Unbeknownst to Ian Fleming, his suave spy has become one of the most recognised characters of fiction. As Spectre, the next Bond outing, is gearing up for release, the talk of ‘who could be the next Bond’ is already gaining steam. So, just to let your imagination take flight, we’ve pinned down five actors who would look just at home with a martini, shaken not stirred, and behind the wheel of that Aston Martin DB5.
Tom Hardy
From Bronson, Bane to Max, Hardy can make the strangest of characters enigmatic by becoming almost unrecognisable. His attractiveness borders on astonishing and to top it all, there’s something entirely unpredictable about his persona. Inherently English, his nonchalance for show business just adds to the charm. His tough side can deal with villains, and his SRK side can charm women (See Mad Max: Fury Road). Above all, this dapper male is more believable doing stunts than CGI. Did you notice his Scarlett Johansson lips?
Michael Fassbender
If looks could kill, it would be Michael Fassbender. This man has such a penetrative gaze that he could make you weak in the knees, never mind your orientation. The half-German, half-Irish actor is probably the most able performer on this list, and he is never scared to go the darkest recesses of humankind in his roles. If he takes over as Bond, we won’t be surprised if it leads to the first Bond ever to be nominated for an Oscar. An actor who is good looking and takes risks, he could redefine the handsome secret agent.
Matthias Schoenaerts
This Belgian actor has a kind of sweaty sexiness that’s rare in Hollywood or British actors. His earthy manliness and simmering physical presence in Bullhead (2011), and Rust and Bone (2012) have already earned him the reputation of being a sort of Belgian Brando. What Daniel Craig brought to the table, Schoenaerts can take to the next level, with punches decorated with blood. And yes, he could go from holding a martini to a Walther PPK with effortless ease.
Charlie Hunnam
The last time he was in the news, was when he was cast as America’s most popular sadist, Christian Grey, before he bowed out voluntarily. That explains his sex appeal. His turn as Jackson ‘Jax’ Teller in Sons of Anarchy has earned him a huge fan base, and he’s been sharpening his action streak with directors like Guillermo del Toro and Guy Ritchie. Hunnam with his pure aura of masculinity is a potential star, and this would be a very good time for Bond to identify the spark within him.
Idris Elba
Since last year, social media has been going on and on about Elba being the first black Bond. Though this has been merely a speculation, we think he would actually make one helluva sexy spy. He is already being cited as one of the sexiest men alive by countless polls, and he is aware of the effect he has on women. The casting of this London lad can really turn the table of racial narrative in Bond films. He can make the spy tangible, believable, and yet highly unattainable.
(The writer is a journalist and a screenwriter who believes in the insanity of words, in print or otherwise. Follow him on Twitter: @RanjibMazumder)
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