Joining the list of "James Bond" prospects is British actor and "Poldark" lead star Aidan Turn. (Photo : Getty Images/Tony Barson)
"James Bond" bets are up once again as speculation continues as to who will take on the 007 mantle next. There have been a lot of top stars attached to the list, such as Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston, Michael Fassbender, and Damian Lewis, as well as rising actors Jack Huston and Aidan Turner. Let's get to know some of the top candidates.
Tom Hardy
The Oscar-nominated actor is one of the strongest contenders to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond. According to The Guardian, the actor "has confirmed interest in playing James Bond - by refusing to discuss the matter."
"There's a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting that if you talk about it you're automatically out of the race, so I can't possibly comment on that one," Hardy said about the "James Bond" rumors.
Hardy's interest was also piqued by the prospect of Christopher Nolan helming the next "James Bond" movie. Hardy has worked with Nolan in "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Inception"
Aidan Turner
The "Poldark" actor is also another potential candidate to play James Bond. At some point, Turner was the bookies favorite to play the coveted spy role. According to The Sun, Turner refused to comment on rumors about whether he will play the next James Bond or not.
Idris Elba
Steven Spielberg has vouched for the "Pacific Rim" star to be the next Bond. The actor, however, is not so keen on playing the suave spy. He modestly explained that his age (he's currently 44 years old) might hold him back from doing the action sequences and running required for the role.
James Norton
Norton is still an up and coming star, but he's received praise for his performance in "War and Peace."
Jack Huston
Huston is a newer contender in the race, and he attracted many with his stellar performance in "Boardwalk Empire." Also, his most recent claim to fame is the 2016 remake of "Ben-Hur."
Tom Hiddleston
For a long while Hiddleston was leading the pack and was a constant favorite by fans to take on the James Bond mantle. His performance as a spy in "The Night Manager" also generated a lot of traction and boosted his 007 campaign. However, like many stars, Hiddleston has played coy about the possibility of him playing Bond, saying he believes Craig still has more Bond movies to make.
