Who are the favourites to play the next James Bond? - "The name's Bond... James Bond". Soon, we'll hear those words uttered from a brand new actor. Daniel Craig will do one last film, then pass the baton to the next lucky lead. So just who's in the running for the 26th Bond film? Idris Elba has long been an audience favourite, but he isn't the only one with a winning chance. Here's a rundown of the best British actors who could play James Bond.

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Idris Elba -

No introduction needed. Elba has been an audience pick for years. He’s played everyone from Nelson Mandela to Stringer Bell, but is he ready for Bond?

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Henry Cavill - He's known as Superman in the new DC films, but Cavill also impressed in spy film ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’.

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Christian Bale -

Bale can juggle action roles with smarter, more precise performances. Could he breathe new life into another hit franchise?

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Daniel Kaluuya -

He played the protagonist in last year’s brilliant racially-charged horror flick ‘Get Out’. He might be young, but Kaluuya definitely has the charisma to play Bond.

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Eddie Redmayne -

If anyone’s ready to play James Bond, it’s Eddie Redmayne. The actor has impressed in many films, like ‘Les Misérables’ and ‘The Theory of Everything’.

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Cillian Murphy -

The versatile actor currently plays the lead role in 'Peaky Blinders,' a show that follows the Shelby crime family in post-war Birmingham. Cillian Murphy is a captivating actor who seems more than ready to take on James Bond.

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Tom Holland - If producers wanted to turn to back time and start over, Tom Holland would be a brilliant choice as a young James Bond.

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Tom Hardy -

Hardy is a brooding leading man who's played a number of standout roles in recent years. His performance in ‘Dunkirk’ was highly praised last year, as was his turn in the 'Mad Max' reboot.

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John Boyega - He found fame as stormtooper, Finn, in the new Star Wars films. Boyega definitely has what it takes for this legendary role.

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Tom Hiddleston -

Hiddleston has been an audience favourite for a while. His charismatic performance as Loki in the Marvel films, and his turn as a spy in 'The Night Manager' mean that the slender star wouldn’t look out of place as 007.

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Aidan Turner -

Turner has turned heads as the title role in ‘Poldark’. Maybe now is his time to shine on the world’s stage.

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Noel Clarke -

Though he's known as the Doctor's companion in 'Doctor Who', Clarke is a jack-of-all-trades. He can act, direct and screenwrite too. He would breathe new life into the 007 role.

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Damian Lewis -

As the polarising protagonist in ‘Homeland’, Lewis has a lot of experience in playing spies.

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Jamie Dornan -

Dornan is best known as Christian Grey in the ‘Fifty Shades’ series. His slick demeanor would be a perfect fit for Bond.

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Matthew Rhys -

Rhys has been a hit in spy thriller ‘The Americans’, so hopping over to MI6 shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

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Charlie Hunnam - He’s played biker gang leaders and even King Arthur. Charlie Hunnam has come a long way from ‘Queer as Folk’, and could very well be the next James Bond.

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Chiwetel Ejiofor -

As an Oscar-winning actor, the star of '12 Years a Slave' definitely has what it takes for this role.

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James Norton -

Norton played a chilling character in Yorkshire thriller ‘Happy Valley’. The actor would certainly bring out Bond’s darker tendencies.

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Benedict Cumberbatch -

He's known in the UK for his turn as the titular role in the BBC series Sherlock Holmes. Cumberbatch then found worldwide acclaim after playing Doctor Strange. It could be time for him to return to a British role.

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Michael Fassbender -

In just over 10 years, Fassbender has become a Hollywood darling. Watch ‘Shame’ and ‘Steve Jobs’ if you doubt Fassbender’s incredible range.

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Kit Harington - Everyone knows him as Jon Snow in 'Game of Thrones', but Harrington could be ready to take on another iconic role in a very different setting.

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Jack O'Connell - O’Connell got his start in the heartfelt ‘This Is England’. He’s since gone on to star in 'Unbroken' directed by Angelina Jolie, and 'Money Monster', alongside George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

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Dan Stevens -

Stevens may seem like a more eccentric choice, yet he’s proved himself to be a more than capable actor in ‘Downton Abbey’, and took on a drastically different role as super-powered David Haller in 'Legion'.

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Richard Madden -

Madden has played a fairytale prince, as well as the revered Robb Stark in ‘Game of Thrones’, ensuring that he has more than enough charm for the role.

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Jamie Bell - Bell’s been celebrated since he won the Best Actor BAFTA for ‘Billy Elliot’. Surely the Bond producers are eyeing him up for the next film.

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Josh O'Connor -

O’Connor won Best Actor at the BIFA Awards last year. He’s a surefire hit with audiences, with a long career ahead of him.

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Will Poulter - Poulter has proven himself as an accomplished actor in films like ‘Detroit’ and ‘The Revenant’. He won the Rising Star Award and the BAFTAs in 2014.

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George MacKay - If you haven’t seen MacKay in ‘Ophelia’ or ‘Captain Fantastic’, we’d recommend you go ahead and do so.

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James McAvoy -

If anyone can bring out Bond’s softer side, it’s James McAvoy. The Scottish actor was a tour-de-force in ‘Split’.

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