Top 10 British Actors Who Could Play James Bond

A now-season action movie actor, Clive Owen’s window of being cast as the super-spy may appear to be closing. However, when Craig does eventually step down, if the producers decide to continue the Bond story that Daniel started as opposed to rebooting, an actor in Owen’s age range would make sense. And obviously he plays the badass as well as anyone else out there! Plus, it was reportedly down to Owen and Craig for the role back when they were casting for “Casino Royale”. Better late than never!

Another candidate who could carry on the storyline that began in “Casino Royale” is fan favourite for the job, Damian Lewis. To some, the idea of a red-headed Bond might seem a major jump… But then again, so was the idea of a blonde-haired Bond when Craig was originally cast - and he did pretty well! If you can get past the cosmetics, Lewis has all the necessary tools and has reportedly shown interest in filling the position in the past. Having played US double agent Nicholas Brody so effectively though, would we ever truly trust him?

We’re in reboot territory now with this entry, as a potential Richard Madden recast would mean that Bond would have to mysteriously de-age. That’s not anything 007 hasn’t done before, mind you! Continuity aside, Madden has the right look for the part and “Game of Thrones” left us wanting more from the actor in any capacity! Of course, we’ve already had a second successful helping with his widely-praised role in “Bodyguard”. Ultimately, Madden has time on his side and could carry the franchise for years to come.

Another actor who, should he suit up as the super spy, could trigger some raised eyebrows, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s casting has been toward the top of the rumour mill for years. And he has all the right traits for the Mi6 operative, and has already steadily built one of the most successful British acting careers in recent times. Ejiofor’s back catalogue of diverse performances proves his range, and he’s certainly no stranger to the action genre. Now just close your eyes and imagine him uttering the iconic line, “the name’s Bond, James Bond” in that profound, British intonation. Perfect!

This entry almost speaks for itself. Man of the moment Tom Hardy would attract audiences to the Bond franchise who aren’t even fans of the series, such is his star power. He’s proven himself to be quite the chameleon up until now, capable of portraying numerous contrasting roles with such apparent ease. In fact, Hardy’s probably at the point that something as straightforward as Bond should be simple for him! Plus, if Christopher Nolan should ever realise his dream of sitting in the director’s chair for a Bond outing, frequent collaborator Hardy would only be one call away.

Unlike the other names on this list, James Norton’s probably wouldn’t overshadow the name of James Bond himself, if he was to land the gig. He likely wouldn’t require as much of a hefty fee either – at least, initially! Still an up-and-coming actor, Norton has mostly shined on the small screen so far. But he’s clearly primed for a big breakout role. So much so, that he was reportedly a recent bookies’ favourite to replace Craig as 007. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time as to when Norton fills Bond’s shoes rather than if.

There’s not many characters out there more iconic than Bond, but Superman may just be one of them! Therefore, Henry Cavill is already more than experienced enough to handle the immense pressure that goes along with bringing to life a role with such lofty expectations. Plus, he certainly fits the bill. When one imagines “James Bond”, a man of Cavill’s looks, charm, build and jawline certainly works. Fleming himself couldn’t be disappointed! Also, it’s not exactly difficult to picture Henry Cavill as a relentless ladies’ man, either.

From superhero to supervillain, Tom Hiddleston is another actor who can’t escape 007 casting rumours. Heck, his turn in the “Night Manager” almost seemed like an audition for the part at times! Come to think of it, would it be too much for that series’ co-star Hugh Laurie to take up the Bond villain mantle, too… so we can see them go head to head once more? Hiddleston also has charisma for days – as best illustrated in his MCU role as Loki – a trait that could go far in capturing him the coveted role.

In many ways, James Bond is essentially Christian Grey with guns, so why not just cut to the chase and get the man himself, Jamie Dornan? Forgetting his Bond-like looks for a moment, his work on “The Fall” proves that he’s an incredibly capable actor. He wouldn’t be the first Irishman to join Her Majesty’s Secret Service either, with Pierce Brosnan arguably being one of the better Bonds to serve for Queen and country. On top of that, Dornan is still a relatively fresh face, and could fill the role for a fair few years. At the very least, he’d probably drawn in an all-new fan base!

The casting rumour that’s harder to kill than 007 himself, is Idris Elba being the next Bond. Idris certainly has the suaveness, the physicality and acting chops to pull it off. He looks good in a suit. He looks good with a gun. He’s fully qualified at the ruthless disposing of nameless henchmen. And the rumours are that he has the support of long-time Bond producer Barbara Broccoli. Not only does Elba look the most likely, but he also appears to be an awesome fit. Just give him the contract, already.