We still don't know who will replace Daniel Craig as the new James Bond, but we can safely say that it won't be one popular actor.

The 26th installment of the Bond franchise is already in the works. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has been tapped to write the script, while Dune director Denis Villeneuve is reportedly on board to direct.

But who will put on the tuxedo and say the lines that make James Bond the most famous spy in the world?

Famous Actor Ruled Out Of Playing James Bond

It seems like most famous British actors have been linked to the role at one point or another, but sources have seemingly ruled out one name.

Despite James Bond being one of the biggest characters in showbiz, it seems that some people are prioritising other movies.

So, Tom Holland fans, if you were hoping to see your favorite actor playing 007, then prepare for disappointment.

Despite being one of the frontrunners to succeed Daniel Craig as the next James Bond - with 12/1 odds at some bookmakers - the Marvel star is reportedly out of contention for the coveted 007 role.

The reason? His ongoing commitment to the Spider-Man franchise.

“Tom can’t play two superheroes, it just won’t happen,” a source told The Sun.

“It’s been written into his contract that he cannot pursue any other parts that will overshadow that one.”

And if any role could rival Peter Parker’s pop culture impact, it’s James Bond.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Tops Bookmakers’ Lists

Currently, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 35, is considered the frontrunner.

His appointment as global ambassador for Omega—the luxury watch brand famously associated with the Bond character—has only added fuel to the fire.

When asked by Deadline on the red carpet about his next role, he replied with a telling smirk: “I can’t talk about it.”

Other actors reportedly in the mix include Masters of the Air’s Callum Turner, Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, The Witcher’s Henry Cavill, and Saltburn’s Jacob Elordi.

Daniel Craig Has Officially Moved On — and Isn’t Looking Back

As speculation continues to swirl, former Bond actor Daniel Craig seems content to have left the role behind.

Promoting his recent film Queer alongside Drew Starkey, Craig was asked by Variety who he thinks should take up the Bond mantle.

His answer: "I don't care."

That sentiment echoes Craig’s comments in a 2022 BBC interview, where he reflected on the massive impact of his 17-year tenure as the British spy.

"I had an incredibly fortunate 17 years of my life making this," Craig said.

"I literally want to spend the next 20 years of my life trying to unhook it all and try and put it into a place because it was incredible."

Featured image credit: Mike Marsland / Getty

There's no denying that when former British boyband One Direction was around, their fanbase was always well-fed.

With so much content out there - YouTube compilations, live performances, and behind-the-scenes footage just to name a few - the five members of the band really knew how to deliver when it came to fan service.

But there's one aspect of the Directioner life that had all the fangirls in a chokehold and it was none other than the world of fan fiction.

For those of you who might not be aware, fan fiction is exactly what you'd expect it to be - "fiction written by a fan." It usually features characters based on their idols which would in this case be the members of One Direction.

And in this world, anything goes including wild love affairs.

One of the hottest topics, which was based on a very persistent rumor at the time, involved fans dreaming up a romance between Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles, both of whom have rejected the notion completely.

Fans even had a ship name for them: Larry Stylinson.

God, that sent a shiver down my spine.

Anyway, even years down the line it seems as though some fans still can't let it go, but Tomlinson was here to shut it all down once again.

In a new interview with Brazilian news outlet G1, the 32-year-old re-addressed the fan fervor, stating that it "irritated" him.

"What I realized a few years ago is that there is nothing I can say," he said. "There is nothing I can do to stop those who believe in this conspiracy. They are so connected to what they believe that they will not see the truth for what it really is. I'm sure many people look and find all these little conspiracies that happen in life interesting."

He then went on to say that despite his personal feelings towards it all, he knows it's the "nature of the job."

"I'd be lying if I said it didn't irritate me a little, but it's the nature of the job," he told the outlet. "There are times when it gets very personal. I have my son, Freddie. He is the most important person in my life, and occasionally, [these theories] end up addressing things that are a bit unfair. This is what we have now.

"There's nothing I can do about it, nothing I can say to stop people from inventing what they want to invent. So be it," he added.

Speaking highly of his former band member, Tomlinson told The Telegraph that he's proud of what his "brother" has achieved.

"I have a lot of pride for what he’s doing," Tomlinson said of Styles. "It’s not surprising to me that Harry's the most commercially successful because he really fits the mold of a modern star. He’s not just doing music, he’s got film as well, and the [stadium] tour he’s done is unbelievable."

One Direction was formed on the British version of The X Factor by Simon Cowell but after one of the members, Zayn Malik, left the group in 2015, the four remaining members put out their final album, Made In The A.M., before also calling it quits in 2016 and pursuing solo careers.

Featured Image Credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty

Now that Daniel Craig has hung up his James Bond boots, the iconic role is up for grabs - and Tom Hanks thinks he has the perfect person to take over the reigns!

The 66-year-old acting legend - who is most known for his roles in movies like Castaway and Forrest Gump, among countless other titles - sat down for a recent interview with the BBC, where he discussed his colorful career and upcoming debut novel.

Hanks - a two-time Oscar winner - is set to publish his book called The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, inspired by his own screen career. He started writing the 448-page book in 2018, telling BBC: "I wrote in between films, I wrote wherever I was, I wrote on planes, I wrote at home, I wrote on vacation, I wrote in hotel rooms, I wrote on long weekends when I wasn't working."

Though, like any good meaningful conversation these days, the topic got around to: "Who do you think would be fit to play the next James Bond?"

Fictional secret agent James Bond (known by his codename 007) made his first appearance in Ian Fleming's spy novels during the early 1950s. A huge success, producers managed to purchase the filming rights to the series in the 60s, a move that spawned 27 James Bond movies so far - with the latest flick being 2021's No Time To Die, per Us Weekly.

Throughout the series' more than 60-year history, numerous actors have portrayed the highly coveted role as the international man of mystery, including Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.

So, when news came out that another Bond movie could hit screens in a few years, the obvious question was: "Who will be the next Bond?" Naturally, the process of casting an actor to portray the British spy - who famously likes his martinis "shaken, not stirred" - will be arduous, but Hanks seems to believe that one actor in particular fits the part perfectly.

"Understand this," Hanks told BBC. "James Bond has a license to kill. I would issue that license to Idris Elba just based on the work that I've seen him do." And he's not alone - former Bond actor Brosnan told People in 2021: "Idris Elba comes to mind. Idris is such a powerful presence and such a great former voice tensity. He would be magnificent."

Brosnan also added: "There's Tom Hardy out there as well. Tom can really chew the furniture up, just be a ball boy - both men can."

Though we can hype up Elba all we want, it's ultimately up to him whether he takes the part or not... And this is something he's discussed in the past. "It is not a goal for my career. I don't think that, you know, playing Bond will satisfy some of my personal goals," he stated, via IndieWire.

Elba also questioned whether the strong public desire for him to play Bond came down to the "allure" of the part being portrayed by a Black man for the first time, stating: "If you are of the agreement that you think that I should play it, can you ask yourselves why and really answer why you think I should play it? Do you think that there's a nostalgia - and be honest, there's a nostalgia to the idea. I shouldn't say nostalgia. There's an allure to the idea of me being the first Black man to play that character?"

Featured image credit: Everett Collection Inc / Alamy

Aaron Taylor-Johnson may have just dropped a huge hint that he is in line to be the next James Bond...

Ever since No Time To Die hit our screens back in 2021 and Daniel Craig's James Bond met his end, people have wondered who will revive the character.

Craig starred in five movies about the fictional character from 2006 to 2021 - following fellow actors Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Piers Brosnan.

Among the names of who could be the next 007 is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and the rumors just aren't going away.

Taylor-Johnson appeared on the red carpet to promote 28 Years Later, the highly anticipated third installment in the iconic franchise that began with 28 Days Later.

But when Deadline asked what his next project might be, the Bullet Train star flashed a coy smile and said simply: “I can’t talk about it,” before swiftly ending the conversation.

That brief interaction was all fans needed. Social media erupted with speculation that 35-year-old Taylor-Johnson is hinting at having secured the coveted role of 007.

“He's my number one hope for the next James Bond. Really hoping for a solid 10-15 years of him in that role,” one fan tweeted. Another added: “Bond... James Bond #Bond26.”

While nothing has been officially confirmed, the signs are piling up. Taylor-Johnson has reportedly already met with James Bond producers and performed "very well" in an audition.

"Aaron has impressed bosses so much that he has filmed one of the franchise's famous gun barrel teaser scenes, something all the actors do," a source told the Sun. "That move takes him a step closer to signing a deal. Bosses at the brand were really impressed with his unique blend of acting intensity and his impressive back catalog of action films."

Adding fuel to the fire, Bond co-producer Michael G. Wilson has previously stated the team is aiming to cast a 30-something industry veteran.

“We’ve tried looking at younger people in the past. But trying to visualize it doesn’t work,” Wilson told Deadline.

“Remember, Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience. He’s probably been in the SAS or something. He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That’s why it works for a 30-something.”

Meanwhile, 28 Years Later is earning rave reviews ahead of its theatrical release.

Set nearly three decades after the original Rage Virus outbreak, the film follows Taylor-Johnson and co-star Jodie Comer as Jamie and Isla - a husband and pregnant wife trying to survive on the tidal island of Lindisfarne.

Critics are already buzzing, giving the film a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes—higher than the original 28 Days Later.

Featured image credit: Mike Marsland / Getty