Daniel Craig’s final appearance as James Bond was in 2021’s “No Time To Die,” which means one of Hollywood’s most sought jobs is vacant for the first time in nearly two decades. Bond fans have spent most of the previous decade speculating about his succession due to Daniel Craig’s long stay in the role and his penchant to announce retirement plans before changing his mind. And one name has reigned dominant in recent years: Idris Elba. For a long time, the “Luther” star has been a fan favorite to take over the 007 mantles, and it now appears that the franchise’s producers are paying attention.
Barbara Broccoli, a longtime Bond producer, offered nothing but praise for Idris Elba on a Deadline podcast this week. “Idris is someone we know, and I’m acquainted with him,” she explained. “He’s a fantastic actor.” She made a point of remaining noncommittal about any potential casting and stated that all previous discussions had been completely hypothetical. While fans have been guessing about Daniel Craig’s replacement for years, the producer decided to wait until he had officially left before starting her next casting process. “You know, [Elba] has been a part of the conversation,” she said, “but it’s always tough to have a conversation when there’s someone in the seat.”
Craig’s time as James Bond was a huge success, as the actor is credited with breathing new life into a brand that had grown stale and irrelevant. If the James Bond producers want to keep the series on track, they’ll need to find the right person for the next role. Barbara Broccoli stated that she is aware of this and does not appear to be in any hurry to begin a formal casting procedure.
“I think we’ve determined that until ‘No Time to Die’ has completed its run and Daniel has had the opportunity to appreciate, reap the advantages of Daniel’s excellent tenure, we’re not going to consider about, or talk about, anyone else, actors to play the role, plots, or anything else,” she said.
But Hollywood’s biggest franchises move fast, and at some point soon, Broccoli will have to choose the next 007. One thing is for certain: Until an announcement is made, Idris Elba will continue to be at the heart of all James Bond rumors.