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Is Henry Cavill the Next James Bond? Here’s Everything We Know So Far

  • May 17, 2025
  • 7 minute read
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Since Daniel Craig left the mantle of 007 empty, the next title holder of James Bond has become the talk of the town. With several A-listers rounding out the discussions, Henry Cavill

has definitely been a top pick in consensus. Although the odds shift by the minute, Cavill’s name has floated around in rumor mills for years now. While he ticks most of the boxes expected of the Double-O-Agent, he is not the only actor who is giving the Bond 26

creators a potential run for their money.

In fact, there are quite a few monikers who might challenge Cavill’s naturally expected succession, and here are a few.

Theo James

The topic of the next 007 is picking up steam day by day. Besides The Witcher

star, Theo James, has also stopped by the gossip grapevine. James has an artistic horsepower that makes many envious. But when asked about his take on the 007 rumors, James played coy. On a February episode of the Happy Sad Confused

podcast,

Josh Horowitz asked whether it is James or his inner circle who enjoys the rumors the most.

While James insisted there was no such buzz,

if there were, his friends would cheekily want to know if it was a joke at first. However, he did earn a new moniker, “Bond-opolis,”

the Greek Bond.

Read More: ‘James Bond’ Reject Christopher Nolan Becomes a Front-Running Choice for Amazon to Help the Detective Flick, Fans Eat It Up

That said, considering the Oxford native’s performance in the Divergent

film series and The Gentlemen

, if James chooses to become part of the conversation, he could really add value to the persona.

Henry Cavill

If anyone fits the bill of James Bond top-to-toe, it is Henry Cavill. The decision may be far from final, but if you ask the fans, they have already found 007 in this British charmer. Having proved his espionage chops in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

and Argylle

, Cavill is famous as Hollywood’s one of the most favorite action hero. However, some fans have not really been sold on the potential cast, calling Cavill a bit too polished and out of the ideal age bracket.

Even Cavill shares the sentiment,

potentially threatening the possibility of him taking over the role. Additionally, Barbara Broccoli has clarified they want an actor who would grow into the role, someone in their 30s, just like Daniel Craig did back in the day. 

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Another incredibly popular name who is standing on the guardrails of the next 007 is Aaron Taylor-Johnson. In a conversation with Esquire while promoting

the Spider-Man

spin-off, Kraven the Hunter

, Johnson was asked about the rumors. The speculation kicked off when The Sun reported in 2022 that the actor went for

a secret screen test with Barbara Broccoli at Pinewood Studios. However, while addressing, he neither denied nor confirmed whether the rumors were true.

“It’s not really for me to say anything,”

 Johnson told the outlet. Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed James Bond before Daniel Craig, told Yahoo Entertainment that

“he would be great.” 

According to Brosnan, it is a “given

” that the espionage protégé be British.

Jack Lowden

Next on the rumor list of James Bond is Jack Lowden, who has portrayed a spy across four seasons of Slow Horses,

the Apple TV thriller. His espionage experience may prove worthy in filling the big footsteps Daniel Craig has left.

Surprisingly, his experience may be the very reason why fans might find it hard to imagine him in a different covert portrayal.

Read More: ‘F1’s Damson Idris Has the World Shocked as He Reveals His Rejections Including James Bond

Then again, Hollywood is full of surprises, and you never know what sells to the audience.

James Norton

Besides James Bond’s British charm, a trait that could make or break 007 is the presence of mind. With an IQ that is far from ordinary, Bond needs someone who would relate to his alchemy.

While James Norton already has a career that reads blockbuster, his range of acting gives him an upper hand for the role.

Plus, Norton has an education from Cambridge. Even Diane Keaton told Sky News in 2017 that Norton has “everything that you need”

from 007. However, since his television career success has yet to reflect in the box office, this transition might not sit well with everyone.

Josh O’Connor

Ian Fleming’s textbook definition of James Bond paints a picture of a six-foot spy with blue-grey eyes. But if one were to replace the name, all that comes to mind is Josh O’Connor. Firstly, O’Connor is currently in the ideal age bracket and has become a hot topic of Tinseltown since Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers

.

However, when a journalist on IGV Presents said they could see him as 007 during the Challengers

promotion, he was quite taken aback.

“Could you?”

O’Connor responded before adding, “I’m not sure I could.”

So, it looks like he, himself, is not sold on the idea.

Paul Mescal

Lastly, the name on everyone’s lips is Paul Mescal for the 007 role. Having been attached to the Gladiator

sequel, and having been the poster boy of Tinseltown with his finesse portrayal of complex characters, Mescal knows how to win over the audience beyond gripping punchlines and hullabaloo of the action genre. And this silent sword technique is something fans have hailed James Bond for

. However, considering his cinematic wanderings have yet to see the adrenaline push imminent in action genres, fans might need a few more examples to see if he can match the role.

Of course, these are just a few names that have been circling the James Bond discussions, especially after Amazon MGM Studios took over. Bond 26,

which is the code name for the 26th flick in the franchise, is currently underway. However, only time will reveal who has it in them to become the next James Bond.

Read More: From Almost Bond to Future Villain: Michael Fassbender on His ‘James Bond’ Audition and How Daniel Craig Beat Him to 007

Who do you think could be the next James Bond? Let us know in the comments below!

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