After 6 long years filled with countless script rewrites and production delays, No Time to Die has finally arrived in theatres, a film that would mark Daniel Craig’s last outing as the iconic James Bond. The film, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (Beasts of No Nation, True Detective), opened up with rave reviews, with critics praising the emotional send-off for Craig’s Bond era. Concluding his storyline in spectacular fashion, the next question that has been on many moviegoers’ minds for some time ever since Craig confirmed he would be hanging up the tuxedo for good is: who will take on the role of the titular spy next?
The mystery continues to trend in the film industry and it looks like there will not be a definite answer for quite a while. For those who have not seen the recent epic conclusion yet, I warn you, there are some spoilers ahead. Many fans expected Lashana Lynch's Nomi in No Time to Die, who plays another MI6 agent taking over the 007 mantle after Bond has been retired residing in Jamaica for a few years, to take over for future installments. Given Lynch's entertaining dynamic between her character and Bond in the film, her comfortability in not only the big action scenes but in the modern world that is depicted, and the swagger that matches well with Bond’s personality, she seemed like the perfect fit to lead these films into a new era. But after surrendering the famous three-digit codename to Bond towards the end of the film, it was that clear Lynch would not be the new James Bond.
Craig received plenty of attention this past September when the actor told the Radio Times that the character of James Bond should only be played by a man, not because men are better but because he believed there should definitely be parts just as good for women. Longtime Bond producer Barbara Broccoli spoke to the PAnews agency (via The Independent), also mirroring Craig’s thoughts that Bond will be continued to be played by a man, as she stated that she hopes to see many more films made by women, for women, and about women that create exciting new characters. While Broccoli confirmed that they won’t start thinking about the future until next year, allowing Craig plenty of time to celebrate and soak in his accomplishments, speculation will continue to escalate as to who will be cast.
With that said, it appears that the casting for the next Bond will result in another male lead, and while that doesn’t rule out Lynch’s Nomi in making future appearances in the long-running franchise or even getting her our spin-off additions (perhaps with No Time to Die writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge penning the script), it doesn’t look like Broccoli will change her mind. From names like Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, and rising star Regé-Jean Page at the top of many lists, those talents, of course, could take on the role, but I think it’s time to see Bond as significantly younger (with not only Craig’s Bond films but past ones as well featuring the “coming out of retirement/adjusting to the modern world” plot conventions). There is one pick that deserves to be on a lot more fans’ radar also with the name of Daniel: a rising star by the name of Kaluuya, Daniel Kaluuya.
Only 32 years of age, Kaluuya’s working-class background of growing up as a council state kid to immigrant parents represents a very different side of what it means to be British, an experience that he could share in what would most likely be a very unique, modern adaption of the character. Kaluuya’s range and maturity presented in his early filmography, if any indication, proves that the rising talent is more than capable of becoming the face of such a well-known franchise, too. Whether it’s being very affable and charming yet emotionally vulnerable and raw as Chris in his breakout role in Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning Get Out, portraying a ruthless, violent, and menacing mob enforcer in the crime thriller Widows, or delivering an electrifying and daring performance as former Black Panther chairman Fred Hampton in the critically acclaimed Judas and the Black Messiah (for which he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor), Kaluuya seems to check off all of the boxes expected for someone to play a modern-day Bond.
Kaluuya has also flexed his intense energy in other critically acclaimed projects such as Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario, Queen and Slim, Black Mirror, as well as Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, in which he plays the trustworthy companion W’Kabi, (with loyalty also being one of Bond’s top traits). Similar to Craig’s first appearance as Bond which earned him worldwide recognition, having a fresh face like Kaluuya who isn’t attached as some big leading role in another popular franchise may just be another reason to have him lead the way for the next generation. Once the attention around No Time to Die's release settles down, many can expect there to be some exciting casting news in the coming months that'll hopefully leave most fans satisfied.