Tom Hanks has unveiled the actor he believes should portray the next James Bond.
Even prior to the conclusion of Daniel Craig’s iconic 15-year run as 007 in the 2021 film “No Time To Die,” fan casting and speculation surrounding the next individual to take up the mantle of James Bond were already in full swing.
Two years have passed since Craig’s last film, and with the recent celebration of the franchise’s 60th anniversary, curiosity has intensified regarding the contenders for the role. As anticipated, veteran producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are maintaining a tight hold on information, refraining from confirming anything until they deem it appropriate.
Despite this, the James Bond rumor mill continues to churn, undeterred. In the midst of it all, Tom Hanks has stepped forward with his own suggestion for the next portrayal of the iconic character.
Tom Hanks makes his selection for the next James Bond
As per Hanks’ opinion, Idris Elba is the ideal choice for the next James Bond.
Let’s be honest: it’s not exactly a revolutionary choice. Elba’s name has been in the James Bond discussion for quite some time, and whenever he is questioned about the prospect of playing Bond, which occurs frequently, he consistently dismisses all rumors.
During a recent interview with BBC News prior to the launch of his book, “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece,” Hanks briefly touched upon the topic of Bond.
“Understand this. James Bond has a licence to kill. I would issue that licence to Idris Elba just based on the work that I’ve seen him do,” he said.
Elba, along with Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill, continues to maintain a prominent position on bookmakers’ lists for the next James Bond. However, it is necessary to let go of the dream, as it is highly unlikely to become a reality.
During the promotion of “Luther: The Fallen Sun,” his popular detective series making its debut on Netflix, Elba once again responded to the public’s desire to see him as James Bond. “You know, a lot of people talk about another character that begins with ‘J’ and ends with ‘B,’ but I’m not going to be that guy. I’m going to be John Luther. That’s who I am,” he said.
Earlier, Broccoli acknowledged that Elba was once “part of the conversation,” although it was evident that this discussion took place years before Craig’s tenure came to a close. Despite the lack of progress in determining the next Bond, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently considered a sensible choice for the role.
There’s currently no expected release date regarding the 26th James Bond movie in the franchise, but the earliest hint came in September 2022 when Broccoli stated to the Variety about the next film: “It’s going to be a couple of years off.”
This puts the movie’s possible release window slate at 2024-2025. Regardless of when the movie is scheduled to debut, one thing for sure is that Bond 26 will be released by Universal Pictures.
