The James Bond franchise as we know it is being shaken up. It was recently announced that Amazon MGM would take creative control of the franchise as Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli would be stepping back from their 007 producer roles.
On one hand, this is a good thing because Daniel Craig made it very clear that he didn’t want to return as Bond following No Time To Die and Wilson and Broccoli had no plan in place to replace him. By doing that, they missed out on good potential Bonds like Tom Hardy and Idris Elba. On the other hand, this is bad. Like, really bad. With Amazon getting their claws into the Bond franchise, get ready for an ungodly amount of half baked Bond spin-offs, an M prequel, and a ton of other shitty content that’ll make you only appreciate Casino Royale, Skyfall, and No Time To Die even more.
With that being said, I’ve laid out a few options for Craig’s replacement. A few of the prerequisites for the gig will be simple: you’ve got to be a man, handsome, and look good in a suit. Outside of that, I’m all for the first black Bond, Asian Bond, Indian Bond. I just want someone who’ll embrace the role with open arms and commit to doing four to five films as Bond.
Nicholas Hoult
If Broccoli and Wilson struck at the right time, then Hoult would’ve made for a solid Bond right after Craig left the franchise. Even though they didn’t do that, I still think Hoult could be an ideal candidate to play Bond. Hoult’s a handsome Brit with good acting chops, but I have one qualm with casting Hoult as a suave spy. I’m not sure he presents the confidence to play Bond. If you look at his filmography and roles he’s played in movies like Nosferatu, The Menu, and Juror #2, he’s not the confident character. He gives off a nervous, quirky energy. I’m sure he could become Bond because he’s a good actor, but the roles he’s played previously don’t help his case.
Harris Dickinson
One of the safest, but smartest picks to be the next Bond is Harris Dickinson. Dickinson is a slender Brit who’s only 28 years old and has the look, you know the look I’m talking about, to play James Bond. While it’s not a big name like Tom Hardy or Henry Cavill or others who’ve been kicked around in the past, but he has a solid catalog of good performances in films like The Iron Claw and Triangle of Sadness that gives him the notoriety to play the famous spy role. Personally, Dickinson is my second choice to play Bond. I like Dickinson as an actor and his age makes it where he can star in four to five films in the franchise.
Aaron Pierre
Aaron Pierre broke out this past year with his role in Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge and solidified himself as a legit actor who can not just hold his weight, but can excel in the action genre. His stoicism paired with his 6’3″ frame would make him a good Bond and my personal pick to takeover the franchise. There was something special about watching him on the small scale of Rebel Ridge that made me realize his charisma would translate well to an even larger scaled action flick. However, one obstacle stands in the way of Pierre becoming the next Bond. In late 2024, Pierre signed on to play John Stewart in the DC series Lanterns. With that being said, if Amazon really wants Pierre to be Bond (which I really want), they’ll have to wait a little longer.
Joe Alwyn
Joe Alwyn’s handsome, looks good in a suit, and this choice would piss off every dipshit Swiftie on the planet. Aside from that, he’s a fantastic actor. In his roles in The Favourite, The Brutalist, and Kinds of Kindness, he brings a sort of suave charisma to the screen that not many other actors posses. It’s effortless. In addition, I think he has the build to play Bond. He’s 6’2″ and isn’t a twig like other modern actors, transforming into 007 wouldn’t be a stretch. My one thought against Alwyn playing Bond is I think he’d almost be a better villain against Bond. If you watched him as Harry Lee in The Brutalist and Joseph in Kinds of Kindness, he blends into the role of someone who’s subtly ruthless. He could be a snobby, globe trotting American villain to go toe-to-toe with Bond.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
I don’t think Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a good actor (I thought he was fine in Nosferatu and got way too much hate for it, but that’s neither here nor there). On top of that, I don’t think he’s compelling. The one are of Taylor-Johnson’s acting career that I do respect is he’s solid when it comes to action. Whether it’s Tenet, Fall Guy, Kick-Ass, or The Wall, he is a fit for the action genre. The one world where Aaron Taylor-Johnson works as James Bond is if Amazon opts to replace compelling story lines with high flying stunts, then he’s their guy. I don’t think that’s smart, but with the franchise now in the grasp of Amazon, who knows what we’ll get.
Alan Ritchson
In the same sense that I think Joe Alwyn would be a good Bond villain, I also think Alan Ritchson would make a solid Bond villain. But what about if he was James Bond? Sure, Richtson is probably too hold to play the role, but he’s buff and a proven action star. It’s a long shot, but I think Ritchson’s a good actor and could find himself in the Bond world. It might not be as Bond, but it’d be sick seeing him square off against James Bond. Part of me as Blue Mountain State fan would love to see Thad Castle light James Bond up.
Dev Patel
If you watched Monkey Man last year, you’d get why this isn’t a crazy suggestion. Dev Patel proved he has a knack for action in his directorial debut in 2024 and his prowess of beating on Indian mobsters would make him an interesting, but solid James Bond. He rocks a suit as good as anyone in Hollywood and at 34 years old, he’d be primed to takeover the franchise. My one worry is that the fan base may not love this move. It’s a franchise accustomed to a Brit in the lead and I’m not sure an Indian actor would be a hit with the audience. I think Patel would be a good Bond, but in a time Amazon needs fan support for the franchise, this might not be the move that works.
Gregg Turkington
Just look at the picture below. Do we need to ask any more questions? He’s perfect for the role.
