Four actors, who are considered great prospects for the next James Bond role, surprisingly broke big in the same 18-year-old TV show. It has been a while since Daniel Craig hung up his boots and stepped away from the James Bond franchise. However, it is still unknown who will take up the mantle of the iconic spy character in the next line of films. Ever since Craig’s retirement, the internet has been brimming with fan castings and speculations about who would be the best fit for the role.

While some have voted for the usual suspects, like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Henry Cavill, others are touting relatively obscure actors as prospects for the next James Bond casting. The list of James Bond prospects is now significantly bloated with many promising names. Interestingly, however, four names that have consistently come up in the list were surprisingly part of the same TV series almost two decades ago.

Four Actors From Skins Rank Among The Best James Bond Casting Prospects

Daniel Kaluuya, Dev Patel, Nicholas Hoult, & Jack O’Connell Have The Potential To Become The Next Bond

Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel, and Daniel Kaluuya were part of the first-generation characters in Skins‘ seasons 1 and 2. While Nicholas Hoult played the lead, Tony, in both seasons, Dev Patel’s Anwar was among the main teenage characters in the series. Daniel Kaluuya had a relatively smaller role in the series’ first two seasons. Yet, all three actors have significantly risen in the ranks of Hollywood since their Skins days. While Daniel Kaluuya has an Oscar win under his belt, Dev Patel has earned an Academy Award nomination.

Hoult, too, has only been growing from strength to strength with his performances in movies like Juror #2, Nosferatu, and The Menu. Since all three actors have immense potential and have proven their acting abilities with a long line of successful films, they are considered prospects for the next James Bond. Jack O’Connell, who was also a part of Skins as a second-generation character, has been gradually climbing the ladder of acting success. While he is more of a dark horse James Bond prospect, his performance in Sinners proves he has what it takes to be the next 007.

What Nicholas Hoult, Daniel Kaluuya, Dev Patel, & Jack O’Connell Have Said About Their Potential James Bond Casting

All Four Actors Have Different Views On The Role

When Nicholas Hoult was asked whether he would ever play James Bond, the actor said that he loves watching the James Bond movies and has seen them growing up. Owing to this, if the opportunity arises, he would love to take it up (via Yahoo). When the actor was told he would have to go shirtless like Daniel Craig and show some muscle, he recalled how he had already done that in Skins, but it was still odd “going to work and taking your clothes off with people standing around looking at you.”

Surprisingly, despite being one of the best prospects for the role, Dev Patel said (via BBC) that he does not want to be James Bond. The Lion actor revealed that he wishes to make his own stories and would love to be “Monkey Man” instead, calling attention to his directorial debut movie. Daniel Kaluuya, too, has had a similar take on donning the 007 suit (via Yahoo), claiming he is unsure whether he would want to watch his version of James Bond. He added, though, that he would not mind being a villain in a Bond film.

After catching the wind of the rumors surrounding his prospective James Bond casting, Jack O’Connell said (via GamesRadar) that if the part eventually came his way, he would consider it and treat it like any other role. Instead of dismissing it, he would take time to read the script and figure out if it was “belting.“ He appreciated that he was on the list somewhere and called it an achievement in itself. However, he added that landing the role is not in his hands, and he does not mind embracing the uncertainty of working in Hollywood.

Even Without The James Bond Casting, All Four Actors Have Great Careers Ahead

All Four Have Already Proven Their Potential

As an actor, Daniel Kaluuya has grown by leaps and bounds since his role in Skins. While Skins barely gave him any screen time, the actor has served as the leading man for many critically and commercially successful films like Get Out and Nope in the last decade. He also earned an Academy Award for his performance in Judas and the Black Messiah, which brings immense credibility to his name. Dev Patel has been no less remarkable in his post-Skins journey.

Since his breakout in Slumdog Millionaire, Patel has showcased his incredible range with roles in diverse films like Lion, The Green Knight, and The Personal History of David Copperfield. Patel has also proven his potential as an action director by earning worldwide acclaim for his debut, Monkey Man. Nicholas Hoult, too, has become a household name and is all set to portray the main villain, Lex Luthor, in the upcoming Superman movie. Considering his past performances, he will undoubtedly do justice to the iconic DC role.

Finally, Jack O’Connell initially garnered immense attention for his performances in projects like Unbroken, Starred Up, and ’71. However, for a long time, he remained relatively underrated and obscure. However, with his portrayal of the primary villain, Remmick, in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, O’Connell has finally stepped into the limelight. The James Bond prospect will likely further cement his standing as a powerhouse performer with his antagonistic role in Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s 28 Years Later.