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Who could be the next James Bond?

Matt Seel

Digital Content Producer, About the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

People are always talking about who the next James Bond could be. After any successful Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ drama, the leading man is generally tipped to be the next Bond - remember the furore around Night Manager and McMafia?

Here are just a few of the people who might just be stepping into Daniel Craig's immaculate shoes.

Idris Elba

There's nobody else who can top a list of could-be Bonds.

Although Idris has said he won't be drinking a Martini anytime soon, odds have just been slashed on him becoming Bond after the release of the Luther trailer. Idris's break-out role came in The Wire, as Russell "Stringer" Bell, all the way back in 2002, but it was his role as DCI John Luther that really got people talking.

Tom Hiddleston

The Night Manager was an instant hit and what followed was inevitable. Tom Hiddleston playing Jonathan Pine sent hearts and bookies aflutter. It didn't take long for him to become a firm favourite to play Bond.

Tom Hardy

Arguably the greatest British actor of a generation.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly when Tom Hardy was tipped for Bond, but with credits that include Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, The Dark Night Rises and Legend, it's not a surprise. Hardy's first lead role for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ was in TV mini-series, The Virgin Queen, which he followed up three years later, playing Heathcliffe in Wuthering Heights. More recently, you can see Tom as James Keziah Delaney in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ drama Taboo.

Aidan Turner

It was in May that Aidan broke his silence about playing Bond. Turner is most famous for his role in Poldark, but before that he starred as vampire John Mitchell in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Three comedy-drama Being Human.

Cillian Murphy

The Irish actor has been a firm favourite for many years. Murphy's first role for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ was in TV mini-series The Way We Live Now, but he shot to fame after the release of Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later.

Cillian had his odds slashed earlier this year when it was announced that Danny Boyle would be directing Bond 25, but since the director has left production, it may be less likely. Cillian's latest role for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is the fearsome Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders.

James Norton

Carrying on the tradition of leading men from successful Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ dramas being tipped to be the next Bond, James Norton became a hot favourite after the release of McMafia in February.

Norton has had a long history with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, originally having a small role in Inspector George Gently, then moving on to TV mini-series War & Peace. Norton also played the evil Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley.

James also starred alongside another Bond hopeful in Lady Chatterley's Lover...

Richard Madden

He's one of the frontrunners for the role of the martini-drinking maverick. Madden became popular for his role as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones. He then followed this with a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ production of Lady Chatterley's lover alongside fellow potential Bond, James Norton.

But it was his role as David Budd in Bodyguard that saw him shoot up the ranks and become a firm fan favourite.

Want to know about other actors from the Bond franchise who worked with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ?

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