When Amazon took over creative control of the James Bond franchise earlier this year, the world wondered if film’s most famous spy would head in a new direction for his next installment, whenever that may be. Now, a new rumor suggests that, yes, Bond will look a little different than ever before, and a certain Gen Z heartthrob is in the running for the role.
On the latest episode of the podcast We’re Not Getting Any Younger, actor Daniel Mays told hosts Lisa Snowdon and Andy Goldstein some information he’d heard circulating about the casting plans for the next Bond.
“I heard a rumour that they’re going to cast someone very young and go sort of back to the origins,” Mays said. “They’re going to go back to sort of ‘60s.”
“You can have all the retro cars and all that sort of stuff and sort of start again,” he added. “I think that would be kind of cool, wouldn’t it?”
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It’s true that in Daniel Craig’s final James Bond film, 2021’s No Time to Die, the super spy did, in fact — spoiler alert — find time to die. That in mind, British newspaper The Sun claims to have a source corroborating Mays’ story. According to a so-called TV insider, “They can’t just pretend [Bond’s death] didn’t happen. So they’re looking at his story as a younger man in a different era.”
Though all but one of the six previous actors to play Bond have been in their 30s or 40s when they played the part — George Lazenby, who played Bond only once in 1969, was the youngest ever Bond at age 29 — there’s no reason the franchise couldn’t switch things up for the next installment.
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If the franchise were seeking a younger actor, Kit Connor would be a perfect pick. The Heartstopper actor’s career is clearly taking off, with starring roles on Broadway in Romeo + Juliet and in movies like Warfare. A charming British actor with dramatic chops and major action hero potential — what more could we ask for from the next James Bond?
The Sun listed Connor on its list of actors rumored to be in consideration for the role, but we’re taking their predictions with a grain of salt. Other actors reportedly in the running include Paul Mescal (Gladiator II, All of Us Strangers), Jacob Elordi (On Swift Horses, Saltburn), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Leo Woodall (Prime Target, The White Lotus), Connor Swindells (Sex Education), and Hero Fiennes Tiffin (Picture This). At just 21 years old, Connor is the youngest in the line-up — which also makes him perhaps the most exciting option.
Heartstopper fans, of course, are rooting for Connor to take on the role. Some eagle-eyed fans even clocked that back in 2022, while promoting Heartstopper’s first season, co-star Joe Locke told IMDb that Connor would make a great James Bond. Could his manifestation be coming true?
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