Atomic Blonde star Charlize Theron says she's hoping Idris Elba will someday play James Bond. With Daniel Craig's future in the 007 universe uncertain, everybody from casual James Bond fans to diehard devotees to industry heavies have been weighing in on who should be the next person to play author Ian Fleming's famed British super spy.
Since Craig has been wavering in his commitment to Bond 25, several notable actors' names have been bandied about, including Thor and upcoming The Dark Tower star Elba, Tom Hiddleston (following his turn in The Night Manager) and Jamie Bell; and just this week, Dunkirk writer-director Christopher Nolan endorsed his frequent collaborator Tom Hardy for the role, saying, “He’d be amazing. Others believe it's time for a woman to be considered to play Bond, prompting The X-Files star Gillian Anderson to thrown her hat in the ring last year.
Related: Classic 007 Poster Reimagined with Charlize Theron as James Bond
Another person that should be considered for the role of 007 is Theron, who has more than proven she has the moxie to play an action hero following her turn in Mad Max: Fury Road –and she's promising to do it again next week with the debut of her Bond-like spy thriller, Atomic Blonde.
At the Women Who Kick Ass panel at San Diego Comic-Con Saturday, Theron weighed in on the prospects of a woman playing James Bond, followed by what seems to be an endorsement of her former Prometheus co-star Elba:
"I'm in favor of having an Agent 007 that is female, but I leave that for now for Daniel [Craig] or Idris [Elba]."
Whether the next 007 be Theron or Elba, it's clear that fans and folks in the movie industry want change, There's no question that Craig is a terrific Bond, but clearly a switch to a female Bond or Elba – who would become the first black actor to play the character – would give the franchise a much-needed breath of fresh air. Even during Craig's tenure in the franchise has had its shares of ups and downs, which maybe explains why he's been reluctant to return to the role.
Of course, change won't happen immediately if reports pan out that Craig has reached a deal to return for Bond 25. At the very least, it's great that Hollywood A-listers like Theron are keeping the conversation going, whether it be through public endorsements at high-profile events like SDCC, or on-screen with films like Atomic Blonde, where actions speak louder than words.
