The search for the next James Bond continues to be a subject of intense speculation and debate following Daniel Craig's final appearance as 007 in 2021's 'No Time To Die'. Craig, who played the iconic secret agent in five films including 'Casino Royale' (2006), 'Quantum of Solace' (2008), 'Skyfall' (2012), and 'Spectre' (2015), reflected on his tenure while appearing on an Italian chat show, stating it was an honor and an important part of his life that he couldn't simply step away from.

Among the actors long-linked to the vacant 007 role is Taron Egerton, the 35-year-old 'Rocketman' star. Despite being backed by figures like former Bond star Roger Moore's son Geoffrey in 2019, Egerton recently expressed that he doesn't believe he would be a good choice. He told Collider, "I don't think I'm a good choice for it, I think I'm too messy for that." He further suggested there are "so many cool, younger actors who would be great for it," adding, "I think it would be wasted on me, probably." Egerton has prior experience in the spy genre, starring opposite Colin Firth in the 'Kingsman' film franchise, where he played Gary "Eggsy" Unwin, recruited into a secret spy organization. He also won a Golden Globe for portraying Elton John in 2019 and recently led the Apple TV+ series 'Smoke'.

Meanwhile, British actor Mike Dickman, 40, has emerged as a surprise front-runner and admits he is "flattered" by the link. Dickman, who switched from a high-flying corporate career in the sports industry to acting, is rapidly building an impressive portfolio. This includes a cameo in blockbuster 'Barbie', a supporting role as Robert in the psychological thriller 'Secrets' (released on Amazon on August 19), and a prominent role as racist Captain Harry Sparks in the upcoming Indian series 'Gandhi', which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Bookies earlier this year even listed him alongside established names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Hardy, and Henry Cavill. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Dickman expressed his humility, calling it "crazy flattering" to be mentioned in a bracket with "tremendous actors" with more experience, noting the "whole rebirth of an incredible franchise." He described his experience filming 'Secrets' in sub-zero temperatures with director Chris Norton and praised Pratik Gandhi, who plays the lead in 'Gandhi', for his "real presence." Dickman is also working on an adaptation of William Corlett's novel, 'Now and Then'.

Adding another layer to the discussion, former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan, 72, who portrayed 007 in four films from 1995 to 2002 including 'GoldenEye' (1995), 'Tomorrow Never Dies' (1997), 'The World Is Not Enough' (1999), and 'Die Another Day' (2002), revealed he would return "in a heartbeat." In an interview with Radio Times, while discussing his upcoming movie 'The Thursday Murder Club', he acknowledged that "I don’t think anyone wants to see a craggy, 72-year-old Bond." However, he stated that if a director like Denis Villeneuve had a suitable concept for a "senior citizen" Bond, he would "look at it in a heartbeat," suggesting it could be "great entertainment" and "lots of laughs" with the help of "Bald caps, prosthetics… who knows?"

Conversely, 'Top Gun 2' and 'Anyone But You' star Glen Powell has firmly taken himself out of the running. As a Texan, Powell believes an "authentic Brit" should play James Bond, humorously suggesting he could play "Jimmy Bond" instead. This aligns with the historical portrayal of the character; in 63 years, James Bond has been played by seven actors – all white men from the UK and Ireland, including Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig, with David Niven in a non-official adaptation. The debate also encompasses whether the franchise should deviate from tradition, with discussions around a potential first female Bond (Gillian Anderson was once considered) or the first Black Bond (Idris Elba has held firm as a favourite). However, some actors, like 'The White Lotus' star Theo James, have ruled themselves out, fearing that playing such an iconic character could lead to being defined as "Bond" for the rest of their career, likening it to "opening Pandora's box."

The ongoing speculation extends to other potential candidates reportedly in the running, such as Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, and Tom Holland. While Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 35, or Henry Cavill, 42, are also subjects of speculation, their ages (both being over 30) may reportedly rule them out. James Nelson-Joyce, known for playing James 'Yatesy' Yates in BBC drama 'Little Boy Blue' and Michael Kavanaugh in 'This City is Ours', has been identified as a new favourite. The search for Daniel Craig's successor highlights a complex blend of actor preferences, industry expectations, and evolving discussions about the iconic spy's future identity and portrayal as the franchise undergoes a "rebirth."