10 Actors Who Could Play The Next James Bond
9. Idris Elba
Stop me if you've heard this before: Idris Elba being talked about as the next James Bond.
It feels like every time the casting of James Bond enters into the news cycle, Elba is mentioned. He's often cited as a popular choice and his staying power is certainly something to keep in mind. Even after many will he, won't he casting decisions, the man who once controlled the streets of Baltimore as Stringer Bell in The Wire is still a fan-favourite to be the next James Bond.
One thing is for sure is that Elba certainly carries the screen presence and intensity needed for 007. His role as hardened detective Luther is a clear testament to that. Does he have the appeal of a Bond? Well, he wasn't voted People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2018 for nothing. With a diverse filmography, Elba has shown to be versatile and unafraid to play roles that might be a little tongue-in-cheek or possess a chance to show a lighter and charming side to him.
But at 51 years old already, has the chance passed him by? Daniel Craig was 38 when his first Bond film, Casino Royale, was released in 2006. Elba would certainly be a popular choice but one can't help but think that the chance for him to don the tux was maybe a few films ago when he could really make a statement. Nobody really wants a Bond actor for one or two films, and that is the biggest risk with Elba's casting.