Nearly a year into Daniel Craig’s retirement from his iconic shaken martini-ordering suave superspy role, audiences are still waiting for news about who’s replacing him next.
As arguably the most commercially successful James Bond of all time, Craig’s performance over more than a decade casts a looming shadow over the 007 franchise. But, if you ask renowned actor, Tom Hanks, he’s got a good idea of who should replace Craig.
In a recent interview, Hanks showed great enthusiasm for Elba stepping into the role. The British actor is known for his roles in “Luther” and “The Wire,” and he’s been talked about many times in the past few years as Craig’s retirement drew closer. Versatile and naturally suave, Elba could potentially bring a fresh perspective to the famous secret agent character.
Hanks, an acclaimed actor with a wide array of roles under his belt, holds a respectable voice within the industry, making an endorsement from him significant.
But, while Elba’s name is part of the conversation, he’s gone out of his way to tell hopeful fans that he’s too old to play the role. At 50 years old, Elba would be the oldest actor to play James Bond, beating James Moore by at least five years after he starred in 1973’s Live and Let Die for the first time. But, Elba is at least happy knowing that he’s opened the door to conversations for actors such as himself to be considered as James Bond.
At the moment, two names that have come up as the next James Bond include Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Richard Madden.
The James Bond franchise is one of the longest-running in film history with a legacy that spans most of the current century. With each new installment, speculation runs rampant about who will take up the mantle of the suave superspy.
The Bond franchise has seen several actors take up the role, each bringing a unique flavor to the suave secret agent. From Sean Connery’s classic charm to Daniel Craig’s grittier take, the character has continued to evolve with each iteration. The next one promises a fresh and dynamic portrayal, even if it isn’t necessarily going to be Idris Elba.
Of course, whoever ends up taking up the tuxedo will have to sign up for the franchise for the long term.
Madden certainly isn’t new to this after playing the role of Robb Stark in the hit HBO show, Game of Thrones, for several years.
Unfortunately, we might have to wait for a long time to find out when the next James Bond film is coming out and who’s playing the British superspy in it. Until then, fans can look forward to seeing Idris Elba join Keanu Reeves in Cyberpunk 2077: The Phantom Liberty.
