Bond 26 is still looking for its perfect 007, and one name seems to be dominating the conversation more than any other. Ever since Amazon’s reported wishlist of James Bond candidates was released, Tom Holland has been tipped as the #1 choice to step into the shoes left behind by Daniel Craig in No Time to Die.

Although nobody has officially been cast in Bond 26 yet, it seems likely that James Bond himself would be the first actor to be confirmed. There have been several names mentioned over the past few months, from Aaron Taylor-Johnson to Jacob Elordi, but Holland seems like a more plausible candidate than most – and, controversially, a very exciting one.

Why Tom Holland As James Bond Would Actually Work

The Actor Has Lots Of Encouraging Credits

Following his appearance on Amazon’s ideal James Bond shortlist, there’s been lots of negativity thrown towards Holland and his potential casting as the new 007 in Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming Bond 26. Many fans have been quick to point out that he’s significantly younger than most other candidates, and that his most well-known work as Spider-Man is very different from what fans are expecting from Bond.

However, the job of an actor is often to play against type, and Holland has proven on multiple occasions now that he’s a very talented actor. While projects like Cherry and Chaos Walking get brought up the most because of their mixed reviews, people can be quick to ignore the hugely underrated тιтles in Holland’s non-MCU catalog.

Both The Devil All the Time and The Crowded Room show Holland at his most versatile and transformative; neither of these performances displays an ounce of the youthful, playful energy of Spider-Man, so there’s no reason to necessarily believe that he’d bring it to James Bond either. If Amazon opts for a “young Bond” story, he could be an excellent candidate.

The previous James Bond actors have certainly left big shoes to fill, but Holland already has a stronger filmography than most of them did before picking up the 007 mantle. He’s appeared in several multi-million-dollar franchises, from the MCU to Disney, and there’s no way he could have become such an undeniable box office draw without a fair amount of talent.

Although it’s understandable for James Bond fans to be concerned about Holland’s casting because the actor has never really tackled a mature, suave character like this, his work on Uncharted offers a good blueprint for what his 007 could look like. His iteration of Nathan Drake has much of the wit and charisma of Bond, even if the film wasn’t that great.

And if that performance still isn’t convincing enough, it should be worth something that Hollywood’s biggest directorial talents are seeing potential in Holland where many fans aren’t. Not only will he star in Paul King’s upcoming Fred Astaire biopic, but he’s also leading Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation of The Odyssey.

Popularity certainly has a role to play in this impressive slate, but Holland never would have been cast by these major talents if they didn’t believe he could lead such an important story. It’s often overshadowed by the effects and cameos, but his performance in Spider-Man: No Way Home is also brilliant. There’s no reason to doubt Tom Holland’s acting – he’s just starred in some bad projects.

Tom Holland’s James Bond Casting Is More Likely Than You Think

The Actor Has Some Important Hollywood Connections

While it’s always unlikely that the industry’s top choice for a specific character will ultimately land the role, it seems very possible that Holland could defy the odds and become the next 007. Not only is the actor incredibly popular and one of the biggest box office draws of his generation, but he also has strong professional relationships with Bond 26’s existing crew.

The most tangible connection between Holland and Bond 26 at this stage is Amy Pascal, who’s producing the upcoming 007 sequel alongside David Heyman. Pascal also produced all three of the MCU’s Spider-Man movies, and is often credited with bringing the character over from the Sony universe. This seems like too strong of a connection to ignore.

Holland and Pascal have been working together for a decade, and they’re still collaborating on the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. With all the speculation surrounding Holland’s casting as James Bond, it seems very unlikely that he has not at least discussed it with Pascal in recent months.

Additionally, the news that Villeneuve will direct Bond 26 may have increased Holland’s odds even more. While the pair have never worked together, Holland’s fiancée Zendaya has recently collaborated with Villeneuve on his Dune trilogy, the third movie of which is in production now.

With Villeneuve currently working on Dune 3 and Holland preparing to make Spider-Man: Brand New Day ahead of its July 2026 release date, their schedules might already be aligned. Neither can start work on Bond 26 just yet, but they could once they finish their respective projects. The director has likely spent some time with Holland on-set, making his involvement in Bond 26 very possible.