9. Daniel Craig's James Bond
Like Batman, James Bond should not be on this list when looking at the sheer number of times the role has already been recast. Also like Batman, however, the next Bond will have to follow an iteration that featured the franchises most financially successful outing in
Skyfall. Daniel Craig has succeeded in taking the legendary role and making it his own, but that does not mean it will be easy for the next guy in line to pull off the same feat. Craig is under contract for two more Bond films and then will likely step aside seeing as how he tried to get out of his original contract prior to
Skyfall. Still, that would mark five Bond appearances for Craig, which is long enough to be the definitive version of the character for generations of movie lovers. Even if the next two films are not as popular as
Skyfall was last year, the next actor will endure immediate comparisons to Craig. The fortunate thing for MI6 is the high level of interest in the franchise from top talent. Christopher Nolan has expressed interest in directing a Bond film and if he were to come aboard in the post-Craig era, he could choose between a trio of outstanding actors with whom hes worked before. Nolan film alumni Christian Bale and Tom Hardy have both been interested in the role before and would surely jump at the chance to play Bond for Nolan. Henry Cavill might be wrapping up his time as Superman in the Nolan-produced
Man of Steel series right around the time Craig bows out. Cavill has gone after the role before and may make another attempt. All of these actors could still be interested even without Nolans involvement. If not, the search will be far more difficult.