Tom Hardy has re-emerged as a prominent contender to become the next James Bond following Daniel Craig’s final appearance in 2021’s No Time To Die, as speculation surrounding the future of the franchise intensifies.
James Bond’s next actor has not yet been officially announced.
The future of the James Bond franchise remains formally unconfirmed, with Amazon currently owning the rights to the series and no successor to Daniel Craig publicly revealed. Industry observers expect that an official announcement regarding the next MI6 spy could come by the end of the year, though no timeline has been confirmed by the rights holders.
Hardy has been a recurring name in conversations about the role since the release of No Time To Die in 2021. The Venom and Inception actor has developed a strong fanbase that views him as a suitable successor to Craig. In previous interviews, Hardy admitted he would “not” talk about the possibility of taking the role, for fear of losing it.
Despite that reluctance to engage publicly with speculation, discussion around his potential casting has continued. His name is frequently mentioned alongside other British actors considered capable of carrying the long-running franchise into its next era.
Other Actors Linked to the Role
Henry Cavill is also widely associated with the Bond conversation. Cavill, recognized for portraying Superman and for his role as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s fantasy series The Witcher, previously competed for the Bond role during casting for the 2006 film Casino Royale.
Cavill went head-to-head against Craig in 2005 for the role. He later explained that at the time he was told he was “too chubby” for the character and acknowledged that he “did not know how to train or diet.” Craig ultimately secured the part, launching a 15-year tenure that concluded with No Time To Die.
Regé-Jean Page has likewise been frequently mentioned in discussions about the franchise’s future. The 34-year-old actor is best known for playing the Duke of Hastings in the period drama Bridgerton.
Page has addressed the speculation directly. In a recent interview, he described being linked to Bond as comparable to earning a “merit badge.” He said: “If you are British and you do anything of repute, them people take notice and start saying the ‘B’ word. I think that’s fairly normal.” He added: “It’s more of a procedural thing and I’m flattered to be in the category of Brits that people have noticed but it’s nothing more or less that that.”
Franchise Transition Under Amazon Ownership
The James Bond franchise is undergoing a significant transition following Daniel Craig’s departure. Craig first portrayed Bond in Casino Royale in 2006 and went on to star in four additional films, including Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time To Die. His era marked a tonal shift toward serialized storytelling and a more psychologically complex depiction of the character.
James Bond remains one of the longest-running and most commercially successful film franchises in cinema history. Since its inception in 1962 with Dr. No, the series has seen multiple actors portray the MI6 operative, each bringing distinct stylistic interpretations while maintaining core elements established by author Ian Fleming.
Amazon’s acquisition of MGM in 2022 placed the distribution and creative future of Bond under new corporate stewardship. While longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have historically overseen casting decisions, no formal announcement has been made regarding the selection process for the next actor.
As of now, no actor has been formally named as Daniel Craig’s successor. Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill and Regé-Jean Page remain among the most frequently cited names as the franchise prepares for its next chapter.