Actors who played James Bond were initially cast between the ages of 30 and 46. Sean Connery first played the role in 1962 with the film Dr. No at the age of 31 and performed the role perfectly before taking a well-needed break after the first five films. During his hiatus, actor George Lazenby took over the lead in the movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service at the age of 30. The baton passed down to Roger Moore, aged 46, followed by Timothy Dalton, age 40, Pierce Brosnan, age 41, and finally, our dearly beloved Daniel Craig, at 37.

It’s been confirmed that franchise producers are looking for someone younger to relaunch the series. Seeing that Craig left the role as it enters its seventh decade, finding an actor to take on Bond will be more challenging than most people think. As most of us grew up watching Bond films and enjoy the action-packed thrills that come with the dashing suits, the idea of having a younger Bond relaunch the franchise will allow viewers to not only watch the characters’ development but ensure that the characters’ longevity in the films remains constant for the next few years to follow.

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Knowing that social media will have their fair share to say when the next actor is named, Craig left future Bond a word of advice. Back in 2021, in an interview on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Craig stated how they have to “block it out and get on with your business.”

Is James Bond’s Lifestyle More Fitting for an Older 007?

     United Artists

For decades, Bond has been a wealthy, sophisticated man who handles the action with elegance and a clean tux that hardly ever gets tarnished. A handsome and smoldering man working as a British Secret Service agent, Bond makes fighting in a suit with a loaded pistol dangerous and provocative. From using his leisure time to occasionally gamble to living well, Bond’s lifestyle is not that of someone who recently finished high school or attending college.

Working under the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as Military Intelligence, Station 6 (MI6), Bond is provided with money, a luxurious lifestyle, and flashy vehicles. With a somewhat unlimited expense account and the occasional masquerading as a millionaire, Bond also takes grand leave days when he is harmed on the job or takes leave to reward himself.

Who Could Be the Next James Bond?

     Warner Bros. Pictures/BBC/Netflix

Bond’s character is meant for a distinguished, slightly aged, handsome face and physique. Several different actors have been viewed as an excellent choice for the leading role of the next film, but despite rumors about the next Bond’s age, Henry Cavill is still doing quite well in the 007 odds.

With the iconic role having flourished for decades on screen and in books, many actors feel pressure when it comes to the idea of being cast as the next Bond, while other actors would rather be a villain, as said by Daniel Kaluuya.

Talks have spread like wildfire about the next actor taking the role, from Tom Hardy to Henry Golding, with many fans believing that Tom Holland would be a good fit. Others feel it’s time for Bond to be a person of color. There is a pretty good lineup from Denzel Washington to Idris Elba (who has been in the talks for some time). But in the combination of a person of color and being young, Bridgerton breakout star Regé-Jean Page has been one name that fans can’t stop bringing up. There have also been more surprising actors on the list, like Top Gun: Maverick’s Miles Teller, who even has the support of his grandma.

Will Longtime Fans Embrace Change?

     MGM Distribution

Having a younger James Bond for an origin story of the agent as he balances his personal life, Royal Navy missions, and getting recruited into the MI6 would be perfect. Still, fans are not always on board with reboots and changes. The backlash around making the storyline more modern could tarnish the Bond name that we have all come to love. Having a younger Bond could lead to an adaptation of the long-standing franchise by having a spin-off show targeted to younger audiences, similar to The Famous Jett Jackson and the Alex Rider series. Taking a chance by introducing a series of episodes to take place with a younger Bond may not capture longtime fans, however.

As there is really no need to say that fans are up in odds when it comes to having a younger actor depicting a younger Bond, thus altering the storyline slightly, one thing that can be said is we will wait and watch for the announcement of who is set to play the next on-screen portrayal of James Bond.