Warning: Contains SPOILERS for No Time To Die.
Casting the next James Bond actor is always an arduous task, but it is likely that once again, the most popular picks to play 007 simply won't happen. No Time To Die's penultimate scene confirms Daniel Craig will be hanging up the iconic tuxedo 15 years after he revitalized the franchise in his Casino Royale debut. Craig's retirement as Bond undoubtedly leaves mammoth shoes to fill, with his impressive stint as 007 eclipsed only by the enduring icons of Sean Connery and Roger Moore.
It's arguably more difficult to recast James Bond's character in 2021 than at any other point in the franchise's history, given the groundbreaking events of No Time To Die. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga's first foray into the world of Bond saw a seminal death for 007, meaning whoever steps into Bond's shoes will be re-writing the MI6 agent's story canonically. Although the role has been reinvented on numerous occasions throughout the franchise's history, never before has an actor had to contend with such a monumental step change in the franchise.
In this way, the Bond franchise is at a crossroads as it looks to choose who will next don the mantle of 007. With calls for the first Black and first female Bond to be cast intensifying, a left-field choice or a less established actor to play 007 seems more likely with each passing day. As a result, there's every chance that a big-name, long-touted to be the next Bond, may well miss out at the death. Here's the most enduringly popular picks for James Bond since Daniel Craig's retirement was announced, and also why they won't happen.
Henry Cavill
Starting with a nod to Daniel Craig's history is long-touted Bond candidate Henry Cavill. Cavill has been in the running to play 007 for more than a decade after Casino Royale director Martin Campbell touted him to succeed Pierce Brosnan following his final outing in Die Another Day. Back in 2006, Cavill was ultimately considered too young at the age of 23, losing out to Daniel Craig's gritty portrayal of Bond that went on to capture the imagination of a new generation of fans.
Despite The Witcher actor stating, "I would love the opportunity, and if they were to ask, I would say yes" in 2018, Superman star Henry Cavill has moved further away from claiming the coveted 007 role following his ill-advised comments on the #MeToo movement in a GQ interview that same year. Given the excitement surrounding Lashana Lynch's brief tenure as 007, coupled with Craig's Bond death being cast as the signifier of a new era in which Bond is not the womanizer of old, Cavill's involvement in the Bond franchise now looks highly unlikely.
Idris Elba
Idris Elba's removal from the running to be cast as the next Bond is entirely by the actor's own hand. Elba has been, at various points, the unquestionable frontrunner to take on the role of James Bond, given his British heritage and effortless charisma. The MCU's Idris Elba has also long been touted as the man to kickstart a new wave of adoration for the franchise as the first Black Bond and shatter the stuffy perceptions of the 58-year espionage film saga much in the same way as Craig did back in 2006.
Speaking to ITV London on the red carpet at the opening gala of the 2021 London Film Festival, the Luther star effectively ruled himself out of contention by unequivocally stating: “No, I’m not going to be James Bond.” This admission may be born from a currently packed release schedule, with the actor already committed to lending his prowess to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Three Thousand Years of Longing at the start of 2022. The consistency with which Idris Elba's name crops appears in Bond conversations means he can never be written off entirely, but time is now not on the side of Elba to don the iconic Tuxedo, given that he turns 50 next year.
Tom Hiddleston
Tom Hiddleston is currently one of the most popular picks to play Bond, with bookmaker's odds continually fluctuating based on the Loki actor's every word. Hiddleston is clearly aware of his proximity to the coveted role based on an interview with Empire magazine earlier this year. In a candid conversation, Kong: Skull Island star Hiddleston addressed the Bond rumor mill of 2021, stating: “It’s interesting in itself that I’ve suddenly become very aware of what I’m saying, is it not? Because there’s something about what I’m saying that becomes the story. Not for you, but for the world outside. Whatever I say, I’ve found, generated more questions.”
This is a striking quote from a man who has long been touted as a quintessential Bond figure. While the parallels that audiences can draw between Fleming's original Bond and Hiddleston are undeniable, The Avengers stars' commentary suggests a growing personal unease regarding the now vacant Bond hot seat. Hiddleston's comments are not so much coy as they are exasperated with the endless news cycles linking him to 007, and as such, he may look to seek projects far away from the maelstrom of attention that being the famous James Bond brings.
Tom Hardy
It is straightforward to see why Tom Hardy has long been the favorite to take over Bond's mantle, with rumors abound that the role is already his to lose. The much-celebrated actor has previous Bond great Pierce Brosnan’s backing, with the former 007 stating to the Mail on Sunday's Event magazine in 2018 that he feels Hardy would "put a bit of wiggle into" the iconic role. Hardy is another British native that oozes charisma and would also seemingly continue the gritty angle that Craig brought to Bond for so long, essentially ensuring continuity and continued popularity for the franchise.
So why will Hardy not be bond? There are actually several factors that look set to remove Hardy from the equation despite the bookmakers' insistence that he is a Bond frontrunner. Predicting who will be the new Bond/007 with any degree of certainty has long been seen as a fool's game, given the erratic proclivities of the James Bond casting team. Indeed, Daniel Craig was considered an entirely left-field choice when he nabbed the role in 2006, beating then-favorites Sam Worthington and Henry Cavill to the role. It is also important to note that Hardy is also deeply entrenched in the world of Venom at present, with the symbiote's MCU entrance likely to take up a lot of the actor's time. Daniel Craig has previously offered a word of warning to any busy would-be Bond actors, stating the franchise is akin to "a big machine." Hardy's current obligations, therefore, coupled with his overt suitability for the role, may ultimately work against him becoming the next James Bond.