Refreshingly different 007s: 9 unusual choices for James Bond role

While Idris Elba continues to leave a tweet trail over whether he'll be the next 007, we look at nine other options that are less likely but perfect for the task

A regional Bond would work to, in part, counter the decades of stereotypical roles Arab actors have had to wade through, and also Egyptian actor Amr Waked is just plain cool. He has a beautiful booming voice - and speaks in an international, perfectly enunciated English; he is handsome (those eyes!), but looks like he's been punched in the nose in a tussle or two (as a realistic spy should). Plus, he was suitably dapper alongside Scarlett Johansson in Lucy. Sarah Dea / The National

Yes, top model David Gandy isn't a film actor, but neither was Aussie Bond George Lazenby (although that didn't work out that well, with Lazenby the only-ever one-time 007). But, it's undeniable that Gandy, 38, 'has the look'. The 6 foot 3 model wears a suit impeccably (the brands behind Bond would love him) and he is credited with the globe's taste in male models swinging back towards more masculine men. So one can only imagine what his magnetism would bring to Ian Fleming's charming spy. Can he act? Do we care?

This is truly left-of-field, yes, but stay with us... Sacha Baron Cohen is an Oxford graduate and of the truly-posh ilk that Bond is traditionally associated with. And he has the acting chops - so we say he should rip off the prosthetics, get out of middle America, stop hanging out with politicians who will parrot whatever he wants them to say and turn his attention to perfecting the brooding Bond stare.

Another British actor with the posh charm of Bond, Chiwetel Ejiofor (CBE) is a Shakespearean actor with a bucket-load of range - he'd bring elements to Bond that we didn't even know existed. In fact, we bet he'd really work on and illuminate Bond's childhood pain, which is something that seems to be constantly danced around but never really dealt with. He's 41, so has at least a decade of Bond-dom ahead of him, and he has the pathos of an actor far beyond his years. We love it - casting directors, we've done your work for you.

Yes, a woman. Charlize Theron is a woman. But, contrary to popular belief, that doesn't stop the star from being able to play a spy, be the seducer rather than the seduced and kick some villains to the curb. She was phenomenal in Atomic Blonde and incredibly convincing in the movie's vivid fight scenes. Henry Cavill can be her two-dimensional love interest, and then his career can fall under the famous 'Bond Girl curse'. We wouldn't be that mournful. Photo / AP

Yes, call us crazy, we're suggesting not one potential woman for the role, but two. Two whole girls in a list of eight! Save your fake outrage. Plus, James is a unisex name (as proven by model James/Jamie King). Unlike Charlize, Emily Blunt has being British down pat. She's also got the quick wit and slick one-liner timing that any Bond should have (in fact, we'd say she's far more proficient on this front than Daniel 'dour' Craig). Photo / AP

If the idea of James Bond being played by a lass makes your brain want to implode, then, a) get a life and take a hard look at yourself and your priorities, and b) what about John Krasinski? Emily Blunt's real-life husband may not be British, but the American actor is also deeply cool, terribly funny and rather suave (although arguably slightly less so than his spouse. But he will certainly do).

Surely, it's time for a Bollywood-import Bond? From a purely physical point of view, Hrithik Roshan has the height, the build, the hair and the cheekbones to be a spy that takes names and steals hearts. His voice is a beautiful bass and his eyes a limpid pool of all things desirable. On-screen, he’s proven himself as versatile across genres such as action, romance and comedy; he’s well-spoken, instantly likeable and yet there’s something roguish, even sardonic about him. Plus, it’s high time we got a Bond who can dance. Photo / AFP

OK, so Rami Malek is only 37 (and he looks about 21), but the Egyptian-American actor has proven that he can step outside of his comfort zone via his uncanny portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody (well, judging from the trailers at least). His character in Mr Robot is a little twitchy, but in real-life interviews, Malek comes across as really rather relaxed. He's short, yes, but let's be honest, so is Daniel Craig. Plus, Malek has an identical twin, which could be very handy during filming.

Will he, won't he? Idris Elba's Twitter dance continues over whether he will suit up as James Bond after Daniel Craig bows out once he's wrapped 2019's Bond 25.

And while we'd be perfectly delighted to see Elba in the role - he was a force to be reckoned with in Luther - all of this social media teasing is, quite frankly, putting us off. Apart from Elba, other obvious choices include British actors James Norton and Tom Hardy or Irish thespian Michael Fassbender.

British odds sites have Elba at a 2/1 chance, Hardy as 3/1 chance and, rather depressingly, "any woman" as 12/1. (Well, fans did freak out when Daniel Craig - as a blond - was cast in the role. But they seemed to move on from that fairly quickly, so perhaps they can put their big boy pants on over a woman taking the role too).

Scroll through our gallery above for some of the less obvious choices that we think would be perfect for the role - why can't we have a Bollywood Bond, an Arab Bond or a kick-ass female spy?

Sure, Bond is an established white male, British character. But guess what, he was made up in 1953 and we've moved on from many things since then. And, crucially, he's a made up character. He's fiction. Surely, we can do with him what we will? Maybe it's time Bond got truly 2018 on us all?

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