Allegedly (!), a shortlist of actors under consideration to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond has emerged. And it includes all your faves.
Daniel Craig has indicated on numerous occasions that he’s done as James Bond. After four installments of the long-running franchise, Craig is (assumedly) passing the mantle onto a new suave, debonair, British gentleman. But who will get the gig?
Well, The Sun claims to have a shortlist of options.
There are two reasons to doubt the legitimacy of this list. For one, it comes from the British tabloid paper notorious for its dubitable information (although it’s occasionally accurate, which is why it’s worth reporting at all).
Second, the list counts pretty much all the fan favorite choices for the role (bar Gillian Anderson), which seems a little too good to be true. And conveniently, there are seven (007) choices.
Related: Susanne Bier reportedly eyed as first female James Bond director
Nonetheless, it’s worth bringing up for discussion. Because unless Daniel Craig inexplicably decides to stay on for another round, we’ll be faced with a new James Bond actor very soon.
Here’s The Sun’s shortlist, as reported by Den of Geek:
Tom Hiddleston
You know him from: Marvel, Hiddleswift, and The Night Manager (a.k.a his Bond audition).
Why he should be Bond: Tom Hiddleston is pretty much the very personification of everything James Bond presumes himself to be, which is why he is many fans’ top choice for the role. He’s previously denied rumors that he was in contention, but for all we know, that was just to throw us off the scent.
Idris Elba
You know him from: Luther, Marvel, Beasts of No Nation and the upcoming Dark Tower adaptation.
Why he should be Bond: Have you seen this man? And heard his voice? Idris Elba is another fan favorite choice for Bond because he builds on Daniel Craig’s edginess while capturing the gravitas of Roger Moore, being at once both seductive and comforting with a potential dark side brewing just beneath the surface. He would be a great choice.
Michael Fassbender
You know him from: The X-Men movies, Prometheus, Steve Jobs, and Band of Brothers.
Why he should be Bond: Fassbender is kind of like Hiddleston — a talented actor with unthreatening good looks, who looks good in a suit. He’s one of the biggest names on the list, and would undoubtedly make a perfectly acceptable Bond. So sure, why not?
Luke Evans
You know him from: The Hobbit movies, Dracula Untold, The Three Musketeers, looking like Orlando Bloom.
Why he should be Bond: Luke Evans’ career has the potential to really blow up with The Hobbit series and Beauty and the Beast. He’s a great, multi-faceted actor PLUS the whole Orlando Bloom thing. What’s not to like?
Charlie Hunnam
You know him from: Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim, being the once and future king.
Why he should be Bond: Like Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam has the potential to strike a slightly darker, more imposing figure as James Bond. He’s definitely not an obvious candidate when thinking of Suave Guys In Suits, but neither was Daniel Craig, and that worked out okay.
James Norton
You know him from: Happy Valley, Grantchester and War & Peace.
Why he should be Bond: The second-youngest contender, James Norton is mainly a TV actor, probably not as familiar to non-British audiences as the other names on the list. If they want to go with a relatively unknown actor, this is the guy.
Jamie Bell
You know him from: Billy Elliot, Fantastic Four (but don’t hold it against him), The Adventures of Tintin (don’t hold that against him either) and um… Nymphomaniac: Vol II.
Why he should be Bond: Jamie Bell is still in his 20s, so if he was cast, it’d mean a major shift from the late-40s Daniel Craig. It’d be an interesting direction, transforming the James Bond franchise into something that’d feel like a more serious version of Kingsman, with the potential for a Sherlock-like bromance between Bond and the new Q (Ben Whishaw). Hey, you know… we don’t make the decisions.
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