The Surprising Reason Jacob Elordi as the Next James Bond Might Be Controversial

Alright, let’s talk about the latest chapter in the ongoing ‘who the hell is the next James Bond’ saga. It looks like Jacob Elordi is being quietly nudged into the conversation, but if you think this is just another rumor, think again. According to World of Reel, Amazon is absolutely testing the waters with Elordi—and this isn’t just idle pub gossip. No, he hasn’t been offered the part, there’s no contract, and Bond 26 hasn’t been greenlit for him. What’s actually on the table? Apparently, a formal screen test next year where Elordi will throw on the familiar tux and show off his action chops.

There’s another twist—Denis Villeneuve (yep, Dune Villeneuve) is expected to weigh in on this whole thing. So far, he’s not pushing back against the idea, which is interesting. Amazon, for its part, isn’t confirming or denying any of this. The timeline? A decision penciled in for mid-2026. If everything lines up, production could start in 2027 and the movie would hit theaters November 2028.

Wait, Isn’t Bond Supposed to be British?

Here’s where things get a little weird. Just days before Elordi’s name started floating, Deadline reported that Amazon was sticking to a pretty clear rule for Bond: they want an ‘unknown British actor.’ Which is, obviously, not Elordi—he’s Australian, and hardly “unknown” after Euphoria, Saltburn, Priscilla, and soon, Frankenstein. But apparently, the casting net is not as tradition-bound as Amazon’s PR wants you to think.

Also, when Extra actually put the Bond question to Elordi a few days ago, he seemed legitimately surprised:

'Bond? James Bond? Is that what they’re saying? Oh my goodness, wow … that’s beautiful.'

Whether that’s genuine shock or classic poker face, you be the judge.

Bond on Paper vs. Bond in Practice

Physically, Elordi is what you get if you feed producers’ wish lists into a machine: he’s 6’5”, intimidating, and has that quiet intensity plenty of Bond fans love. One insider even said the new guy should look like 'he could kill you with his bare hands in a trice.' Elordi? Absolutely. He pulls off the cold, ruthless edge that the Fleming books actually describe (as opposed to the generous charm of some later Bonds).

Where things go off the rails is in the tradition department. Bond is basically a British national treasure costume—Elordi, being Australian and very recognizable, drops a couple wrenches in the old-school machinery. He’s the opposite of an “unknown British actor;” instead, he comes with an existing HBO fanbase and a strong association with very stylized, sometimes ironic roles. Some see risk that audiences would see “Jacob Elordi” way before “James Bond,” especially if the new films go for a more grounded, less winky tone.

If the producers do want to break the mold—ditch the old Britishness, steer toward a more menacing, younger Bond—Elordi is a real possibility. If they want tradition, he’s probably the wrong answer, no matter how good his tux game is.

Who Else Is In The Running? Odds, Favorites, and Wildcards

Here’s where the race stands, including the usual “betting market” voodoo and some actual industry whispers:

• Callum Turner (35, British, Masters of the Air): The current bookies’ favorite—checks the 'unknown British' requirement, has some prestige TV heat, and doesn’t come with a ton of franchise baggage.
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson (35, British, Bullet Train): Still the inside pick, especially after a (not-so-)secret screen test at Pinewood. Producers and Barbara Broccoli loved it, so he’s holding steady with over 70 percent of the betting action.
• Jacob Elordi (28, Australian, Saltburn): The curveball. No other non-British actor is so openly linked to the Villeneuve-and-Amazon era, so he’s still very much in play—even if he technically shouldn’t be, per Amazon’s own criteria.
• Dark horses: Tom Holland and Harris Dickinson—both British and well-known, but maybe too famous, and not much heat lately.
• Lower-tier orbiters: Henry Cavill, Theo James, Richard Madden, Damson Idris—names that self-perpetuate in Bond rumors but aren’t carrying real momentum.

Look, Amazon can’t have it both ways. You can’t trumpet the “Bond as British icon” line for decades, then quietly shift the goalposts just to land the hot new guy. Is Elordi talented? Absolutely. Would he be a fascinating, colder Bond? For sure. But unless Amazon’s finally ready to flip the tradition vs. reinvention switch, the math just doesn’t add up.

So what do you think? Go with the bookies, the insiders, or bet on the wildcard? Drop your take below, because with Bond 26 creeping closer, this story is far from over.