Now that Denis Villeneuve has been chosen as the director, we are one step closer to learning who will star in the next James Bond movie. After the announcement that Villeneuve will direct Bond 26, I now believe it could be one of the highest-rated movies in the franchise. However, I’m still eagerly waiting to find out who will play the next James Bond.

Ever since the release of No Time to Die, which was Daniel Craig’s last movie as 007, fans have been making suggestions for the next Bond. Since the upcoming Bond 26 will start a new era for the long-running franchise, there will be a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the next James Bond.

However, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Bond 26’s 007 will also be surrounded by a cast of supporting characters. Most likely, iconic James Bond characters like M, Moneypenny, and Q will also appear in the next film. Therefore, covering the movie’s main and supporting characters, here are some ten actors I believe would be perfect for Villeneuve’s Bond 26:

10

Margaret Qualley As A Bond Girl

Known For The Substance & Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Over the last several years, Qualley has emerged as one of the most prominent actors in Hollywood. Her memorable role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has led to many more opportunities. To name a few, Qualley has also starred in films like Poor Things, Drive-Away Dolls, and The Substance, which was a standout during the 2025 awards season.

Based on her past roles, Qualley would likely play a Bond girl who isn’t afraid to talk back to 007.

Speaking of awards season, Qualley actually appeared as a dancer during the James Bond tribute at the 2025 Academy Awards. Ever since Qualley appeared in the James Bond tribute, a lot of fans have theorized that she could be the next Bond girl. This has not been confirmed, but it’s clear she would excel in the franchise.

Based on her past roles, Qualley would likely play a Bond girl who isn’t afraid to talk back to 007. She would be great in Bond 26, specifically, because she would be able to command the screen just as much as whoever is cast as the British spy. Therefore, casting Qualley would make sure the franchise’s next movie has a very memorable Bond girl.

9

Stephen Merchant As Q

Known For Logan & Jojo Rabbit

While Ben Whisaw played Q in the last three James Bond films, the character was portrayed by much older actors in all the other movies. Surprisingly, Whishaw’s version of Q actually worked quite well, but I would love to see the character portrayed by a slightly older actor again in Bond 26, and I think Stephen Merchant is a perfect pick.

Merchant co-created the U.K. version of The Office and has collaborated with comedian Ricky Gervais on a lot of other projects. While Merchant doesn’t have the most extensive movie career, he has appeared in films such as Logan, Fighting with my Family, and Jojo Rabbit. Since he has a background in comedy, Merchant could be a very memorable Q.

If you take one look at Merchant, you would instantly believe he is a tech genius who ᴀssists British spies like James Bond. This is precisely why Merchant has been a popular fan casting for Q for years. If Merchant is cast in Bond 26, it would be great to see his character continue to get annoyed at Bond throughout the entirety of this new era.

8

Ella Purnell As Moneypenny

Known For Fallout & Yellowjackets

While James Bond and Q often bicker with each other, the spy gets along quite well with Moneypenny. Since James Bond meets a new girl on practically every mission, people are always coming in and out of his life. However, Moneypenny’s support is constant, which is why Bond 26 needs to find the perfect actress to play M’s secretary.

Over the last few years, Ella Purnell has become a prominent actress thanks to her leading roles in shows like Yellowjackets and Fallout. Fallout, in particular, proves that Purnell could be the sweet, seemingly innocent secretary who sits behind a desk all day, or a more adventurous version of Moneypenny who joins 007 on missions.

In Skyfall, Naomie Harris’ Moneypenny was introduced as a field agent. Even though she eventually chose to stay in the office, it’s possible that Bond 26 will similarly expand Moneypenny’s role. No matter what her role in the film is, I’m confident Purnell would be a great pick to play Moneypenny.

7

Claire Foy As Moneypenny

Known For The Crown & First Man

While Purnell has just recently emerged as a major star, Clair Foy has been a popular fan casting for Moneypenny for many years. Without a doubt, Foy is best known for playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown. Foy actually won the Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy for her work in The Crown season 2, which proves she would be an incredible addition to the Bond 26 cast.

Foy could portray a more mature version of Moneypenny, who perhaps holds 007 even more accountable for his reckless actions.

In addition to her role in the hit Netflix series, Foy has also starred in movies like First Man, Women Talking, and All of Us Strangers. If Moneypenny does indeed stay behind a desk most of the time in Bond 26, it will need an actress with a lot of screen presence, and these roles prove that Foy would be a great pick.

It is currently unknown what kind of role Moneypenny will have in Bond 26. While Purnell is still only 28 years old, Foy may be a better pick if Villeneuve decides to cast a slightly older James Bond, perhaps someone in their late 30s or early 40s. Since she is currently 41, Foy could portray a more mature version of Moneypenny, who perhaps holds 007 even more accountable for his reckless actions.

6

Tilda Swinton As M

Known For Doctor Strange & Michael Clayton

If Moneypenny doesn’t hold Bond accountable for his actions in Bond 26, then M definitely will. M is a very important character in the franchise since they are the head of MI6 and are one of few characters that James Bond will actually listen to. Craig’s Bond had great relationships with both of the M’s in his films, so Villeneuve’s movie needs to find a great actor who can live up to both Ralph Fiennes and Judi Dench.

When Dench was initially cast as M for GoldenEye, it was extremely controversial since the character had previously only been portrayed by men. However, Dench arguably played the best version of M we have ever seen. Therefore, it would be great to see another woman play the character in Bond 26, and I think Tilda Swinton would be an amazing choice.

Swinton has previously starred in movies like The Killer, Asteroid City, Doctor Strange, and Snowpiercer. The Killer, in particular, is a spy movie which proves that Swinton would fit perfectly into the James Bond franchise. Swinton is great at playing smart, capable leaders, so it would be a delight to see her as M in Bond 26.

5

Pierce Brosnan as M

Known For GoldenEye & Mamma Mia!

It would be great to see a woman play M once again in Bond 26, but I can’t help but pick Pierce Brosnan for this role, as well. Obviously, Brosnan actually played James Bond in four movies right before Craig took over the role. This may confuse some, but since Bond 26 will likely reboot the franchise once again, there would be nothing wrong with Brosnan playing M.

In fact, it would be very cool for a former James Bond actor to play a different role in the franchise. One of Brosnan’s recent movies also proves that he would play a convincing M in Bond 26. In this year’s Black Bag, the former Bond actor plays the head of a spy agency and is very intimidating in some scenes.

After watching Black Bag, I’m convinced that Pierce Brosnan would be a great M. Casting Brosnan as M would not only honor the franchise’s history, but also get more people talking about Bond 26 and wanting to watch the movie in theaters. Therefore, it could also be a very smart financial decision to cast Brosnan as M in the franchise’s next movie.

4

Cillian Murphy As The Villain

Known For Oppenheimer & Peaky Blinders

It’s not at all uncommon for former Oscar winners to play villains in the spy series. In fact, the last three actors to play James Bond villains, Rami Malek, Christoph Waltz, and Javier Bardem, were all cast after winning an Oscar. Therefore, Bond 26 could continue this streak by casting Cillian Murphy as its villain.

Murphy is very good at playing cold, heartless characters, and that would be great to see in Bond 26.

In 2024, Murphy won the Best Actor Academy Award for his performance in Oppenheimer. Now, it would be somewhat ironic for him to go from playing J. Robert Oppenhimer, a man who was worried his actions might lead to humanity’s destruction, to portraying a James Bond villain who is actively working towards bringing about war and terror.

Murphy previously played Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy, but was often treated as a secondary villain behind more dangerous characters. Therefore, I would love to see him play the main villain in a major franchise, and I can’t think of a better series than James Bond. Murphy is very good at playing cold, heartless characters, and that would be great to see in Bond 26.

3

David Dastmalchian As The Villain

Known For Late Night With The Devil & The Suicide Squad

While Murphy has worked with many incredible directors, he has never starred in one of Villeneuve’s films. Therefore, there’s a chance that Villeneuve may want to cast an actor he knows better to play the main villain in Bond 26. Based on the director’s previous films, it’s easy to understand why he may want to cast David Dastmalchian in a villain role.

Dastmalchian has starred in Prisoners, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune, all of which were directed by Villeneuve. Out of these three films, Dastmalchian’s supporting role in Prisoners is definitely the most memorable, and proves that he is very capable of playing a creepy, unsettling character.

In addition to his collaborations with Villeneuve, Dastmalchian has also starred in The Boogeyman, Late Night with the Devil, and The Suicide Squad. Dastmalchian usually plays unhinged, unpredictable characters, and has become ᴀssociated with the horror genre, so he would definitely keep audiences on edge if he was cast as the villain in Bond 26.

2

Aaron Taylor-Johnson As James Bond

Known For Kraven The Hunter & Bullet Train

Currently, the most popular pick to play 007 in Bond 26 is Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Even before Amazon took over creative control of the franchise, rumors swirled that Taylor-Johnson had been cast in the role. The decision about who will play James Bond has definitely not been made yet, but Taylor-Johnson clearly has a lot of momentum behind him.

Throughout his career, Taylor-Johnson has starred in movies like Avengers: Age of Ultron, Bullet Train, Kraven the Hunter, and the recently released 28 Years Later. Out of all these roles, Bullet Train definitely proved that Taylor-Johnson has the required suave and swagger to play James Bond, and the actor wasn’t even the main character in the film.

At 35 years old, it seems like Taylor-Johnson is the perfect age to play the next James Bond, and could probably commit to portraying the character for many more years. Since his name has been in the running for so long, he is definitely someone Amazon and Villeneuve will consider, and I think he would be a great 007 in Bond 26.

1

Aaron Pierre As James Bond

Known For Rebel Ridge & Mufasa: The Lion King

A few weeks ago, Aaron Pierre may not have even crossed my mind when I thought about who should play the next James Bond. However, it was recently reported that the producers are considering Aaron Pierre for Bond 26. Ever since this report, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how great Pierre would be in the role.

The movie capable of convincing anyone that Pierre would be a great James Bond is Rebel Ridge, in which he plays a former Marine who uncovers a conspiracy and corruption in a small town. In Rebel Ridge, Pierre commands the screen with a confident and physical performance, proving that he is a true action star.

After the release of Rebel Ridge, Pierre was cast as John Stewart in the DC Universe, which signifies that his star is on the rise. Pierre is slightly younger than Taylor-Johnson and a lot of other contenders, which may be appealing to Amazon. Additionally, he would arguably be the most physically intimidating James Bond ever. Therefore, I think Pierre would be a great 007 in the next James Bond movie.