5 Unexpected Yet Plausible James Bond Candidates for the Next 007

The search for the next James Bond is heating up. While Daniel Craig’s tenure as 007 ended with No Time to Die, and Amazon acquired the franchise rights from Eon Productions over a year ago, the casting process has only recently gained momentum. Denis Villeneuve has been named as the next director, and Amazon MGM has appointed Nina Gold as the casting director. In a statement to Variety, the studio shared,

“While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”

As fans, we’re free to speculate without constraints like budgets or franchise plans. So, here are five unusual yet plausible choices to play James Bond—with a note on "realistic": since 1962’s Dr. No, six male actors have portrayed 007, and Amazon MGM will likely follow this tradition. James Bond, as originally conceived by Ian Fleming, was a blunt instrument of the British Empire, a trait that persists despite modern softening. While Amazon may embrace edgy content like The Boys, they’ll likely avoid associations with Bond’s colonial and capitalist undertones. Thus, the next Bond will probably be a white British man—but that doesn’t stop us from dreaming.

George Mackay: The Most Likely Wildcard

George Mackay tops this list as the most probable unconventional choice. He faces two immediate hurdles in traditional Bond casting: his light hair and distinctive facial features. Yet these concerns echo past criticisms—decades ago, Sean Connery’s and Pierce Brosnan’s casting sparked debates over hair color and ear shape. Fleming’s novels even describe Bond as resembling Hoagy Carmichael, a man with a longer face and wider ears than Connery or Brosnan. Craig’s success proved that a unique look can define Bond, especially if the actor conveys depth in his gaze. Mackay fits this mold. After debuting as a Lost Boy in Peter Pan (2003), he earned acclaim in independent films like Femme and The Beast, culminating in his breakout role in 1917. Transitioning from indie dramas to a blockbuster franchise would be bold—but Mackay’s range makes it plausible.