10 Actors Who Should Play James Bond (And 12 Who Were Almost Cast)

James Bond is the quintessential Hollywood spy character, enduring through changing times and changing actors.

With that in mind, here are 10 excellent choices to take on the role of Bond when Daniel Craig steps down after the next 007 movie, plus some actors who nearly won the role in the past…

Henry Golding

If “Crazy Rich Asians” proved anything, it’s that Henry Golding can play a suave, well-dressed charmer.

For a series like “James Bond” that prides itself on constant reinvention, Golding would provide a welcome change to the typical formula while staying true to Bond’s classic characterization.

Emily Blunt

The possibility of a “Jane Bond” has been swirling for years, and Emily Blunt is a fan favorite choice for the role.

Blunt is capable of compelling action scenes, as seen in “The Edge of Tomorrow,” as well as providing a smug, upper-class English performance, as she showed off in last year’s “Mary Poppins Returns.” In fact, when Blunt was offered the role of the iconic British nanny, she thought at first she was being given the chance to play Bond instead.

Idris Elba

By this point it’s probably illegal to make a list of potential Bonds without including Idris Elba. The “Luther” star has won critical acclaim for serious dramatic roles and big-budget action flicks, and fans have been exceptionally vocal about wanting him to play 007.

Perhaps all this popularity counts against Elba, though. Executives often prefer to surprise audiences rather than give into popular fan movements.

John Boyega

Just as John Boyega replaced Idris Elba in the “Pacific Rim” series, he could be a great choice to fill this gap in the Bond fandom. Boyega is an talented actor, pulling off a variety of different accents to suit his various roles.

Anyone who’s seen his Make Google Do It commercial will know he most certainly looks the part in a smart dinner jacket, so it would be wonderful to see what he’d do as the iconic MI6 spy.