Quote from Alex bobby on July 2, 2025, 3:09 AM

No Time To Cast: What Do You Make of Amazon’s James Bond Shortlist?

You Only Cast Once… Live and Let Cast… Cast Another Day… okay, we’ll stop. But the casting buzz surrounding the next James Bond film is reaching boiling point, and it’s easy to see why. With Daniel Craig’s iconic run firmly behind us, and Amazon now officially at the wheel after Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson ceded creative control earlier this year, fans are eager to see what this new era of 007 will look like.

The first major sign of direction came with the announcement that Denis Villeneuve will direct Bond 26. It’s an exciting choice – Villeneuve’s resume (Sicario, Blade Runner 2049, Dune) proves he knows how to combine visual grandeur with deep emotional and psychological complexity. If anyone can reinvent Bond for a new generation, it’s him.

But now comes the biggest question: who will be Bond?

For years, the rumour mill has churned out familiar names: Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, Henry Cavill. Even Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who reportedly screen-tested and became an Omega brand ambassador (a move that felt very “shaken, not stirred”), seemed a lock at one point. But according to Variety, a new shortlist from Amazon Studios has emerged – and its thrown a curveball.

The New Contenders: Young, British (Mostly), and Algorithm-Friendly

Reportedly leading the pack are three under-30 actors: Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, and Tom Holland. It’s a lineup that suggests a fresh start – possibly a Bond origin story. It also implies that Amazon is following the traditional rulebook: Bond remains male, and Bond must be British (ish).

Let’s take a closer look at each of the supposed frontrunners:

Jacob Elordi

• Age: 28
• Height: 1.96m
• Known for: Euphoria, Saltburn, Priscilla
• Pros: Tall, brooding, conventionally handsome, with serious dramatic chops.
• Cons: He’s Australian – which, yes, has precedent (hello, George Lazenby), but it’s not a selling point. More importantly, Elordi’s casting feels more like a TikTok trend than a considered, bold move.

Verdict: Aesthetically Bond-ish, but uninspired. This is the safe, fashion-forward pick, not the kind of choice that will define an era.

Harris Dickinson

• Age: 29
• Height: 1.88m
• Known for: Triangle of Sadness, The Iron Claw, The King's Man
• Pros: Arguably the most compelling actor of the trio. He’s got versatility, presence, and a growing indie and action film résumé.
• Cons: Less recognisable than the others, which might scare Amazon execs more concerned with metrics than mystique.

Verdict: The best of the bunch. Dickinson could surprise audiences – and that’s exactly what the role demands.

Tom Holland

• Age: 29
• Height: 1.69m
• Known for: Spider-Man, Uncharted, The Devil All the Time
• Pros: Enormously popular, talented, and charismatic.
• Cons: He’s Spider-Man. His youthful looks make it hard to buy him as a hardened secret agent. Bond shouldn’t look like he just graduated from sixth form.

Verdict: Holland’s already had his mega-franchise moment. Give Bond to someone else. The internet's scepticism isn’t unwarranted.

Where’s the Surprise?

One of the defining features of great Bond castings has been their unpredictability. Sean Connery was unknown. Daniel Craig was “too blond” and not traditionally handsome. Both silenced doubters and redefined the role. The same should be true now.

But Elordi, Dickinson, and Holland all feel like names drawn from a marketing meeting about streaming engagement, not a bold artistic vision. Where’s the edge? Where’s Paul Mescal, whose gravitas in Aftersun and rawness in Normal People showed serious 007 potential? Or Damson Idris, who oozes charisma and authority? Or Riz Ahmed, who brings complexity, intelligence, and intensity?

It’s not that age shouldn’t be a factor – Bond doesn’t need to be 50. But the obsession with youth feels like Amazon is trying to MCU-ify the franchise, rather than let it be what it's best at: sharp, suave, and slightly dangerous.

All Eyes on Villeneuve

Thankfully, this is just a reported shortlist. There’s no official word yet – and if Villeneuve has real creative sway, we can expect something smarter. His involvement gives hope that Bond 26 won’t just be another content drop for Prime Video, but a cinematic event worthy of the character’s legacy.

It’s telling that Timothée Chalamet’s name hasn’t even been floated, despite his close working relationship with Villeneuve. Perhaps that's because Villeneuve knows better than to recycle familiar faces. One can only hope the same logic applies to this shortlist.

Licence to Hope

Bond needs a bold reinvention, not a rerun. Whoever dons the tux next should feel like a gamble – not a guarantee. So, while Elordi, Dickinson and Holland have their merits, we’re not quite raising our Martinis just yet.

Bond 26 has no release date or title, but with 2027 or 2028 in the sights, the pressure’s on. Here’s hoping the final casting lives up to the potential Villeneuve brings to the table. Because when it comes to 007, you only cast once – and the world is watching.

Final Thought:

The magic of James Bond has always rested not just in the suits, the gadgets, or the Aston Martins, but in the man who wears the tux and the edge he brings to it. The best Bonds weren’t obvious choices — they were bold ones that challenged the status quo and redefined the spy for a new era. If Amazon truly wants to revitalise 007 for modern audiences, it must resist the urge to cast for clicks and instead cast for character. Because Bond isn’t just a brand — he’s a legacy. And legacies deserve more than an algorithm.

Conclusion:

As Amazon steps into its bold new chapter of Bond, all eyes are on the casting — and rightly so. The reported shortlist of Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, and Tom Holland may tick certain demographic and marketability boxes, but it lacks the daring, offbeat quality that has defined the franchise’s most successful reinventions. With Denis Villeneuve at the helm, there's still hope that the final decision will reflect the intelligence, grit, and unpredictability that Bond deserves. Because when it comes to 007, playing it safe has never been the name of the game — and casting the next Bond should be as thrilling as the films themselves.

Meta Description:
Amazon's reported shortlist for the next James Bond—Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, and Tom Holland—feels safe and predictable. With Denis Villeneuve directing, can 007 still get the bold reinvention it deserves?