We hope the new James Bond likes vodka martinis, because the next actor to take on the mantle of 007 will apparently be sticking around for a while. Daniel Craig has officially hung up his Walther PPK, and while the next James Bond movie is still a long way off, the hunt for his replacement is heating up.

Taking over from Piece Brosnan was no small feat, but with 2006's Casino Royale being praised as a gritty origin for 007, Craig won around even his harshest critics. This was followed by the critically acclaimed Skyfall and the middling success of Spectre, where Craig said he'd rather slash his wrists than play the part again. Still, we lured him back for 2021's No Time to Die - which brought a definitive end to his character arc.

Is Idris Elba The New James Bond?

There's still no news on who the new James Bond will be, but in the meantime, producers are looking for someone who can carry a new era of the suave spy forward. Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson spoke to Variety about what's next and explained why Idris Elba might not be the man for the job. Idris Elba was once a frontrunner for the role but said he "didn't see Bond" when looking in the mirror.

Saying that "we love Idris," Broccoli added, "The thing is, it's going to be a couple of years off... And when we cast Bond, it's a 10-, 12-year commitment. So he’s probably thinking, 'Do I really want that thing?' Not everybody wants to do that. It was hard enough getting [Daniel Craig to do it]." Wilson went on to say, "And he was in his early 30s at the time!"

The implication is that we'll be looking for a younger Bond. This presumably discounts Tom Hardy as the new James Bond at the age of 45. Then again, other popular candidates like Henry Cavill (39), Bridgerton's Rege-Jean Page (34), Crazy Rich Asians' Henry Golding (35), and Game of Thrones' Richard Madden (36) keep doing the rounds. Ultimately, you'll be waiting a while.

Will There Be A Female James Bond?

The other idea that picked up a baffling amount of traction was the notion of a female James Bond. Obviously, this would seem impossible, meaning some have thrown around the idea of Jane Bond. The long-running spy series isn't afraid to gender-flip characters, with Judi Dench's M famously taking over as a female version of 007's boss. Still, James Bond and his womanising ways would be a little harder to pull off. 

There was uproar when Captain Marvel's Lashana Lynch was cast in No Time to Die as a female 007, but that's just it, 007 was only her title. It seems the concept that Lynch wasn't James Bond was too much for some to get their head around. Craig himself has spoken on the issue, and while agreeing Bond shouldn't be a woman, has said the franchise should do better. 

Addressing the fanciful idea of a female Bond, Craig told Radio Times, "The answer to that is very simple. There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour. Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?" Broccoli put the nail in the coffin and echoed Craig's hopes for better female parts, telling The Hollywood Reporter: "I think it will be a man because I don’t think a woman should play James Bond."

Whatever is going on with the new James Bond, we're not expecting him to be staring down the gun barrel in 2023. At least those at the top are looking far ahead though. It's also refreshing that Brocolli and Wilson have said James Bond needs to evolve to fit with modern times. Remembering Craig played 007 for 16 years, we're happy that the MI5 recruitment process is a rigorous one.