Denis Villeneuve has officially been confirmed as the director for the highly anticipated Bond 26, but the film is still missing its all-important lead actor. There’s been so much talk about who could play the next James Bond, but nobody has officially been cast in the role yet. That being said, certain names have continued to rise to the top.

The executives at Amazon have continued to speak very openly about their criteria for the actor (age, personality, etc), claiming that they’re looking for a somewhat younger actor who can lead the franchise for many years. It’s still unclear to what extent Bond 26 will be a “Young Bond” story, but it’s looking more and more possible by the day.

10

Jonathan Bailey

Best Known For Wicked & Jurᴀssic Park Rebirth

This year has been a particularly important one for Jonathan Bailey, who is a part of two major blockbusters: Jurᴀssic Park Rebirth and Wicked: For Good. He’s slowly becoming one of the most popular actors of his generation, and this is exactly the kind of momentum that Amazon will be looking for in their next Bond.

Bailey has the perfect levels of charisma and charm to satisfy the “classic” side of James Bond that audiences will recognize from Connery and Brosnan’s versions, but also the sense of humor that made Roger Moore’s movies so entertaining. He’s the best of both worlds, and it definitely helps that he’s currently on everybody’s radars.

9

Harry Lawtey

Best Known For Industry & The Pale Blue Eye

Harry Lawtey is an underrated choice for James Bond since he’s best known for his TV work in Industry rather than large-budget filmmaking, but he’s clearly talented enough to adopt the role. Since the star confirmed that he won’t be appearing in Industry season 4, there’s probably enough room in his schedule to make Bond 26 work.

His Industry character became a fan-favorite thanks to his old-money aesthetic and deep personal conflicts, which made him a very compelling figure to watch on-screen. If Villeneuve sticks with the rich character work and moral ambiguity that’s made his filmography so powerful in recent years, Lawtey could be the perfect choice.

8

Callum Turner

Best Known For Masters Of The Air & Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

In every project that he appears in, Callum Turner always brings a level of emotional complexity to his characters that could be exactly what separates Villeneuve’s James Bond from the previous incarnations. While he can nail the suave, stoic side of the character, he could also reach into a more human, personal dimension that James Bond rarely tackles.

Even when he’s tackling action movies like Sicario or Dune, Villeneuve always manages to drench his narratives in rich subtext, exploring important themes like idenтιтy and humanity. It’s hard to imagine that his Bond movie will be as traditional as those that came before it, and if that’s the case, somebody with Turner’s skill set would be a valuable ᴀsset.

7

Aaron Pierre

Best Known For Rebel Ridge & The Underground Railroad

Aaron Pierre first became one of the leading names for Bond 26 following his fierce performance in Rebel Ridge last year, and he’s remained at the top of many pundits’ lists ever since. Several lesser-known actors are in contention for James Bond, but Pierre is certainly one of the most appealing, with his stoic exterior and deeply emotional capabilities.

If Villeneuve decides to go down the route of a more classical, stoic version of James Bond that’s been done several times before, Pierre definitely fits the bill. He’d be a worthy successor to Daniel Craig, who blended a sharp professionalism with a more playful penchant for one-liners and physical comedy.

6

Jack Lowden

Best Known For Slow Horses & Dunkirk

Jack Lowden’s name has been in the conversation for Bond 26 ever since the project was announced, and he certainly fits with Amazon’s ongoing criteria for the character. His work on Slow Horses is a very fitting audition for the role, and his lack of commitment to any other franchises makes him an ideal choice.

Slow Horses elements are clearly inspired by the James Bond franchise anyway, so it would be very fitting for one of the Apple TV show’s alumni to step into the shoes of 007. He’s the perfect age to tackle the role, but if he doesn’t land the part, he’d also be a perfect candidate for somebody like Q.

5

Damson Idris

Best Known For Outside The Wire & F1: The Movie

Following the huge commercial success of F1: The Movie, Damson Idris quickly became a very strong candidate for James Bond. He displays all the ambition, dedication, and tenacity that it takes to handle such an iconic role, and his witty personality is exactly what Amazon is looking for in their next 007.

The only thing holding Idris back from being a leading candidate for Bond is that Amazon is clearly looking for somebody more well-known to lead their franchise. The studio’s reported list of “ideal” candidates included names such as Tom Holland and Jacob Elordi, so the casting directors may not be so keen to hire such a fresh face.

4

Paul Mescal

Best Known For Normal People & Gladiator II

Paul Mescal’s name was mentioned quite frequently during the early days of Bond 26 speculation. However, the actor soon lost momentum as he was replaced by frontrunners like Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James. However, if Villeneuve sticks with his tendency to make character-driven, thematically rich movies, Mescal could be a surprisingly good fit.

Although he’s proven with Gladiator II that he’s got the physicality needed to make Bond work, projects like Aftersun and Normal People also prove that the Oscar-nominated actor has a much deeper breadth of emotions and vulnerability than many of his peers. This could be a fascinating new take on the role if Villeneuve opts for something more ambiguous and character-driven.

3

Alfred Enoch

Best Known For How To Get Away With Murder & Executive Order

Although he wasn’t included in Amazon’s James Bond candidate shortlist, Alfred Enoch perfectly fits the criteria laid out by the studio. At 36 years old, he’s the perfect age to jump into the franchise and carry it forward for several years, and his sparkling personality is exactly what Amazon is looking for in the franchise’s new figurehead.

2

Harris Dickinson

Best Known For Babygirl & The Iron Claw

While there are certainly problems with Amazon’s vision of James Bond (namely, the studio’s focus on A-List celebrities above all else), Harris Dickinson is one of the few names that have been put forward, which makes complete sense. He’s got an excellent blend of impᴀssive charm that could make his Bond very elusive, while also displaying lots of humor and friendliness.

Dickinson’s work in Babygirl is a perfect example of how effectively he can combine the cold, domineering side of his personality with a more playful and charming side that’s been seen in almost every other interpretation of James Bond throughout the years. Amazon is clearly attracted to his style, and Villeneuve would certainly be able to make the most of his talent.

1

Josh O’Connor

Best Known For Challengers & The Crown

Josh O’Connor broke onto the scene with his ferocious performance as King Charles II in Netflix’s The Crown and has continued choosing bold and ambitious projects ever since. While he was often considered an outside sH๏τ for Bond 26 due to his tendency to favor independent movies over studio blockbusters, Villeneuve’s involvement could be enough to win the actor over.

Villeneuve has made countless brilliant movies, both studio blockbusters like Dune and independent powerhouses like Incendies, so it would be very fitting if O’Connor bridged the gap between these two mediums as his James Bond. The pair could work very well together on Bond 26, with the filmmaker finally making the most of O’Connor’s sharp charisma and stern intensity.