Bond”.

There was once only one downside. “He simply regarded just a little younger at the moment again then,” added Campbell.

Longstanding Bond manufacturers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, who introduced on Thursday they have been stepping down, have up to now shot down the theory of a more youthful Bond.

“Keep in mind, Bond’s already a veteran,” Wilson mentioned in 2022. “He is had some enjoy. He is an individual who has been throughout the wars, to be able to discuss. He is almost definitely been within the SAS or one thing.”

Amazon can have other concepts – however at 41, Cavill may paradoxically now be thought to be too previous, particularly if he remains for a string of next motion pictures.

The following maximum not unusual ideas within the replies to Bezos have been Tom Hardy, Aaron Taylor-Johson and Idris Elba.

Taylor-Johnson, 34, identified for roles in Kick-Ass and Kraven the Hunter, was once at one degree rumoured to were introduced the task, however no announcement ever materialised.

Kraven bombed on the field place of business closing yr, even though, which might rely towards him.

The bookmakers had Glad Valley actor James Norton indexed as their favorite on Friday.

Talking at the crimson carpet finally weekend’s Bafta Awards, Norton, 39, described the theory round him turning into Bond as “so bizarre and bemusing” but “amusing”.

Mark O’Connell, creator of Catching Bullets: Memoirs of a Bond Fan, informed the BBC he thinks Amazon – and whoever they make a selection as the following director – will opt for a more youthful actor than in earlier instances, and he hopes they purchase British once more.

“Tom Hardy could be nice, [but] I believe he is, dare I say, too previous,” he mentioned of the 47-year-old Mad Max actor.

“There is a large number of guys that stay getting quoted [and] I am like, they are too previous.

“I believe Amazon’s going to convey it more youthful. I believe we are taking a look at early 30s. Paul Mescal is a great identify. Kingsley Ben-Adir, who is one of the most Kens within the Barbie film, I might regulate him – he is were given a kind of [Sean] Connery swagger about him.

“Harris Dickinson, who is a British actor doing neatly in Babygirl with Nicole Kidman this present day, he is very British,” O’Connell added.

“I am hoping they stick to the British DNA and origins of the position. I believe they’d be silly to transport clear of that. However time will inform.”

Bond has been performed through two non-British actors prior to now – Australian George Lazenby and Irishman Pierce Brosnan. So do not rule out the likes of fellow Irish stars Mescal, Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, Aidan Turner, or Aussie Jacob Elordi.

May Amazon destroy the mildew and opt for the primary American Bond? If that is so, Austin Butler has been mooted.

Different Brits who’ve been shaken however now not stirred into the combination come with Challengers big name Josh O’Connor, 34, and Babylon’s Stuart Martin, 39, in addition to White Lotus actor Theo James, who’s 40.

Callum Turner, Richard Madden, Will Poulter and Nicholas Hoult have additionally been steered, amongst others.

Since Bond – initially the introduction of creator Ian Fleming – hit the massive display in 1962, first performed through Scotsman Sean Connery, his hair and eye color have modified, to not point out his accessory.

However up to now, the nature’s pores and skin color and gender have remained fastened.

This is aside from when Lashana Lynch in short took over the 007 identify from Craig’s Bond in No Time to Die.

“James Bond may also be of any color, however he’s male,” Broccoli mentioned in 2020.

“I am not in particular all in favour of taking a male persona and having a girl play it. I believe girls are way more fascinating than that.”

She added: “He must be British, so British may also be any [ethnicity].”

Bridgerton actor Rege-Jean Web page has been mooted along Ben-Adir as a conceivable first non-white Bond, as have Lucien Laviscount, Paapa Essiedu, Damson Idris, Riz Ahmed and Aaron Pierre.

If Bezos does destroy Broccoli’s rule and pass for a lady, Cynthia Erivo could be a well-liked selection.

On the other hand, Idris Elba, 52, the big name of The Cord and Luther, mentioned in 2023 that the racist backlash to the chance of him being Bond “made the entire thing disgusting and off-putting”.

It is not simply the lead position that the Amazon casting division should take into accounts.

“When it comes to what they may do with the ladies, I would like to look extra fascinating and nuanced feminine characters,” mentioned Monica Germanà, creator of Bond Ladies: Frame, Type and Gender.

“There’s a rising feminine fandom, so we wish extra fascinating feminine characters teasing Bond’s masculine ego.”

Then there are the villains, who’re the characters with their “pulse on the actual international”, Germanà mentioned.

“They constitute the anxieties now we have concerning the international. So it might be fascinating what Amazon does with that. Will the following villain be, I have no idea, will it’s AI? Will it’s one thing to do with local weather trade? Will it’s far-right politics that they faucet into?”

Debating the following James Bond is “a countrywide and global obsession”, BBC Radio 1 movie critic Ali Plumb informed BBC Breakfast.

“I need to have a solution for you. I need to say names like Harris Dickinson or Leo Woodall and say, sure, it will be them. However it is all up within the air.”

Chris Hewitt of Empire mag and podcast informed BBC Radio 5 Reside that whilst he “admired what Craig has completed”, he needs the brand new control “to rediscover the thrill of Bond”.

Bond fan and creator Ajay Chowdhury added: “I believe Bond in the long run is myth and it is amusing and I believe that leisure price may well be introduced again.”

Bond bosses have steadily alternated between critical and lighter-hearted lead actors, he mentioned.

“They at all times generally tend to reboot. You have got a significant Bond [like Timothy] Dalton adopted through a lighter Bond, Brosnan. Severe, Craig – and I believe it is time to do this once more.”

Chowdhury thinks the brand new Bond can be “a longtime British actor” with what he calls “the Goldilocks quantity of repute” – now not too sizzling, now not too chilly.

“They are going to have completed TV and theatre around the Atlantic, however they may not be stars,” he gives.

“They are going to have simply the correct amount of repute and they are going to be younger sufficient to do 3 or 4 [films].

“Who’s it? We haven’t any concept!”