Home Entertainment Friday Debate: With Elba out, who should be the next James Bond?

Friday Debate: With Elba out, who should be the next James Bond?

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James Bond is largely a relic of a time gone by, and that’s especially evident if you give the novels a reread. He’s a racist, sexist lout whose persona is caught up in the masculine ideals of the 1950s. The fella could certainly do with a modern refresh that isn’t Jason Bourne. There have been calls by many to inject a bit of diversity into Bond, with the excellent, affable and decidedly charming Idris Elba commonly cited. There were rumours that he was in talks to play the super spy, which were ultimately rubbished, though Elba himself did have some fun with it all.

Other names that have been associated with the next Bond project include Henry Cavill, Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, Clive Owen and perhaps even Tom Hiddleston. Damian Lewis has been a favourite for ages too. For some or other reason people also want Tom Hardy in the role, but he’ll probably effect some terrible accent and ruin the whole thing.

I asked our resident super Bond fan Kervyn on his input, and these are his picks:

  • Damien Lewis – When Daniel Craig got the job, he was referred to tongue in cheek as James Blonde, imagine what will happen if a ginger gets it? Lewis has played everything from smooth talker to action hero to broken soldier, all things that make-up Bond, which is probably why he was the bookies’ favourite for years.
  • Tom Hiddleston – Lewis was the favourite, but Loki actor Hiddleston has stolen that crown and it’s not hard to see why as he’s suave and charismatic hell with just enough devilish darkness. He can also wear the hell out of a tailored suit. He’s starring role in the BBC adaptation of John Le Carre’s The Night Manager was basically James Bond audition already and he nailed it.
  • Henry Cavill – In The Man from UNCLE and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Cavill played two very different spies – one was a buttery smooth charmer, the other an unstoppable physical force. Combine the two and you have one seriously good James Bond.
  • Tom Hardy – Hardy has been a favourite when talks turned to casting a younger Bond ever since his immaculately tailored Eames stole scenes in Inception. He also has the bad boy appeal down, and there’s no denying his acting range and physical presence makes him a top pick. As long as he leaves the silly voices at home.
  • Dan Stevens – The dark horse in the race, Stevens is an actor that’s been on the verge of breaking out to the big time for years now. And during that time he’s amassed a body of work like The Guest, Downton Abbey and Legion, that proves that there’s nothing that the world of 007 can throw at him that he can’t do.

So you tell us! With Elba apparently very much out of the running, who would you want as the next Bond? Is it time for a person of colour? Me? I’d love to see Bond played by a woman just to watch the internet explode.

Screw it! Everyone should be Bond!

Last Updated: August 24, 2018

83 Comments

  1. The D

    August 24, 2018 at 11:28

    Melissa McCarthy

    “The name’s Bond.”
    “Jane Bond.”

    Reply

  2. Original Heretic

    August 24, 2018 at 11:08

    They could cast Tommy Wiseau for all I care.
    I just want Bond to have cool gadgets again.

    Reply

  3. Pariah

    August 24, 2018 at 11:17

    The Night Manager was such a great series.

    Reply

  4. Ghost In The Rift

    August 24, 2018 at 11:17

    The kid from The Kingsman not that bad and proved he make an good “spy”, bring in a yongster for a refresh..

    Reply

  5. Pariah

    August 24, 2018 at 11:18

    On to the debate at hand – Bond is bond. They can literally put anyone there with the acting skills to be suave and look good in a suit, and it’d work. Male, female, black, white, doesn’t matter. It’s Bond.

    Reply

  6. Original Heretic

    August 24, 2018 at 11:19

    Here’s a cool little satirical piece that relates well to this debate:

    https://www.sott.net/article/394145-Scarlett-Johansson-has-been-cast-as-first-black-James-Bond

    Reply

    • For the Emperor!

      August 24, 2018 at 11:21

      Hahahaha

      Reply

  7. For the Emperor!

    August 24, 2018 at 11:19

    Craig’s version looks just like your average everyday action movie. What I miss from the older Bond movies, is the “buttery smooth charmer” part. Mix that with the modern skop-skiet-en-donder version and it could be cool. So Henry Cavill then perhaps? Or give it 10 years before a new one is made and cast someone then?

    Reply

    • I_am_Duffman!

      August 24, 2018 at 12:14

      I agree. I hated what Craig did to bond. Cavill or Fassbender for me.

      Reply

  8. Sageville

    August 24, 2018 at 11:21

    It was supposed to be Idris… now I has a sad….

    Reply

  9. Sageville

    August 24, 2018 at 11:26

    My only pre-requisite is he must sound british and be classy…

    Reply

  10. The D

    August 24, 2018 at 11:28

    Melissa McCarthy

    “The name’s Bond.”
    “Jane Bond.”

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 24, 2018 at 13:29

      I swear I saw that name somewhere before. 😛

      Reply

  11. Gareth Lagesse (eXCheez)

    August 24, 2018 at 11:46

    Emily Blunt

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 24, 2018 at 11:48

      I’d watch that. In a heartbeat. She’d rock that role.

      Reply

    • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

      August 24, 2018 at 12:55

      It would be ironic if she had bladed weapons.

      Reply

  12. Magoo

    August 24, 2018 at 12:42

    I mean, does he have to have an English accent? You’re gonna judge me for this, but give it a second thought.

    Jon Bernthal because he’s a highly underrated action star who hasn’t landed a landmark role yet.

    Other wild cards include:
    > Zac Effron, the Charlie Sheen/Bill Murray of the year 2040.
    > Jared Leto, smooth operator.
    > Sacha Baron Cohen, how brilliant it would be when he pulls it off magnificently despite all controversy upon announcement.

    *looks down in shame*

    Okay.

    Reply

    • Tbone187

      August 24, 2018 at 14:44

      From the Punisher to Bond? hmmmm….

      Reply

  13. Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

    August 24, 2018 at 12:59

    Since everybody is throwing a hissy fit about diversity, next Bond should be either Chow Yun Fat, Jet Li, or Shah Rukh Khan.

    Reply

  14. RinceThis

    August 24, 2018 at 13:19

    I’d love to see Mads Mikkelsen as bond!

    Reply

  15. Tbone187

    August 24, 2018 at 14:48

    Fassbender sounds the most solid choice I reckon.

    Reply

  16. BradeLunner

    August 25, 2018 at 01:46

    Why the hardy hate Geoff!

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      August 27, 2018 at 12:58

      I don;t hate Hardy at all. I just a) don;t see him a a suave, slick smooth motherfucker of a Bond, and I also hate his accents because they all suck.

      Reply

      • BradeLunner

        August 27, 2018 at 13:32

        Fair enough. My wife recommendeds Jon Hamm, she wants credit for that if anyone else agrees.

        Reply

  17. BradeLunner

    August 25, 2018 at 01:53

    We need a slippery slimy smooth bond again

    Reply

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