As one of the most famous fictional characters of all time, both in the literary and cinematic worlds, James Bond has been considered a challenging role to cast. Casting director Debbie McWilliams told Entertainment Weekly, "It's somebody who can hold their own, who is attractive, physical, capable of taking on not just the part but all the razzmatazz that goes with it." It's nearly been 20 years since Daniel Craig was cast as the suave secret agent, as many fans disapproved of Craig's initial casting, mostly based on his looks alone. However, it wasn't long until the actor won the world over and quickly cemented his portrayal of the iconic character as one of the best.

Updated June 30, 2023: If you're a fan of the iconic 007 and all the potential actors who could take over the role, you'll be happy to know this article has been updated with potential and exciting options for the next James Bond.

It may be a long wait until fans finally receive the news about who will be playing the next James Bond. As Barbara Broccoli, a producer for the hit franchise, stated in an interview with Variety Magazine that "It's going to take some time" and "it's a big decision, it's not just casting a role, it's about a whole rethink about where we're going." Many names have been floating around in discussions about who should be cast as the character. Here is a list of leading actors we think would excel as the eighth incarnation of James Bond.

11 Nicholas Hoult

Nicholas Hoult feels primed to finally take on the lead role of a major franchise. This is especially the case following recent bouts of being a losing finalist to play the lead in both The Batman and Superman: Legacy. Through his body of work, Hoult has shown such a wide range of acting chops that portraying the conventional leading man in James Bond should definitely be in his wheelhouse. And with his acting range, the actor could help allow for the titular character to continue to explore more depths of his personality and psyche, a concept that felt paramount to the success of Daniel Craig's James Bond films through the years.

If Nicholas Hoult is indeed cast as Agent 007, he would be the youngest actor to grace the screen as the iconic character. And while casting for Craig's replacement seems to be distinctly avoiding going too youthful, Hoult could feasibly provide a strong counter-balance between a mature presence and someone who has the charisma to lead the classic cinematic franchise well into a new era.

10 Rege-Jean Page

Through his work as the lead of Netflix's Bridgerton and other recent major projects, Rege-Jean Page has proven to be an actor that has the exact amount of suave charisma needed to play Agent 007. Page would provide a specific elegance to the character, something that was generally less emphasized during Daniel Craig's duration playing James Bond through most of the 2000s.

The argument could be made that Page's general demeanor in performances would be a throwback for the character that spans past even Pierce Brosnan's era as the acclaimed character. Though work on films such as The Gray Man and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves have shown that Page is not above taking part in the action-faire needed for the role. There had been previous rumors of being a front-runner some years ago, but they've been proven to ultimately be moot. Even still, Rege-Jean Page would make for an exciting option to take over the James Bond franchise.

9 Michael Fassbender

It's no secret that Michael Fassbender is a great actor; you just have to look at his filmography and the plethora of awards he has won and was nominated for. While more recent films like X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Assassin's Creed, and The Snowman were not his greatest works, with the movies being torn apart by critics and being ultimately forgettable, this was no fault of the Academy Award-nominated actor.

Fassbender can hold his own in action scenes, with his role in Steven Soderbergh's Haywire, the Irish-German actor was pitted against the UFC champion Gina Carano. This scene was fast, brutal, and perfectly performed by both actors. His role in the action movie just proves how the Irish actor would be a great candidate to take on the iconic role of James Bond.

8 Dev Patel

Dev Patel could be considered to be the most "outside the box" casting option to play James Bond on the list. Though when deciding Daniel Craig's successor, that should be a positive attribute to aspire towards. What made the latest Bond actor a smash success was his film's deviation from common attributes of the character's 20th-century adaptations. And breaking away further for a new adaptation would help continue to provide new life for the universe of James Bond in film.

Patel's generally reserved cadence and acting choices (namely in projects such as The Personal History of David Copperfield and The Green Knight) would make for a truly unique adaptation of the character. A potential deterrent from the young actor playing the character has been his lack of desire to star in a major franchise following the critical failure of The Last Airbender. However, with the long-term stability of the British film franchise, James Bond would seemingly be a safe choice for Patel to return to more of a blockbuster landscape.

7 Henry Golding

Henry Golding proved himself to be a formidable contender to take over the iconic role of James Bond with his exceptional performance as a dangerous underboss in Guy Ritchie's hit action comedy The Gentlemen. The Malaysian-British actor showcased his physical prowess in the thrilling flick, proving himself to be a formidable foe in any hand-to-hand battle.

Related: Henry Golding Expresses Interest in Joining the James Bond Franchise

Golding also demonstrated his undeniable charm and universal appeal in the successful rom-com Crazy Rich Asians, showing that not only can he handle the gritty, tough side of the suave agent but also his magnetic energy that leaves all the Bond girls swooning. The actor's versatility and overall likability definitely make him an extremely ideal actor to take on the legendary character.

6 Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy is an actor who can disappear into every role he plays; from Bane and Bronson to Mad Max and the Kray Twins, Hardy can take on any role and make it his own. The Academy Award-nominated actor has the suave, physicality, and acting chops to be great as the next 007.

Tom Hardy has a lot of experience with action scenes in his movies, the bar brawl in the movie Legend, when he broke Batman's back in The Dark Knight Rises, and of course, his training with MMA for the movie Warrior. Due to the actor's MMA training for the movie, he has since become a huge fan of martial arts, which gives the actor the physicality and experience with fighting needed for the actor to disappear into the role of the iconic secret agent.

5 Luke Evans

The charismatic Luke Evans has displayed time and time again that he could brilliantly capture the essence of 007, having appeared in a slew of memorable action flicks like The Three Musketeers, The Hobbit, Fast & Furious 6, and Dracula Untold. The Welsh actor is not afraid to get physical for a role, and his commanding presence on screen would translate perfectly as Bond; it also doesn't hurt that physically, Evans has the whole tall, dark, and sophisticated aspect down pat that the character is famous for.

Evans himself added to the rumor mill when he appeared on BBC One's Saturday Kitchen and was asked about the possibility, commenting cheekily, "The new James Bond? Who knows. Nobody knows. I mean it would be nice, wouldn't it? Don't jinx it."

4 Idris Elba

Being at the front of fan casts for who should play the next James Bond for many years, Idris Elba would make a great casting choice for the role. Elba could bring a more serious and grittier version of the character due to his iconic role as Luther in the hit BBC series of the same name. The show displays the actor's ability to give an emotionally complex character and the depth needed to make audiences care and fall in love with his characters. Elba fits the dictionary definition of "suave" to near perfection, with the actor oozing confidence, charm, and elegance. He is possibly one of the coolest guys in Hollywood and deserves the role just for that.

Related: Idris Elba's Best Moves and TV Shows

The actor is nearing his 50s, so if he were to take up the role, he may not be in it for long. Sadly the more tragic truth is Elba has said he has no interest in playing Bond. The racial backlash to his potential casting made him lose interest in the role.

3 Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is no stranger to show business, having first begun his illustrious career as a child actor before landing major roles in hits like Savages, Anna Karenina, and Godzilla. Since then, the English performer has dazzled moviegoers with his extraordinary physicality as Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron, a military commander in Tenet, and a Scottish knight in the Netflix original film Outlaw King.

Taylor-Johnson is now set to be the lead role in Kraven the Hunter, an R-rated action movie connected to the Spider-Man franchise. The trailer showcases that he has the action chops to pull off a role as intense as James Bond. Now the question remains if Kraven the Hunter is a hit, would it occupy too much of his schedule to take on 007?

2 Richard Madden

Despite starring in the hit series Game of Thrones and the MCU movie The Eternals, Richard Madden isn't necessarily the most well-known actor; however, this is usually who the casting directors aim for when casting the role. Those who recognize his work claim that Madden would be great for Bond.

The Scottish actor's portrayal in the six-part series Bodyguard created a buzz around fans wanting to see the actor in the iconic role, as he was playing a serious police sergeant with an incredibly stoic performance, perfect for the role of 007. His role on the Amazon Prime series Citadel also shows he is made for the spy genre.

1 Henry Cavill

The fan-favorite casting choice to don the iconic tux, Henry Cavill, has had a lot of fans praying for this casting to really happen. Cavill has had previous experience playing a tux-wearing secret agent with his role in The Man From U.N.C.L.E, and the actor could bring the spy skills from that movie into the role of Bond. The actor also played the role with a lot of charm, charisma, and confidence, which made fans immediately want to see Cavill as 007.

Cavill has recently stepped away from his role on The Witcher and was let go of the role of Superman in the DCU, with David Corenswet taking over the role in the new franchise. Cavill previously had auditioned for James Bond on Casino Royale, and while he lost to Craig the film's director, Martin Campbell, said Cavill would have made a great James Bond. Now older, wiser, and more mature, it now might be the time for him to do the tuxedo and order that martini shaken, not stirred.