Idris Elba should be the next James Bond, says Tom Hanks

Idris Elba should be the next 007 James Bond, says fellow Hollywood star, Tom Hanks.

Ever since Daniel Craig hung up his PPK in 2021’s No Time to Die, fans of the long-running movie franchise have been debating who will be the next James Bond.

Actors mentioned that could replace Daniel Craig include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, totally not man-crush related Henry Cavill or Tom Hardy, Richard Madden, Lashana Lynch, Tom Hiddleston and John Boyega.

However, perhaps one name that has been mentioned more than most is Idris Elba, an actor that naturally oozes charm and charisma, making for an ideal 007 candidate. Not to mention that Elba is no stranger to espionage, starring in the likes of Luther as well as the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 expansion, Phantom Liberty.

So, who better to play the legendary James Bond 007? To be honest, we’d struggle to think of many better suited than any of the above, especially Idris Elba. One other person who believes that he would be perfect for the role, is the aforementioned and devoted Aston Villa fan, Tom Hanks.

As reported by our friends at UNILAD, when talking to the BBC about his upcoming book The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, inspired by his own career in the movie industry, the legendary fictional double-agent gets a mention.

So when Hanks was asked who should play the next James Bond after Daniel Craig, the actor said: “Understand this, James Bond has a licence to kill. I would issue that licence to Idris Elba just based on the work that I've seen him do.”

At this time, we can only speculate who will be the next James Bond. However, back in April 2023, 007 casting director Debbie McWilliams said that there will never be a young James Bond. So, does that mean that I’m in with a shot?