Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
Jul 7, 2025
Table of Contents
The Hollywood Insider – Who Will Play the Next James Bond? The Race to 007
Tom Holland and Jacob Elordi are in the mix as speculation grows as fans await Denis Villeneuve’s next cinematic take on the iconic spy.
Who will be the next James Bond?
It’s the question on everyone’s mind, and with good reason.
Now that Daniel Craig’s five-film run has officially ended, and with Denis Villeneuve (‘Dune‘, ‘Blade Runner 2049’) directing the upcoming reboot, the conversation is louder than its ever been. It’s really been the talk of all Hollywood right now (okay, that might be a slight exaggeration)
But in all realness, It’s no longer just about who can play Bond—it’s about who should.
And with Amazon now backing the franchise, executives have made it clear: the future of James Bond is about reinvention. “We are committed to honoring the legacy of this iconic character while bringing a fresh, exhilarating new chapter to audiences around the world,” studio heads Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll declared at CinemaCon.
Bond has seen many faces over the years. Past James Bond actors include Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.
While all six actors contributed something unique, it’s Connery and Craig who remain the most iconic.
Sean Connery brought smooth-talking charm, masculinity, and effortless cool—the kind of Bond who could throw a punch and a flirt with equal grace.
Daniel Craig, on the other hand, redefined Bond for modern Cinema: grittier, raw, and deeply human.
His blue-eyed steeliness combined with emotional complexity gave us a Bond we hadn’t seen before—one who bled, both physically and emotionally.
Each actor reflected the era they played in. From Moore’s quippy gentleman spy to Dalton’s moody intensity and Brosnan’s tailored elegance, the role of 007 has always evolved with the times.
But Craig’s final turn in ‘No Time to Die’ closed the chapter on Bond as we knew him. Now the role is a blank slate, and whoever comes next will set the tone for an entirely new generation.
Why this decision is such a big deal right now is because the current crop of contenders is pretty out there.
I mean, we’re talking about Tom Holland, famously known as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Then there’s Jacob Elordi, who absolutely has the look, but let’s be honest—many viewers will still associate him with his intense roles in ‘Euphoria‘ and ‘Saltburn’.
That’s not to say these actors can’t step out of their comfort zones and take on something totally different—they’ve already proven they can.
Each of them has had a successful career so far, showing versatility and growth.
But that doesn’t automatically make them the right fit for Bond. And that’s what makes this casting moment so fascinating to see who ends up playing the iconic James Bond, and hopefully playing it right.
Incredibly likable and adored by the public, Tom Holland has proven he’s more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
But does that mean he’s Bond material? That’s up for debate. It’s not that he can’t handle something outside his comfort zone—look at how many people doubted Ariana Grande as Glinda and she proved everyone wrong—but Bond carries a very particular edge.
Holland might be just a few years and a gritty indie film away from becoming a serious contender, but right now? It’s a stretch.
His role in the upcoming new Christopher Nolan’s, ‘The Odyssey’ will be very telling in which direction his acting career is heading.
Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi definitely has the look. Tall, mysterious, and camera-commanding, he fits the physical Bond checklist.
But with standout roles in ‘Euphoria’ and ‘Saltburn’, the risk is whether viewers can separate him from those darker characters.
Bond needs to feel like a fresh persona, not a continuation of someone else’s story. Still, with Elordi’s rising star power, he can’t be ruled out.
His name has been swirling in rumors since 2022, and The Sun even reported that he “had the role should he wish to accept it.” At the premiere of ‘Kraven the Hunter’ in 2024, Taylor-Johnson playfully dodged questions, which only added fuel to the fire.
He’s been in quite a lot, but hasn’t been tied down to any single franchise—something that actually plays to his advantage.
Jonathan Bailey, also of ‘Bridgerton‘ fame, is a strong actor with intensity and charm.
Meanwhile, Josh O’Connor joked about being cast in interviews but has since been thrown into the conversation—whether he meant it or not. “If I am Bond, I don’t know about it,” he quipped to Deadline in January 2025.
This is what I mean, everyone’s talking about who the next mysterious Bond will be—and whether the studio already knows and just hasn’t announced it yet.
For others—including his own friends—the idea is laughable. On ‘Happy Sad Confused’, he joked about being the first “Bond-opolis,” referring to his Greek roots. Still, he’s got the look and the action chops. So, never say never.
Maybe his past work in ‘Divergent’ and ‘The White Lotus‘ could spark a comeback.
Henry Cavill
Always a fan-favorite, Henry Cavill has come this close to Bond before.
But is he too obvious a choice? Or maybe too old now? Even he doesn’t know. “Maybe I’m too old now, maybe I’m not. We’ll see,” Cavill said on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’.
In my opinion, having someone who already played ‘Superman‘ front and center in another major franchise might just be too much to also become the face of James Bond.
When you hear the name “Henry Cavill,” most people immediately think of ‘Superman’—not necessarily James Bond.
But again, whose to say that can’t be changed.
Paul Mescal
Once a long shot, Paul Mescal has quickly risen through the ranks thanks to ‘Gladiator II‘.
When he first expressed interest back in 2020, it seemed like wishful thinking. Now? Not so much.
His emotional depth and physical presence might make him one of the most well-rounded dark horses on this list.
Idris Elba
A name that’s always in the conversation. But unfortunately, the conversation around his potential casting took a toxic turn. “Those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race,” Elba said on the ‘SmartLess’ podcast.
But he’s since bowed out, focusing on his role in ‘The Bear’ and other upcoming projects. “As much as Sean Connery is one of my all-time favorite actors, I wouldn’t want to join the 007 club,” he shared. Fair enough.
Daniel Craig’s Farewell to 007
Daniel Craig played Bond in five films: ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Quantum of Solace’, ‘Skyfall’, ‘Spectre’, and ‘No Time to Die’ (2006–2021).
While many fans were skeptical when he was first cast, Craig shattered expectations. His Bond was deeply human and emotionally complex. But it was never meant to last forever.
“I had genuinely thought I would do one Bond movie, then it would be over,” Craig told ‘The Times’ in 2022. “But by then we knew we had a hit on our hands.” When he asked producer Barbara Broccoli how many more films, she said four.
Craig’s condition? That he could kill Bond off. And he did, ending his arc in ‘No Time to Die’ with a heroic sacrifice.
“I said, ‘This is it. I don’t want to do any more,'” he confirmed. And just like that, the Craig era came to a close.
Here’s the thing. As much as this casting choice could go wrong, it really can’t. These actors have all proven themselves—they’re successful, talented, and clearly know how to command a screen.
And if there’s one thing we learned from the 2025–2026 ‘Wicked’ adaptation, it’s that actors have the power to surprise us.
So many fans were skeptical of Ariana Grande stepping into the shoes of Glinda. But now it’s hard to imagine anyone else doing it better.
She really shocked everyone and exceeded expectations.
The film would’ve had an entirely different feel had they gone with one of the many other actors originally considered “perfect” for the part. In the end, it was always supposed to be Grande.
There’s no easy answer here. Some names feel too safe. Others too out of left field. But if Bond history has shown us anything, it’s that bold choices often pay off. Connery was unknown. Craig was divisive. And yet both became legends.
Whoever puts on the tux next has to bring something new—something entirely their own. Not a copy. Not a callback. A reinvention.
Hopefully, the next article written about the new James Bond movie will be full of glowing reviews and excitement over its surprise casting choice.
By Emma Gladstone
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Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
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