Now that Spectre‘s had plenty of time to clean up in theaters (and make enough money that its inevitable sequel is even more inevitable), everyone in Hollywood is scrambling to figure out who the next James Bond will be. Daniel Craig’s been pretty vocal about saying this is his last Bond flick, even going so far as to say that he’d rather slash his wrists than do another one, so he’s out. Who’s it gonna be? No one’s sure, yet. Internet fandoms are divided about who they’d rather see (Should Loki or Sherlock be the next Bond? Why not put them both in the movie and have them make out!), and this betting site has placed their top picks, with Damian Lewis, Nicholas Hoult, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy, and the inimitable Idris Elba taking the top five slots. Well, folks, the Action Flick Chick has her choices choosed, so buckle up while I drop twenty tons of knowledge on you as to who should be the next 007.
Idris Elba
Pros: Idris Elba rocks in everything I’ve ever seen him in. From piloting Jaegers in Pacific Rim, solving crimes in Luther, headbutting evil in Ghost Rider 2, or watching over Asgard in the Marvel Universe, it’s clear that this guy’s got the charisma, intensity, and charisma to pull off James Bond with ease.
Cons: Being James Bond will keep him busy and give him less time to be in my dreams.
Tom Hiddleston
Pros: Hiddleston’s magnetism is the stuff of legends; every Marvel movie without Loki is poorer for it. There’s something infectiously likeable about him, and he portrays Loki with such complexity and intelligence you can’t take your eyes off of him. He’s more than a one-trick Asgardian, though, as we see with his performances in Crimson Peak and Muppets Most Wanted. Plus, the guy just seems like fun— in damn near every photo of him he’s got an ear-to-ear grin.
Cons: Playing James Bond could be part of a secret Loki plot.
Andrew Lincoln
Pros: He’s Rick freaking Grimes
Cons: He’s probably going to be busy fighting zombies for a while.
Paul Bettany
Pros: Bettany is, without a doubt, one of my favorite actors, ever. He’s funny and charming in Wimbledon and as Jarvis in the Iron Man films, he’s chaotic and insightful in A Knight’s Tale, and he’s detached, but curious, in Avengers 2.
Cons: None
Charlize Theron
Pros: Charlize Theron crushes it every time she’s onscreen. She was furious(ly awesome) as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, she was Monstrous in Monster, and she was arrestingly hilarious on Arrested Development. I’d take her as Bond any day.
Cons: Okay, so, technically she wasn’t born in the U.K., and I know a lot of James Bond fans demand that 007 hail from Jolly Old England.
This is the Action Flick Chick, and you’ve just been kicked in the ass!