As speculation over the next James Bond intensifies, Independent readers have been sharply divided over whether the franchise still has life left in it – and what kind of 007 audiences actually want to see next.
Many readers argued the rumoured shortlist feels far too young, with several insisting Bond should remain older, charismatic and effortlessly confident rather than “bland” or overly polished.
Henry Cavill and Idris Elba were repeatedly suggested as the only actors with the necessary presence and “Bond charisma”, while others backed Jack Lowden after his performance in Slow Horses.
A recurring theme was nostalgia for earlier Bond eras, particularly the lighter tone associated with Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan. Several readers said the humour and escapism disappeared during Daniel Craig’s tenure, even while praising his intensity and acting ability.
Others questioned whether Bond still works at all in modern cinema. Some described the franchise as “time-expired” or stuck in a “rinse and repeat formula”, with a few arguing the character should have ended permanently after Craig’s final outing.
Here’s what you had to say:
Bring some of the fun back
Never seen such a bland group of actors for the iconic role (all too young as well). Just give it to Henry Cavill or Idris Elba. Bring some of the fun back to the role as well. As good as Daniel Craig is as an actor, all the humour was taken out of the role. Go back to the Connery, Moore, Brosnan era of Bonds, where there was good action, but good fun as well.
James Bond is time-expired
Connery, in the first three or four films, for me. He created the Bond brand in the films, and under his suavity was a touch of thuggishness unique to him. It was like chilli powder in a curry.
Roger Moore was a brilliant light-comedy actor (a talent that is not appreciated enough), and though he was not the Bond of the novels, his performance convinced me – and anyway the camera always loved him.
Reading all this stuff, I’m wondering whether “James Bond” is time-expired, and has been for at least ten years. Same old same old, and, provided each film breaks much better than even, any artistic content is of secondary importance.
I still re-read Fleming’s original novels, now mostly forgotten, from the 50s and 60s. All still heaps better than the films, although the first three films get pretty close – because they stay close to the books.
Bond should be at least 45
Bond should be at least 45, witty, charming, as well as devilishly handsome. All men want to be him and all women want to be with him.
That’s all I’ve got really.
Is this really the shortlist?
Louis Partridge? He looks like he only just started shaving. Are these really the best they’ve got to choose from?
It’s a shame that he’s now too old, but I’ve always thought Rufus Sewell would have made a good Bond, very much in the same vein as Tim Dalton.
Let him rest in peace
Bond is dead. He had a glorious, heroic death. Let him rest in peace.
I haven’t watched Bond since Brosnan
I haven’t watched any Bond since Pierce Brosnan – he was a fantastic Bond. I like Judi Dench’s remark as his boss about him being a dinosaur. I believe they ought to leave it now. They will make him, or God help us her, into a woke yawn...... let him rest now... More interested in the next season of Ludwig!
Daniel Craig embodied the part beautifully
My all-time favourite James Bond is Daniel Craig: rough-edged, hardened, a strong actor, and the perfect fit for the superhero that is 007. The current young men officially being cast do not even begin to look the part that Daniel Craig embodied so beautifully. He brought a toughness, intensity and believable edge to Bond that made the character feel real rather than polished and manufactured.
Only Henry Cavill can do Bond justice
Only Henry Cavill can do Bond justice. Those kids you have listed simply don’t have Bond charisma of seducing women one moment and pulling trigger the next.
A bit of a rinse and repeat formula
These candidates all assume continuity with the preceding films. What if the producers/writers are planning an origin-type film, for example, to inject some freshness into what has become, IMHO, despite Craig’s excellence, a bit of a rinse and repeat formula?
Lowden the best choice
Jack Lowden is easily the best choice, he’s practically playing Bond in Slow Horses. Elordi looks like an action man but with less charisma and Turner hasn’t got the star power. I’ve never seen Partridge, but he looks like he couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag.
Just get on with it please
Why don’t they pick someone already. The producers of Bond films have dragged this process out for what feels like a couple of decades now.
I understand that the money people behind these films are required to create a bit of hype and public interest, but it’s really got tiresome. It’s already five years since the last Bond film was (finally) released and will probably be the best part of another five years before the next one gets released.
When I was a kid, Bond films came out every 2-3 years on average – “Bond will return in ‘such and such’” used to come up at the end of a film.
Just get on with it please.
Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity.
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