Jacob Elordi is being tipped as one of the early frontrunners to take on the role of James Bond, with growing speculation around who will next play the iconic 007 as casting for the new era of the franchise gets underway.
The Australian actor has received a notable public endorsement from his Saltburn co-star Rosamund Pike, herself a former Bond girl, who praised his suitability for the role during an interview with GQ.
“He's a fantastic actor,” Pike said. “He certainly looks like a great Bond. I mean, why not?”
Her comments come as Amazon MGM Studios confirmed that the search for the next Bond is officially in motion, following Daniel Craig’s departure from the role after No Time To Die in 2021. The studio said: “The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”
Jacob Elordi first broke into mainstream audiences through Netflix’s The Kissing Booth trilogy (2018–2021), where he played Noah Flynn, a role that made him a global teen heartthrob but one he has since been openly critical of as he moved toward more serious work.
His career shift accelerated when he landed the role of Nate Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria (2019–present), which became his true breakout in terms of dramatic recognition and established him as a major Gen-Z actor.
From there, he quickly transitioned into prestige film roles, including Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla (2023), where he played Elvis Presley, and Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn (2023), which solidified his reputation as a leading man in darker, character-driven cinema.
Jacob Elordi played Heathcliff alongside Margot Robbie, portraying Cathy, in Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights. Fred Duval, Shutterstock
In recent years, Elordi’s career has moved heavily into awards-level and auteur-led projects. He starred as the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025), a performance that earned major award nominations, and played Dorrigo Evans in the Australian miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North (2025), a physically demanding role that further showcased his dramatic range.
He has also filmed Emerald Fennell’s upcoming Wuthering Heights (2026), where he stars as Heathcliff opposite Margot Robbie, continuing his run of high-profile collaborations with major directors and cementing his shift from teen franchise star to serious, critically regarded actor.
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The update is the clearest indication yet that progress is being made on Bond 26, marking a major new chapter for the long-running spy franchise following its takeover by Amazon MGM Studios after the company acquired MGM in 2022.
Last year also saw long-time Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson step back from creative control, ending more than three decades of stewardship by the Broccoli family and opening the door to a new production era.
Reports suggest that casting is already actively underway, with acclaimed casting director Nina Gold reportedly helping to lead the search. Gold has worked on major productions including Game of Thrones, The Crown, Star Wars and The Martian, and previously cast Daisy Ridley as Rey in The Force Awakens.
Acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, known for Dune, Blade Runner 2049, Arrival and Sicario, is set to direct the next Bond film, a move that has fuelled expectations of a darker, more atmospheric direction for the franchise. Meanwhile, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is attached to write the screenplay, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman overseeing production.
Alongside Elordi, a number of other names continue to circulate in the speculation around who will inherit Bond’s famous Walther PPK, including Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, Harris Dickinson and Cillian Murphy.
Irish actor Barry Keoghan has also been linked, although he recently played down the possibility, saying the pressure attached to the role may not suit him. Instead, he suggested he would be more interested in playing a Bond villain, describing that as a better fit for him creatively.
Bookmakers’ favourite Callum Turner remains strongly linked to the role, with speculation also extending to his partner, pop star Dua Lipa, who could potentially be involved in recording the next Bond theme song if he is cast.
Music speculation has also widened beyond pop, with Oasis reportedly among acts being considered for the next Bond theme. Noel Gallagher has previously said writing a Bond song would be a “huge honour”, joking that the franchise should remain in British hands and even suggesting he would be open to appearing as a “Mancunian villain”.
With casting now officially underway and a high-profile creative team in place, anticipation continues to build around who will become the next James Bond, with the decision expected to define the future direction of one of cinema’s most enduring franchises.
