Despite the long-standing online support that British actor Idris Elba, best known for roles in The Wire and as the hard-nosed detective Luther, to take on the iconic part and British intelligence's worst-kept secret identity, rumours are flying around that another actor – considerably paler – has been given the nod that the role is his.
Homeland star Damian Lewis has, according to the Mirror UK, been approached by the producers of the hit franchise and is tipped to take on the mantle after Daniel Craig – presumably – bows out after his fourth turn in the tux in Spectre, set for worldwide release in November.
Lewis, 44, was most recently seen on British and Irish screens starring as Henry VIII in the BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Booker-Prize-winning novel Wolf Hall.
An unnamed source reportedly revealed: “If Daniel Craig leaves, it’s Damian Lewis who will be crowned the new Bond.
“He is seen as an all-round international star who is perfect for the role. As he ages, he looks increasingly suave and sophisticated.
"Daniel excels in the role and there is no pressure on him to step down. But if he does, people close to Damian have had an unofficial nod he is the number one choice.”
Craig, 47, recently hinted that he was considering stepping down from the franchise, after a run that saw the British spy series receive its biggest critical and commercial hits to date.
“At this moment, no,” the actor said in a recent interview. “I have a life and I’ve got to get on with it a bit. But we’ll see.”
Lewis, 44, who is married to actress Helen McCrory, has achieved international fame through high-profile TV work, winning both a Golden Globe and Emmy for his role as the duplicitous American prisoner-of-war Nicholas Brody in Homeland.
Pierce Brosnan, the Navan-born actor who played the British spy four times before Daniel Craig took over his licence to kill, last week claimed that the next actor to play the character would be both male and white, in line with the original book character created by novelist Ian Fleming.
French director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario) and Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) are both believed to be in the running to take over from Oscar-winner Sam Mendes to helm the next Bond, the 26th film in the series.
