The new James Bond still remains a mystery, but for now we have a new 007 to fall in love with. Lashana Lynch kicked ass alongside Brie Larson in Captain Marvel, but it seems she’s not done saving the world just yet. In this latest installment, No Time to Die, we finally get to see a woman take on the famous 007 designation.
And now that Daniel Craig has retired from the role, shall we take a look at the list of Bond candidates who might inherit the title, along with James Bond actors who have portrayed the spy throughout the years?
The New James Bond Casting: Top Candidates
Alright, so we already know who the new 007 is. What about the next Bond? Well, there’s many big names currently in the running. Here are the top contenders role.
Tom Hardy
One of the forerunners when it comes to the new James Bond casting is Tom Hardy. In fact, a number of media outlets and blogs announced that it was official—he got the role. However, it was later revealed that everything had been false. For many, Hardy was the obvious choice, and there’s a possibility that this worked against him. After all, the producers of the James Bond movies rarely go for the obvious when it comes to the 007 movies.
Tom Hiddleston
It’s no secret that bets were being made alongside all the speculations going on about the new James Bond actor. Among the names on top of bookies’ lists is Tom Hiddleston. Dark haired and brooding, he surprisingly fits certain aspects of the character. However, as far as reports go, the actor was never really approached for the role.
Henry Cavill
Despite the fact that Cavill has been in the running for more than a decade, it seems becoming the new James Bond simply isn’t meant to be for the actor just yet. He had actually been director Martin Campbell’s choice for Casino Royale, but he lost out to Daniel Craig. Why? They considered him too young for the role since Cavill was only 23 at the time. Since then, however, he has starred in many action films and different shows in varying genres. This includes his role in The Witcher, which saw quite an intense transformation from the actor.
Idris Elba
Idris Elba new James Bond? Well, many believed this was going to be the case. It had been the 2014 Sony hack that proved he was in the running for the new James Bond casting. In Elba’s case, there are those who think that he might be a little too old for the character. However, given that he is only in his forties, which is the same age Roger Moore had been during his era, nothing is impossible. The new James Bond Black actor could very well be him.
Henry Golding
Then we have Malaysian-British actor Henry Golding. He made his debut in 2018’s smash hit Crazy Rich Asians and has since established himself among other dapper Hollywood leading men. Aside from looking great in a suit, his take on the character might be a refreshing change after Daniel Craig’s turn. Henry Golding may not have gotten the 007 designation this time, but you can still see how well he does in the action genre in The Gentlemen, which is directed by Guy Richie.
Regé-Jean Page
The latest addition to the running list of potential James Bond Candidates is British actor Regé-Jean Page. As one of the stars of the Netflix show Bridgerton, he’s got the industry’s attention on him. He’s currently 5/1 in the betting and if we’re to look at his reel, there’s no doubt he’s got the right stuff to play the iconic spy. Page has the mysterious debonair down pat, and as the Duke of Hastings he’s learnt a thing or two about turning everyday objects into weapons. We’ve yet to see his action skills, though!
New James Bond Actor 2020: Lashana Lynch Overcomes the Odds
A Black woman taking on the famous 007 mantle for James Bond No Time to Die shouldn’t have been controversial, but the backlash Lynch received certainly points to the opposite. We’ve seen the same vitriol thrown at her cast mate Brie Larson and like her fellow actress, Lynch responded with grace to the criticism.
In an interview with British Harper’s Bazaar, Lynch said: “I just have to remind myself that the conversation is happening and that I’m a part of something that will be very, very revolutionary.”
Is Lashana Lynch the New James Bond Girl?
Not quite. Lashana Lynch’s Nomi only inherits the 007 designation, but she isn’t the new James Bond. Nonetheless, Lynch hopes to bring something different to the character. Instead of opting for something too slick, Lynch wants to bring authenticity to her portrayal.
The new James Bond Black actress sought to include more relatable moments to viewers, particularly the Black audience members. She wants to get them nodding their heads and represent more of the Black experience, which many people might not be privy to. What more can you ask for, right? Well, Lynch really wants to push the boundaries when it comes to the next movie.
What about being a woman cast in a role that had been, since the beginning, reserved only for men? Among her priorities is to do away with the toxic masculinity. We can already hear the women who are fans of the films cheering her on. In the same Harper’s Bazaar interview, she outlined this quite clearly:
“We’re moving away from toxic masculinity, and that’s happening because women are being open, demanding, and vocal, and calling out misbehavior as soon as we see it.”
What We Know About Lashana Lynch as the New 007 in No Time to Die
Lashana Lynch’s character Nomi makes her debut in the upcoming Bond 25 film. Nomi is another 00 agent and the banter between her and James Bond is certainly one to watch out for. The No Time to Die trailer also teases the dynamic between the two, with Nomi being the no-nonsense counterpart to her predecessor.
Will her character be similar to Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel? We’ll just have to wait and see. This Bond film is one of the most highly anticipated new movie releases for 2021, after all. If there’s one thing we’re very excited for, it’ll be the moment someone calls for 007 — and both Lynch and Craig respond. That’ll become an instant classic.
Timeline: All The Actors Who Played James Bond
Now that we’ve seen the refreshing list of next James Bond contenders, shall we take a step back in time? Contrary to what most people think, James Bond was actually a novel before it was a film. Author Ian Flemming wrote Casino Royale back in 1952, though we’re certain he didn’t expect the impact the fictional British Spy would have on pop culture.
It’s safe to say, though, that his influence is most palpable in television and film. With that in mind, here are the James Bond actors who have brought him to life.
Barry Nelson
Barry Nelson was the first actor to have ever played James Bond on screen. He made his debut in the live TV adaptation of Casino Royale. His character was also known as Jimmy Bond and is the only American version of the famous spy. While this 1954 airing was well-received by audiences, Nelson gives the credit to Sean Connery for putting James Bond on the map.
Sean Connery
When we think of James Bond, it’s the image of Sean Connery in the role that often comes to mind. No one can deny just how much he transformed the role, bringing a degree of charisma and sophistication that was previously not seen. His debut in the 1962 Bond film Dr. No actually inspired Fleming to write the new James Bond novel that followed much closer to Connery’s personally.
In turn, portraying the character helped boost Connery’s career and he would continue to appear in six more 007 movies before finally retiring from the role.
David Niven
It was in 1967 when Sean Connery took a break from his role as James Bond and actor David Niven took over for the Casino Royale film. Among the actors who played James Bond, Niven considered himself to be an unusual choice. However, Fleming actually modeled the original character after him! Sadly, he was already quite old when he took over and never got the opportunity to reprise his role.
George Lazenby
The former Aussie model portrayed James Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It had been his first movie role and opinions varied greatly when it came to his performance. Some important things to note here are that unlike other James Bond movies, this 007 only used one large gadget and also had a female sidekick. Nonetheless, it still did well in the box office.
Among the different James Bond actors, Lazenby didn’t quite get his career off the ground after starring in the film.
Roger Moore
Wondering when Bond’s playboy image began to develop? Well, we can credit Roger Moore for that. Much like Sean Connery, he is also among the James Bond actors most associated with the role, having starred in seven films in total. While his portrayal of the famed spy is considered to be the furthest from Fleming’s original vision, fans will agree that Moore is the most interesting James Bond of them all. His humor and charm, not to mention those Cuban cigars, really made the character larger than life.
Who can forget the James Bond New Orleans chase scenes from Live and Let Die?
Timothy Dalton
The actor starred in two installments of the Bond franchise, 1987’s The Living Daylights and 1989’s Licence to Kill. Did you know that he had already been considered for other James Bond films back in 1967, but was temporarily set aside because was too young at the time? He finally got his chance during the 1980s, but his two 007 movies weren’t as successful as their predecessors.
Pierce Brosnan
For the younger generation, Pierce Brosnan is the most familiar actor to hold the 007 designation. He made his debut in 1995’s Goldeneye, arguably one of the most successful James Bond movies. Brosnan also brought many personal touches to the role. For example, his Bond did not smoke and also treated his female companions as equals.
Brosnan starred in three more James Bond Films, including Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day. He certainly raised the standard for the new James Bond.
Daniel Craig
We’ve come a full circle back to our current Bond lead. As the new James Bond, Daniel Craig continued what Pierce Brosnan started. Sure, he received a bit of flack in the beginning, but the actor quickly proved his critics wrong. Like Brosnan, he ushered a new era for the beloved character. His portrayal was a throwback to Fleming’s blueprint, while also embodying the best traits of the James Bond actors before him.
He debuted in 2006’s Casino Royale to box office success, which was topped by Skyfall, the highest-grossing film in the series. No Time to Die marks Bond’s fifth decade and Craig’s final go at the Bond role before passing on the baton to the new James Bond.
Daniel Craig Bond movies include: Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die.
James Bond No Time to Die
Speaking of No Time To Die, we’re all as excited as you for Craig’s final film in this franchise, so let’s find out all about the new James Bond movie now! The new James Bond trailer was first released back in December 2019, and provided eager fans with a glimpse of the newest additions to the film’s cast.
Produced by Eon Productions, this latest installment in the James Bond series features Daniel Craig in his final appearance as 007. The star-studded No Time to Die cast includes Léa Seydoux, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Christoph Waltz, Jeffrey Wright, Ralph Fiennes and Rory Kinner, who are also reprising their roles from previous films.
Joining the new Bond movie for the first time are: Rami Malek, Ana de Armas, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen, Dali Benssalah, and David Dencik.
James Bond 25: What We Know So Far
Aside from the No Time to Die cast, there’s been plenty of news about the coming Bond film. We know that Danny Boyle was originally attached to the project, alongside John Hodge, but both left in 2018 because of creative differences. From April to October 2019, the project had the working title James Bond 25.
The new James Bond movie was also delayed twice. It was slated for release in April 2020, but because of the pandemic, it has since been rescheduled. New James Bond movie release date? Expect it to be one of the biggest April 2021 movies, considering their budget of $250 million. It is also one of the most expensive films ever made — a fitting farewell to Daniel Craig as Bond.
What is the New James Bond Movie About?
The new Bond film picks up five years since Ernst Stavro Blofeld has been captured and James Bond has been in retirement for the same amount of time. He is pushed back into active duty after Felix Leither enlists his help in searching for the missing scientist, Valdo Obruchev. It soon becomes apparent that Obruchev had been abducted, which leads to a confrontation between Bond and a villain who is threatening the life of millions.
What Makes it Different from Other James Bond Movies?
The next James Bond movie is about relationships and family, according to Daniel Craig. No Time to Die director, Cary Joji Fukunaga, also describes the character as a “wounded animal” instead of the suave and confident agent we used to know. In this film, Bond is struggling with his role as a “00” agent.
While the No Time to Die trailer doesn’t quite show it, we can expect a more emotion-heavy Bond 25.
Billie Eilish: 007 No Time to Die Theme
At only 18, Billie Eilish gets the recognition for being the youngest musical artist to record a James Bond theme song. The song is a collaboration between Eilish and her brother, Finneas O’Connell, who served as her co-writer as well as the producer for the track. The song, “No Time to Die,” was released on February 13, 2020.
Film producers have always worked with some of the biggest names in music for Bond movies. For example, the new James Bond song Spectre had the likes of Sam Smith singing “Writings On The Wall,” while Adele sang “Skyfall” for the Bond movie of the same name.
In Closing:
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that No Time to Die is a real game-changer. Bond has always been an old-fashioned character and a representation of machismo for many. Aside from it being Craig’s final movie as the current James Bond, choosing a female actress to become the new 007 is not only revolutionary, it also introduced the series to an entirely new generation and set of fans.
While Lashana Lynch won’t be the new James Bond actress, this is certainly a step in the right direction for the franchise. So, who do you think is next? We might have to wait a bit for the answers, but there’s no doubt it is one of the most anticipated new movie releases.
