Speculation is running rampant on who will be succeeding Daniel Craig as the next James Bond; Tom Hiddleston and Jamie Bell have both been rumoured to be in talks to replace Craig as the suave spy. Sam Mendes, who directed the two most recent Bond films, Skyfall and Spectre, has confirmed that he will not be returning to direct a third film. “It was an incredible adventure, I loved every second of it,” the filmmaker said at the Hay Festival in Wales. “But I think it’s time for somebody else. I’m a storyteller, and at the end of the day, I want to make stories with new characters.”
When it comes to the Bond franchise, fans are always eager to fan-cast their favourite actors in the role, and this round has been no exception. Michael Fassbender, Henry Cavill, and Idris Elba have all been regular contenders in the minds of fans, but according to Mendes, fans' wishes play no part whatsoever in the casting a new Bond. “It’s not a democracy,” he said. “Barbara Broccoli decides who is going to be the next Bond, end of story. I can guarantee whatever happens with it, it will not be what you expect,” he added. “That’s what she has been brilliant at, and that’s how it’ll survive.”
Do you think fans should have a say in who plays Bond? Who would you like to see in the role? Sound off below!