It’s still unknown who will play the next James Bond, but the next villain could also emerge from among the fan-favorites to play 007.
SUMMARY
Speculation surrounding the next James Bond casting is ongoing, but the identity of the next Bond villain remains uncertain.
British actors like Nicholas Hoult, Daniel Kaluuya, and Richard Madden could potentially portray compelling and complex Bond villains.
Actors like Robert Pattinson, Idris Elba, Riz Ahmed, Will Poulter, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, and Tom Hardy have the potential to bring unique qualities to the role of a Bond villain.
Speculation surrounding the casting of the next James Bondhas ramped up since Daniel Craig’s final bow in No Time To Die, but the next Bond villain’s identity remains just as uncertain.
No new information about the next actor to play James Bond has surfaced, so dozens of British actors have been put forward.
However, it’s worth noting that some of these names could be more compelling as one of Bond’s adversaries, rather than 007 himself.
Bond villains occupy an unusual cultural niche. They are a collection of characters of wildly different backgrounds all united by their opposition to one man. Nevertheless, certain tropes abound.
James Bond villains are often the embodiment of evil; they aim to throw the balance of international relations off kilter for personal gain, or because they want to build an underwater city like Karl Stromberg in The Spy Who Loved Me.
Villains in modern pop culture trend towards greater complexity. If Bond wanted to catch up to this trend, the ideal villain could be hiding among the fan-favorites to take on the lead role.
10 Nicholas Hoult
Nicholas Hoult has a great deal of big franchise experience, and he even had a role in one of the most acclaimed action movies of the last decade, Mad Max: Fury Road. Despite all this, he doesn’t have the same buzz as many other James Bond contenders.
Watching The Menu could explain why, as Hoult plays the part of an underhanded and self-centered coward superbly well.
He may not be as imposing as some of James Bond’s greatest villains, but he could still portray a cold-blooded narcissist who manipulates others into fulfilling his desires. Hoult could potentially play the brains behind a team of more violent types.
9 Daniel Kaluuya
Another actor who isn’t being talked about for the role of 007 as much as he deserves, Daniel Kaluuya effectively proved that he would be better cast as a villain than as James Bond.
Kaluuya brings a smoldering intensity to his roles that could cut through if he were to play a more righteous villain than most of Bond’s maniacal, power-hungry enemies.
Kaluuya’s outstanding episode of Black Mirror showcased his ability to swing wildly between opposing emotional states, a very menacing quality for a criminal mastermind or a power-hungry dictator.
Kaluuya would be interested in playing a Bond villain, and he’s exactly the kind of generational talent that could help start the next era of the franchise on a high note.
8 Richard Madden
Richard Madden got a taste of a big movie franchise in Marvel’s Eternals, but the best evidence that he could make a great Bond villain came earlier than that.
In 2018, he starred in the British drama series Bodyguard as a war veteran assigned to protect a controversial politician.
Madden shows his flair for action sequences, but his most captivating trait is his cool and detached persona.
Even in times of intense stress, he maintains a level head and a singular commitment to his mission.
These characteristics would make a powerful adversary for James Bond, and Madden’s villain wouldn’t hesitate to enter a fist fight if that’s what was needed.
7 Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson could make the ideal 007, although he’s one of a few potential Bond actors yet to be considered seriously.
Pattinson may be reluctant to play Bond because of his commitments as Batman, but that doesn’t rule him out of taking on the role of a villain in one or two movies.
Pattinson’s style has matured a lot in recent years, and he carries the type of brooding intensity that could make for a compelling Bond villain.
His more nihilistic take on Batman shows his willingness to approach roles burdened with expectation and his ability to make those roles his own.
6 Idris Elba
For a long time, Idris Elba seemed to be the favorite to take over as 007. Had Daniel Craig left the franchise earlier, perhaps Elba would already have the role.
Now though, Elba is most likely on the list of James Bond hopefuls who are out of the running.
While that may very well be the case, that’s not to say he doesn’t belong in the franchise at all.
In Luther, Elba’s character frequently crosses legal boundaries in his pursuit of what he believes is fair and just.
Elba’s experience playing a complex hero could set him up perfectly to play a more sympathetic villain. He also has the frame and the action experience of a more hands-on adversary.
5 Riz Ahmed
Riz Ahmed would be a superb choice for the next James Bond. Ahmed has an incredible range, and he manages to captivate in any role he takes on.
However, most of the reasons Ahmed would be a great Bond also make his case as a potential villain.
He can portray a quiet type of rage with rare authenticity, and his patterns of speech often drift into eerie melodic tones.
In his career so far, Ahmed has played roles as diverse as a heavy metal drummer, a spaceship pilot, and a terrorist.
Ahmed’s piercing eyes would suit a more restrained and sophisticated villain, like Donald Pleasance’s iconic Blofeld.
4 Will Poulter
Will Poulter is shaping up to be an ideal James Bond casting choice. Thinking even further outside the box, he could create a radically different and yet nonetheless captivating villain.
In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Poulter plays Adam Warlock, a villain who battles just as much with his identity and his mother as he does with the movie’s heroes.
Poulter has distinguished comedy skills which help endear him to audiences even when he is playing a sentient weapon.
Bond villains often lack depth, with the franchise opting instead for a universally loathsome image of evil.
Poulter could subvert this trope and offer a villain with true pathos.
3 Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is seen by many as the favorite to take on the role of 007 for Bond 26.
If that doesn’t transpire, Taylor-Johnson could be an even more interesting choice as the franchise’s next villain.
He showed in Bullet Train that he can bring heart and humor to a violent antagonist, and casting him as the next Bond villain could signal that the franchise is willing to shift back to its more campy roots.
Following on from the grit of the Daniel Craig era, this would shake things up considerably.
If anyone can sell the gadgets and traps that the franchise used to rely on, then it’s Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
2 Henry Cavill
Due to his role in the upcoming action-comedy Argylle, Henry Cavill probably won’t play James Bond.
Cavill missed out on the part that went to Daniel Craig because he was too young, and he now may be slightly too old for the franchise to consider him.
This unfortunate timing could prove to be a blessing in disguise since Cavill showed what he can do as a villain up against a top spy in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Cavill’s intimidating frame and sophisticated manner mean he can blend brains with muscle into a truly imposing villain, whether the franchise chooses to lighten the tone or not.
1 Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy already produced one unforgettable big-screen villain when he played Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, and could do so again for James Bond 26.
He has more than enough talent to strike gold again if the Bond franchise gives him the chance. Like Cavill, Hardy was once a firm favorite for James Bond.
Now that he’s 46, Hardy may have grown into the perfect fit for a Bond villain to prime the franchise for its future.
Hardy also has experience as a brutal leader from Legend, when he portrayed both of London’s infamous Kray twins. He possesses the versatility to play a Bond villain or any variety of his violent associates, like an updated Oddjob or Jaws.
